IPS Officer Training: Know how Indian Police Service Officers are trained, and its full process

IPS Officer Training:

IPS training is considered to be the toughest training in our country as IPS officers have to command the armed police force in all the Indian states and union territories of this country. Learning about the training given to IPS officers fills a new spirit in the candidates and gives them strong motivation to prepare, so in this article further, we will gain insights in detail about the training given to IPS officers. 

Training of IPS is also done along with IAS and Central Civil Services after all the candidates are selected by UPSC through Civil Services Exam. IPS training is also done in a sandwich format like IAS. Sandwich here means the format of training is like a sandwich - first in the academy, then in the field, and again in the academy.

LBSNAA - First Phase (Foundation Course):

LBSNAA Academy not only works for Civil Services Capacity Building but also focuses on inter-service camaraderie and cooperation. The purpose of the Foundation Course is to get to know and coordinate the newly recruited officers of All India Services and Central Services (Group A). It teaches the new officers the required skills, knowledge, and manners to behave.

After the foundation course, only IAS officers continue their professional training in the academy, while officers of other services move on to the respective staff colleges such as,

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad for Indian Police Service officers.

• Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy in Dehradun for officers of the Indian Forest Service.

• Foreign Service Institute for Indian Foreign Service Officers, New Delhi

National Police Academy- Hyderabad:

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) has been entrusted with the task of transforming young IPS officer trainees into professional police officers. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) Hyderabad, is the main institute for training Indian Police Service (IPS) officers.

The second phase of IPS training consists of two phases. The first phase starts from the National Police Academy in Hyderabad. IPS officers also have to undergo training in a district of their cadre for a certain period of time between two phases of training at the IPS Academy.

IPS trainees join Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad (SVPNPA) for the second phase of training called Basic Training Course.

This phase is of 11 months duration where IPS Officer Trainees (OTS) study various indoor, outdoor, and qualifying subjects.

Basic Training:

The basic training aims at building the capacity of the officer trainees to be able to face the challenges faced in police duty. The objective of the training is to ensure that officers possess the necessary skills, knowledge, understanding, behavior, and skills to effectively discharge the duties of a police officer.

This training initially and later enables various senior supervisory functions to the rank of Superintendent of Police in the district and special units of the Police Department.

The 'Integrated Training' format used in the Academy to impart training focuses on the integration of three dimensions, which are, Sensitivity (individual and social), Guidance (ethical and legal), and Competence (domain and inter-segmental).

National Police Academy inculcates human values in IPS trainees which are helpful not only to be good police officers but also to be effective and good human beings.

During their training at SVPNPA, OT(Officers trainees) are 'attached' to various units of Army, Air Force, Navy, Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF), which enable them to play the role of other organizations in nation-building. The passing out parade of OT is held after 11 months.

IPS Training- Phase 2:

The second phase of IPS officer training assists in increasing the knowledge about the allotted state cadre in which language, manner, culture, etc. This training takes place in the State Police Academies which is of three weeks duration.

This phase also includes a practical training component where trainees are given the responsibility of handling legal matters in police stations. IPS trainees are also attached with Police Headquarters where they are also aware of the District Star proceedings. This phase is of six months duration.

Conclusion:

The need of improvement in IPS training process has been felt for many years to ensure effective policing as IPS officers are becoming a manager rather than a leader. Their main objective is to focus on the management of politicians to carry out political results and therefore are left to ease the day-to-day functioning, while common people are rarely focused upon.

Although the Indian Police is the principal guardian of law and order in our country, it continues to be governed by the colonial and outdated police laws that were passed in 1861. The Indian Constitution has made it a state subject to give responsibility to the state governments for their communities along with police services but several committees on police reforms have recommended major reforms in the police system with systematic accountability.