Both the IAS and IPS are quite honorable services and lakhs of candidates appear for the IAS and IPS exams each year. To get into either the Indian Police Services (IPS) or the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), a candidate must sit for the Civil Services Exam. This exam is the common exam for both the IAS and IPS. However, you can rest assured that this is where the similarities between both the IAS and IPS end as both posts have very different powers and functions.
For example, IPS officers generally investigate crime and maintain public order at the places where they are posted. Whereas, an IAS officer is involved in Policy Formulation, Public Administration, and Implementation of Policies. Keep reading to find out more about the key differences between the IAS and IPS.
WHICH IS BETTER- IAS OR IPS?
Since both the IAS and IPS are government services, neither of them is necessarily “better” than the other. However, there are certainly differences in the powers and functions of an IAS and IPS Officer. That being said, you must also note that both the IAS and IPS are extremely powerful positions considering the different fields that they operate in. If asked who holds more power between the two, the answer would be an IAS officer.
(Read: Life on an IAS Officer)
That is because while an IPS officer is only in charge of their department, an IAS officer handles the responsibility of all departments present in that district where they are posted. The IAS officer is also superior to the IPS because according to protocol, when an IPS officer meets an IAS, he/she has to salute them. Though many cities have granted more powers to IPS officers, those are still less than that of IAS officers.
WHOSE SALARY IS MORE- IAS OR IPS?
Just as in terms of power the IAS officer is much superior to the IPS officer, in terms of the salary too, IAS officers are paid more than IPS officers. (Know Salary Structure). As mentioned before, IPS officers are in charge of their respective departments while IAS officers are in charge of all departments included in the district, which they are posted. This means that the responsibilities of an IAS Officer are quite more than that of an IPS Officer.
Hence, the salary of an IAS Officer is more than an IPS officer. If we talk about the 7th pay commission, an IAS Officer’s salary ranges from around INR 56 thousand to 2.5 lakhs each month. On the other hand, the salary of an IPS officer ranges from around INR 56 thousand to 2.25 lakhs. Along with monetary benefits, both IAS and IPS officers get various other facilities.
(Read: Facilities Provided to IAS Officers)
DO IAS AND IPS HAVE THE SAME EXAM?
Whether you want to appear for the IAS, IPS, or even the IFS examination (and various other services), you have to apply for one common exam called the Civil Services Examination (CSE). This examination is conducted on the national level by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Hence, many people also refer to UPSC CSE as IAS/IPS/IFS exam.
Read: Complete Guide on IAS Officers
Besides these examinations, the commission (UPSC) also conducts examinations like NDA (National Defense Academy), CDS (Combined Defense Services), and more.
UPSC CSE is considered one of the toughest exams in India. It is divided into three parts- the Prelims or Preliminary Examination, the Main Examination, and lastly, the personal interview. A candidate who qualifies for all three exams is allocated services (IAS/IPS/IFS/IRS/etc.) based on their ranks and preference of services.
WHICH IS EASIER- IAS OR IPS?
Both the IAS and the IPS are considered some of the most challenging jobs in the country. To get a chance to be appointed as either an IAS or an IPS officer, one has to take the Civil Services Exam that is conducted by the UPSC and secure a good rank in the final merit list.
Lakhs of students apply for the exam but only a few hundred qualify for the final merit list. Out of those in the final merit list, only a few (based on vacancies of the year) are allocated IAS or IPS.
Thus, it would be very wrong to say that either IAS or IPS are easy- whether in terms of qualifying rounds or even the job itself. Being two of the noblest jobs in the country, IAS and IPS officers work every day for the betterment of people and the public good.
Final words
To sum up, Indian Police Services (IPS) and the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) are two of the most important and renowned All India Services that have been existing since before independence. The debate about whether the IAS or the IPS is better has been going on for a while. It must be noted that both of these services are needed to support and ensure the development of the country.
(Know: IAS Ranking Structure)
