Difference between IAS and IPS - Power, Responsibilities, Salary

Difference between IAS and IPS - Power, Responsibilities, Salary

Updated on Feb 14, 2024 05:28 PM IST | #UPSC CSE
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Union Public Service Commission conducts the UPSC Civil Services Exam on a yearly basis. The UPSC Civil Services Exams have a reputation for being one of India’s toughest and most competitive exams. This is in part, due to the fact that administrative positions in the government are extremely sought after. Out of these, the most popular positions are those of IAS and IPS.

The IAS and IPS Full Forms are Indian Administration Services and Indian Police Services respectively. Naturally, This sparks a lot of conversation about which position is the better one between IAS or IPS, and which officer wields more powers. Around 10 Lakh candidates appear for the UPSC CSE with the aim of being recruited for the coveted positions of IAS or IPS officers. Those interested in the administration side of the civil services choose to become IAS officers, while those who want to take care of law and order become IPS officers. In the material below, we discuss the nuances of these highly sought-after positions and discuss their similarities and differences in terms of job profiles, salary and power.

What is the Core Difference Between the Role of IAS & Role of IPS?

The core job of an IPS officer is to maintain peace in society, whereas IAS officers implement policies of the government and look after the administration. IAS and IPS collaboratively work towards becoming a part of India's bureaucracy. Both these posts are prestigious; however, there are some technicalities that make them differ from one another.

A detailed look at IAS and IPS differences.

Post

IAS

IPS

Full Form

IAS Full Form is Indian Administrative Service

IPS Full Form is Indian Police Service

Role

The job of an IAS officer is to work in Public Administration and implement government policies, look for irregularities in the system and their designated departments

IPS officers work in the Police services and their prime objective is to look after law and order, investigate crime and maintain public order, maintain peace in festive and riot-like situations etc.

Training

Upon successfully qualifying for the IAS exam, candidates' training will be conducted at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) which is in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.

The training of IPS Officers will be conducted at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) located in Hyderabad, Telangana

Role/ IAS vs IPS ranks

IAS candidates hold the topmost rank in Indian administration. An IAS officer is assigned to the topmost government departments and ministries.

IPS officers have first recruited a Deputy Superintendent of Police, after which they are promoted according to age and experience and also after cracking any major case. The role of an IPS is of a top cop. IPS comes second to IAS in the hierarchy system.

IAS vs IPS who is more powerful


An IAS is more powerful than an IPS if he/she is a District Magistrate/Collector. As a protocol, an IPS will also have to salute the IAS if in uniform. There is no designated uniform for an IAS, however, they will have to be in formal or closed-neck suits. However, this is also kind of a demerit, as the general public cannot recognise an IAS as there is no dress code.

As a top cop in the city, an IPS is also very powerful and comes just second to the IAS. An IPS can also stop the vehicle or convoy of a VIP or VVIP person, for security purposes etc. The public can recognise an IPS from the uniform. The uniform also brings a lot of pride and enthusiasm.

IAS vs IPS salary

After the recommendation of the 7th pay commission, the basic IAS salary begins at Rs. 56,100, it comes exclusively from the House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Travel Allowance (TA). The salary increases as per promotions, experience and timely increments. The top salary is of Rs, 225000, which is a Cabinet Secretary.

Everything is the same as IAS. The top salary is of Rs. 225000 which is the Director-General of Police (DGP)

Facilities

An IAS is given a personal government vehicle with a chauffeur most probably Toyota Innova, Maruti Ciaz etc. An escort vehicle along with an escort team. Personal bodyguard. Government bungalow. Government guest house for outstation visits. Facility for studies in Foreign countries. Free travel at government expense, and numerous other benefits. VIP treatment anywhere in India and abroad.

The same as IAS, only the choice of vehicle changes. It can be a Mahindra Bolero, Maruti Ertiga etc.

Work-life

The work lives of IAS and IPS both is very demanding. It is not a typical desk job but requires the individual to visit the respective departments frequently. It is a very busy job and requires 24/7 availability. It is also a high-risk job.

Same as IAS.

Promotions

There are a lot of promotion opportunities for an IAS officer. A young IAS officer with age by their side can also spruce to the post of Cabinet Secretary which is the top level job and IAS can also reach to the post of Union Home Secretary.

An IPS officer with a great service record and age by their side can get promoted to the level of IG/DIG or DGP. An IPS can also be appointed as the Director of the Crime Branch of Investigation (CBI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and National Security Adviser (NSA)

Difference Between the lifestyle of IAS and IPS

The Lifestyle of an IAS Officier

The Lifestyle of an IPS Officer

IAS officers can receive a starting salary of Rs 56,100 with perks such as free or subsidized water, gas and accommodation.

IPS officers can receive a starting salary of Rs 56,100 with perks such as being assigned a domestic helper, a security guard and official vehicles.

IAS Officers may be posted abroad occasionally as those with a good track record can get posted as Indian Ambassadors/High Commissioners

IPS Officers may be posted abroad as a part of a deputation to IB and RAW.

IAS officers enjoy an unparalleled amount of job security.

IPS officers can have good job security.

IAS vs IPS Who is more powerful?

Now coming to the question of what is the difference between IAS and IPS, and who is more powerful? Certainly, an IAS is more powerful, which is the only reason it is the first service in the 244 civil services offered by UPSC. The IAS is then followed by the Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Services (IRS), Indian Forest Services (IFS), Indian Foreign Services (IFoS) etc.

Check here for a list of other government exams

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who is more powerful IAS or IPS?

Both are powerful, but when it comes to practical powers, an IAS is above the IPS.

2. Should I choose IAS or IPS?

It depends on your preference, choice and interest. Both posts are of the same prestige and reputation level.

3. Which post is bigger IAS or IPS?

Hierarchy-wise, IAS is bigger than IPS.

4. Is IPS easier than IAS?

No, both the exams are tough. Candidates will have to qualify for the UPSC CSE (Civil Service Exam) to be eligible to choose between the IAS/IPS or whichever services they want.

5. Do IAS officers get bodyguards?

Yes, IAS officers get bodyguards along with an escort vehicle.

6. What is IPS Salary?

After the 7th pay commission has been levied, the starting salary of an IPS is Rs. 56100 which increases as per experience, promotions and service record.

7. Does an IPS officer have bodyguards?

Yes, IPS officers have bodyguards. In fact, they get an escort team along with an escort vehicle.

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Questions related to UPSC CSE

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

Hello!
IRAS (Indian Railway Accounts Service) officers can be posted in both cities and rural areas since Indian Railways has offices and operations nationwide. They typically work in divisional offices, zonal offices, workshops, and production units. Transfers do happen but are usually not very frequent and depend on government policies and organizational needs.

Hope this helps!

To become an IAS officer, you must clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and then undergo training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). While any bachelor's degree is acceptable, choosing a degree that aligns with the UPSC syllabus, particularly in humanities and social sciences, can be advantageous.

UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE):

This is the primary exam for becoming an IAS officer, involving three stages: Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test (Interview).

Any Bachelor's Degree:

A graduate degree from a recognized university is the basic requirement to be eligible for the CSE.

Beneficial Degrees:

Degrees in humanities and social sciences, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), can be helpful due to the syllabus overlap with subjects like History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics.

Optional Subject:

You can choose an optional subject in the Mains exam, and a BA degree can provide a wide range of options.

Hope it helps!!

Hello!!

That's a great goal—and your background as a research scholar can actually be a big asset in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), which is the path to becoming an IAS officer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Become an IAS Officer:

1. Understand the Exam Structure

The UPSC CSE has three stages:

Prelims: Objective (GS Paper + CSAT)

Mains: Descriptive (9 papers)

Interview: Personality Test

2. Check Eligibility

Age: 21 to 32 (for General category)

Degree: Any graduate degree (you already qualify)

3. Choose Your Optional Subject

Choose something you’re comfortable with (can be from your research field if it's available).

Popular optionals: Sociology, Geography, PSIR, Anthropology, etc.

4. Build a Study Plan

Since you're a research scholar, time management is key.

Daily 4–6 hours of focused study can work if you're consistent.

Focus on:

NCERTs (6th–12th)

Standard books (like Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History)

Current Affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express, or PIB + Monthly compilations)

5. Join a Test Series (Optional but Helpful)

For Prelims and Mains: to build speed, writing skills, and clarity.

6. Practice Answer Writing

Mains is all about articulation. Practice with previous year questions and mock tests.

7. Appear for the Exam

Notification comes out around February.

Prelims is in May/June, Mains in September, and Interview early next year.

How to Align This With Your Research Schedule:

Create a realistic time-table that includes 2–3 hours on weekdays, and more on weekends.

Use your research experience for deeper understanding and essay writing.

If your goal is to become an IAS officer, choose a degree that supports UPSC preparation and also provides a good backup:

BA in Political Science, History, Geography, or Economics is ideal for IAS.
BSc or BCom is fine too, but you'll need to study humanities separately for UPSC.
For backup, pick a subject with good job prospects like BBA or Computer Science.

KCET is required only if you're planning professional courses like Engineering or Agriculture. It's not needed for BA or general degrees.

After 10th for IAS

Hello aspirant,

For becoming IAS , you have to first complete your graduation from any background from any recognised university or college. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible. After that you have to give an entrance exam name UPSC . If you will clear this exam then according to your marks you may get the IAS position.

To know about UPSC entrance exam, kindly go through the given link:

https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse

All the best!!

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