Police constables are an important part of the state and central police force departments. They work under senior officers to strengthen the security of the country, prevent crimes and investigate complaints. If you are thinking of becoming a police constable, knowing about the role, salary and skills can help you decide if this is the right job. In this article, we discuss how much does a constable make, what are their allowances and what skills you require to succeed as one.
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How Much Does A Constable Make?
How much does a constable makes depends on the unit and location of the posting. The general pay scale for Constables (General Duty) recruited by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). State police departments may offer slightly different pay scales to constables in their police force. Constables are usually a part of pay level 3 and pay band 1. The average salary for constables is around ₹39,692 per month after accounting for allowances and deductions.The minimum constable pay scale and levels undergo periodic revisions as per the guidelines of the Pay Commission. The above-mentioned pay scale and salaries are according to the Seventh Pay Commission.
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What Are The Salary Allowances And Benefits Of A Constable?
As a part of their salary, constables get the following allowances and benefits:
- House Rental Allowance (HRA)
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- Transport Allowance (TA)
- Security allowance
- Pension
- Commando allowance
- Field allowance
- Food allowance
- Medical allowance
- Provident fund
- Gratuity
- Pension
- Educational assistance
Please note that the amount of some allowances may vary as per the department, state and city of posting.
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What Are The Duties Of A Constable?
Constables who are a part of the state police forces are the lowest-ranking police officers. They usually begin their careers as security officers and assist the assistant sub-inspector and sub-inspector in investigating cases. Taking directives from the station SHO and other senior-ranking officers, they may undertake the following responsibilities:
- Promoting and maintaining public law and order
- Investigating crimes, collecting evidence and talking to witnesses
- Safeguarding vulnerable individuals and communities, like the elderly
- Patrolling and surveillance duties in areas with high crime rates
- Managing documentation and paperwork at the police station
- Assisting complainant in filing FIRs under the supervision of sub-inspectors or inspectors
- Support search, chase and arrest operations
Constables who serve in any of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) play a vital role in securing the country’s borders, gathering intelligence, promote peace and securing high-risk areas. They also prevent crimes and illegal immigration, provide security to VIPs and secure government assets and infrastructures. The exact role and duties may depend on which of the following agencies they end up joining:
- Constable (GD) in Border Security Force (BSF)
- Constable (GD) in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- Constable (GD) in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Constable (GD) in Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP)
- Constable (GD) in Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
- Constable (GD) in Secretariat Security Force (SSF)
- Constable (GD) in National Investigation Agency (NIA)
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What Is The Eligibility For Becoming A Constable?
The eligibility and educational qualifications required by the SSC for becoming a constable in any CAPF are:
- You are required to be a citizen of India.
- You are required to have passed the 10th standard (senior school) examination, or equivalent, from a recognised university.
- Your age is required to be between 18 to 23 years on the required cut-off date.
- Your height is required to be at least 170 cm for male candidates and 157 cm for female candidates.
- Male candidates are required to have a chest between 80 to 85 cm.
- Your minimum near vision is required to be N6 for the better eye and N9 for the worse eye.
- Your minimum distant vision is required to be 6/6 for the better eye and 6/9 for the worse eye.
Some relaxations related to age to OBC, SC/ST, ex-servicemen and other candidates are available. There are other relaxations for age, height and chest for people from the hilly states, women and other reserved categories. Some states also recruit subjects of Nepal and Bhutan, along with Tibetan refugees and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) from certain countries, provided they satisfy certain conditions.Please note that the SSC has set these eligibility conditions for recruitment to CAPF. State police departments may also have special relaxations for state-level sportspersons, widowed women and children of ex-police officers. They may also have different eligibility criteria, like the Delhi Police requires constables to have passed 10+2 (senior secondary examination) and be 18 to 25 years old.
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How To Become A Constable?
The State Police Services (SPS) usually recruits constables for the state police force. These posts require constables to work at police stations, conduct investigations and assist other senior police officers in maintaining the security of their assigned zone.Constables that join the special divisions of the CAPF require to follow the guidelines and recruitment process set by the SSC. The SSC invites applications for Constable (GD) and successful candidates work as non-investigative officers with varying duties as per the location of the posting.Whether you want to become a constable in your state police force or join the CAPF, the process to becoming a constable is nearly identical:
1. Complete your education
While the SSC requires candidates to have completed the 10th standard (matriculation) examination from any recognised state or board, some states require 10+2 (senior secondary) or its equivalent. While getting a graduate degree is not necessary for becoming a constable, this can help you achieve higher ranks later on in your career. All ranks above that of the Head Constable require a bachelor’s degree.
2. Clear the qualifying exam and tests
To be selected as a constable, you are required to clear the written exam, fulfil all physical requirements and also qualify in the Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Shortlisted candidates then undergo a medical examination, and the final selection or cut-off list includes all these scores. NCC certificate holders get bonus marks in the written examination, based on the type of certificate they hold.
3. Finish the training courses
Once selected, you are required to complete the required training courses and programmes. Attending and completing these training programmes is mandatory, and securing permission to join the next batch is possible only under extraordinary circumstances. The goal of these training programmes is to provide you with the right knowledge, build skills, increase physical strength and help you understand the responsibilities you are fulfilling.
What Is The Career Scope For A constable?
Constables have several opportunities for career progression and development. Police constables get promotions based on their performance and can progress up to the role of a Head Constable. Although, promotions take a long time (sometimes over 15 to 18 years) and most higher-ranking roles require a bachelor’s degree. Thus, promotions beyond the rank of Head Constable are extremely rare and based on extraordinary merit and performance.As a result, most constables prefer to prepare for qualifying exams to get promoted in lesser time. Many constables that join the police force at a young age may finish their graduation concurrently and apply for higher-ranking posts. After clearing the exams conducted by the SSC and State Home Departments for higher ranks (like assistant sub-inspector and sub-inspector), constables can rise to these ranks.
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Police Constable Work Environment
The work environment of a police constable is extremely dynamic and unpredictable. Constables in state police forces usually divide their time between the police station and working on the ground. The working hours can be unpredictable, and several high-pressure situations may arise during the day. Patrolling duties, enforcing laws and gathering evidence in cases can be physically tiring and all officers of the police force are required to stay fit. They also require to maintain records, update documents and organise case files in the police station.Constables assigned to specialised units of the CAPF usually do not have investigative duties. Their posting tends to be in more sensitive and remote areas. They may be required to undertake high-risk operations regularly and work in rough terrains and climates. Constables in the central police force require to reside outside their hometowns for extended durations.
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What Are The Skills Needed To Become A Constable?
The following skills can help you become a constable and succeed in your career:
- Physical fitness: Having high levels of fitness and physical stamina is important for all constables. Besides working in the field, constables may be required to deploy physical force to overpower criminals and other suspects.
- Teamwork: Constables are the lowest ranking police officials and require to be adept at working in teams, taking directives and following guidelines from senior officers.
- Legal and defence knowledge: Constables working in state police departments require to understand the law thoroughly to conduct investigations and gather evidence in cases. CAPF constables may benefit from historical and military knowledge of their units.
- Ethics and integrity: The role of a constable carries a lot of importance in the country’s police and judicial systems, alongside the society at large. Fulfilling this responsibility requires high integrity and ethics to ensure fairness and justice.
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