Career as Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

Last Updated By Harleen Kaur on 21 Feb, 2023

How to Become a Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

About Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

CID full form for the Crime Investigation Department is a popular career choice for many people who want to work in the field of criminal justice. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Indian government is a crime-detection organisation. A CID officer looks into particular cases that the government has given them charge of. You need to be a problem solver with strong interpersonal abilities, as well as have well-developed reasoning and critical-thinking skills to solve crimes, investigate, prosecute, and gather criminal intelligence, to become a Crime Investigation Department Officer (CID officer).

CID officers investigate major and complex crimes such as rape, murder, serious assault, communal riots, and fraud. They conduct investigations such as gathering facts and collecting evidence for criminal cases and fraud, keeping detailed reports of the investigative process, attending autopsies, exchanging information, and coordinating activities with other agencies, and ensuring that the investigation process is completed comprehensively and thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned. CID officers in India are paid differently depending on their rank. CID Officer salaries, on the other hand, can range from INR 8000 to INR 24,500.

Roles and Responsibilities of a CID Officer

CID Officer is in charge of maintaining, updating, and utilising the Crime-Criminal Information System, as well as crime and criminal records. They are responsible for the planning and implementation of criminal intelligence systems, as well as crime analysis to improve the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of criminal cases

Apart from this, here are some of the roles and responsibilities of a CID Officer listed below:

  • Gathering information and proof from the scene of the crime
  • To make certain that all gathered evidence is brought to the forensic division for accurate scientific analysis
  • Keeping of records
  • To look into issues that the federal and state governments have given them
  • To question or be questioned in turn by all the other participants and witnesses
  • Consider the following examples: scientific research, fingerprint theft, bank fraud, and human trafficking
  • To solve cases involving serious crimes like murder, rape, forgery, fraud, trafficking in illegal drugs, and assault
  • To guide his group and delegate tasks to his assistants
  • To ensure that a case investigation is conducted successfully and without any issues

Eligibility to become Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

There are many posts available for candidates in the CID. To become a Crime Investigation Department officer one should require to have at least two years experience as a uniformed officer. After that, you can apply for the transfer to CID office post where you will be trained. The minimum qualifications required for a candidate who wishes to join the crime investigation department are mentioned below:

Subject CombinationAny stream in class 12
Entrance ExamIndian Civil Services examination held by the Union Public Service Commission
Educational Qualifications
  • To join CID stands for Crime Investigation Department, a candidate must have done graduation in any stream from a recognized university.
  • A candidate who has already completed graduation can join this department as a sub-inspector.
  • There are many universities in India that offer degrees in criminology and criminal justice at the graduation level which may be helpful to join CID.
CitizenshipIndian Citizen
SexBoth Female and Male candidates are eligible 
Minimum Age Required20 Years
Upper Age Limit27 Years
Age Relaxation
  • 5 years relaxation for SC/ ST category students (20 - 32 years)
  • 3 years relaxation for OBC category students (20 - 30 years)
Minimum Height
  • Male - 165 cm
  • Female - 150 cm
  • Hills men and tribal - a relaxation of 5 cm
Chest76 cm with expansion
Eyesight
  • Distant Vision - 6/6 in one and 6/9 in the other eye
  • Near vision - 0.6 in one eye and 0.8 in the other eye
Number of Attempts
  • General Category - 4 attempts
  • OBC Category - 7 attempts
  • SC/ ST Category - No limit
Selection Process
  • Written Test
  • Physical Fitness Test
  • Interview

 

How to Become CID Officer?

To become CID officer in India, you must first complete a criminology degree. It would be advantageous if you had passed the CSE exams. This will help you pass the UPSC exam, and you will then be able to join the Crime Investigation Department (CID) team as a sub-inspector. You could also join the police force as a Hawaldar or an assistant police officer before taking the exam to become a CID officer. Anyone qualified as a CID officer must be physically fit and willing to take risks in any situation. He must be physically fit to stay in any condition and mentally strong to face the circumstances.

 

How are CID Officers Selected?

A CID officer is chosen after three tests and interviews. The Civil Service Exam can serve as a direct entry point to the CID team if you pass it. Physical tests are also required, though. Otherwise, a written test or exam that reveals the level of education is available. The person's height, eyesight, and strength are then revealed through a physical examination. The interview round has finally arrived.
 

Types of Job Roles Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

To be in this Crime Investigation Department profession termed as CID Officer, one can match his/her particular interests up with different federal law enforcement agencies. For CID officers there are a variety of job profiles that one can target on the basis of their interest areas. Some of the job profiles that can be opted are listed below:

Fraud investigators: Fraud investigators gather statements of fact, depositions, or confessions from complainants, employers, and witnesses in order to conduct fraud investigations. In addition to conducting record searches, obtaining, analysing, and appraising evidence, a fraud investigator also supervises the creation and application of fraud prevention, detection, and resolution strategies.

Policeman: Policemen investigate incidents and complaints, keep records of their dealings with the public, and gather evidence. In addition to monitoring any threat to public safety, they detain criminals and suspects, gather evidence, testify in court, and arrest offenders and suspects.

Investigative officers: They conduct investigations to determine who committed crimes and to gather evidence to prosecute and convict suspects. They write reports based on their findings and are frequently summoned to court to explain the findings of their investigations.

Criminologists: They conduct research, develop theories, examine crime scenes, and write reports. There is a lot of talk about how important it is to have a good relationship with your partner.

Paralegals: A paralegal investigates the facts and laws of a case in order to determine causes of action and prepare cases. Paralegals typically work for law firms, corporate legal departments, or courts. They also help lawyers file documents such as motions, memoranda, and pleadings.

Narcotics Officer: A narcotics officer is someone who works to prevent illegal drug use and distribution. Narcotics officers may also write reports and examine evidence in cases. They also disseminate drug prevention information in the community.

 

Employment Opportunities for Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

CID officers identify, collect and process physical evidence at crime scenes. They are primarily employed in the government sector, however, they can also be employed by law enforcement agencies. The employment opportunities are also present in several other agencies such as local, state, and federal government agencies, drug enforcement agency (DEA) or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).


Top Recruiting Agencies for a Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

The job of a CID officer in the government sector is to investigate the complex cases under the government of India. Therefore, the government of India is the recruiter that offers job to CID officer, however, one can also work for drug enforcement agency (DEA) or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). There are also several branches which work under CID such as, Finger Print Bureau, CB-CID anti-terrorism wing, anti-narcotics cell and anti-human trafficking & missing persons cell.


Skills Required to Become a CID Officer

A CID officer's job requires him or her to solve complex problems. As a result, a CID officer must have all of the skills necessary to carry out his duties effectively.

The skills required to become a CID officer are as follows:

  • Analytical Abilities: A CID officer must be highly analytical. His job requires him to analyse complex problems, think creatively, and make important decisions. He must be mentally clear in order to conduct the investigations effectively
  • Human Psychology: A CID officer interviews witnesses and victims. In order to understand what the other person is saying. And what he means is that a good understanding of human behaviour and psychology is required
  • Reasoning Ability: A CID officer may encounter perplexing cases in which he must follow a series of 'why' questions in order to get to the bottom of the problem. As a result, he must be able to reason well
  • Good Interrogation Techniques: To get to the bottom of a case, a CID officer must question a variety of victims, suspects, and accused parties. To uncover the information the subject has been hiding, he must have effective interrogation techniques
     

Planning to choose Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

As a CID officer gains experience, his or her responsibilities increase and the salary package also varies depending upon the post. Some of the relative CID Officer salary figures for different job profiles of CID officer are listed below:

Job Profile

Starting Salary per annum (in INR)

Mid Level Salary per annum (in INR)

Senior Level Salary per annum (INR)

Fraud Investigator

INR 2,56,081

INR 3,51,353

INR 11,73,688

Police Officer

INR 1,76,171

INR 3,25,955

INR 7,86,886

Paralegal

INR 2,23,872

INR 5,11,109

INR 7,12,487

Note: The above figures are an estimate and may vary from individual to individual.
 

Books & Study Material to Become Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

Depending on your qualification and by giving entrance exams such as UPSC civil services, you can opt for CID officer post. Hence, there are no specific books or study material that can prepare you for a career as a CID officer. You should be attuned to the current happenings in the society to get a real-world experience. Also, candidates who aspire to join the CID must have certain basic skills, such as communication skills and critical-thinking skills.  
 

Pros of becoming a Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

  • Being a CID officer offers one good benefits and promotion opportunity
  • Working as a CID officer is as professionally rewarding as other criminal justice jobs. One does his/her part to keep the public safe from criminals
  • A role of a CID officer can help one become a better-rounded officer and help develop supervisory skills
     

Cons of becoming a Crime Investigation Department (CID) Officer

  • The job of a CID officer can be stressful and very dangerous. The chances of on-the-job injury and illness are extremely prevalent
  • One has to be always be prepared for different life-threatening situations that can occur
  • One has to deal with criminals who may be violent and abusive
  • The job can be very tiring as there are often very long hours involved
     

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