DSP Full Form

The DSP, full form of which is the Director- General of Police, holds the highest rank of a police officer in the specific state or union territory. Also, the Director General of Police acts as a head to all the police forces in the given state or union territory. The DSP assumes the position after qualifying the National level examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). 

Read on to know about the roles of DSP and how various administrative powers are applicable for maintaining the law and orders of the society and controlling the chaos and disturbance in the society. With several years of experience in police service, the officers are eligible for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

What is DSP Full Form?

The DSP full form stands for Deputy Superintendent of Police. DSP refers to the rank and position of a police officer in the Indian Police Service (IPS). These are the state-level police officers who maintain law and order that falls within the specific state jurisdictions.

The DSP has the similar authority as the ACP, full form of which is Assistant Commissioner of Police and may be promoted to IPS after a few years of service according to state government legislation. Promotional exams are held to determine which police officers would be promoted to the level of DSP. Inspectors are typically promoted to DSP rank after the completion of specific years of service. In many states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, they are commonly recognised or posted as Circle Officers (C.O.).

Role and Responsibility of DSP

The DSP is the subordinate officer to the Superintendent of Police (SP). DSP aids the S.P. and oversees all police department operations, including crime prevention, police station management, investigative control etc. The key responsibilities of DSP are as follows:

• If they are charged as the sub-division DSP, they will be in control of and responsible for administering two or more police stations.
• The job of DSP is to oversee all cases and related investigations. They visit all crime scenes and ensure that the investigations are properly carried out.
• It is their responsibility to handle all security tasks that concern the general public or traffic.
• DSPs are also responsible for managing all traffic restrictions and delegation of duties.
• As a part of their responsibilities, the DSP makes an effort to form community partnerships and keep the public and management at peace.
• Their responsibilities also include maintaining law and order. They are allowed to take action against those who do not follow them, whether they are members of their own team or the general public. 
• The DSP is also responsible for ensuring that all local and other specific legislations are followed by.
• One of DSP’s key responsibilities is to manage large-scale arrangements. For example, if a large gathering or event is planned in the region, it is a DSP’s responsibility to ensure that everything is in order and that no criminal or crime interferes with the event.

Eligibility Criteria for DSP

To become a DSP, one must fulfill the criteria which is listed below:

• Applicants must be citizens of India.
• Applicants must have graduated from a recognised board or educational institution in any stream.
• The applicant must be between the age of 21 and 30. The upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST applicants.
• Male candidates must be at least 168 centimeters tall, while female applicants must be at least 155 centimeters tall in figure.
• A minimum chest measurement of 84 centimeters is required for males, with a maximum expansion up to 5 millimeters.
• Before applying for the exam to become the Deputy Superintendent of Police, candidates must also ensure that they fulfill all the required eligibility criteria.

How to Become a DSP?

The candidate who aspires to become DSP has to appear for the state-level exam that is conducted by the State Public Service Commission. The examination for DSP is particularly considered as tough in nature as it is conducted in several processes. Only a candidate who qualifies all the stages of the exam is eligible for recruitment to the specific post. The various process of the exam that is conducted for the recruitment to the DSP post includes three stages:

• Written Exam - conducted in two levels: Preliminary and Mains
• Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
• Interview and Medical Test

Candidates are also required to undergo probationary training and gain practical level of knowledge before they get posted as Deputy Superintendent of Police.