Sub Inspector Salary, SI Exam and Job Profile

The sub inspector salary depends on who hires you. Central forces and agencies pay SIs on the 7th pay commission matrix, mostly at Level 6 or Level 7, while state police SIs (the daroga) are paid on their own state's pay scale. This page explains both routes, the SI exam, the physical test and what the job is really like.

Sub inspector salary in central forces and agencies

Many graduates do not know that "Sub Inspector" is a post in several central bodies, each with its own pay level. The table below is from the latest official notices.

So the CBI sub inspector salary starts higher than most SI posts because it sits at Level 7. The RPF SI salary and the Delhi Police SI salary start at Level 6.

On top of basic pay you get Dearness Allowance (a percentage of basic that the government revises every six months), House Rent Allowance that depends on whether your posting city is class X, Y or Z, and a monthly travel allowance. NPS and income tax are deducted. The pay estimate shown above this article works out the current SI salary per month with today's DA. You can also try the calculator:

Each allowance is explained in plain words on our salary allowances page.

What does a police sub inspector do

In a state police station, the SI is the officer who actually runs most cases. In Hindi belt states people call this rank daroga. A normal week includes:

• Registering FIRs and investigating cases: visiting the spot, recording statements, collecting evidence, making arrests.
• Filing charge sheets and appearing in court.
• Leading a team of constables and head constables on patrol, raids and law and order duty.
• Handling a police outpost (chowki) or a beat area.
• Duty at festivals, elections, VIP visits and protests.

In RPF, an SI may head an outpost and protect railway property and passengers. In CBI or NIA, the SI works on investigations, paperwork and raids with senior officers. The hours are long and leave is not always easy to get, but the rank carries real authority and respect in a district.

Ways to become a sub inspector

There is no special SI course that you must study. The basic qualification for almost every SI post is graduation in any stream. What you need is to clear an SI exam and the physical tests.

Some states also hold separate exams for posts with "SI" in the name that are not police jobs, like food SI or excise SI. Read the post name in the notification carefully.

Police sub inspector salary in states

Questions like sub inspector salary in UP, SI police salary in Bihar (daroga salary), SI salary in Rajasthan or sub inspector salary in Tamil Nadu all have one honest answer: each state sets SI pay under its own pay rules. The level, basic pay and allowances are printed in the state's SI notification. In general:

• Most states pay SI on a 7th pay commission style matrix with a basic, DA and HRA, like central employees.
• State DA rates and HRA slabs are not always the same as the central rates, so in-hand pay can differ even at a similar level.
• Some states give extra police allowances such as ration, uniform, washing or special duty allowance.
• Some states pay a fixed stipend during training or probation and full pay only after that.

Where to check the official SI pay and exam rules for big states:

For constable level jobs in these states, see UP Police constable, Bihar Police constable and our police constable guide.

Sub inspector exam pattern and selection process

Every recruiting body writes its own scheme, but most SI selections follow the same stages:

1. Written exam, usually computer based and objective. Some exams have two papers.
2. Physical Standards Test (PST): height, chest (men) and sometimes weight.
3. Physical Efficiency Test (PET): running, and in many exams long jump and high jump. Usually qualifying only.
4. Document verification and medical test.
5. Interview in a few exams only.

For SI posts filled through SSC CGL (CBI, NIA, NCB), the order is different. You are selected on the CGL exam marks first, and the department checks physical and medical standards after that. If you fail them, you may lose the post. So check the physical standards annexure in the CGL notice before you choose these posts.

The UP SI exam (UPSI) pattern, Bihar SI exam pattern, MP SI exam pattern and RPF SI exam pattern are each printed in their own notification, with marks, time and negative marking. Always read the latest one, because state boards change the scheme from time to time.

SI exam syllabus

Subject names differ, but the SI exam syllabus in most exams covers:

• General knowledge and current affairs: history, geography, polity, economy, science, plus state-specific GK in state exams.
• Reasoning: series, coding, analogies, puzzles, direction sense.
• Numerical ability: percentage, ratio, profit and loss, time and work, data interpretation.
• Language: Hindi in many north Indian state exams, English in central exams, and the state language in southern states.
• Law and constitution basics in some state exams.

Physical standards for SI

Physical rules are set by each force or state, and they relax for women, SC, ST and some hill communities. As one example, the RPF Rules require enrolled members to be at least 165 cm tall with a chest of 80 cm unexpanded and 85 cm expanded. State police and CAPF standards are close to this range for men, and lower for women. Check the exact height, chest and running standards in your notification, and start running practice months before the exam.

Training, probation and promotion

After selection, an SI goes through basic training at the police training school or academy of the force. Training covers law, investigation, drill, weapons, physical fitness and self-defence. In RPF, a trainee must score at least 50% in each subject and 60% overall in the final training exam, and probation is two years.

The typical police ladder is:

1. Constable
2. Head Constable
3. Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI)
4. Sub Inspector (SI)
5. Inspector
6. Deputy SP or Assistant Commandant level, and above

Direct-recruit SIs usually reach Inspector after some years of service, depending on vacancies and the force. Each promotion moves you to a higher pay level. If you want to enter directly as an officer, look at CAPF Assistant Commandant or state PCS exams for Deputy SP posts.

How to prepare and official websites

• Pick your target exam first: SSC CPO, RPF SI or your state SI exam. The syllabus and language change with it.
• Study 3 to 4 hours a day for 6 to 12 months. Graduates who already prepared for SSC CGL have a head start.
• Solve previous papers of your exam and take timed mock tests every week.
• Run every morning. Many candidates clear the written test and then fail the race.
• Keep your graduation marksheet, caste and domicile certificates ready.

Official sites: ssc.gov.in for SSC CPO and CGL, the regional RRB websites for RPF SI, and your state police recruitment board or PSC website for state SI posts. Vacancies, form dates and cut-offs change in each cycle, so trust only the latest notification. Compare more uniformed jobs on our govt jobs after 12th and jobs after graduation pages.