New Delhi, July 2026 — For decades, the Indian Police Service (IPS) has been projected to civil services aspirants as the ultimate symbol of societal power and prestige. However, according to Ashok Kumar, the former Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttarakhand, the reality of the uniform is far removed from the cinematic glamour of flashing lights and escort vehicles.

The Illusion of the “IPS Status” Many aspirants are drawn to the police service by the sheer aura—the rubab—of the post. Kumar warns that focusing on the status of the uniform is a trap.

• The Glory Trap: The public only sees the authority and the convoy, which masks the grueling, 24/7 nature of the job.
• The True Reality: Real policing is defined by relentless responsibility, emotional resilience, and the ability to make split-second decisions under intense public and political pressure.

The Changing Face of National Security As the author of the widely read textbook Challenges to Internal Security of India, Kumar notes that India’s internal security paradigm has undergone a dramatic shift. The three major threats that once defined the nation’s security challenges are finally on the decline:

1. Naxalism on the Brink: Left-Wing Extremism, which once dominated central India, has been pushed to the edge of eradication through coordinated operations.
2. Post-370 Kashmir: The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has steadily improved following the abrogation of Article 370, establishing a more stable environment.
3. Northeast Stability: Decades-old insurgencies in the Northeast have quieted down significantly, allowing development to take the lead.

Ditching the Hype: The Career Venn Diagram With millions of youth blindly chasing administrative posts due to parental or societal pressure, the former DGP offers a practical strategy for career selection. He advises aspirants to draw two simple circles:

• Circle 1: What you love to do.
• Circle 2: What you are actually good at.

The intersection where these two circles overlap is where a candidate’s true career path lies. Aligning natural talent with genuine interest is the only way to survive the high-stress environment of public service without burning out.

Bottom Line The police uniform is not a trophy to be won; it is a daily commitment to public service. As India’s traditional security challenges shrink, the country needs officers who choose the service for the grueling work of governance, not the superficial glory of the rank.