Candidates wishing to become DSPs must appear in a national exam connected by the National Civil Service Commission. The DSP exam is particularly demanding as it is conducted in several stages. Only candidates who pass all levels of exams will be hired for the position. The various stages of testing conducted for recruitment into DSP positions include:
Written exam - will be conducted in two stages - preliminary and main exam. Physical performance test (PET), interview, and medicine. It should also be noted that candidates must complete a probationary course before being hired as a police aides.
The candidate must be an Indian citizen between the ages of 21 and 38, regardless of degree.
The minimum height for men is 168 cm (5 ft 6 in), women’s minimum height is 155 cm (5 ft 1 in),
Chest circumference 84 cm (33 in), and chest circumference 5 cm (2 in).
In Tamil Nadu, the minimum height is 165 cm (5 feet 5 inches) for the candidates. Each year the state government compiles a list of state police officers eligible for promotion to the Indian Police.
Civil servants hired by state civil service boards receive this rank directly. The top is the police chief, and the bottom is the inspector.