In some states, an SP in the selection grade is also known as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

The ranks from ASP/DSP to DGP falls within the broad category of superior officers in a police force.

IPS officers are recruited through the Civil Services Examination and initially posted as ASP in a state cadre during their probationary period.

Meanwhile, state governments conduct recruitment for DSP rank through Public Service Commission examinations.

[6] Some state governments conduct direct recruitments only for constable and sub-inspector (SI) ranks.

This encompasses a range of responsibilities, including financial and personnel administration, maintaining law and order, preventing and detecting crimes, overseeing surveillance and intelligence operations, ensuring the security of ministerial residences, addressing grievances, providing training to police personnel, enforcing discipline among the police, checking anti-social activities, and conducting routine inspections of subordinate police stations and offices, among others.

These magisterial powers span a range of activities, from issuing orders for preventive arrests and declaring Section 144 to securing bonds of good behavior from potential or habitual offenders and employing force during law and order exigencies, among other responsibilities.

[14][15] Within the force, SP serving as district chief, sends monthly reports to the DGP through Inspector General of Police (IGP) and DIG.

In metropolitan areas, with a population exceeding 1 million, the commissionerate system is implemented.

[16] In a commissionerate, an officer of SP rank may be appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

[14] However, when there was shortage of higher-ranking officers, there have been instances when an SP was appointed as the Commissioner of Police in non-metropolitan areas.

[20] In addition to having an SP as chief in each police district, other SP ranking officers may be appointed as the head of various units or specialised wings, such as telecommunication, traffic, vigilance, women's cell, special branch, crime branch, anti terrorist squad, among others.

Officers expressing willingness to be deputed with the Union government are nominated by the state cadre.

Data from the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2022 showed that most vacancies are in the rank of SP and DIG.

Nominated officers are assessed by the Central Police Establishment Board (CPEB), and the selected names are sent to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for approval.