🏦 1. Introduction

The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) is one of the most prestigious Group ‘A’/‘B’ gazetted officer posts in the Indian Police Service (IPS) hierarchy, recruited through the State Public Service Commissions (like UPSC, BPSC, MPSC, MPPSC, RPSC) or via promotion from Sub-Inspector/Inspector ranks.

A DSP functions as a senior police officer responsible for maintaining law and order, supervising police stations, conducting investigations, and coordinating district-level security operations.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the DSP Exam 2026, including the latest selection process, updated syllabus, exam pattern, final merit criteria, and preparation tips, all aligned with current recruitment standards across India.

🧭 2. Selection Process

The DSP Recruitment 2026 is primarily conducted through the respective State Civil Services Examination or State Police Services Examination, depending on the state.

The general stages are as follows:

Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
Main Examination (Descriptive Type)
Interview / Personality Test
Physical Standard Test (PST) (in some states)
Medical Fitness Test

📌 Example: In UPSC or State PSC (like MPPSC, BPSC, UPPSC), DSP is one of the Group A Police Services cadres offered through the State PCS Exam.

📘 3. Exam Pattern (DSP 2026)

Below is the typical DSP exam pattern based on State PSC standards (e.g., MPPSC, BPSC, and RPSC).

🧾 Phase I – Preliminary Examination

Paper	Subject	Type	Marks	Duration
Paper I	General Studies	Objective (MCQ)	200	2 hours
Paper II	Aptitude Test (CSAT/Reasoning)	Objective (MCQ)	200	2 hours
Total	—	—	400 Marks	—

Prelims are qualifying in nature; marks are not counted in the final merit.

📜 Phase II – Main Examination

Paper	Subject	Type	Marks
Paper I	General Studies I (History, Geography, Constitution)	Descriptive	300
Paper II	General Studies II (Governance, Economy, Science & Tech)	Descriptive	300
Paper III	General Studies III (Security, Ethics, Polity, Environment)	Descriptive	300
Paper IV	Optional Subject (Law, Sociology, Criminology, Public Administration, etc.)	Descriptive	300
Paper V	Hindi / Regional Language	Descriptive	200
Total (Mains)	—	—	1,400 Marks

💬 Phase III – Interview / Personality Test

Stage	Marks
Interview / Viva Voce	175–200 (depending on state PSC)

Final merit = Mains + Interview marks.

🏋️ Physical Standard Test (Indicative)

Category	Height (cm)	Chest (cm) (Male)	Weight (Female)
Male (General)	168 cm	84 cm (expansion 5 cm)	—
Male (SC/ST/Hill Area)	165 cm	79 cm (expansion 5 cm)	—
Female (General)	155 cm	—	Proportionate to height
Female (SC/ST/Hill Area)	150 cm	—	Proportionate

Physical eligibility varies slightly from state to state.

📚 4. Detailed Section-Wise Syllabus

📖 Preliminary Examination

Paper I – General Studies

Indian History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
Indian Polity and Constitution
Geography (India & World)
Indian Economy & Budget
Current National & International Affairs
Environment & Ecology
Science & Technology Developments
General Mental Ability

Paper II – Aptitude / CSAT

Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability
Decision Making & Problem Solving
Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation
Comprehension and Communication Skills
Interpersonal Skills

📘 Mains Examination

Paper I – General Studies I

Indian History, Freedom Struggle, National Movement
Physical & Political Geography of India
Constitution, Fundamental Rights & Duties

Paper II – General Studies II

Governance, Public Administration
Economic Development & Reforms
Role of Technology in Internal Security
Disaster Management

Paper III – General Studies III

Ethics & Integrity in Public Life
Law & Order, Human Rights, Social Justice
Environmental Conservation
Internal Security & Policing Challenges

Paper IV – Optional Subject (Choose One)

Common options for DSP aspirants include:

Criminology
Law
Public Administration
Sociology
Political Science
Psychology

Paper V – Language Paper

Essay writing, comprehension, précis, grammar, translation.

✅ 5. Final Selection & Marks Weightage

Stage	Marks	Nature
Preliminary Exam	400	Qualifying
Mains Exam	1,400	Considered for Merit
Interview	175–200	Considered for Merit
Physical / Medical Test	Qualifying	Not Added
Total	~1,600	Final Merit Based on Mains + Interview

The final merit list for DSP 2026 will be based on the aggregate marks in the Mains and Interview only.

💡 6. Practical Preparation Tips

🧭 Know the Syllabus Thoroughly: The DSP syllabus overlaps heavily with State PCS and UPSC Civil Services—so follow standard materials like Laxmikanth (Polity), Spectrum (History), and NCERTs (Geography, Science).
📰 Stay Current: Follow PIB, The Hindu, and PRS India for daily current affairs and internal security updates.
📚 Use Standard References:
- Polity: M. Laxmikanth
- Economy: Ramesh Singh
- History: Spectrum / Bipin Chandra
- Ethics: Lexicon or Subba Rao
✍️ Answer Writing Practice: Start writing mock descriptive answers for Mains; presentation and clarity matter.
🧩 Mock Tests: Take both Prelims & Mains mock tests regularly to analyze accuracy and time management.
🧘‍♂️ Physical Fitness: Maintain regular exercise, running, and balanced nutrition to meet PST standards.
🕐 Revision Strategy: Keep short notes for revision; revise key concepts weekly.
💬 Interview Prep: Stay updated on your state’s current affairs, police reforms, and governance issues.

🔗 7. Useful Resource Links

UPSC Official Website: https://upsc.gov.in
Example State PSC Websites:
- MPPSC: https://mppsc.mp.gov.in
- BPSC: https://bpsc.bih.nic.in
- RPSC: https://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in
UPSC Civil Services / State PCS Notification (DSP Post): https://upsc.gov.in/examinations/notifications
Official Syllabus PDF (State PSC DSP Posts 2026): https://mppsc.mp.gov.in/Download/DSP_Syllabus_2026.pdf

Parthiban DSP (@parthiban_dsp_tn_police ...

🧑‍✈️ DSP – Deputy Superintendent of Police Exam 2026 | Latest Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation Guide