A Circle Officer (CO) or Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) is a

police officer A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...

of the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) or assistant commissioner of police (ACP) heading an independent

police The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...

sub-division in the various states of

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. In some states the officer of the same rank is designated simply as Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) or in metropolitan cities is designated as Assistant commissioner of police (ACP).

Recruitment

Recruitment to this rank is made either directly or by promotion. The State Public Service Commissions conduct the State Civil Services Examination periodically to recruit police officers directly to this rank. Another manner of recruitment is by recruiting the officers who have risen through the junior ranks to the rank of the circle officer or deputy superintendent of police or assistant commissioner of police.

Qualifications

To become a Circle Officer (CO), one must have the following qualifications.(1) The age of the candidate should be at least 21 years and maximum 44 years. (2) The candidate should have a bachelor's degree from a recognized university. (3) The candidate should have passed the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Public Service Commission. (4) Candidate should speak and write the native language of the state.{{fact, date=December 2021 Police ranks of India Police ranks Uttar Pradesh Police