Kerala Police Exam Guide
Kerala Police Sub Inspector (SI) of Police 2026: The Complete Guide
The Sub Inspector is an officer-track post, and its written exam is far deeper than the constable paper — 45 of 100 marks are law, constitution, cyber and psychology. This guide maps the whole syllabus (now on the new BNS/BNSS/BSA codes), the physical test, salary, and how to prepare.
The SI post — an officer rank
The Sub Inspector of Police is a gazetted-track officer rank (station-house-officer level) recruited directly and through departmental quota, with academy training. The written exam reflects the role: it is dominated by a 45-mark professional block of law, constitution, cyber forensics and human psychology. Do not prepare for it like a constable exam.
Eligibility, age and physical standards
Qualification: a Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Age: generally about 19/20–31 (open-market band commonly 20–31), with OBC +3 and SC/ST +5; confirm the born-between window in the specific notification.
Physical standards: men 168 cm height and 81 cm chest with 5 cm expansion; women 152 cm (SC/ST relaxed to 160/76). Eyesight 6/6 both eyes without glasses, no colour blindness or squint. PET: the same 5-of-8 one-star events as the constable exam.
Written exam pattern & mark distribution
OMR, 100 questions / 100 marks / 75 minutes, 1/3 negative marking, bilingual (with a 10-mark regional-language section). Some cycles run Prelims → Mains; the distribution below is the Main examination:
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| General Knowledge (History 3, Geography 3, Economics 3, Kerala Governance 5, Life Science & Public Health 6) | 20 |
| Current Affairs | 5 |
| Simple Arithmetic + Mental Ability | 10 |
| General English | 10 |
| Regional Language | 10 |
| Special Topics (Law + Constitution + Cyber + Psychology) | 45 |
The 45-mark block that decides the exam
BNS 2023 (5): the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — definitions, general exceptions, offences against women and children, offences against the body (including new offences like mob lynching and organised crime), public tranquillity and property offences.
BNSS 2023 (5): arrest law and procedure, the 24-hour rule, search and seizure (with audio-video recording), preventive action, and investigation (FIR, statements, case diary).
BSA 2023 (5): the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — definitions, confessions, statements of unavailable witnesses, and expert opinion.
Constitution (7): Preamble, Fundamental Rights and the writs (Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo Warranto), DPSP, amendments, constitutional bodies (CAG, ECI, Finance Commission, GST Council). RTI Act (3), IT Act (3), Cyber & IT basics (7): digital forensics, CDR/IPDR, IMEI/IMSI, hacking, phishing, ransomware, cyber terrorism.
Human Psychology (10): approaches to behaviour, cognition (attention, memory), intelligence and emotions, stress and aggression, social dimensions, and development — Erikson (psychosocial) and Kohlberg (moral).
How the pattern has shifted
The single biggest change is the migration from IPC/CrPC/Evidence Act to BNS/BNSS/BSA 2023 — questions now test the new sections and new offences (mob lynching, organised crime, snatching). Cyber-forensics and psychology push the paper toward applied reasoning (identify the forensic artefact, match the theorist), and Constitution questions increasingly use writ-scenario and assertion-reason formats. The balance has tilted from broad GK toward law-and-order application.
Salary and benefits
Pay scale: approximately ₹45,600 – 95,600. Gross starting is around ₹50,000–55,000 in hand after deductions. Allowances: DA, HRA, travel, uniform, special/risk pay, medical, pension/gratuity or NPS.
The selection process
Written (Prelims where applicable → Mains, ranking) → Physical Measurement Test → Physical Efficiency Test (5 of 8) → medical → document verification → ranked list.
Study plan and common mistakes
Own the 45-mark law block — study BNS, BNSS and BSA 2023 directly (not old IPC/CrPC), plus Constitution writs and amendments and the IT Act sections. Learn psychology systematically (theorist → concept) for 10 finite marks. Do degree-level current affairs and Kerala governance, and keep training for the PET.
Common mistakes: relying on outdated IPC material; treating SI like a constable exam; ignoring the 10-mark regional language; poor time management on a dense paper; and under-training for the physical test assuming "officers don't run".
Sample questions (with answers)
Model questions in the real exam pattern. Tap to reveal the answer.
1. Under BNS 2023, "mob lynching" is punishable under section —
2. The writ issued to produce a detained person before court is —
3. Erikson is associated with which developmental theory?
4. Under BNSS 2023, an arrested person must be produced before a magistrate within —
5. Kohlberg's theory deals with —
6. An "IMEI number" is associated with which forensic domain?
7. Which constitutional body advises on Centre-State financial distribution?
8. The GST Council is a constitutional body created by which amendment?
9. Under BSA 2023, the opinion of a handwriting expert falls under —
10. A "cognizable offence" is one in which police may —
Frequently asked questions
What qualification is needed for Kerala Police SI?
Is the SI exam based on IPC or the new BNS?
What is the most important part of the SI written exam?
What is the Kerala SI salary?
Do SI candidates have to pass a physical test?
More Kerala PSC exam guides
- Kerala PSC LDC
- Kerala PSC LGS
- Kerala PSC VEO
- Secretariat Assistant & Degree Level
- Kerala Police Constable / CPO
- Fire & Rescue Officer
- Renaissance in Kerala (PSC notes)