They work hard round-the-clock to maintain internal security, counter terrorist activities and also fight Maoists in remote areas.

Considering the challenges they face, one expects that their grievances should be addressed and these officers should be treated as equal to IAS counterparts.

It was a long time demand of the top cops. 

The delay in promotions has been a major reason for discontent among the senior IPS officers, who have been complaining of a bias in favour of their IAS brethren.

And now considering the appeal and fathoming the ground realities, the Government of India has approved new norms for promotion of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers at par with the officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in its recent orders has allowed an IPS officer, who have put in 25 years of service will be promoted to the rank of Additional Director General of Police(ADGP).

So back in Odisha IPS officers of 1986 batch (tough guys and heavy weights) are expecting their next promotions in January 2011.

The batch includes Abhya, IG Crime Branch, Pradeep Kapur, IG Railways, Bijaya Kumar Sharma, Commissioner of Police Twin City, M Nageswar Rao, IG CRPF Eastern Sector and Shyam Sundar Hansdah, Director State Forensic Laboratory.

As the State Government has started the process of promotion to the 1985 batch of IAS officers soon, then 1986 batch of IAS officers will be able to get promotion to Principal Secretary rank in 2011.

Obviously being at par with the IAS officers, the powerful batch of top cops of 1986 batch are in happy mode with the new norms for promotion, admitted an officer.