SDM Vs SDPO: What is the difference between SDM and SDPO, who is more powerful?

SDM Vs SDPO: You must have often heard people around you saying that we are going to SDM or SDPO office. People often come face to face with the officers sitting on these posts in connection with work. The job of both these posts is considered one of the most prestigious jobs. From resolving land disputes in the subdivision to maintaining law and order, the officers sitting on these two posts are responsible. SDPO designation is mostly heard in the states of Bihar and Bengal. They may have different designations in different states. SDM designation can be heard in most of the states. Youths are selected for SDM and SDPO posts under the State Public Service Commission (PCS) or also under UPSC. If you also have the thought of becoming SDM and SDPO, then read all the things given below carefully first.

SDM (Sub Divisional Magistrate)
SDM is also known as Sub Divisional Magistrate. The Sub Divisional Magistrate is an officer of the Indian Administrative Service Cadre Civil Service or a State Civil Service Officer of the State Administrative Service Cadre. It is considered responsible for collecting land revenue. The Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) is a state government officer. It exercises executive, revenue, and magisterial power, overseeing administrative and legal matters within a specific sub-division of the district. Apart from this, Indian Administrative Service officers selected from UPSC or State Public Service Commission also work as SDM during their training. He is also known as Assistant Collector cum Sub Divisional Magistrate or Assistant Commissioner in many states. The Divisional Magistrate has to perform the functions of multiple Executive Magistrates under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.

sdm work
Registering vehicles
overseeing revenue-related tasks
overseeing election-related work
registration of marriage
Renewal and issue of new driving license
Renewal of arms license and issue of new license
Issuance of certificates like OBC, SC/ST, and Domicile

SDPO (Sub Divisional Police Officer)
The full form of SDPO is Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO Full Form) and this post is a special police rank in India. The term is derived from the British Indian Police Act, of 1861, which was introduced by Lord Raffles to create police officers who could perform policing duties in British India. It is a kind of police rank below inspectors. There are no additional responsibilities attached to this rank, apart from carrying out certain tasks like patrolling and investigation. SDPOs in India are posted at various police stations and act as a link between the state government and the district police. They provide coordination and advice from the higher level of the state government to the lower level of policing. These officers are also involved in the investigation.

Apart from this, these officers are also involved in addressing local problems like tribal issues, improving law and order, etc. Also, the SDPO has no power to arrest people or investigate on its own. If there is a need to detain innocent citizens for any specific reason, it has to be done through due process like legal action, which can be done on the orders of a Magistrate/Judge.

Power of SDPO
The power of a Divisional Police Officer is similar to that of an Inspector. However, there are also some differences that can be seen. Most importantly, SDPO has no authority to arrest. However, he can use force against those who are attacking or threatening him during a police operation if he feels that their behavior is harmful to him and his group. Another important aspect is that SDPOs are not considered “Inspectors”, which means that all the activities done by Inspectors have to be registered in their respective police stations, but there will be no such record of activities done by SDPOs.

A sub-divisional police officer exercises the same powers as a sub-divisional magistrate, except in police stations. A large number of police stations in India need to employ a number of sub-divisional police officers to ensure that adequate officers are available at each station to perform law and order duties. It is the responsibility of the officer in charge to administer justice, and law enforcement and maintain order.