Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds a competitive examination named Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination for recruiting officers for the Indian Forest Service. The Indian Forest Service was created in 1966 for the protection, conservation, and regeneration of forest resources. The Indian Forest Service Officers (IFS) who are recruited through UPSC by the Central Government plays a very crucial role in the management and supervision of the country’s forest reserves and wildlife.

Since 2013, a new component of screening mechanism through civil services (preliminary) examination has been added. Candidates have to appear in the civil services (preliminary) examination and qualify the same for going to the second stage of Indian Forests Services main examination (written and interview). 

UPSC conducts the examination during the July month, and exam notification is out during February/March.

JOIN THE UPSC IFOS DISCUSSIONS FORUM

• Important Dates
• Eligibility Criteria
• Application Fee
• Exam Pattern
• How to Apply
• Exam Centers
• Interview
• Training
• Facilitation Center

Important Dates

Eligibility Criteria

Age limits

The candidate should be aged between 21 to 32 Years on 1st August, of the year of examination. Upper age limit relaxation is applicable as per government rules.

Educational Qualification

• A Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects namely, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or Forestry or Engineering of a recognised university or equivalent.
• Candidates appearing at their degree examination (with prescribed subjects) are also eligible to compete. Candidates qualifying on the result of the written part of the examination will be required to submit the proof of passing the requisite examination alongwith their detailed application form to be filled up at that stage.

Number of Attempts:

Every candidate appearing at the Examination, who is otherwise eligible, shall be permitted six attempts at the examination for general category and OBC candidates. Provided that this restriction on the number of attempts will not apply in the case of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates who are otherwise eligible.

Physical Standards

The Candidates should be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to Indian Forest Service Examination, 2016 as per regulations given in Appendix‐III.

Application Fee

The candidates are required to pay a fee of Rs 100/- for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. The Female / SC / ST / PH candidates who are exempted. The candidates should pay either by depositing the money in any Branch of SBI by cash, or by using the net banking facility of SBI, State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur/State Bank of Hyderabad/State Bank of Mysore/State Bank of Patiala / State Bank of Travancore or by using Visa / Master Credit / Debit card.

IFS Mains Exam Pattern

The UPSC indian forest Services Exam have 3 papers in total.

Paper III, IV, V & VI: Any two subjects to be selected from the list of optional subjects set out below. Each subject will have two papers.- 200 Marks for each paper

Optional subjects are: Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering , Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science , Botany , Chemistry , Chemical Engineering ,Civil Engineering , Forestry , Geology , Mathematics , Mechanical Engineering , Physics , Statistics , Zoology

Upon clearing the written test, candidates have to appear for Personality Test that carries 300 marks.

Candidates should note that there will be penalty (Negative Marking) for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the Objective Type Question Papers. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.

Mobile phones, pagers, Bluetooth  or any  other communication devices are not allowed inside  the  premises  where  the  examination  is  being  conducted.

Click for UPSC IFS Exam Syllabus

BROWSE THE UPSC IFOS QUESTION PAPERS

How to Apply

Before start filling up of Online Application, a candidate must have his/her photograph and signature duly scanned in the .jpg format in such a manner that each file should not exceed 40 KB and must not be less than 3 KB in size for the photograph and 1 KB for the signature.

1) The Candidates are required to apply Online through the official website www.upsconline.nic.in.
3) Candidates will be required to complete the Online Application Form containing two stages viz. Part‐I and Part‐II as per the instructions available in the above-mentioned site through drop-down menus.
3) The candidates are required to pay a fee of Rs.100/‐ (Rupees One Hundred only) [excepting SC/ST/ Female/Physically Handicapped candidates who are exempted from payment of fee]

The applicants must ensure that while filling their Application Form, they are providing their valid and active E‐Mail IDs as the Commission may use an electronic mode of communication while contacting them at different stages of the examination process.

The applicants are advised to check their emails at regular intervals and ensure that the email address ending with @ nic.in are directed to their inbox folder and not to the SPAM folder or any other folder

Exam Centers

The Preliminary Examination will be held at the following Centers:

The centers and the date of holding the examination as mentioned above are liable to be changed at the discretion of the Commission. Applicants should note that there will be a ceiling on the number of candidates allotted to each of the Centres, except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkatta, and Nagpur. Allotment of Centres will be on the “first-­apply-­first-allot” basis, and once the capacity of a particular Centre is attained, the same will be frozen. Applicants, who cannot get a Centre of their choice due to ceiling, will be required to choose a Centre from the remaining ones. Applicants are, thus, advised that they may apply early so that they could get a Centre of their choice.

Interview

The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination, but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation, intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate. The Board will pay special attention to assessing the intellectual curiosity, critical powers of observation and assimilation, the balance of judgment and alertness of mind, initiative, tact, capacity for leadership; the ability for social cohesion, mental and physical energy, and powers of practical application; integrity of character; and other qualities such as topographical sense, love for out‐door life and the desire to explore unknown and out of way places.

Training:

Selected candidates are sent for foundation training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy, which is followed by specialized orientation in Forest Service at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun with inputs on wildlife management, tribal welfare, soil conservation, forest management, engineering survey, weapon handling, etc.

Facilitation Counter / Guidance Center

In case of any guidance/information/clarification regarding their applications,  candidature, etc. candidates can contact  UPSC’s  Facilitation  Counter near  ‘C’  Gate of its campus in person or over  Telephone No. 011‐23385271/011‐23381125/011‐23098543 on working days between 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs.

See also:

• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)