UPSC Indian Forest Service

The Indian Forest Service Exam (IFS) is one of the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the recruitment officers at the All India level by the Government of India for the scientific management of its forests. The major responsibility of the IFS is to implement the National Forest Policy. The policy aims to ensure the ecological stability of the country through participatory sustainable management and protection of natural resources. Usually, an IFS officer assumes various positions in state forest departments. The highest-ranking IFS official in each state is called the Head of Forest Forces.

Click here to Download Notification for the UPSC IFS exam 2020.

Important Date for UPSC IFS

Click here to Download UPSC IFS Admit Card

Eligibility Criteria for UPSC IFS

Nationality

• A candidate must be either:- 
• (a) A citizen of India, or (
• b) a subject of Nepal, or (c) a subject of Bhutan, or 
• (d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or 
• (e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Srilanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. 
• Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) shall be a person in whose favor a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India
• A candidate in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary may be admitted to the examination but the offer of appointment may be given only after the necessary eligibility certificate has been issued to him/her by the Government of India. 

Education Qualification

Candidate should hold 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 recognized university or equivalent.

Candidates appearing for their degree examination (with prescribed subjects) can also apply. If they qualify on the result of the written part of the examination, they have to submit proof of passing the required examination along with their detailed application form to be filled in at that stage.

Age Limit (as of 01-08-2020)

• Minimum Age: 21 Years
• Maximum Age: 32 Years

There is age relaxation for candidates of different categories. See the table to check for age relaxation according to UPSC rules and regulations.

Candidates who fall into more than one category are allowed to accumulate their age relaxation as per the guidelines of the exam conducting authority.

A number of attempts: 

The maximum number of attempts restricted for candidates are as follows:  

Appearing for one or more papers of an examination will be counted as an attempt at the examination even if the candidate failed to qualify for the selection.

Selection Process for UPSC IFS

UPSC IFS Selection Process consists of three stages. The three stages are given below - 

• Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
• Main Examination (Objective/Written Type)
• Personality Test (Interview)

UPSC IFS Exam Pattern

UPSC IFS Exam Pattern for Prelims

• Mode of examination: Civil services exam is an offline examination.
• A number of papers: Preliminary exam consists of two papers, Paper- 1 based on General Studies (GS) and Paper 2 is General Studies based on the Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT).
• Language: Available in bilingual language (Hindi and English).
• Type of questions: Both the Papers comprise Multiple choice questions (MCQs).
• Maximum Marks: 400 marks (200 marks for each section)
• Mode of Examination: Offline (pen and paper).
• Marking Scheme: There is a negative marking of 1/3 marks.
• The preliminary exam serves as a screening test to admit deserving candidates to the Mains exam.

UPSC IFS Exam Pattern For Mains

• Mode of examination: Offline exam.
• Language: Paper is set only in the English language. Candidates have to answer in the English language only.
• Duration: 3 hours for each paper
• The number of papers: There are 6 different papers.
• Type of questions: All the questions asked are in essay (conventional) type
• Maximum Marks: 1400 marks (300 marks for Paper I and Paper-II respectively and for the rest 200 marks each.)

The UPSC IFS Mains exam pattern is given below - 

Note: For Paper III, IV, V, and VI, two optional subjects are to be selected from the list given below. Each subject will have two papers based on it. The maximum time duration is 3 hours for each paper.

List of Optional Subjects:

Please note that the candidates can't take the following combination of subjects:

1. Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering

2. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science

3. Agriculture and Forestry.

4. Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

5. Mathematics and Statistics

6. Of the Engineering subjects viz. Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering - not more than one subject.

Personality Test/ Interview

The maximum marks for the interview are 300 marks. The candidate will be interviewed by a Board of competent and unbiased observers who will have before them a record of his/her career. The object of the Interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for the Service. The candidate will be expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in his/her subjects of academic study but also in events which are happening around him/her both within and outside his/her own state or country, as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should arouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.

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.· 

UPSC IFS Exam Syllabus

Part A-Preliminary Examination 

Paper I - 200 marks, 2 hours

• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World
• Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science.

Paper-II - 200 marks, 2 hours

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. - Class X level)
• English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level)

Note 1: Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%. 

Note 2: The questions will be of multiple-choice, objective type. 

Part B-Main Examination 

Paper-I General English - (300 Marks)

• Essay and Passages
• General understanding of English and everyday use of words.

Paper-II General Knowledge - (300 Marks)

• The syllabus of Paper 2 involves information on current events happening around the world.
• This paper includes questions based on topics such as Indian Polity, Constitution of India, History of India, and Geography of Nature.

Paper-III, Paper-IV, Paper-V, and Paper-VI - (200 Marks for each paper)

Note: Paper 3, 4, 5, 6 of UPSC IFS is an optional subject as opted by the candidates.

Candidates have to choose any optional from the subjects like Chemistry, Agriculture, Botany, Geology, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Civil Engineering, Forestry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Statistics, Zoology.

Click here to Download the Indian Forest Service Syllabus pdf

Exam Centers of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination:

Exam Centers of Civil Services (Main) Examination:

UPSC IFS Officer Salary Structure Pay Scale Details

UPSC IFS Allowances

• House Rent Allowances

• DA

• Driver Allowances

• Transportation

• Security Guard & Household Helpers

• Medical Expenses

• Electricity & Water Bill

• Free Phone Call

• Abroad Study Options

• Pension & Retirement Benefits

Job Roles & Responsibilities of UPSC IFS

The different Job roles in Indian Forest Service Officer ranges are shared in the below section

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest: This post is the head of the forest force. The major roles of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest are to manage the forests, environment, and wildlife issues of a state of India. 

Additional Chief Conservator of Forest: The additional conservator of forest plays an important role in assisting the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest. 

Deputy Conservator of Forest: A deputy conservator of the forest is also considered as Divisional Forest Officer. The main responsibility of these officials is to manage the forest, environment, and wildlife-related issues of a state.

Assistant Conservator of Forest: The main responsibility of these officers is to complete the tasks assigned by higher authority. 

Forest Range Officer (FRO): A forest range officer is responsible for the efficient management of the respective forest range.