Indian Forest Service, which is also referred to as UPSC IFoS, is one of the national-level tests held by the UPSC for positions in the environment, forests, and climate change sectors. The Union Public Service Commission annually oversees the UPSC IFoS.
The applicants must first take the UPSC CSE Prelims test. Candidates who pass the Prelims test must next attend the IFoS Mains exam. The eligible applicants must attend the UPSC Personal Interview after the Main Exam.
Along with IAS and IPS, the Indian Forest Service (IFoS/IFS) is one of the three All-India Services of the Indian government. The Service’s mission, established in 1966 under the All India Services Act, 1951, is to execute the National Forest Policy and guarantee the nation’s ecological stability via the protection and inclusive, sustainable management of its natural resources. Indian Forest Service recruitment exams are held by UPSC. Members of the Indian Forest Service are also in charge of managing the nation’s national parks, tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and other protected areas.
In the State Forest Department, IFoS/IFS occupy posts such as District/Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Conservator of Forests, Chief Conservator of Forests, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, etc. The Head of Forest Forces is the highest-ranking member of the Forest Service in each state.
| Particulars | Elaboration |
| Exam Name | UPSC IFoS 2023 |
| Full-Form | Indian Forest Service Exam |
| Establishment Year | 1966 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Cadre Controlling Authority | Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change |
| Exam Level | National |
| Application Mode | Online Mode |
| Exam Mode | Offline Mode |
| Number of Attempts | 6 |
| Number of Vacancies | 151 (Approx.) |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
On February 1, 2023, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the comprehensive notification for the 2023 Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination. The commission also made the UPSC IFoS Prelims Application Form 2023 available on its official website. The deadline for applications is February 21, 2023.
Candidates who wish to apply for both the Indian Forest Service and Civil Services examinations may do so using a common online application form, provided that they meet the necessary eligibility requirements.
Indian-Forest-Service-NotificationThe Union Public Service Commission has announced Indian Forest Service (IFS) Prelims & Main 2023 Examination Exam dates. While the IFS Main Exam will be held on November 26, 2023, for 10 Days, the UPSC IFS Preliminary Exam will be held on May 28, 2023. The online registration period for UPSC IFS 2023 began on February 1 and will finish on February 21. There is no offline option; the applicant must submit the application form exclusively online. The dates for the IFS 2023 Exam are listed below.
| Important Events | Tentative Dates |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Notification | 1st February 2023 |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Application Process Commencement | 1st February 2023 |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Application Process Ends | 21st February 2023 |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Admit Card Release | May 2023 |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Preliminary Exam Date | 28th May 2023 |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Preliminary Result | June 2023 |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Main Exam Date | 26th November 2023 |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Main Result | December 2023 |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Interview | January 2024 |
| Indian Forest Service 2023 Final Result | February 2024 |
According to the official statement, there are around 151 open positions in all. However, according to the government, applicants who fall under the SC, ST, OBC, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and PWD categories would be given preference and there are a few reserved positions. Review the information below.
| Reserved Vacancies | 5 |
| Low Vision Category | 2 |
| Partially Deaf Category | 2 |
| Total Vacancies Available | 115 (approx.) |
Check to see if you fulfil all the qualifying conditions before you start filling out the paperwork. The notice PDF given by the conducting body contains a list of all the requirements. We have summarised them for your convenience, but you can always see the official announcement for the full information.
The applicant’s nationality is taken into account as one of the initial criteria.
The candidate must be an Indian citizen, a subject of Nepal or Bhopal, or a Tibetan refugee who entered India before January 1, 1962, with the purpose of remaining there permanently.
Individuals of Indian descent who have immigrated from nations such as Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vietnam, etc. want to remain permanently in the country.
On August 1, 2020, the exam year, applicants must be at least 21 years old and no older than 32. This indicates that the candidate’s birthdate cannot be earlier than August 2, 1988, nor later than August 1, 1999.
There is, however, some age relaxation for the restricted categories, which is covered below:
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Those who were residents of Jammu and Kashmir between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1989 | 5 years |
| Defence Service Personnel | 5 years |
| Ex-service members who have served their country for at least five years, including commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs. A certificate from the Ministry of Defence states that they are eligible to seek for civil work and may be terminated with three months’ notice from the date they get the offer of employment. | 5 years |
| PwD | 10 years |
Note: Cumulative age relaxation will be available to SC/ST individuals also covered by the other age restriction provisions.
In contrast to IAS, the educational requirements are strict when applying for IFoS. Only graduates in the following fields may submit applications:
Candidates taking any required topics for their degree test are also eligible to apply for the exam. However, to be qualified for the following level if they pass the preliminary exams, they must include the information about passing the test in the application form.
Before applying, one should keep in mind this additional condition. You are only allowed to apply for the exam a certain number of times; therefore, each time you fail the exam, one attempt is forfeited. Following are the maximum tries that applicants may make:
| Category | Number of Attempts |
| General | 6 |
| SC/ST | No Restrictions |
| PwD | 9 |
| OBC | For OBC/general, 9; for SC/ST, illimitable |
Candidates must meet minimum weight and height standards as well as pass a physical fitness test in order to be included on the final merit list.
| Criteria | Male | Female |
| Height | With a 5-centimetre relaxation for restricted categories, the minimum height is 150 cm. | With a 5 centimetre relaxation for restricted categories, the minimum height is 150 cm. |
| Chest | Minimum chest expansion of 84 cm with a 5 cm expansion. | 79 cm at a minimum with a 5 cm expansion. |
| Blood Pressure | Age: 22-34- 122-127 | |
| Eyesight | Distance vision for normal eyes is 6/6 or 6/9, whereas for bad eyes it is 6/12 or 6/9. | |
| Hearing Ability | Good listening with normal ear cavity- 1000-4000 hearing frequency. Impairment should not be more than 30 decibels. | |
| Speaking Ability | Candidates shouldn’t have any difficulties with stuttering when speaking | |
| Miscellaneous | Pregnant women should not undergo the medical examination. The final exam involves walking 25 km for males and 15 km for women in 4 hours. | |
Before submitting an application for the test, aspirants must carefully review the UPSC IFoS eligibility requirements.
The UPSC IFoS announcement 2023 was published on the UPSC website on February 1, 2023. From February 1–21, 2023, applicants can submit the UPSC IFoS application form. On May 28, 2023, the UPSC IFoS Prelims test will take place. Through the UPSC IFoS recruitment 2023, a total of 150 vacancies are to be filled for various positions. In November 2023, the UPSC IFoS Mains test will take place.
The UPSC IFoS application process is entirely online and simple. The complete processes are provided below to assist candidates in registering for the exam.
Note:
The following section of the form requires you to provide your signature and photo.
JPG or PNG format should be used for both.
After the UPSC IFoS Prelims Results are out, applicants who qualify for the Mains test must reapply for the Main test. Similar steps must be taken to apply, and only through the official website.
The payment can be made through net banking, a debit or credit card, or by bringing cash and the printout of the e-challan to the appropriate and authorised bank branch.
| Category | Fee Charged |
| General / OBC / EWS | 100 |
| General / UR (Mains Exam) | 200 |
| SC / ST / PWD / Female | No charges |
The application process is simple, but you must be careful not to make any mistakes when entering the necessary information in the forms because mistakes cannot be changed once the form has been completed. Keep the following materials nearby before you begin filling out the application:
| Documents | Size | Dimension |
| Signature | 10-30 KB | 1.5-3.5 cm |
| Photograph | 20-50 KB | Passport Size |
For success, the application and payments must be submitted during the application window. Applying as soon as possible is prudent to guarantee that the exam centre allocation matches your preferences.
The admit card will be made accessible on the official website three weeks before to the exam. The admission card is available for download on the official website for candidates. After downloading it, the applicant should print off their admission card and carry it to the test room. The admission card will provide information about the exam’s date and location.
The process to obtain the UPSC IFoS admit card is as follows:
Step 1: Go to the UPSC’s official website.
Step 2: Locate and click on the IFS Exam Admit Card Link under the key announcements.
Step 3: Fill up the required form with your registration ID and password.
Step 4: A screen will show your IFS 2023 admit card. Take a printout of it after downloading.
Given the size of the curriculum, it is essential to understand the crucial subjects and to plan appropriately. For a comprehensive curriculum for the UPSC IFoS 2023 test, aspirants can also consult the UPSC official website.
The following table lists the UPSC IFoS Prelims test syllabus:
| Paper | Topics |
| General Paper 1 | Current affairs that are of national as well as international importance, The world geography with a specific focus on India- the physical, social and economic geography of India, Indian polity and governance- thorough knowledge of the constitution, Panchayati raj, political system, public policies and schemes, fundamental rights, etc. General Science.Sustainable development, economic and social development, demographics of poverty, employment, inclusion, and social sector initiatives. Environment, biodiversity, social issues related to the environment, climate change on a generic basis, and subject specialization are not required. Indian history with particular emphasis on the Indian national movement |
| General Paper 2 | English comprehension, Basic English language, grammar, and vocabulary, Communication and interpersonal skills, Logical and analytical reasoning, General mental ability, Problem-solving and decision-making based questions, Basic numerical ability- orders of magnitude, number, and their relations, charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency |
Each applicant is required to select two electives, and the table below lists the combinations that the UPSC does not permit for the IFoS test.
| Optional Subjects | Forbidden Subject Combinations |
| Mechanical Engineering Physics Statistics Zoology Geology Chemistry Botany Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Forestry Mathematics Agriculture Agricultural Engineering Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science | Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering Agriculture and Forestry Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Mathematics and Statistics Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science |
The Indian Forest Service is known by its full name. The Union Public Service Commission manages it. For roughly 110 open positions in total, the UPSC IFoS 2023 test official announcement has been released.
Three phases make up UPSC IFoS 2023: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. While the mains exam will be descriptive, the preliminary exam will be delivered online.
However, the final merit list for UPSC IFoS 2023 will be created based on the applicant’s performance in the Mains and interview. Candidates should practise the previous question papers and the mock exams while preparing for the Indian Forest Service .
Exam for Indian Forest Service Preliminaries, Main Examinations, and Interview are the three steps. To advance to the next step, an applicant must pass the first one. The UPSC IFoS 2023 test’s exam format is as follows:
| Papers | Subject | Total Marks | Duration |
| Paper I | General Studies | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | Civil Services Aptitude Test | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper | Subject | Total Marks |
| Paper I | General English | 300 |
| Paper II | General Knowledge | 300 |
| Paper III | Optional I | 200 |
| Paper IV | Optional I | 200 |
| Paper V | Optional II | 200 |
| Paper VI | Optional II | 200 |
Those applicants who pass the main exam will be shortlisted for the interview when their personalities will be examined. The interview, which is the final stage, carries 275 marks.
Judgment, tolerance, awareness, ethics, and many more factors are among the numerous factors considered while choosing applicants. The interview panel will examine the applicant’s character rather than just their knowledge.
IFoS Interview Exam Stage
The Commission assigns the UPSC Indian Forest Service test locations depending on vacancy and availability. The admission card of the individual taking the test will be shown with information regarding exam centres, the day, and the hour of the exam.
The Union Public Service Commission reserves the right to change the UPSC Indian Forest Service test locations. The “First Apply First Allot” principle distributes the centres. Only a certain number of students may be admitted to each exam venue, and once that amount is achieved, the centre is frozen, forcing applicants to choose another location.
The table lists all Indian testing locations for the UPSC Indian Forest Service exam. Students may quickly scan the chart to choose which centre is handy and doable for them to visit.
| State/UT | Indian Forest Service Centre |
| Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair |
| Andhra Pradesh | Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Ananthapuru, Tirupati |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
| Assam | Dispur, Jorhat |
| Bihar | Patna, Aurangabad, Gaya |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Chhattisgarh | Bilaspur, Raipur |
| Delhi/NCR | Delhi, Ghaziabad |
| Goa | Panaji |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Rajkot |
| Haryana | Faridabad, Gurgaon |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar, Jammu |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru, Dharwad, Mysuru |
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode (Calicut) |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Thane |
| Manipur | Aizawl |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Mizoram | Imphal |
| Nagaland | Kohima |
| Odisha | Cuttack, Sambalpur |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Punjab | Ludhiana |
| Rajasthan | Ajmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Vellore |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Warangal City |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad, Bareilly, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Gorakhpur, Varanasi |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| West Bengal | Kolkata, Siliguri |
The following are the methods to modify the UPSC Indian Forest Service test location:
The ‘First Apply First Allot’ tenet will once again apply to requests to switch test locations. A centre’s full capacity causes it to be locked, forcing the applicant to select among the remaining centres. If necessary, the commission retains the authority to change the centres as they see fit.
The applicant to the designated examination site must bring the following documentation:
UPSC IFoS Basic Exam Centre Guidelines
When reporting to the test site, applicants must remember that they must abide by the UPSC’s instructions.
If a candidate disobeys one of the rules outlined by the Commission, severe disciplinary action will be taken, and they may be disqualified from taking the Civil Service Examinations altogether.
The IFS answer key includes all the solutions to the exam questions. The answer key will be available on the UPSC’s official website. When the answer key is posted to the official website, candidates can review it.
Many students take this exam each year because of the high demand for these jobs and the lucrative salaries and opportunities they offer. However, the few openings available for this job make it extremely difficult to pass the exam. So, merely earning the required passing grades is insufficient. Candidates should practise the previous question papers and the mock exams while preparing for the Indian Forest Service.
Only those students who can score higher than the cut-off can take the next set of exams. The Prelims, Mains, and Personal Interview are the three steps of this exam’s ultimate recruiting process. Online written tests are used for the first two phases.
Results for both the Preliminary and Main Examinations are posted on the UPSC website. The findings are made available as a PDF that may be downloaded and printed for further use. The accompanying instructions will walk you through the simple process of opening the result on the official website.
Step 1: Visit the UPSC IFoS official website at www.upsc.gov.
Step 2: On the right side of the screen, locate “Written Results” and click it.
Step 3: Click on Examination Written Results on the newly displayed page.
Step 4: Find the link to your result from the list of links provided.
Step 5: The link opens in a PDF format. Press ctrl+f to input your name and roll number.
Step 6: Check the list that has been opened for your name. You passed the test if your name appears there.
The grades-based pay for IFoS officials are listed below:
| Grade | Designation in state government | Designation in Government of India | Monthly Salary |
| Junior Time Scale | Assistant Conservator of Forests/Asst. Dy. Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | INR 56,100 |
| Senior Time Scale | Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | INR 67,700 |
| Junior Administrative Grade | Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | INR 78,800 |
| Selection Grade | Deputy Conservator of Forests (Selection Grade) | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | INR 1,18,500 |
| Super Time Scale | Conservator of Forests / Chief Wildlife Warden | Deputy Inspector General of Forests | INR 1,50,000 |
| Senior Administrative Grade | Chief Conservator of Forests | Inspector General of Forests | INR 1,75,000 |
| HAG scale | Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests | – | INR 2,00,000 |
| HAG+ Scale | Principal Chief Conservator of Forests | Additional Director General of Forests | INR 2,05,400 |
| Apex Scale | Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) | Director General of Forests | INR 2,25,000 |
IFoS officers go through a cadre allocation process like every other civil service employee. However, the Indian government launched a new cadre allocation policy in 2017 that allows candidates to select five zones of their choosing.
The following states represent the zone-wise IFS cadre allocation:
| Zones | States |
| Zone- 1 | Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, AGMUT and Haryana. |
| Zone- 2 | Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. |
| Zone- 3 | Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat |
| Zone- 4 | Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, West Bengal, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura. |
| Zone- 5 | Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Tripura. |
Officers continue to serve the Indian government in the cadre to which they have been assigned or deputed.
The primary responsibility given to IFoS officials is to safeguard the nation’s ecological environment and to maintain a record of the sustainable management of natural resources. Additionally, IFoS officers oversee the following areas:
The posts held by the state forest department are listed below:
The IFoS officials were in charge of the aforementioned factors among others. In addition to these, the cadre assignment has a significant impact on the duties that must be given to the officers.
The IFoS program begins with a foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.
In addition, the cops receive physical training that includes horseback riding, driving a car, crime detection, swimming, and weapon handling, among other things. These officials are also given extensive tours. The Indian Military Academy, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Wildlife Institute of India, Bombay Natural History Society, and other government institutions may decide to connect with them.
The benefits granted to the IFoS officials are listed below:
These are some of the facilities that the Indian government offers to all IAS, IFoS, and IPS personnel.
Note: After being chosen, candidates will also earn additional benefits. Provident Fund, Contributory Pension Fund, and Transportation Allowance. Along with these advantages, there are several opportunities for promotion through further tests.
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The UPSC IFoS test is divided into the preliminary, the main, and the interview.
Applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 32. There are many categories in which the relaxations are offered.
The IFS test is just as tricky as the IAS exam, given the same number of applicants and equivalent difficulty level. To pass the test, candidates must develop a thorough study plan, put up a lot of work, and regularly practise exam questions.
The applicant must provide their registration ID and password whenever they wish to access the website. They are nonetheless sent to the registered email address and mobile number as well.
Each paper of the IFoS exam is of 3 hours duration.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
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