IFoS Chemical Engineering Syllabus 2026, Topic List and PDF

IFoS Chemical Engineering Syllabus 2026: The Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Examination is a prestigious national-level civil service examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It aims to recruit officers for the Indian Forest Service. This exam has two main stages: the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, which acts as a screening test, and the IFoS Main Examination, comprising written papers and an interview. 

Understanding the IFoS Chemical Engineering syllabus is crucial for candidates selecting Chemical Engineering as their optional subject. A clear grasp of the UPSC IFoS Chemical Engineering syllabus helps structure preparation, identify key topics, and plan study strategies effectively. 

What is Indian Forest Service Examination?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Examination. This examination selects officers for the Indian Forest Service, a Group ‘A’ service under the Government of India. The selection process involves a preliminary screening test (common with the Civil Services Examination) followed by the main examination (written papers and an interview). The syllabus forms the backbone of the entire preparation, guiding aspirants through the vast topics.

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Indian Forest Service Chemical Engineering Syllabus 

IFoS Chemical Engineering syllabus for the main examination is divided into two papers, each carrying 200 marks. These papers assess a candidate’s comprehensive understanding of fundamental and applied chemical engineering concepts. The IFoS Chemical Engineering paper 1 syllabus and IFoS Chemical Engineering paper 2 syllabus cover distinct yet interconnected areas of the discipline.

• Paper I: Focuses on fluid and particle dynamics, mass transfer, heat transfer, novel separation processes, process equipment design, and process dynamics and control.
• Paper II: Covers material and energy balances, chemical engineering thermodynamics, chemical reaction engineering, chemical technology, environmental engineering and safety, and process engineering economics.

IFoS Chemical Engineering Syllabus PDF Download

Accessing the IFoS Chemical Engineering syllabus PDF is highly beneficial for aspirants. It provides a comprehensive, official document outlining all topics for effective preparation. This downloadable resource helps in systematic study planning, tracking progress, and ensuring no topic is missed. Students can also print it for quick reference during revision.

IFoS Chemical Engineering Exam Syllabus

IFoS Chemical Engineering optional subject syllabus offers an in-depth look at the IFoS Chemical Engineering topics list detailing the main topics and sub-topics for each paper.

Chemical Engineering Paper I Syllabus

Paper I covers core transport phenomena, separation techniques, and process design.

• Fluid and Particle Dynamics:
  • Viscosity, laminar and turbulent flows.
  • Continuity and Navier-Stokes equations, Bernoulli’s theorem.
  • Flow meters, fluid drag, pressure drop, Reynold’s Number, friction factor.
  • Pumps, ejectors, compressors, blowers, fans.
  • Agitation, mixing (liquids, solids, pastes).
  • Crushing, grinding (Rittinger’s, Bond’s laws).
  • Filtration, fluid-particle mechanics, fluidisation.
  • Transport of Solids.
• Mass Transfer:
  • Molecular diffusion coefficients, Fick’s laws.
  • Mass transfer coefficients, film and penetration theories.
  • Distillation: simple, fractional, plate and packed columns, theoretical plates.
  • Liquid-liquid equilibria, extraction.
  • Gas-absorption column design, drying, humidification, dehumidification.
  • Crystallisation, equipment design.
• Heat Transfer:
  • Conduction, thermal conductivity, extended surfaces.
  • Convection: free and forced, heat transfer coefficients, Nusselt Number.
  • LMTD and effectiveness, NTU methods for heat exchanger design.
  • Boiling and condensation, single and multiple-effect evaporators.
  • Radiation: Stefan-Boltzman Law, emissivity, absorptivity.
  • Furnace heat load, solar heaters.
• Novel Separation Processes:
  • Ion-exchange, osmosis, electro-dialysis, reverse osmosis, ultra-filtration.
  • Other membrane processes, molecular distillation, supercritical fluid extraction.
• Process Equipment Design:
  • Vessel design criteria, cost considerations.
  • Design of storage vessels (vertical, horizontal, spherical, underground).
  • Closures (flat, elliptical), supports.
  • Materials of construction: characteristics and selection.
• Process Dynamics and Control:
  • Measuring instruments for process variables (level, pressure, flow, temperature, pH, concentration).
  • Control, manipulative, and load variables.
  • Linear control theory, Laplace transforms, PID controllers.
  • Block diagram representation, transient/frequency response, stability.
  • Advanced control strategies, computer-based process control.

Chemical Engineering Paper II Syllabus

Paper II covers material/energy balances, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, chemical processes, environmental aspects, and economics.

• Material and Energy Balances:
  • Calculations with recycle, bypass, purge.
  • Combustion of fuels, stoichiometric relationships, excess air.
  • Adiabatic flame temperature.
• Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics:
  • Laws of thermodynamics, PVT relationships.
  • Energy functions, Maxwell’s relations.
  • Fugacity, activity, chemical potential.
  • Vapour-liquid equilibria (ideal, non-ideal, single, multi-component).
  • Chemical reaction equilibrium, equilibrium constant, conversions.
  • Thermodynamic cycles: refrigeration and power.
• Chemical Reaction Engineering:
  • Batch reactors, homogeneous reaction kinetics, kinetic data interpretation.
  • Ideal flow reactors (CSTR, plug flow), performance equations.
  • Temperature effects, run-away reactions.
  • Heterogeneous reactions (catalytic, non-catalytic, gas-solid, gas-liquid).
  • Intrinsic kinetics, global rate concept, mass transfer effects, effectiveness factor.
  • Isothermal and non-isothermal reactors, reactor stability.
• Chemical Technology:
  • Natural organic products: wood, pulp, paper.
  • Agro industries: sugar, edible oils, soaps, detergents, essential oils.
  • Biomass gasification, coal, petroleum refining (distillation, cracking, reforming).
  • Petrochemicals: polyethylenes, PVC, polystyrene.
  • Ammonia, cement, lime industries, paints, varnishes, glass, ceramics.
  • Fermentation: alcohol and antibiotics.
• Environmental Engineering and Safety:
  • Ecology and Environment.
  • Pollutants (air, water), greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, acid rain.
  • Micrometeorology, pollutant dispersion, measurement, control strategies.
  • Solid wastes: hazards, disposal techniques.
  • Pollution control equipment design, performance analysis.
  • Fire and explosion hazards, HAZOP, HAZAN.
  • Emergency planning, disaster management.
  • Environmental legislations: Water, Air, Environment Protection Acts, Forest (Conservation) Act.
• Process Engineering Economics:
  • Fixed and working capital estimation.
  • Cost estimation, alternative comparison.
  • Net present value (discounted cash flow), payback analysis, IRR.
  • Depreciation, taxes, insurance, break-even point.
  • Project scheduling (PERT, CPM).
  • Profit and loss, balance sheet, financial statement.
  • Plant location and layout.

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How to Prepare Indian Forest Service Chemical Engineering Syllabus?

Effective preparation for the UPSC IFoS Chemical Engineering syllabus requires a structured approach. Here are some key tips:

• Understand Fundamentals: Start with a strong grasp of basic chemical engineering principles.
• Practice Problem Solving: Chemical Engineering is quantitative; solve many numerical problems.
• Refer Standard Textbooks: Use recommended books for in-depth understanding of topics.
• Analyze Previous Year Papers: Understand exam patterns, important topics, and question types.
• Create Revision Notes: Summarize key concepts and formulas for quick revision.
• Stay Updated: Especially for environmental and chemical technology sections, be aware of current trends.

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