Indian Forest Service Exam: Notification, Dates, Eligibility, Selection Process

The Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination is a prestigious national-level civil service exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit officers for managing India’s forests, wildlife, and environmental resources. It aims to select candidates for key roles in forest conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable environmental management across the country.

UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam Overview

UPSC conducts the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination is conducted to recruit IFS officers for the conservation, protection, and management of India’s forests, wildlife, and natural resources. The exam has three stages: Prelims, Mains and Interview. Candidates can find a quick overview of the Indian Forest Service exam in this section:

Indian Forest Service Exam Notification

The Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination Notification PDF is released annually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) along with the Civil Services Exam notification. It contains complete details on important dates, eligibility criteria, vacancies, application process, exam pattern, and syllabus for recruitment to the Indian Forest Service.

The IFos Notification 2026 PDF will be released on January 14, 2026 on the official UPSC website. Candidates will find the direct link to download the notification once released.

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Indian Forest Service Exam Date 2026

The Indian Forest Service Exam 2026 Prelims will be conducted on May 24, 2026. The Mains exam will take place on November 22, 2026. Candidates must check the exam dates below to stay updated with all important deadlines:

Indian Forest Service Exam 2026 Application Process

Applying for the Indian Forest Service Exam requires a specific process.

• One Time Registration (OTR): Applicants must first register on the UPSC OTR platform. This is a one-time process.
• Online Application Form: Registered candidates use the Civil Services Examination application form. They must meet all eligibility criteria. The form is available on upsconline.nic.in.
• Detailed Application Forms (DAF): Candidates clearing Prelims submit DAF-I with documents. Those clearing Mains submit DAF-II for cadre preferences before interviews.

Indian Forest Service Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must meet specific requirements to appear for the Indian Forest Service examination.

Indian Forest Service Nationality Criteria

Candidates must be Indian citizens. Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees who settled in India before 1962 are also eligible. Persons of Indian Origin migrating from specific countries can also apply if they intend to settle permanently.

Indian Forest Service Age Limit

The minimum age is 21 years. The maximum age is 32 years as of August 1st of the exam year.

Age Relaxation 

Specific categories receive age relaxation as shown below.

Indian Forest Service Educational Qualification

A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university is needed. It must include at least one of these subjects: Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, or Zoology. A Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry, or Engineering is also acceptable.

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Indian Forest Service Number of Attempts

The number of attempts for the Indian Forest Service Exam varies by category.

Training and Career Progression

IFoS officers undergo rigorous training. This prepares them for their responsibilities.

• Training: Training starts at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun. It includes a Foundation Course at LBSNAA, Mussoorie. One year of practical training occurs within the assigned cadre.
• Cadre Allocation: After completing a four-year probation, officers are appointed to the Senior Time Scale. They can serve as Divisional Forest Officers or Deputy Conservators.

Indian Forest Service Pay Scale

The Indian Forest Service offers a structured pay scale.

Indian Forest Service Selection Process

The Indian Forest Service (IFS) Selection Process consists of three stages as detailed below:

1. Preliminary Examination
   
   • Conducted along with the Civil Services Preliminary Exam.
     
   • Includes General Studies Paper-I and CSAT (Paper-II).
     
   • GS Paper-I marks are counted for selection; CSAT is qualifying (33%).
     
2. Main Examination
   
   • A written exam focusing on General English, General Knowledge, and optional science subjects.
     
   • Evaluates candidates’ subject knowledge, analytical ability, and answer-writing skills.
     
3. Interview / Personality Test
   
   • Assesses personality traits, leadership qualities, decision-making ability, and suitability for forest service roles.
     
   • Followed by a medical and physical fitness test before final selection.

Indian Forest Service Exam Pattern

The Indian Forest Service Exam has two main stages: Preliminary and Main.

• Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination: This is an objective-type qualifying exam.
• Paper I (General Studies): 200 Marks, 2 hours. Covers Current Events, History, Indian Polity, Economic & Social Development, Environment, and General Science.
• Paper II (CSAT): 200 Marks, 2 hours. Minimum 33% qualifying marks. Includes Comprehension, Interpersonal Skills, Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, General Mental Ability, and Basic Numeracy (Class X level).
• Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination: This consists of written papers and an interview.
  • Written Papers: Six papers in total.
    • Paper I: General English (300 marks).
    • Paper II: General Knowledge (300 marks).
    • Paper III & IV: Optional Subject 1 (200 marks each).
    • Paper V & VI: Optional Subject 2 (200 marks each).
  • Interview: Carries 300 marks. There are no minimum qualifying marks. Final ranking relies on Main Exam (written + interview) marks.

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Optional Subjects

Candidates choose two optional subjects for the Main Examination.

• List of Subjects: Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Forestry, Geology, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Statistics, Zoology.
• Combination Restrictions: Certain subject combinations are not allowed. For example, Agriculture with Agricultural Engineering. Only one Engineering subject is allowed.

Indian Forest Service Syllabus Overview

The Indian Forest Service syllabus covers a broad range of topics.

• Preliminary Exam: Focuses on general awareness and aptitude. Details include national/international current events, Indian history, polity, economy, environment, and general science for Paper I. Paper II assesses comprehension, reasoning, and basic math.
• Main Exam:
  • General English: Tests language understanding, essay writing, and precis.
  • General Knowledge: Covers current affairs, everyday science, Indian polity, history, and geography.
  • Optional Subjects: Syllabus is at honours degree level. Engineering subjects are at bachelor’s degree level. For detailed syllabi, candidates should check the official UPSC IFoS notification.

Indian Forest Service Medical Test & Physical Standards

Candidates must meet the physical and medical standards as required for the Indian Forest Services as outlined below:

Medical Test

Candidates recommended after the interview must undergo a strict medical examination to ensure fitness for field duties. The test checks general health, vision, hearing, blood pressure, chest expansion, and absence of major physical deformities or chronic diseases.

Physical Standards

• Minimum Height: Male – 163 cm, Female – 150 cm (relaxation for certain categories/regions)
  
• Chest (Male): 79 cm unexpanded with 5 cm expansion
  
• Chest (Female): Not applicable
  
• Eyesight: Distant vision 6/6 or 6/9 (correctable); no color blindness
  
• Overall Fitness: Must be capable of outdoor and forest field work

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Indian Forest Service Exam Preparation Tips

Preparing for the Indian Forest Service Exam requires a robust study plan and consistent practice. Candidates must follow these tips to boost their exam readiness for IFoS:

• Understand the exam pattern & syllabus thoroughly for Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages.
  
• Focus strongly on science subjects (Forestry, Botany, Zoology, Agriculture, Environmental Science), as they carry high weightage in IFS Mains.
  
• Prepare Prelims along with Civil Services by strengthening GS subjects like Polity, Economy, History, Geography, Environment, and Current Affairs.
  
• Master NCERT books (Class 6–12), especially Biology, Geography, and Environmental Science.
  
• Choose optional subjects wisely, based on academic background and syllabus overlap.
  
• Practice previous years’ question papers to understand trends and improve answer-writing skills.
  
• Stay updated with environmental current affairs, biodiversity conventions, climate change, wildlife laws, and forest policies.
  
• Improve answer writing for Mains by practicing diagrams, structured answers, and time management.
  
• Maintain physical fitness, as medical and physical standards are crucial for final selection.
  
• Revise regularly and attempt mock tests to improve accuracy, speed, and confidence.

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