INDIAN FOREST SSRVICES
India
is one of the first countries in the world to have stated scientific management
of its forests. In 1864, the then British India Government started the Imperial
Forest Department and appointed Dr. Dietrich Brandis, a German Forest officer
Inspector General of Forests in 1866. To manage the varied natural resources of
the vast country and to organise the affairs of the Imperial Forest Department,
Imperial Forest Service was constituted in 1867.
Till
1805, the officers appointed to the Imperial Forest Service were trained in
France and Germany, then in London till 1905 and at the Universities of Oxford,
Cambridge and Edinburgh until 1926. It was in 1938 when the Indian Forest
College (IFC) was established at DehraDun to train the Superior Forest Service
by the provinces/states.
However,
the subject of "Forestry" (managed by the Federal Government), was
transferred to the "Provincial List" by the Government of India Act,
1935 and subsequently recruitment to the Imperial Forest Service was
discontinued.
The
Indian Forest Service, one of the three All India Services (the other two being
the Indian Administrative Service, IAS & the Indian Police Service, IPS),
was constituted in the year 1966 under the All India Services Act, 1951 by the
Government of India. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC) is the Cadre Controlling Authority for the Indian Forest Service
(IFS).
INDIAN FOREST SSRVICES | 2025
The
IFS (Indian Forest Service) exam is a three-stage process consisting of a
Preliminary exam, a Mains exam, and an Interview. The Preliminary exam is
objective and common with the Civil Services exam, followed by a written Mains
exam with six papers, and finally a 300-mark interview to assess personality
and suitability.
Preliminary
Examination (Screening)
Format:
Two objective-type papers with multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
Papers:
Paper I: General Studies (200
marks).
Paper II: CSAT (Civil Services
Aptitude Test) (200 marks), which is a qualifying paper with a minimum 33%
cut-off.
Purpose:
To screen candidates for the Mains exam; scores are not added to the final
merit list.
Note:
The Preliminary exam is the same for both the Indian Forest Service and Civil
Services exams.
Mains
Examination (Written)
Format:
Written conventional (essay-type) papers.
Papers:
Six papers, including two general papers and two optional papers, with a total
of 1800 marks.
Paper I: General English (300
marks).
Paper II: General Knowledge (300
marks).
Papers III & IV: Optional
Subject 1 (200 marks each).
Papers V & VI: Optional Subject
2 (200 marks each).
Optional
Subjects: Candidates must choose two optional subjects from a list of 14
options (such as Botany, Chemistry, Forestry, or Zoology), but certain
combinations are not allowed.
Interview
(Personality Test)
Format:
An interview and personality test conducted by a board to assess character,
intellect, and suitability for the service.
Marks:
300 marks.
Purpose:
To evaluate leadership qualities, mental caliber, and critical thinking.
Application
and Other Details
Application:
Candidates must apply for the Preliminary exam through the UPSC website. Those
wishing to appear for both the IFS and Civil Services exams must indicate this
on a single application.
Fees: The preliminary exam application fee is Rs. 100, with exemptions for women, SC, and ST candidates. A separate fee is required for the Mains Detailed Application Form (DAF).
- Must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) who migrated from specific countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
- Candidates must meet the physical and medical standards as specified in the IFS examination regulations.
- A limited number of attempts are allowed for some categories, such as 6 for the general category and 9 for OBC.
- Candidates who are awaiting their final degree results can apply, provided they submit proof of passing before the final selection stage.
