Full Information about UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2025

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the prestigious Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination to recruit officers for one of India’s three All India Services, alongside the IAS and IPS. This specialized service is dedicated to the scientific management, protection, and conservation of the Nation’s vast forest resources and wildlife.

The selection process for the IFS begins with the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, which acts as a common screening test. Aspirants who qualify the preliminary exam’s cut-off for the Forest Service become eligible to appear for the separate IFS (Main) Examination. This main stage consists of a written examination (with specialized optional subjects) and a personality test (interview).

A career in the IFS is ideal for those with a background in science or engineering and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, biodiversity, and ecological sustainability.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Online Application Start Date	22nd January 2025
Online Application Closing Date	11th February 2025 (until 18:00 Hours)
Last Date for "Pay by Cash" Fee Payment	10th February 2025 (23:59 Hours)
Application Correction Window	12th February 2025 to 18th February 2025
OTR Profile Modification Window	Up to 18th February 2025
Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam Date	25th May 2025
Preliminary Exam Result Date	11th June 2025
Window for Main Exam Fee Payment (for qualified candidates)	16th June 2025 to 25th June 2025

Vacancy Details

Total Vacancies: Approximately 150.

Note: This number is subject to alteration.

Reservation will be provided for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) categories.

PwBD Vacancy Breakdown

Category	Current Vacancies	Backlog Vacancies	Total
Low Vision	02	00	02
Hard of Hearing	02	01	03
Locomotor Disability (Leprosy Cured and Acid Attack Victims)	02	02	04
Total	06	03	09

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, you must ensure you meet all the eligibility conditions related to nationality, age, and education.

Nationality You must be one of the following:

A citizen of India, or
A subject of Nepal, or
A subject of Bhutan, or
A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962, intending to settle permanently, or
A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) and Vietnam, intending to settle permanently in India.

Candidates from the last four categories must have a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.

Age Limit

Age: You must be at least 21 years old and must not have attained the age of 32 years as of 1st August 2025.
Birth Date: This means you must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 1993 and not later than 1st August 2004.

Age Relaxation The upper age limit is relaxable for certain categories:

SC / ST:	Up to a maximum of 5 years.
OBC:	Up to a maximum of 3 years (for candidates eligible for reservation).
Defence Services Personnel:	Up to 3 years for those disabled in hostilities.
Ex-servicemen:	Up to 5 years (including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs with at least 5 years of Military Service).
ECOs/SSCOs (Extended Service):	Up to 5 years for those who have completed 5 years and whose assignment is extended.
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD):	Up to a maximum of 10 years for candidates with Low Vision, Partial Deafness, and Locomotor Disability (Leprosy cured and Acid Attack victims only).

If you fall under multiple categories (e.g., an SC candidate who is also PwBD), you are eligible for cumulative age relaxation under both categories.

Educational Qualification You must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least one of the following subjects:

Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
Botany
Chemistry
Geology
Mathematics
Physics
Statistics
Zoology

You must hold a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Forestry, or Engineering from a recognized university.

Note for Final Year Students: If you have appeared for your final qualifying exam or intend to appear for it, you are also eligible for admission to the written part of the IFS (Main) Examination. However, if you qualify for the interview stage, you will be required to produce proof of passing the requisite examination at that time.

Number of Attempts The number of times you can appear for the preliminary examination is limited:

General / EWS:	6 attempts.
OBC:	9 attempts.
SC / ST	No limit on attempts.
PwBD (General/EWS):	9 attempts.

Appearing in even one paper of the Preliminary Examination is considered an attempt.

Application Fee and Process

Application Fee

Preliminary Exam: You must pay a fee of ₹100 (Rupees One Hundred).
Main Exam: If you qualify the Preliminary Exam, you must pay a further fee of ₹200 (Rupees Two Hundred) to appear for the Main Exam.
Female candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwBD categories do not have to pay the fee.
OBC and EWS candidates are not excluded and must pay the full fee.

How to Apply

OTR Registration: You must first register on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform on the UPSC website (https://upsconline.gov.in). This OTR profile is registered only once in a lifetime.
Fill Application: Once registered, log in and fill out the online application form for the examination.
Payment: Pay the fee online (Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, UPI) or via the "Pay by Cash" mode at an SBI Branch. The cash payment option closes one day early, on 10th February 2025.

Key Application Requirements

Photo ID Proof: You must have one Photo ID card (like Aadhaar, Voter Card, PAN Card, Passport, or Driving License). You must provide its details and upload a scanned copy of it.
Photograph: Your uploaded photograph must not be more than 10 days old from the start of the application process (i.e., not older than 22nd January 2025). Your name and the date the photo was taken must be clearly mentioned on the photograph. Your face should occupy 3/4th of the space.
Appearance: You must ensure your appearance matches your photograph at all stages of the exam (Prelims, Main, and Interview). For example, if you upload a photo with a beard, you must appear with a beard at the exam.
Certificates:
- OBC: Your OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate must be based on income for the financial years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24. It must be issued on or after 1st April 2024 but not later than the closing date of 11th February 2025.
- EWS: Your Income and Asset Certificate must be based on income for the financial year 2023-24. It must also be issued between 1st April 2024 and 11th February 2025.
- SC/ST/PwBD: These certificates must be issued no later than the application closing date of 11th February 2025.

Salary

The initial monthly salary for an Assistant Conservator of Forests/Assistant Deputy Conservator of Forests in the Indian Forest Service begins at Rs 56,100. The highest IFoS salary of Rs 2,25,000 is accorded to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, who serves as the Head of the Forest Force. As officers progress through their tenure of 5, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 27 years in the Indian Forest Service, they receive promotions to different scales, resulting in an increase in their basic salary.

The Salary of an Indian Forest Service Officer is determined by their rank.

Grade	Designation in State Government	Designation in Government of India	Indian Forest Service Salary
Junior Time Scale	Assistant Conservator of Forests/Assistant Deputy Conservator of Forests	Assistant Inspector General of Forests	Rs 56,100
Senior Time Scale	Deputy Conservator of Forests	Assistant Inspector General of Forests	Rs 67,700
Junior Administrative Grade	Deputy Conservator of Forests	Assistant General of Forests	Rs 78,800
Selection Grade	Deputy Conservator of Forests	Assistant Inspector of Forests	Rs 1,18,500
Super Time Scale	Chief Wildlife Warden	Deputy Inspector General of Forests	Rs 1,50,000
Senior Administrative Grade	Chief Conservator of Office	Inspector General of Forests	Rs 1,75,000
HAG Scale	Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests	–	Rs 2,00,000
HAG+ Scale	Principal Conservator of Forests	Additional Director General of Forests	Rs 2,05,400
Apex Scale	Head of Forest Force	Director-General of Forests	Rs 2,25,000

Indian Forest Service Officers are entitled to various allowances in addition to their basic salary. These allowances are designed to compensate for specific job-related expenses and provide financial support. Some of the common allowances given to IFoS officers include:

Dearness Allowance
House Rent Allowance
Transport Allowance
City Compensatory Allowance
Daily Allowance
Medical Allowance
Leave Travel Concession

Selection Process

The Indian Forest Service Examination is a two-stage competitive process.

Stage 1: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination This is the first stage and acts as a screening test.

It consists of two objective-type (multiple choice) papers.
The marks you obtain in this exam are not counted for the final order of merit. They are only used to select candidates for the Main Examination.
Based on the results, the Commission prepares a separate list of candidates who qualify for the IFS (Main) Examination.
About 12 to 13 times the total number of vacancies will be admitted to the Main Examination.

Stage 2: Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination This stage is for candidates who clear the preliminary screening and is composed of two parts:

Written Examination: This consists of 6 papers of the conventional (essay) type.
Interview (Personality Test): If you obtain the minimum qualifying marks in the written exam, you will be summoned for an interview. The interview carries 300 marks, with no minimum qualifying marks.

Your final ranking is determined by the total marks obtained in the Main Examination (Written part + Interview).

Exam Pattern

Here is the detailed breakdown of marks and papers for both stages of the exam.

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

Paper	Subject	Max. Marks	Duration	Nature
Paper I	General Studies	200	2 Hours	Marks counted for cut-off
Paper II	General Studies (CSAT)	200	2 Hours	Qualifying (33% required)

Important Notes:

Negative Marking: There is a penalty for wrong answers. One-third (1/3) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted.
Qualifying Paper: You must score a minimum of 33% in Paper-II to be eligible for evaluation of Paper-I. The merit list for the Main Exam is based only on the marks from Paper-I.
Language: Question papers are set in both Hindi and English.

Stage 2: Main Examination (Written & Interview)

Part 1: Written Examination (Conventional/Essay Type)

Paper	Subject	Max. Marks	Duration
Paper I	General English	300	3 Hours
Paper II	General Knowledge	300	3 Hours
Paper III	Optional Subject 1 (Paper 1)	200	3 Hours
Paper IV	Optional Subject 1 (Paper 2)	200	3 Hours
Paper V	Optional Subject 2 (Paper 1)	200	3 Hours
Paper VI	Optional Subject 2 (Paper 2)	200	3 Hours
Total (Written)		1400

Part 2: Personality Test (Interview)

Stage	Max. Marks
Interview	300

Grand Total (Main Exam + Interview) = 1700 Marks

Important Notes:

Language: All papers for the Main Examination must be answered in English only. The question papers will also be set in English only.
Calculators: You are allowed to use Scientific (Non-programmable) calculators for the Main Examination.
Qualifying Paper: Your answer scripts for the optional subjects (Papers III-VI) will only be evaluated if you achieve the minimum qualifying marks in Paper II (General Knowledge), as fixed by the Commission.

Physical and Medical Standards You must be physically fit according to the physical standards for admission to the IFS.

Reservation for PwBD is available for:

Low vision
Hearing Impaired (Partially deaf)
Locomotor Disability (Sub-category: Leprosy Cured and Acid Attack Victims only)

You must meet the special eligibility criteria in terms of physical requirements and functional classification for the service. The functional classifications identified for the service include:

Category	Functional Classification	Physical Requirements
Locomotor Disability	Leprosy Cured, Acid Attack Victims	S, ST, W, SE, H, RW, C
Low Vision	LV	MF, PP, S, ST, W, L, C, RW, H, KC, BN
Hearing Impaired	PD, HH	PP, S, ST, W, L, C, RW, KC, BN

Syllabus

Preliminary Exam Syllabus

Paper I: General Studies (200 marks)
- 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, Bio-diversity and Climate Change (that do not require subject specialization).
- General Science.
Paper II: General Studies (CSAT) (200 marks - Qualifying)
- 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).

Main Exam Syllabus The standard of General English and General Knowledge is such as may be expected of a Science or Engineering graduate. The standard for optional subjects is broadly at the Honours Degree level (higher than Bachelor's, lower than Master's).

Paper I: General English (300 marks)
- You will be required to write an essay in English. Other questions will test your understanding of English and workmanlike use of words. Passages for summary or precis will also be set.
Paper II: General Knowledge (300 marks)
- This paper includes knowledge of current events and matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects. It will also include questions on Indian Polity (including the political system and Constitution of India), History of India, and Geography of a nature that can be answered without special study.
Papers III, IV, V & VI: Optional Subjects (200 marks each)
- You must choose two optional subjects from the list below. Each subject will have two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2).

List of Optional Subjects:

Agriculture
Agricultural Engineering
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
Botany
Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Forestry
Geology
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
Statistics
Zoology

Forbidden Subject Combinations: You are not allowed to offer the following combinations:

Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering.
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science.
Agriculture and Forestry.
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
Mathematics and Statistics.
More than one of the Engineering subjects (Agricultural, Chemical, Civil, Mechanical Engineering).

Detailed Syllabus (Forestry)

Forestry - Paper I
- Section A
  - Silviculture - General: General Silvicultural Principles, natural and artificial regeneration, nursery and planting techniques, establishment and tending.
  - Silviculture - Systems: Clear felling, uniform shelterwood, selection, coppice and conversion systems. Management of forests in different zones (temperate, tropical, etc.), thinning.
  - Silviculture - Mangrove and Cold Desert: Habitat, characteristics, plantation, rehabilitation, and management of mangrove and cold desert species.
  - Silviculture of Trees: Traditional and recent advances. Silviculture of economically important species (Acacia, Bamboo, Cedrus deodara, Eucalyptus, Pinus roxburghi, Populus, Santalum album, Shorea robusta, Tectona grandis, etc.).
- Section B
  - Agroforestry, Social Forestry, Joint Forest Management (JFM): Scope, necessity, role in soil/water conservation, nutrient availability, and biodiversity. Agroforestry systems. JFM principles and methodology. Tribology (study of tribal economy, culture, and participation in forestry).
  - Forest Soils, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management: Forest soil classification, properties. Soil conservation, erosion types (wind, water), reclamation of waste lands. Role of forests in conserving soils, N and C cycles. Watershed Management, forest hydrology, torrent control, water-harvesting, and ground water recharge.
  - Environmental Conservation and Biodiversity: Impact of deforestation, forest fires, mining. Pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain. Role of trees in pollution control. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Bio-diversity, Red Data Books, Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD).
  - Tree Improvement and Seed Technology: Concepts, methods (provenance, exotics), seed production and orchards, progeny tests, gene conservation (in situ and ex-situ).
Forestry - Paper II
- Section A
  - Forest Management and Management Systems: Objectives, techniques, sustained yield, rotation, normal forest, growing stock, regulation of yield, forest cover monitoring, Joint Forest Participatory Management.
  - Forest Working Plan: Planning, evaluation, monitoring tools. Working plans and schemes, their preparation and control.
  - Forest Mensuration and Remote Sensing: Methods of measuring diameter, girth, height, and volume of trees. Sampling methods, yield tables. Forest cover monitoring through remote sensing and GIS.
  - Surveying and Forest Engineering: Forest surveying, maps. Building materials, construction, roads and bridges.
- Section B
  - Forest Ecology and Ethnobotany: Biotic and abiotic components, eco-systems, ecological succession, forest types in India, dendrology. Ethnobotany, role in Ayurveda and Unani, medicinal and aromatic plants.
  - Forest Resources and Utilization: Harvesting, logging, transportation, storage, and sale. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) (gums, resins, bamboos, medicinal plants, lac, etc.). Wood seasoning and preservation. Composite wood (plywood, particle boards). Pulp and paper industry.
  - Forest Protection & Wildlife Biology: Injuries (abiotic and biotic), insect-pests and diseases, air pollution effects. Forest fire protection, equipment, and methods. Controlled grazing. Wildlife's effect on regeneration, human impacts (poaching, shifting cultivation).
  - Forest Economics and Legislation: Cost-benefit analysis, demand and supply. Valuation of forest goods and services. Indian Forest Policy (1894, 1952, 1988). Forest laws: Indian Forest Act 1927, Forest Conservation Act 1980, Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

(Detailed syllabi for all other optional subjects like Agriculture, Zoology, Botany, etc., are also available in the official notification.)

Result

The result process is also conducted in stages.

Preliminary Exam Result
- The result for the Preliminary Exam (held 25th May 2025) was declared on 11th June 2025.
- The result is published as a Press Note containing the Roll Numbers of all candidates who qualified for admission to the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination.
Post-Result Steps: If you qualify the prelims, you must take further steps. A window (16th to 25th June 2025) is provided for you to submit the ₹200 Main Examination fee and update any details regarding scribes or name changes.
Final Result and Marks
- Main Exam Result: Candidates who qualify the written part of the Main Exam are summoned for the Personality Test (Interview). This list is about twice the number of vacancies.
- Original Documents: If you qualify for the interview, you will be required to produce the originals of all your requisite certificates for verification.
- Marks and Cut-Offs: The marks, cut-off marks, and answer keys for the Preliminary Exam are not released immediately. They will be uploaded on the Commission's website only after the entire process of the IFS Examination 2025 is over (i.e., after the declaration of the final result).

Admit Card

Mode: The Commission issues e-Admit Cards only. No admit card will be sent by post.
Website: You must download your e-Admit Card from the UPSC website: https://upsconline.gov.in.
Release Date: The e-Admit Card is typically made available on the last working day of the week preceding the date of the examination.
Action Required: After downloading, you must check the e-Admit Card carefully. If you find any mistakes, you must bring them to the notice of the Commission immediately.
Entry: No candidate will be allowed to take the examination without their e-Admit Card.

Preparation Tips

Read the Notice Carefully: You are advised to carefully read the detailed examination notice.
Avoid Application Rejection: The Commission notes major reasons for rejection. Avoid them:
- Bad quality (blurry/dark) photographs.
- Bad quality (blurry/dark) signature.
- Swapping your photo with your signature.
- Failing to click "Final Submit" before the deadline.
- Errors in fee payment.
Use Only Black Ball Pen: For the Preliminary Exam (OMR sheets), you must use a black ball pen only. Pens of any other color are prohibited.
Handle OMR Sheet With Care: Do not fold, mutilate, or put any stray marks on the OMR answer sheet.
Fill Details Correctly: Any mistake in filling your Roll Number and Test Booklet Series Code on the OMR sheet will render it liable for rejection.
Understand Negative Marking: Be aware of the penalty (one-third of the marks) for wrong answers in the Preliminary Exam.
Banned Items: Do not bring mobile phones (even switched off), smart watches, pagers, or any electronic device into the exam hall. Infringement will lead to disciplinary action, including a ban from future exams.