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IFS Exam
Indian Forest Service Exam
What is IFS Exam?
The Indian Forest Service (IFS) is one of the Civil Services Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the recruitment officers at the All India level by the Government of India for the scientific management of its forests.
Importance IFS is one of the three All India Services. The exam is conducted for recruitment to forestry services of India. The other two All India Services being Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS). Indian Forest Service is one of the Civil Services of India and belongs to the apex All India Services group. IFS services are placed under various State cadres and joint cadres though they have the mandate to serve both under the State and Central Governments. The main mandate of IFS service is the implementation of the National Forest Policy which aims to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance. An IFS officer is largely independent of district administration and exercises administrative, judicial and financial powers in their own domain. All top positions in the state forest department are held by IFS officers. In order to become an Indian Forest Service officer, candidates need to appear for the examination conducted by UPSC. The IFS selection procedure consists of three stages – preliminary, main examination and personality test. Aspirants have to note that they need to appear for the Civil Services (Preliminary) examination and qualify the same for the second phase of the examination, i.e., IFS (Main Examination). Candidates who qualify in the Civil Services (Preliminary) and meet the eligibility criteria of IFS will be shortlisted for the IFS Main Examination. The desiring candidates can apply for the Indian Forest Service examination through a common online application form of Civil Servic es Examination (CSE). The applicant has to submit the application form through online mode only. The important details regarding Indian Forest Service 2025 are given below. Union Public Service Commission has released the exam dates of Indian Forest Service (IFS) Prelims & Main 2025 Examination. The UPSC IFS Preliminary Exam 2025 will take place on 25 May, 2025, Whereas the IFS Main Exam will be held on 16 November, 2025 for 10 Days. UPSC IFS 2025 - The online registration process has started from 22 January, 2025, and it will end on 11 February, 2025. The applicant has to submit the application form through online mode only, but there is no offline mode. Click here to know the important dates of the IFS 2025 Exam. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the exam time table schedule for the UPSC Indian Forest Service Main Examination 2025 on the official website - upsc.gov.in. UPSC IFS (Mains) Examination will be conducted from 16 November to 23 November, 2025 in two session each day. The first session will be held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and the second session will be held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Candidates who have appeared for the UPSC IFS Prelims exam will be qualified for the Mains Exam. Mathematics Paper - I / Statistics Paper - I / Zoology Paper - I Mathematics Paper - II / Statistics Paper - II / Zoology Paper - II Civil Engineering Paper - I / Botany Paper - I Civil Engineering Paper - II / Botany Paper - II Agricultural Engineering Paper - I / Aniamal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Paper - I / Physics Paper - I Agricultural Engineering Paper - II / Aniamal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Paper - II / Agriculture Paper - I / Forestry Paper - I Agriculture Paper - I / Forestry Paper - I Chemistry Paper - I / Chemical Engineering Paper - I / Mechanical Engineering Paper - I / Chemistry Paper - II Chemical Engineering Paper - II / Mechanical Engineering Paper - II / Union Public Service Commission has released the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2025 Notification on 22 January, 2025. The Indian Forest Service (IFS) Preliminary Notification was released through the Civil Service (Preliminary) Examination 2025. Candiates, who are aiming for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) can apply online between 22 January to 11 February, 2025. The IFS 2025 Notification was released for approximately 150 vacancies. However the number of vacancies is liable to alteration. The total number of vacancies announced in the official notification is approximately 150 (Tentatively). However, candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and PWD categories will be provided with the reservation according to the Government. According to the official notification released by the UPSC, a few vacancies are reserved. Check the details below. Aspirants have to note that the final number of vacancies indicated are liable to further alteration. Candidates who are aspiring for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) should apply only through the Civil Services (Preliminary). There is no separate IFS application form. However, there are a few important points aspirants should know before IFS registration. Interested candidates are advised to visit our IFS online application form 2025 page for detailed information.One can also check the exam fee, exam dates and other important details here. The Union Public Service Commission has released the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2024 Interview Schedule.The UPSC Personality Test (Interview) round has schedule on 21 April, 2025 and it will end on 02 May, 2025.UPSC IFS Mains 2024 Admit card will be released soon for the candidates. Total of 370 candidates will be appear for the Interview round. On the basis of the results of the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2024 declared by Union Public Service Commission on 13th January, 2025, the Personality Test (Interview) of the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2024 will commence w.e.f.Monday 21.04.2025. The Personality Test Schedule of 370 candidates, including their Roll No.Date and Session of Interview from 21.04.2025 to 02.05.2025 is given below.Reporting time for Forenoon Session is 9:00 Hours and for Afternoon Session is 13:00 Hours. The e-Summon Letter of Personality Test (Interview) of these 370 candidates will be made available shortly, which may be downloaded from the UPSC website - www.upsc.gov.in and www.upsconline.in.No request for change in the date and time of the Personality Test (Interview) intimated to the candidates will ordinarily be entertained.
Indian Forest Service (IFS) 2025
Indian Forest Service (IFS) 2025 Indian Forest Service 2025 Notification 22 January, 2025 Organising body Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Exam mode Offline Number of attempts 6 Number of vacancies 151 (approximately) Starting date to apply online 22 January, 2025 Last date to apply online 11 February, 2025 IFS Admit card 2025 May 2025 IFS Preliminary Exam 2025 25 May, 2025 Preliminary result June 2025 IFS Main Examination 2025 16 November, 2025 (7 days) IFS Main result December 2025 IFS Interview January 2026 IFS final result February 2026 UPSC Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination Time Table 2025 (Tentative)
Date & Day Forenoon Session (9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon) Afternoon Session (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM) 16 Nov, 25 (Sunday) General English General Knowledge 17 Nov, 25 (Monday) No Paper (Rest Day) No Paper (Rest Day) 18 Nov, 25 (Tuesday) 19 Nov, 25 (Wednesday) 20 Nov, 25 (Thursday) 21 Nov, 25 (Friday) 22 Nov, 25 (Saturday) Geology Paper - I Geology Paper - II 23 Nov, 25 (Sunday) IFS Notification 2025
IFS Number of Vacancies 2025
Total number of vacancies 150 (approximately) (Tentatively) Reserved vacancies 5 Low Vision category: 2 Partially Deaf category: 2 Locomotor disability (subâ€category: Leprosy cured and Acid attack): 2 Indian Forest Service (IFS) Application Form 2025
UPSC IFS Main 2024 Exam Interview Schedule is Out
Based on Notice issued by UPSC
Eligibility Criteria
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Physical criteria:
Aspirants must be physically fit according to the physical standards for admission to Indian Forest Service Examination. Candidates are advised to visit the IFS official notification to check the detailed rules and regulations.
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Nationality:
A candidate must be
- A citizen of India, or
- The subject of Nepal, or
- The subject of Bhutan, or
- Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries like Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India
- Candidate belonging to categories b, c, d, and e should produce a certificate of eligibility, which has been issued by the Government of India.
Centers in India
- The Examination will be held at the most of states Centres in India like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat etc.
- Applicants should note that there will be a ceiling on the number of candidates allotted to each of the Centres, except Chennai, Dispur,
Kolkata and Nagpur - Allotment of Centres will be on the "first-apply-first allot" basis, and once the capacity of a particular Centre is attained, the same will be frozen
- The Main Examination will be held on the following Centres like Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur (Guwahati), Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Nagpur, Port Blair and Shimla
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Education qualification:
- Candidate should hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects namely, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or Forestry or Engineering of a recognised university or equivalent.
- Candidates appearing for their degree examination (with prescribed subjects) can also apply. If they qualify on the result of the written part of the examination, they have to submit the proof of passing the required examination along with their detailed application form to be filled in at that stage.
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Age limit:
Age of a candidate should be minimum 21 years and maximum of 32 years on 1st August, 2025 of the year of examination, i.e. he must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1993 and not later than 1st August, 2004. While the upper age limit will be relaxable in the following cases:
- For Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe (SC /ST): Up to 5 years
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): Up to 3 years
- Defence Services personnel: Up to 3 years
- Ex-servicemen including Commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least 5 years Military Service as on and have been released: Up to 5 years
- ECOs/ SSCOs: Up to a maximum of five years.
(Ministry of Defence issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on three month's notice on selection from the date of receipt of offer of appointment)
- Blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically handicapped persons: Up to 10 years.
Cumulative Age relaxation:
- SC, ST and the OBC who are also covered under other clauses mentioned above will be eligible to grant cumulative age-relaxation under both the categories
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Number of atempts:
The maximum number of attempts restricted for candidates are as follows:
- General Candidates: 9 attempts
- Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Candidates: No restriction
- Other Backward Classes: 9 attempts
- Physically handicapped- 9 attempts for general and OBC, while unlimited for SC/ST
Appearing for one or more papers of an examination will be counted as an attempt at the examination even if the candidate failed to qualify for the selection.
Roles and Responsibilities
Few of the roles and responsibilities of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer includes:
- One of the main roles of an IFS officer is to protect and conserve the heritage of the forest and working towards preserving the forest resources.
- Preserving the forest trees is another important task which needs to be taken seriously. As an officer one needs to keep a check on illegal logging of trees and work with the forest guards and security personnel to be alert at all times.
- As an officer one has to work towards planting more trees in the forest are and also initiate and participate in such events.
- Animals are another important forest resource and as a forest officer one needs to assure their safety and need to prevent any illegal activity that involves hurting or killing them. As an officer being alert of poachers and illegal entry in the forest area is also important.
- As an officer one will be responsible for implementing the National Forest Policy.
- As an officer one will have to chalk-out plans for legal commercial exploitation for timber etc.
- As an officer one will have to do the required paperwork and complete reports that have to be presented to the forest department and ministry.
- As an officer one will have to conduct regular surveys of the forest and guarantee that the work is rightly being done. Travelling will also be included.
UPSC IFS Mains 2024 Link Active Exam Result
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released or activated the link for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Main 2024 Examination Detailed Application Form II (DAF - II). The UPSC IFS Mains exam was held 24 November to 01 December, 2024. Candidates who are eligible can fill the details on the offiical website - upsc.gov.in. Candidates can submit the DAF - II Form till 27 January, 2025. Total of 370 candidates has successfully qualified for the next round, that is Personality Test.
How to apply for UPSC IFS Mains 2024 DAF - II
Step 1 : Go to official website - upsc.gov.in.
Step 2 : On the homepage, under the 'What's New' Section (Right hand side), Click on the link, which reads, 'DAF - II Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2024".
Step 3 : A new page will appear on the screen.
Step 4 : Enter login credentials & click on submit.
Step 5 : Candidates fill all the details in DAF - II & sumbit the form.
Click here to fill the UPSC IFS Mains 2024 DAF - II
What After IFoS Mains Result
Candidates who have appeared for the UPSC IFS Mains result can check their result on the Commission's official website. One who stands out in the written examination will be called for the final phase of the selection process, i.e., the Personality Test or Interview, which will be held in February. It is advised to access the IFS interview schedule on the official site. We also advise aspirants to download the IFS interview call letter early. The Commission will release IFS final result in April.
Optional Subjects In Indian Forest Service (IFS)
After Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, the shortlisted candidates will be called for the main examination, which will be about 12 to 13 times the total number of vacancies.In the IFS Main Examination, candidates are required to select two optional subjects.
| Agriculture | Agricultural Engineering |
| Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science | Botany |
| Chemistry | Chemical Engineering |
| Civil Engineering | Forestry |
| Geology | Mathematics |
| Mechanical Engineering | Physics |
| Statistics | Zoology |
Aspirants have to note that the following combination of optional subjects will not be allowed in the UPSC IFS Mains Exam:
- Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering
- Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Of the Engineering subjects, viz., Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering - not more than one subject
Latest Updates
The Union Public Service Examination (UPSC) has announced the examination schedule for the India Forest Service (UPSC IFS) Mains 2024 Exam. The UPSC IFS Mains Exam will be conducted from 35 November, 2024 to 01 December, 2024. Candidates who have appeared for the prelims & qualified for the Mains Exam can appear the exam in two shifts.
5 October 2024
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Online Detailed Application Form (DAF) for the INdian Forest Service (IFS) (Main) Examination 2024. Candidates who have cleared the Preliminary exam can complete their DAF by 05 September, 2024 on the official website - upsc.gov.in.
27 August 2024
THe Union Public Comission has declared the Civil Service Examination Result 2022 for prelims and IFS Result today 22 June, 2022. The UPSC Prelims Result 2022 has been declared om the Official website at upsc.gov.in. The Prelims result of UPSC IFS can be downloaded in PDF format containing roll numbers of the selected candidates.
Shortlisted candidates in the UPSC prelims exam 2022 are eligible to appear for the mains exam. UPSC CSE Main 2022 Exam will be conducted from 16 September, 2022 Onwards.
22 June 2022
The UPSC has released the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Preliminary admit card 2021. The exam will be held through Civil Services. Candidates who have registered for the written exam can download the admit card on the official portal. One should take the printout of the admit card and carry the same to the examination centre.
The written exam will be held on October 10 in two shifts - General Studies (morning) and CSAT (afternoon). Candidates who qualify in the Prelims will be eligible for the Mains exam.
17 September 2021
The UPSC has released the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Personal Test (PT) 2020 dates. It has released the schedule for the interview on the official portal - www.upsc.gov.in
The Interviews will be held from October 18 to 22 in the forenoon and afternoon sessions. A total of 222 candidates were shortlisted for the interview.
10 September 2021