Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Exam 2024: Latest News, Eligibility, Salary & Vacancies

Indian Forest Service(IFoS), which is also referred to as UPSC IFoS, is one of the national-level tests held by the UPSC for positions in the environment, forests, and climate change sectors. The Union Public Service Commission annually oversees the UPSC IFoS.

The applicants must first take the UPSC CSE Prelims test. Candidates who pass the Prelims test must next attend the IFoS Mains exam. The eligible applicants must attend the UPSC Personal Interview after the Main Exam.

Along with IAS and IPS, the Indian Forest Service (IFoS/IFS) is one of the three All-India Services of the Indian government. The Service’s mission, established in 1966 under the All-India Services Act, of 1951, is to execute the National Forest Policy and guarantee the nation’s ecological stability via the protection and inclusive, sustainable management of its natural resources. Indian Forest Service (IFoS Full Form) recruitment exams are held by UPSC. Members of the Indian Forest Service are also in charge of managing the nation’s national parks, tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and other protected areas.

In the State Forest Department, IFoS/IFS occupy posts such as District/Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Conservator of Forests, Chief Conservator of Forests, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, etc. The Head of Forest Forces is the highest-ranking member of the Forest Service in each state.

Latest Updates From IFoS

• The UPSC IFS application form 2024 was released by the Commission on February 14, 2024 on its official website. Interested candidates can apply online till 5th March 2024
• The Indian Forest Service (IFS) Preliminary Examination, 2024 results were announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on July 1, 2024. Candidates who cleared this stage are now eligible for the IFS Mains 2024 exam, which is scheduled for November 24, 2024.

Click on below link to check out the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Preliminary Examination, 2024 Result.

Name of Examination	Released Date
IFS Preliminary Examination, 2024 Result (with name)	July 1, 2024

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Exam 2024: Overview

Particulars	Elaboration
Exam Name	UPSC IFoS 2024
Full-Form	Indian Forest Service Exam
Establishment Year	1966
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Cadre Controlling Authority	Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
Exam Level	National
Application Mode	Online Mode
Exam Mode	Offline Mode
Number of Attempts	6
Number of Vacancies	approx. 150
Official Website	www.upsc.gov.in

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Notification 2024

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on February 14, 2024, released the comprehensive notification for the 2024 Indian Forest Service(IFoS) (Preliminary) Examination.

Candidates who wish to apply for both the Indian Forest Service(IFoS) and Civil Services examinations may do so using a common online application form, provided that they meet the necessary eligibility requirements. Interested candidates can check the current year notification and check IFS exam date 2024.

Indian-Forest-ServiceIFoS

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Exam Dates 2024

The Union Public Service Commission has announced the Indian Forest Service 2024 Exam dates for Prelims & Main Examination. While the IFS Main Exam will be held on November 24, 2024 for 10 Days, the UPSC IFS Preliminary Exam will be held on May 26, 2024. There is no offline option, the applicant must submit the application form exclusively online. The dates for the IFS 2024 Exam are listed below.

Important Events	Tentative Dates
Indian Forest Service 2024 Notification	February 14, 2024
Indian Forest Service 2024 Application Process Commencement	February 14, 2024
Indian Forest Service 2024 Application Process Ends	March 3, 2024
Indian Forest Service 2024 Last Date for Modification	March 12, 2024
Indian Forest Service 2024 Admit Card Release	June 7, 2024
Indian Forest Service 2024 Preliminary Exam Date	June 16, 2024
Indian Forest Service 2024 Preliminary Result	July 1, 2024
Indian Forest Service 2024 Main Exam Date	November 24, 2024
Indian Forest Service 2024 Main Result	December 2024
Indian Forest Service 2024 Interview	To be notified
Indian Forest Service 2024 Final Result	To be notified

Also Read: IAS Exam 2024: Latest News and Dates

Indian Forest Service Vacancy 2024

According to the official notification, there are approximately 150 IFS vacancies in 2024. However, according to the government, applicants who fall under the SC, ST, OBC, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and PWD categories would be given preference and there are a few reserved positions. Review the information below.

Category	No. of 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

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Eligibility Conditions

The conditions for the Indian Forest Service eligibility exam are as follows:

1. Nationality

To be eligible, a candidate must be one of the following:

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

Note: Candidates from categories 2, 3, 4, and 5 must have an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India.

Candidates needing this eligibility certificate can take the examination, but they will only receive a job offer after obtaining the required certificate from the Government of India.

2. Age Limits

2.1. Basic Age Requirements:

• Candidates must be at least 21 years old and not older than 32 years as of August 1, 2024.
• This means the candidate must have been born between August 2, 1992, and August 1, 2003.

2.2. Age Relaxation Rules:

There is, however, some age relaxation rules for the restricted categories, which is covered below:

Category	Age Relaxation
Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST)	5 years
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	3 years
Disabled Defense Services Personnel	3 years
Ex-servicemen	5 years
Emergency Commissioned Officers/Short Service Commissioned Officers (ECOs/SSCOs)	5 years
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD)	10 years

Note: Cumulative age relaxation will be available to SC/ST individuals also covered by the other age restriction provisions.

3. Minimum Educational Qualifications

3.1. Required Degree:

• A candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree in at least one of the following subjects:
  • Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
  • Botany
  • Chemistry
  • Geology
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Statistics
  • Zoology
• Alternatively, a candidate can have a Bachelor’s degree in:
  • Agriculture
  • Forestry
  • Engineering
• The degree must be from a recognized university or institution established by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or an institution deemed as a university under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

3.2. Equivalent Qualifications:

• Candidates with equivalent qualifications must provide a certificate from a recognized university or institution confirming that their degree is equivalent to the Bachelor’s degree specified above.
• This certificate must be submitted with the application for the Main Examination. Without this certificate, candidates will not be admitted to the Main Examination.

4. Number of Attempts

4.1. General Rule:

• Every eligible candidate is allowed a maximum of six attempts at the examination.

4.2. Exceptions:

Following are the maximum tries that applicants may make:

Category	Number of Attempts
SC / ST	No Limit
OBC	09
PwD	09
General	06

4.3. Important Notes:

• Appearing for any paper in the Preliminary Examination counts as an attempt.
• If a candidate appears in any paper of the Preliminary Examination, it will be considered an attempt for both the Preliminary and Main Examinations.
• Even if a candidate is disqualified or their candidature is canceled, their appearance will still be counted as an attempt.

5. Medical and Physical Standards

Here are the Medical and Physical Standards for the Indian Forest Service (IFS):

5.1. Medical Standards

Criteria	Requirement
Eyesight	Good vision without color blindness. Minimum visual acuity: 6/6 (better eye) and 6/9 (worse eye) without correction.
Hearing	Normal hearing, Impairment should not be more than 30 decibels.
Physical Disabilities	No hindrance to forest-related duties.

5.2. Physical Standards

Criteria	Male	Female
Height	Minimum height: 163 cm	Minimum height: 150 cm
Chest	Chest girth (normal): 79 cm (minimum) with a minimum expansion of 5 cm	Chest girth (normal): 74 cm (minimum) with a minimum expansion of 5 cm
Walking Test	Complete a 25 km walk within 4 hours	Complete a 15 km walk within 4 hours
Physical Fitness	Fit for forest service duties	Fit for forest service duties

6. Fee Information

6.1. Fee Requirement:

• Candidates applying for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination must pay a fee of Rs. 100/-.
• Female candidates, SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe), and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability) candidates are exempted from paying the fee and do not need to pay anything.

6.2. Payment Methods:

• The fee can be paid in the following ways:
  • Cash: Deposit the fee at any branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) using the system-generated Pay-in-slip.
  • Online: Use net banking (State Bank of India or any other bank), credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, RuPay), or UPI payment.

6.3. Important Deadlines for Payment:

• If you choose the “Pay by Cash” option, you must print the Pay-in-slip during Part II registration and deposit it at an SBI branch by the next working day.
• The “Pay by Cash” option will be deactivated at 11:59 PM on March 4, 2024. You must pay at the SBI branch by the closing date during banking hours.
• If you cannot pay by cash, you must use the online payment option until 6:00 PM on March 5, 2024.

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Application Form

1. How to Apply for the Indian Forest Service(IFoS)?

The UPSC IFoS application process is entirely online and simple. The complete processes are provided below to assist candidates in registering for the exam.

Step 1: Registration and Basic Information

• Find the link to register for UPSC Civil Services on the UPSC official website. Select “Apply Here” from the menu.
• Correctly enter all of your information requested in the first stage, notably your contact information.
• After completing the form, you will be prompted to double-check the data before submitting it. It cannot be modified once the final submission has been made. Your registration ID and password for accessing the UPSC website will be issued to your registered email address and cellphone number once you’ve submitted it.
• Keep these login credentials in mind so you may use the website in the future to see your admission card, results, etc.

Step 2: Filling Out the Application Form

• Re-login and begin filling out the second step of the form using the new login ID. Your educational history, exam center preferences, and category are all covered in the second phase.
• You may select up to three test locations.
• Before you ultimately submit the form in this stage, make sure all of the information is accurate and true to your knowledge since it cannot be changed afterward.

Note:

• You must upload your photo and signature in the next section of the form.
• JPG or PNG format should be used for both.
• The picture needs to be current and passport size.
• White paper and blank ink should be used for the signature.
• Capital letters are not permitted in the signature.

Step 3: Upload Signature and Photo

The following section of the form requires you to provide your signature and photo.

• JPG or PNG format should be used for both.
• The picture needs to be current and passport size.
• White paper and blank ink should be used for the signature.
• Capital letters are not permitted in the signature.

Step 4: Payment of Application Fees

• Paying the fees is the final step.
• For male candidates in the general category and OBC, the application cost is INR 100.
• The payment of fees is not required for SC/ST/PWD/ex-service people.
• You can download and print a copy of the application form when the application fees have been successfully paid. In the future, it will be helpful if there is a problem with the admit card.

After the UPSC IFoS Prelims Results are out, applicants who qualify for the Mains test must re-apply for the Main test. Similar steps must be taken to apply, and only through the official website.

2. Documents Required

The application process is simple, but you must be careful not to make any mistakes when entering the necessary information in the forms because mistakes cannot be changed once the form has been completed. Keep the following materials nearby before you begin filling out the application:

• PAN Card / Voter ID / Aadhaar Card
• Photograph and signature scans,
• Information on your bank and credit/debit cards
• Current mobile number and email addresses
• All of your Mark sheets from classes 10, 12, and under; your bachelor’s and master’s degrees;  
• If applicable, your ST / SC / PWD certification

3. Signature and Photograph Criteria

Documents	Size	Dimension
Signature	10-30 KB	1.5-3.5 cm
Photograph	20-50 KB	Passport Size

For success, the application and payments must be submitted during the application window. Applying as soon as possible is prudent to guarantee that the exam center allocation matches your preferences.

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Admit Card

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) released the Admit Card on June 7, 2024. The admission card is available for download on the official website for candidates. After downloading it, the applicant should print off their admission card and carry it to the test room. The admission card will provide information about the exam’s date and location.

The process to obtain the UPSC Indian Forest Service(IFoS) admit card is as follows:

• Step 1: Go to the UPSC’s official website.
• Step 2: Locate and click on the IFS Exam Admit Card Link under the key announcements.
• Step 3: Fill up the required form with your registration ID and password.
• Step 4: A screen will show your IFS 2024 admit card. Take a printout of it after downloading.

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Syllabus

The Indian Forest Service(IFoS) examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and is one of the toughest competitive exams in India. The IFoS examination consists of two stages: the Preliminary examination (Prelims) and the Main examination (Mains), followed by an interview. Below are the detailed Indian Forest Service Syllabus for you:

1. Part A – Preliminary Examination Syllabus

The syllabus for the IFoS examination is comprehensive and covers a wide range of topics. The Preliminary examination includes two papers:

Paper	Marks	Duration	Topics Covered
Paper I	200 marks	2 hours	1. Current events of national and international importance 2. History of India and Indian National Movement 3. Indian and World Geography (Physical, Social, Economic) 4. Indian Polity and Governance (Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues) 5. Economic and Social Development (Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives) 6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change 7. General Science
Paper II	200 marks	2 hours	1. Comprehension 2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills 3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability 4. Decision making and problem-solving 5. General mental ability 6. Basic numeracy (Class X level) 7. Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, Class X level)

Important Notes for Preliminary Examination:

• Paper II is a qualifying paper; the minimum qualifying marks required are 33%.
• Both papers are multiple-choice, objective-type.
• Candidates must appear in both Paper I and Paper II; failing to do so will result in disqualification.

2. Part B – Main Examination Syllabus

The Main examination consists of six papers, which are:

Section	Description
General English	1. Write an essay in English. 2. Test understanding of English and use of words. 3. Passages for summary or precis.
General Knowledge	1. Current events and everyday observations. 2. Scientific aspects as expected from an educated person. 3. Indian Polity including political system and Constitution. 4. History of India and Geography.
Optional Subjects	1. Total of 8 questions in each paper. 2. Papers divided into Part A and Part B (4 questions each). 3. Answer 5 questions: 1 compulsory from each part (2 total), and 3 from the remaining 6 (at least 1 from each part).

List of Optional Subjects:

1. Agriculture
2. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
3. Anthropology
4. Botany
5. Chemistry
6. Civil Engineering
7. Commerce and Accountancy
8. Economics
9. Electrical Engineering
10. Geography
11. Geology
12. History
13. Law
14. Management
15. Mathematics
16. Mechanical Engineering
17. Medical Science
18. Philosophy
19. Physics
20. Political Science and International Relations
21. Psychology
22. Public Administration
23. Sociology
24. Statistics
25. Zoology

General Notes for Main Examination:

• The standard of the General English and General Knowledge papers is equivalent to that expected of a Science or Engineering graduate.
• The level of optional subject papers is higher than a bachelor’s degree but lower than a master’s degree.
• No practical examinations are included in any subject.

Check out the detailed syllabus for each of the subjects in the below-given PDF

Indian-Forest-Service-IFoS-Optional-Subject-Papers

In addition to the above subjects, it’s important for candidates to stay updated with current affairs and have a good understanding of environmental and ecological concepts as these are crucial for the IFoS examination.

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Exam Pattern

The exam pattern for IFoS consists of three stages: the Preliminary examination (Prelims), the Main examination (Mains), and a Personality Test (Interview).

Stage 1: Preliminaries for the Indian Forest Service(IFoS)

The Preliminary examination consists of two papers conducted on the same day.

• The UPSC IFoS prelims test is identical to the UPSC IAS prelims exam.
• There are two objectively oriented papers: GS I and CSAT.
  • In the General Studies paper, each question is worth two points.
  • In the Civil Service Aptitude Test, each question is worth 2.5 points.
• Every incorrect response results in a deduction of one-third of a mark.

Papers	Subject	Total Marks	Duration
Paper I	General Studies	200	2 Hours
Paper II	Civil Services Aptitude Test	200	2 Hours

Both papers are objective type, and the marks obtained in Paper I are counted for qualifying for the Mains examination.

Stage 2: Mains Indian Forest Service(IFoS)

The Main examination consists of written papers and an interview.

• The IAS (UPSC CSE) and UPSC IFoS Mains exams are wholly different tests.
• The Indian Forest Service Mains Exam consists of 6 papers.
• Each essay is of the descriptive variety.
• Each paper has a three-hour time limit.
• The list of subjects includes two extra subjects that can be selected.

Papers	Subjects	Total Marks
Paper I	General English	300
Paper II	General Knowledge	300
Paper III	Optional I	200
Paper IV	Optional I	200
Paper V	Optional II	200
Paper VI	Optional II	200

Stage 3: Interview

Those applicants who pass the main exam will be shortlisted for the interview when their personalities will be examined. The interview, which is the final stage, carries 275 marks.

Judgment, tolerance, awareness, ethics, and many more factors are among the numerous factors considered while choosing applicants. The interview panel will examine the applicant’s character rather than just their knowledge.

IFoS Interview Exam Stage

• This portion will carry 300 points.
• The applicants will be evaluated on their general knowledge, communication abilities, intellectual curiosity, critical observation, and assimilation skills, balance of judgment and mental alertness, initiative, tact, leadership potential, etc.
• The Board will speak with the applicant.
• The next requirement for the male hopefuls was to run 25 km in 4 hours or less. Those that are female must run 14 km in less time than 4 hours.

The final selection is based on the candidate’s performance in the Main examination and the Personality Test, as well as the preferences given by the candidates for the various services and the vacancies available.

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Exam Centers

The Union Public Service Commission reserves the right to change the UPSC Indian Forest Service(IFoS) test locations. The “First Apply First Allot” principle distributes the centers. Once each exam venue admits a certain number of students, the center locks, and applicants must choose another location.

The table lists all Indian testing locations for the UPSC Indian Forest Service(IFoS) exam. Students may quickly scan the chart to choose which center is handy and doable for them to visit.

State/City	Exam Centre
Andaman & Nicobar	Port Blair
Andhra Pradesh	Vijayawada Visakhapatnam Ananthapuru Tirupati
Arunachal Pradesh	Itanagar
Assam	Dispur Jorhat
Bihar	Patna Aurangabad Gaya
Chandigarh	Chandigarh
Chhattisgarh	Bilaspur Raipur
Delhi/NCR	Delhi Ghaziabad
Goa	Panaji
Gujarat	Ahmedabad Rajkot
Haryana	Faridabad Gurgaon
Himachal Pradesh	Shimla
Jammu & Kashmir	Srinagar Jammu
Jharkhand	Ranchi
Karnataka	Bengaluru Dharwad Mysuru
Kerala	Thiruvananthapuram Kochi Kozhikode (Calicut)
Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal Gwalior Indore Jabalpur
Maharashtra	Mumbai Navi Mumbai Nagpur Pune Thane
Manipur	Aizawl
Meghalaya	Shillong
Mizoram	Imphal
Nagaland	Kohima
Odisha	Cuttack Sambalpur
Puducherry	Puducherry
Punjab	Ludhiana
Rajasthan	Ajmer Jaipur Jodhpur Udaipur
Sikkim	Gangtok
Tamil Nadu	Chennai Coimbatore Madurai Tiruchirapalli Vellore
Telangana	Hyderabad Warangal City
Tripura	Agartala
Uttar Pradesh	Agra Aligarh Allahabad Bareilly Gautam Buddha Nagar Gorakhpur Lucknow Varanasi
Uttarakhand	Dehradun
West Bengal	Kolkata Siliguri

1. Steps to Change Exam Centre

The following are the methods to modify the UPSC Indian Forest Service(IFoS) test location:

• Visit UPSC’s official website.
• Click the link and go to “ONLINE REQUEST FOR CHANGE OF EXAMINATION CENTRE.”
• Update the testing facility with care.
• Simply press the “Submit” button.
• Download a copy of the admissions card and the acknowledgment form, and preserve a printout of each.

The ‘First Apply First Allot’ tenet will once again apply to requests to switch test locations. When a center reaches full capacity, it gets locked, and applicants are compelled to choose from the remaining centers. If necessary, the commission retains the authority to change the center as they see fit.

2. Required Documents for the Indian Forest Service(IFoS)

The applicant to the designated examination site must bring the following documentation:

• A valid photo ID such as:
  • Passport
  • Voter ID
  • Aadhar Card
  • PAN Card
  • any other card issued by the State / Central government is acceptable.
• The UPSC IFoS Admit Card

3. UPSC IFoS Basic Exam Centre Guidelines

When reporting to the test site, applicants must remember that they must abide by the UPSC’s instructions.

• Only a clipboard or hardboard and a pen for recording answers are permitted inside the exam room. The invigilator will supply sheets for draught works and answer sheets.
• The commission urges candidates not to bring electronic devices, including mobile phones, pagers, Bluetooth devices, and other communication equipment, into the exam room. Candidates should refrain from bringing them to the examination locations, as the commission does not provide provisions for safekeeping.
• It is advised that candidates refrain from bringing any form of expensive or precious objects to the center. The commission is not liable for any kind of loss in this respect.

If a candidate violates one of the rules outlined by the Commission, the Commission will take severe disciplinary action, and the candidate may be disqualified from taking the Civil Service Examinations altogether.

Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Answer Key

The IFS answer key includes all the solutions to the exam questions. The answer key will be available on the UPSC’s official website. Candidates can review the answer key when it is posted on the official website.

1. Indian Forest Service(IFoS) Result

Many students take this exam each year because of the high demand for these jobs and the lucrative salaries and opportunities they offer. However, the few openings available for this job make it extremely difficult to pass the exam. So, merely earning the required passing grades is insufficient. Candidates should practice the previous question papers and the mock exams while preparing for the Indian Forest Service.

Only those students who can score higher than the cut-off can take the next set of exams. The Prelims, Mains, and Personal Interview are the three steps of this exam’s ultimate recruiting process. The first two phases employ online written tests.

2. How to check the UPSC IFoS Result?

The UPSC website posts results for both the Preliminary and Main Examinations. These results are available as downloadable and printable PDFs for further use. The accompanying instructions will walk you through the simple process of opening the result on the official website.

• Step 1: Visit the UPSC IFoS official website at www.upsc.gov.
• Step 2: On the right side of the screen, locate “Written Results” and click it.
• Step 3: Click on Examination Written Results on the newly displayed page.
• Step 4: Find the link to your result from the list of links provided.
• Step 5: The link opens in a PDF format. Press (Ctrl + F) to input your name and roll number.
• Step 6: Verify if your name is included in the list. You passed the test if your name appears there.

Indian Forest Service Officer Salary

Below is the list of grades-based pay for Indian Forest Service salaries for officials:

Grade	Designation in state government	Designation in Government of India	Monthly Salary
Junior Time Scale	Assistant Conservator of Forests/Asst. Dy. Conservator of Forests	Assistant Inspector General of Forests	INR 56,100
Senior Time Scale	Deputy Conservator of Forests	Assistant Inspector General of Forests	INR 67,700
Junior Administrative Grade	Deputy Conservator of Forests	Assistant Inspector General of Forests	INR 78,800
Selection Grade	Deputy Conservator of Forests (Selection Grade)	Assistant Inspector General of Forests	INR 1,18,500
Super Time Scale	Conservator of Forests / Chief Wildlife Warden	Deputy Inspector General of Forests	INR 1,50,000
Senior Administrative Grade	Chief Conservator of Forests	Inspector General of Forests	INR 1,75,000
HAG scale	Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests	–	INR 2,00,000
HAG+ Scale	Principal Chief Conservator of Forests	Additional Director General of Forests	INR 2,05,400
Apex Scale	Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force)	Director General of Forests	INR 2,25,000

1. IFoS Cadre Allocation Policy

IFoS officers go through a cadre allocation process like every other civil service employee. However, the Indian government launched a new cadre allocation policy in 2017 that allows candidates to select five zones of their choosing.

The following states represent the zone-wise IFS cadre allocation:

Zones	States
Zone – 1	Punjab, AGMUT, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir
Zone – 2	Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
Zone – 3	Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh
Zone – 4	Assam, Tripura, Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, West Bengal
Zone – 5	Kerala, Tripura, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana

Officers continue to serve the Indian government in the cadre to which they have been assigned or deputed.

2. IFoS Officer Responsibilities

The primary responsibility given to IFoS officials is to safeguard the nation’s ecological environment and to maintain a record of the sustainable management of natural resources. Additionally, IFoS officers oversee the following areas:

• National Parks (NP) Tiger Reserve (TR)
• Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS)
• Other Protected Areas (PA) of the Country
• A Forest Service officer can exert administrative, judicial, and financial authority without relying on the district administration.

The posts held by the state forest department are listed below:

• Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), District / Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), and Conservator of Forests (CF)
• PCCF stands for Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.
• Only Forest Service officials are in charge of the aforementioned components. The Head of Forest Forces (HoFF) is the highest-ranking member of the Forest Service in each state.

The IFoS officials were in charge of the aforementioned factors among others. In addition to these, the cadre assignment has a significant impact on the duties that must be given to the officers.

3. IFoS Training

The IFoS program begins with a foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.

• The officer trainees’ foundation training is 15 weeks long.
• The probationers are sent to the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy for core training after completing the foundation course.
• Wildlife management, climate change, forest policies, biodiversity, forest dwellers and scheduled tribes, environmental protection, remote sensing, and geographic information systems are among the topics discussed.
• The Forest Research Institute of India awards the officers a master’s degree in Science (Forestry) upon completion of their training.
• Over 56 subjects are covered during the officers’ two-year probationary period.

In addition, the cops receive physical training that includes horseback riding, driving a car, crime detection, swimming, and weapon handling, among other things. These officials are also given extensive tours. The Indian Military Academy, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Wildlife Institute of India, Bombay Natural History Society, and other government institutions may decide to connect with them.

4. Benefits of Serving in the IFoS

Below is a list of benefits granted to IFoS officials:

• 2 BHK or 3 BHK Government House
• Transportation Vehicles
• Security Guard or Bodyguard
• Free Electricity & Water Services
• Free phone call services
• House Help
• Medical Expenses
• Study abroad
• Pension
• Many more retirement benefits

These are some of the facilities that the Indian government offers to all IAS, IFoS, and IPS personnel.

Note: Upon selection, candidates will also receive additional benefits. Provident Fund, Contributory Pension Fund, and Transportation Allowance. Along with these advantages, there are several opportunities for promotion through further tests.

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Conclusion

The Indian Forest Service (IFoS), established in 1966, is a prestigious civil service dedicated to managing and conserving India’s forests and wildlife. It plays a vital role in implementing national policies on forest conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development. IFoS officers oversee forest resources, combat deforestation, and maintain ecological balance. Their roles range from field operations to high-level policy-making, significantly contributing to environmental sustainability. A career in IFoS offers a unique mix of administrative duties and hands-on fieldwork, making it an excellent choice for individuals passionate about nature and committed to preserving India’s rich natural heritage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)