INDIAN FOREST SERVICE

Forests are a renewable resource and contribute substantially to economic development. Forests yield fuel wood, fodder, timber, industrial raw material, preserve our ecological balance and are the natural habitat of our wildlife. Our forest policy lays emphasis on protection, conservation and development of forests. Implementation of this policy is a major responsibility of the Indian Forest Service.
Indian Forest Service (IFS) is an all India class-I service. Entry to this service is through a written examination followed by a personality test conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi.
QUALIFICATION :
A Candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree with atleast one of the subjects, namely Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Forestry or in Engineering of any University incorporated by an Act of the central or state legislature.
AGE :
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on 1st July. Age relaxation to SC/ST categories is up-to five years. Relaxation in age is also granted to certain other specialized categories.
NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS :
Candidates who are otherwise eligible may appear a maximum of four attempts.
PLAN OF EXAMINATION :
The competitive examination for the Indian Forest Service comprises in written examination followed by personality test.
A) The written examination consists of the following papers :
Paper-I General English 300 Marks
Paper-II General Knowledge 300 Marks
Paper-III Any two subjects to be
Paper-IV selected from the list of 200 Marks for each paper.
Paper-V optional subjects.
Paper-VI
B) Interview for personality test – 300 Marks.
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.
The candidates will not be allowed to offer the following combination of subjects.
a) Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering.
b) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science.
c) Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
d) Mathematics and Statistics.
NOTIFICATION :
Notification for the examination is published in the Employment News and some other prominent national news papers during January.
FUTURE PROSPECTS :
Candidates recruited for IFS are initially appointed as Assistant Conservator of Forests. Four to five years after joining as Assistant Conservator the incumbents move up to (DCF) District Conservator of Forest and can go up to the rank of Chief Principal Conservator of Forests.