IFS
Union Public Service Commission
🏛️ UPSC
🇮🇳 National level
● Active
UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) (Indian Forest Service Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit for: Indian Forest Service, a Group A All India Service under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, managing state forest departments, wildlife and protected areas. Selection is through Preliminary Examination — the Civil Services (Prelim) paper, sat in common, followed by Main Examination (written, descriptive), followed by Interview / Personality Test.
IFS 2026 — Key Facts at a Glance
| Exam name | UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) — Indian Forest Service Examination |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Government of India |
| Latest cycle | IFoS 2026 |
| Vacancies | 80 — 33 UR, 21 OBC, 12 SC, 8 EWS and 6 ST |
| Posts | Indian Forest Service, a Group A All India Service under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, managing state forest departments, wildlife and protected areas |
| Qualification | A Bachelor's degree with at least one of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Zoology, or a degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering, from a recognised university. |
| Age limit | 21 to 32 years as on 1 August 2026 — the same limits as the Civil Services Examination |
| Number of attempts | 6 attempts for General and EWS candidates, 9 for OBC, and unlimited for SC and ST. |
| Application fee | ₹100 for the Preliminary Examination and a further ₹200 for the Main Examination. Female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempted from both. |
| Selection stages | Preliminary Examination — the Civil Services (Prelim) paper, sat in common → Main Examination (written, descriptive) → Interview / Personality Test |
| Total marks | Mains written 1400 marks + Interview 300 marks = 1700 marks |
| Negative marking | Yes — one third of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer in the Preliminary Examination. The Main Examination is descriptive and carries no negative marking. |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) (Indian Forest Service Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit for Indian Forest Service, a Group A All India Service under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, managing state forest departments, wildlife and protected areas. The IFoS 2026 notification declares 80 — 33 UR, 21 OBC, 12 SC, 8 EWS and 6 ST.
UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) selection process
- Preliminary Examination — the Civil Services (Prelim) paper, sat in common
- Main Examination (written, descriptive)
- Interview / Personality Test
UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam pattern
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims Paper-I | General Studies | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Prelims Paper-II | CSAT (qualifying at 33%) | 80 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Mains Paper-I | General English | Descriptive | 300 | 3 hours |
| Mains Paper-II | General Knowledge | Descriptive | 300 | 3 hours |
| Mains Paper-III to VI | Two optional subjects, two papers each | Descriptive | 200 each | 3 hours each |
| Interview | Personality Test | — | 300 | — |
Total marks
Mains written 1400 marks + Interview 300 marks = 1700 marks.
Negative marking
Yes — one third of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer in the Preliminary Examination. The Main Examination is descriptive and carries no negative marking.
UPSC does not normalise marks
This is the single most common misconception carried over from SSC. UPSC conducts each paper in one sitting with one question paper, so there are no shifts to equate and no normalisation formula. A published UPSC cut off is a raw mark you could actually have scored on the paper — which is why the figures are clean numbers rather than five-decimal scores.
What is next for UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS)
The IFoS 2026 Main Examination begins on 22 November 2026. The IFoS 2027 Preliminary Examination will again be held with the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination on 23 May 2027.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) vacancy for IFoS 2026?
80 — 33 UR, 21 OBC, 12 SC, 8 EWS and 6 ST. UPSC states in the notice that the number is liable to alteration.
What is the age limit for UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
21 to 32 years as on 1 August 2026 — the same limits as the Civil Services Examination. The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC, and up to 10 years for PwBD candidates.
What qualification is required for UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
A Bachelor's degree with at least one of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Zoology, or a degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering, from a recognised university.
How many attempts are allowed for UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
6 attempts for General and EWS candidates, 9 for OBC, and unlimited for SC and ST.
What is the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) application fee?
₹100 for the Preliminary Examination and a further ₹200 for the Main Examination. Female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempted from both.
Is there negative marking in UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
Yes — one third of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer in the Preliminary Examination. The Main Examination is descriptive and carries no negative marking.
What is the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) selection process?
Selection is through Preliminary Examination — the Civil Services (Prelim) paper, sat in common, followed by Main Examination (written, descriptive), followed by Interview / Personality Test.
What are the total marks in UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
Mains written 1400 marks + Interview 300 marks = 1700 marks.
What is the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) salary?
Pay Level 10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix at entry (₹56,100 basic), as Assistant Conservator of Forests, plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance.
Does UPSC normalise marks in UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
No. UPSC conducts each paper in a single sitting with one question paper, so there are no shifts to equate and no normalisation. Published cut offs are raw marks.
When does UPSC release the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) answer key?
Only after the final result for that cycle is declared, under the Commission's disclosure policy. There is no post-exam challenge window of the kind SSC runs.
Where do I download the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) admit card?
From upsc.gov.in. The e-Admit Card appears about two to three weeks before the examination and is not posted to candidates.
Do I need to register separately for UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
No. UPSC issues a Universal Registration Number (URN) that is registered once in a lifetime and used for every UPSC examination. Only the examination-specific module is filled per exam.
What is next for UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
The IFoS 2026 Main Examination begins on 22 November 2026. The IFoS 2027 Preliminary Examination will again be held with the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination on 23 May 2027.