- UPSC issued Examination Notice No. 06/2026-IFoSE on 4 February 2026 for about 80 Indian Forest Service vacancies, with applications closing on 24 February 2026
- The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination held on 24 May 2026 acted as the common screening test, and 1,046 candidates qualified for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2026
- The Main written examination carries 1,400 marks and the Personality Test 300 marks.
What Is the Indian Forest Service (IFoS)?
The Indian Forest Service, abbreviated IFoS, is one of the three All India Services alongside the IAS and IPS. Its officers implement the National Forest Policy and manage the country's forests, wildlife and allied natural resources. The Union Public Service Commission recruits them through the annual Indian Forest Service Examination.
The cadre-controlling authority for the service is the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which notifies the Indian Forest Service Examination Rules in the Gazette of India each year. The Rules for 2026 were published on 4 February 2026, and the UPSC notice is derived directly from them.
Officers are allotted to state cadres and serve in territorial, wildlife, working plan and research divisions. Because the service is scientific in character, the entry requirements and the Main examination papers are built around science, agriculture, forestry and engineering disciplines rather than general humanities.
Note that IFoS is the correct abbreviation for the Indian Forest Service. The abbreviation IFS is commonly used for it in everyday writing, but it also stands for the Indian Foreign Service, which is a separate service recruited through the Civil Services Examination.
How Is the IFoS Exam Structured in 2026?
The examination runs in two successive stages. Candidates first appear in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, which works only as an objective screening test. Those who clear it sit the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, made up of a 1,400-mark written test and a 300-mark Personality Test, together totalling 1,700 marks.
Marks scored in the Preliminary Examination are not carried forward and do not count towards the final merit list. UPSC admits roughly twelve to thirteen times the number of vacancies to the Main Examination, which is how 1,046 candidates were shortlisted against about 80 vacancies in 2026.
| Stage 2026 | Papers | Marks | Counted in Merit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination | 2 objective papers | 400 (200 + 200) | No, screening only |
| Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, written | 6 conventional papers | 1,400 | Yes |
| Personality Test (Interview) | One board interview | 300 | Yes |
| Total counted | - | 1,700 | - |
Since the same Preliminary Examination screens candidates for both the Civil Services Examination and the Indian Forest Service Examination, separate qualifying lists are prepared after the test. Applicants who wish to be considered for both examinations can do so through a single common application form.
UPSC IAS Syllabus 2026Read →Who Is Eligible for the IFoS Exam?
Eligibility is narrower than for the Civil Services Examination. A candidate needs a bachelor's degree containing at least one prescribed science subject, or a degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering. Age must be between 21 and 32 years on 1 August 2026, and candidates must meet the prescribed medical and physical standards.
Nationality
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal or a subject of Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 intending to settle permanently, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia, or from Vietnam, intending to settle permanently in India.
Educational Qualification
A candidate must hold a bachelor's degree with at least one of the subjects Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Zoology, or a bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering, from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification. A degree in any discipline is not sufficient.
Final-year students may apply and appear in the written part, but every candidate declared qualified for the Personality Test must produce proof of passing the qualifying examination within the time limit prescribed in the Rules.
Age Limit and Relaxation
| Category 2026 | Upper Age Relaxation | Attempts Permitted |
|---|---|---|
| General and EWS | None (32 years) | 6 |
| Other Backward Classes | 3 years | 9 |
| Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe | 5 years | Unlimited |
| Ex-servicemen (as prescribed) | 5 years | 6 |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years | 9 for General and EWS |
The lower age limit is fixed: a candidate must have been born not earlier than 2 August 1994 and not later than 1 August 2005. Candidates must also satisfy the medical and physical standards set out in Appendix III of the Indian Forest Service Examination Rules, 2026.
UPSC IES/ESE Exam Guide 2026Read →What Is the IFoS Preliminary Syllabus?
The Preliminary stage is the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination: two objective papers of 200 marks and two hours each. General Studies Paper I covers current events, history, geography, polity, economy, environment and general science. Paper II is a qualifying aptitude paper needing 33 per cent, and negative marking applies throughout.
Paper I: General Studies (200 Marks, Two Hours)
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography: physical, social and economic geography of India and the world
- Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues
- Economic and Social Development: sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives
- General issues on environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change that do not require subject specialisation
- General Science
Paper II: CSAT (200 Marks, Two Hours, Qualifying)
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy and data interpretation at Class X level
One-third of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for each wrong answer. Appearing in both papers is compulsory: a candidate who misses either paper is disqualified. Paper II must be cleared at 33 per cent, while the Paper I cut-off is set by the Commission against the vacancies available.
What Is the IFoS Main Examination Syllabus?
The Main written examination has six conventional papers worth 1,400 marks in total. Paper I is General English and Paper II is General Knowledge, each carrying 300 marks. Papers III to VI cover two optional subjects chosen by the candidate, with two papers of 200 marks for every subject.
| Main Paper 2026 | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | General Knowledge | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper III | Optional Subject 1, Paper I | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper IV | Optional Subject 1, Paper II | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper V | Optional Subject 2, Paper I | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject 2, Paper II | 200 | 3 hours |
| Written total | - | 1,400 | - |
- All question papers are of the conventional essay type, not objective.
- Question papers are set in English only and must be answered in English.
- Each paper lasts three hours, and the Commission may fix qualifying marks in any or all papers.
- Illegible handwriting attracts a deduction, and credit is given for orderly, effective and exact expression.
The General English paper tests essay writing along with grammar, vocabulary and comprehension. The General Knowledge paper covers current events, everyday science, Indian polity and the Constitution, history and geography, at a level a well-educated graduate is expected to manage without special study.
UPSC CDS Exam GuideRead →Which Optional Subjects Can You Choose?
Candidates select two optional subjects from a list of fourteen science, agriculture, forestry and engineering disciplines. Each chosen subject is examined in two papers of 200 marks. Certain overlapping pairs are barred, and no more than one of the four engineering subjects may be offered in the same combination.
- Agriculture
- Agricultural Engineering
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Forestry
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
- Statistics
- Zoology
Combinations That Are Not Allowed
- Agriculture with Agricultural Engineering
- Agriculture with Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Agriculture with Forestry
- Chemistry with Chemical Engineering
- Mathematics with Statistics
- More than one of Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering
How Does the Personality Test Work?
The Personality Test carries 300 marks and is conducted by a board that already has a record of the candidate's career. It judges suitability for a career in forestry rather than factual knowledge, assessing mental alertness, critical assimilation, balance of judgement, leadership, social cohesion and intellectual and moral integrity.
The interview takes the form of a purposive conversation intended to reveal the candidate's mental qualities and interest in matters of national and international importance. The number of candidates summoned for interview is about twice the number of vacancies, and UPSC verifies eligibility against original documents only after a candidate has qualified for the Personality Test.
What Are the Key IFoS 2026 Dates and Fees?
The 2026 notice was released on 4 February 2026 and applications closed on 24 February 2026. The screening Preliminary Examination was held on 24 May 2026 and its result was declared on 15 June 2026. Application fee is 100 rupees, with a further 200 rupees for the Main Examination.
| Milestone 2026 | Detail |
|---|---|
| Examination Notice No. 06/2026-IFoSE | 4 February 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 24 February 2026 |
| Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination as screening test | 24 May 2026 |
| Preliminary result for Indian Forest Service (Main) | 15 June 2026 |
| Candidates qualified for the Main Examination | 1,046 |
| Approximate vacancies | 80 |
| Preliminary application fee | Rupees 100 |
| Main Examination fee | Rupees 200 |
Female candidates and candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Persons with Benchmark Disability categories are exempt from both fees. No fee exemption is available to OBC or EWS candidates. Applications are submitted online at the UPSC application portal, upsconline.nic.in.