IFoS Exams

Candidates are required to apply Online using the link http://www.upsconline.nic.in for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination which will act as a screening mechanism for selection of candidates for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination.

The various academic requirements as per the IFoS Eligibility Criteria are given below:

• Minimum qualification for UPSC exam: The candidate must hold a degree from Government recognised Universities or possess an equivalent qualification.
• Candidates who are in their final year or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for UPSC preliminary Examination. All such candidates who are likely to appear for IFoS exams must produce proof of having passed the said examination along with the application for the main IFoS examination.
• Candidates having professional and technical qualifications recognised by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees.
• Medical students who have passed the final year of MBBS, but are yet to complete their internship also have eligibility for IFoS. Although, along with the Main Examination application, a certificate of course completion (including internship) from the concerned authority of the University/Institution has to be submitted.

IFoS Eligibility Overview

UPSC Age Limit – Minimum and Maximum Age for IFoS

UPSC Age Limit for Civil Services Exam 2024

The candidates must have attained 21 years of age and be less than 32 years of age as of 1st August 2024 i.e., the candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1990 and not later than 1st August, 2001. The official notification will carry UPSC Age Limit 2024 details. The official notification will carry the details about the age for UPSC Exam 2024.

Civil Services Age Limit is an essential factor in the eligibility criteria. Therefore, candidates applying for UPSC Exam should check what is the age for IFoS exam before filling the online application form.

IFoS Eligibility – Age Relaxation & Number of Attempts

(Civil Services Age limit relaxations, as discussed below, will apply).

Note:

As per the IFoS Eligibility for Defence Servicemen, the persons Disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof have special Civil Services age limit relaxation.

The IFoS Eligibility states that ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of 5 years Military Service as on 1st August 2024 get five years of age relaxation, provided whose assignment has been extended beyond five years and in whose case the Ministry of Defense issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on three months’ notice on the selection from the date of receipt of an offer of appointment.

IFoS Eligibility - Nationality

For IFoS and IPS:

• Candidate must be a citizen of India

All other Services:

• Candidate must be either:-
  1. A citizen of India, or
  2. A subject of Nepal, or
  3. A subject of Bhutan, or
  4. A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 intending to settle in India permanently, or
  5. A person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire and Vietnam intending to settle in India permanently.
• The candidates belonging to categories (2), (3), (4) and (5) should furnish a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. Such candidates may take the exam before getting the said certificate of eligibility, but he/she would get the offer of appointment only after the Government of India has issued the certificate.
• Point to Note: A person belonging to categories (2), (3) and (4) are not eligible for appointment to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

Summary of UPSC Eligibility Criteria for IFoS Exam

Given below is a summary of IFoS eligibility criteria mentioning the UPSC maximum age limit, count of attempts, relaxations, and more. Candidates must satisfy the following conditions to be eligible for the UPSC IFoS Exam:

Nationality for IFoS exam: Must be a citizen of India, a person of Indian origin or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan or Tibet settled in India before 1st January 1962.

Education Qualification for IFoS exam: Candidate must hold a Graduate Degree from a recognised University.

UPSC Civil Services Exam Age Limit: Candidate must be a minimum of 21 years of age and must not be more than 32 years of age.

Category wise UPSC CSE age limit, relaxation and maximum attempts

1. General Category & EWS: 32 years; 6 attempts.
2. OBC (with certificate): 32 years + 3 years; 9 attempts.
3. SC/ST: 32 years + 5 years; unlimited attempts.
4. Physically Disabled: 32 years + 10 years; Gen/OBC/Person with Benchmark Disability(EWS category)- 9 attempts & SC/ST unlimited attempts.
5. Jammu & Kashmir Domicile: 32 years + 5 years + (3 years, if OBC OR 5 Years, if SC/ST); Number of attempts depends on the reserved category.
6. Disabled and discharged Defence service personnel: 32 years + 3 years + (3 years, if Gen/OBC OR 5 years, if SC/ST)
7. Ex-Servicemen Commission Officer: 32 years + 5 years + (3 years, if OBC OR 5 Years, if SC/ST)

The Indian Forest Service Examination will consist of two successive stages

• Stage I: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) for the selection of candidates for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination; and
• Stage II: Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the Indian Forest Service
• Stage III: UPSC Personality Test (IFoS Interview)

Stage I: IFoS Exam - UPSC Prelims

• The questions in the IFoS Exam (Prelims) are of the objective type or Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
• There is ‘Negative Marking’ in the IFoS Exam for each incorrect answer but only in the Prelims stage. The negative marking for incorrect answers will be 1/3rd (0.66) of the allotted marks of that question.
• The GS Paper II (CSAT) in IFoS exam is of qualifying nature and candidates should score a minimum of 33 per cent in this paper to qualify to the next stage of the IFoS exam i.e. the Mains.
• Blind candidates are given an extra time of 20 minutes for each paper in the IAS Exam (Prelims).
• It is mandatory for the candidates to appear in both the papers of civil services prelims exam for the evaluation.
• The marks scored by the candidates in the preliminary examination are not counted for the final score. It is only a screening test where candidates not securing the cut-off marks are eliminated.

Stage II: IFoS Exam – UPSC Mains

The written examination consisting of the following papers:—

List of optional subjects: (i) Agriculture (ii) Agricultural Engineering (iii) Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science (iv) Botany (v) Chemistry (vi) Chemical Engineering (vii) Civil Engineering (viii) Forestry (ix) Geology (x) Mathematics (xi) Mechanical Engineering (xii) Physics (xiii) Statistics (xiv) Zoology

The candidates will not be allowed to offer the following combination of subjects: (a) Agriculture and Agricultural Engg. (b) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science. (c) Agriculture and Forestry. (d) Chemistry and Chemical Engg. (e) Mathematics and Statistics. (f) Of the Engineering subjects viz. Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering—not more than one subject.

General Instructions (Main Examination):

• All the question papers for the examination will be of conventional (essay) type.
• ALL QUESTION PAPERS MUST BE ANSWERED IN ENGLISH. QUESTION PAPERS WILL BE SET IN ENGLISH ONLY.
• The duration of each of the papers referred to above will be three hours.
• The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the papers of the examination.
• If a candidate's handwriting is not easily legible, deduction will be made on this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to him/her.
• Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.
• Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.
• In the question papers, wherever required, SI units will be used.

Stage III: Interview for Personality Test

• The candidate will be interviewed by a Board of competent and unbiased observers who will have before them a record of his/her career.
• The object of the Interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for the Service.
• The candidate will be expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in his/her subjects of academic study but also in events which are happening around him/her both within and outside his/her own state or country, as well as in modem currents of thoughts and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.
• The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross examination, but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation, intended to reveal mental qualities of the candidate.
• The Board will pay special attention to assessing the intellectual curiosity, critical powers of observation and assimilation, balance of judgment and alertness of mind, initiative, tact, capacity for leadership; the ability for social cohesion, mental and physical energy and powers of practical application; integrity of character; and other qualities such as topographical sense, love for outdoor life and the desire to explore unknown and out of way places.

UPSC Syllabus for IFoS Prelims

It is important to know the syllabus for UPSC Prelims as it is the screening test that qualifies candidates for the next stage, i.e. Mains. All UPSC Exam aspirants must familiarise themselves with the exam pattern and UPSC Exam syllabus first, and then move on with the preparation. However, Reliable Academy is the best coaching classes in Mumbai for UPSC.

The two papers of the UPSC prelims are discussed in detail below:

1. General Studies
   • The General Studies test is the first paper of the preliminary examination.
   • This test is intended to test the general awareness of a candidate in a wide range of subjects that include: Indian Polity, Geography, History, Indian Economy, Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology, International Relations and associated UPSC current affairs.
2. Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) (Generally conducted between 2:30 PM and 04:30 PM)
   • This UPSC Prelims syllabus for CSAT intends to assess the aptitude of the candidate in solving 'Reasoning and Analytical' questions, apart from 'Reading Comprehension' and the occasionally asked 'Decision Making' questions.
   • The 'Decision Making' based questions are generally exempt from negative marks.

To be noted:

• The preliminary examination is only meant for screening a candidate for the subsequent stages of the exam.
• The marks obtained in the Prelims will not be added up while arriving at the final rank list.

The subjects included in the prelims are common for all. However, there is an option to opt for a few subjects in the mains phase of the examination. Reliable Academy gives you best coaching class in Thane for UPSC Examination.

UPSC Syllabus for GS Paper (Prelims Paper I)

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation.
• General Science

UPSC Syllabus for CSAT Paper (Prelims Paper-II)

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)

UPSC Syllabus for Mains

The standard of papers in General English and General Knowledge will be such as may be expected of a Science or Engineering graduate of an Indian University.

THE SCOPE OF THE SYLLABUS FOR OPTIONAL SUBJECT PAPERS FOR THE EXAMINATION IS BROADLY OF THE HONOURS DEGREE LEVEL I.E. A LEVEL HIGHER THAN THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE AND LOWER THAN THE MASTERS DEGREE. IN THE CASE OF ENGINEERING SUBJECTS, THE LEVEL CORRESPONDS TO THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE. There will be no practical examination in any of the subjects.

UPSC Syllabus for IFoS Mains Paper I: GENERAL ENGLISH

Candidates will be required to write an essay in English.

Other questions will be designed to test their understanding of English and workmanlike use of words.

Passages will usually be set for summary or precis.

UPSC Syllabus for IFoS Mains Paper II: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

General Knowledge including knowledge of current events and of such matters of every day observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject.

The paper will also include questions on Indian Polity including the political system and the Constitution of India, History of India and Geography of a nature which the candidate should be able to answer without special study

UPSC Syllabus for IFoS Mains Paper III, IV, V and VI: OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

Total number of questions in the question papers of optional subjects will be eight.

All questions will carry equal marks.

Each paper will be divided into two parts, viz. Part A and Part B, each part containing four questions. Out of eight questions, five questions are to be attempted. One question in each part will be compulsory.

Candidates will be required to answer three more questions out of the remaining six questions, taking at least one question from each Part. In this way, at least two questions will be attempted from each Part i.e. one compulsory question plus one more.

The UPSC IFoS salary varies according to the designation and place of posting. One of the most lucrative options is to travel all over the country to some of the most spectacular locations.

The salary for the various posts under the UPSC IFoS are:

Q 1. What is the full form of UPSC IFoS?

Ans: The full form of UPSC IFoS is UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFoS), which is one of the most competitive and prestigious All India Services.

Q 2. What are the various positions offered to an IFoS officer?

Ans: Some of the posts that are offered to IFoS officers based on the results and promotion are- Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Conservator of Forests, Conservator of Forests and Deputy Conservator of Forests.

Q 3. Can a graduate in any specialization become an IFoS officer?

Ans: No, in order to become an IFoS officer, the candidate must have completed graduation only in any of the following subjects- Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology.

Q 4. What are the facilities offered to IFoS officers?

Ans: Some of the facilities offered to IFoS officers are Accommodation is very cheap rates, Household helpers, Vehicles, Free electricity and Free call services.

Q 5. What are the facilities offered to IFoS officers?

Ans: Some of the facilities offered to IFoS officers are Accommodation is very cheap rates, Household helpers, Vehicles, Free electricity and Free call services.