UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination 2025: A Comprehensive Guide

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2025 (Advertisement No. 06/2025-IFoS) to recruit officers for the prestigious Indian Forest Service. This examination serves as a gateway for individuals passionate about environmental conservation and dedicated to safeguarding India’s natural heritage.

Preliminary Screening via Civil Services (Prelims) 2025:

The selection process begins with a screening test conducted through the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, scheduled for May 25, 2025. It’s crucial to note that the pattern of the IFS Examination has been revised, and aspiring IFS officers for the 2025 exam must appear for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025. Successful candidates from this stage will then proceed to the Main Examination, tentatively planned for November 2025.

Key Details of the IFS Examination 2025:

Vacancies: Approximately 150 (including 9 for Physically Handicapped candidates).
Age Limit: Applicants must be at least 21 years old and no more than 32 years old as of August 1, 2025. Age relaxations are available for SC/ST/OBC and other eligible categories as per government regulations.
Educational Qualification: A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university is mandatory. The degree must include at least one of the following subjects: Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and Zoology. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry, Engineering, or an equivalent qualification is also acceptable.
Physical Standards: Candidates must meet the physical fitness criteria outlined in the official notification.
Number of Attempts: The maximum permissible attempts for different categories are as follows: General Category (6 attempts), OBC (9 attempts), and SC/ST (no limit).

Examination Scheme:

The IFS Examination is a two-stage process:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination: This is an objective-type screening test designed to filter candidates for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination.
Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination: This stage comprises a written examination and an interview, ultimately determining the final selection of candidates for the Indian Forest Service.

Application Fee:

General category candidates are required to pay a fee of ₹100. Female, SC, ST, and PH candidates are exempt from this fee. Payment can be made either in cash at any SBI branch, through SBI net banking, or using Visa/Master credit/debit cards.

Application Process:

All applications must be submitted online through the prescribed format. The application window will be open from January 22, 2025, to February 11, 2025, until 6:00 PM. The official application portal is https://upsconline.gov.in.

Accessing Detailed Information:

Comprehensive details regarding the UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination 2025, including application procedures, exam centers, syllabus, and other relevant information, are available on the UPSC website: https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/RevNotif-IFSP-2025-Engl-220125.pdf. Candidates are strongly encouraged to refer to this document for the most accurate and up-to-date information.