Indian Forest Service (IFos/IFS): Exam, eligibility and beyond

What is the prestigious Indian Forest Service (IFoS/IFS) all about? Let's find out

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One of the All India Services, alongside the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS), the prestigious Indian Forest Service (IFoS/IFS) provides aspirants with an opportunity to work for the environment and forest departments in the country.

1. Basic details:

Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun, Uttarakhand(Pic: ignfa.gov.in)

Sector: Environment, Forests, and Climate Change
Cadre controlling authority: Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change
Size and comparison: The Indian Forest Service (IFS) stands as the youngest and smallest among the three All-India Services.
Training institute: Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun, Uttarakhand

2. Roles and responsibilities:

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Ecological Environment Assurance: Ensuring the preservation of the country's ecological environment.
Sustainable Resource Management: Recording and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources within their jurisdiction, including areas such as National Parks, Tiger Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and other Protected Areas.

3. Important details of the IFoS/IFS exam | Educational requirements

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Candidates should hold a graduate degree in fields such as Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, or a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Agriculture, or Forestry, or Zoology.

Age limit: 21-32 years (excluding relaxation category)

4. Steps to crack IFoS/IFS:

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Begin with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) prelims.
Prepare for the IFoS mains examination, where all papers are conducted in English.
The final stage of the exam after the IFoS mains, is the interview round carrying 300 marks.
Following the interview, candidates must undergo a physical test. Male candidates are required to complete a 25 km walk/run in under four hours, while female candidates must complete a 14 km walk/run in the same timeframe, with standards outlined in Appendix-III.
Successful candidates undergo intensive training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), followed by a 15-week training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy. Upon completion, they are awarded an MSc in Forestry by the Forest Research Institute.