IFS Exam 2024: The Indian Forest Services Exam 2024 is one of the three All India Services, along with the Indian Police Services and the Indian Administrative Services. The UPSC conducts the IFS Exam every year. For the year 2024, the UPSC IFS prelims examination will be held on the same day as the civil services prelims exam, which is scheduled for June 3, 2024. The IFS Application Form 2024 submission process will begin on February 7 and end on March 6.
The IFS Admit Card 2024 will be issued just 15 days before the UPSC 2024 examination. Candidates must carry the admit card to the examination center, as security will not permit entry without it. The URL to download or print the admit card will be provided on the official web page.
After the exam, aspirants will be keen to obtain the IFS answer key 2024, which will be uploaded on the official page two or three weeks after the exam. The IFS result 2024 declaration will take some time due to the complexity of the process.
Candidates who qualify for the exam must appear for an interview to proceed with the recruitment process. The IFS interview will be held for those who pass the main exam. Once the interview is over, the commission will publish a merit list of the IFS final result 2024, based on which the selected candidates will be called for training.
IFS Exam 2024
The Indian Forest Services Exam, commonly known as the IFS Exam, is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit officers for the Indian Forest Service. The Indian Forest Service Exam 2024 is an opportunity for candidates to become forest service officers, who play a crucial role in managing and supervising the country’s forests. This helps in preserving the environment and preventing natural calamities caused by deforestation.
Here, we provide you with some basic details about this important exam conducted by UPSC, including information on the Indian Forest Services Exam, eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, how to apply, registration fee, and main test centers of the IFS Exam.
IFS Exam 2024 Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) https://upsc.gov.in/ |
| Exam Type | Civil Services Exam (CSE) with specialization in Indian Forest Service (IFS) |
| Eligibility | Indian citizens; Aged between 21-32 years (relaxation for reserved categories) |
| Number of Attempts | 6 for General candidates; Unlimited for SC/ST |
| Exam Stages | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Prelims Date (Tentative) | Likely June/July 2024 |
| Mains Date (Tentative) | Likely September/October 2024 |
| Selection Criteria | Merit-based on combined performance in all stages |
IFS Exam 2024 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification: Candidates aspiring for the Indian Forest Services Exam must hold a bachelor’s degree in at least one of the following subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Geology, Statistics, Veterinary Science, or possess a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Forestry, Agriculture, or Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.
Age Limits: Candidates must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have exceeded 32 years as of August 1 of the exam year.
Age Relaxation:
- SC/ST: Up to 5 years
- OBC: Up to 3 years
- Defence Services Personnel: Up to 3 years
- Disabled candidates: Up to 10 years
- Ex-Servicemen: Up to 5 years
Nationality: Candidates must be either a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, a subject of Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who settled in India before January 1, 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
IFS 2024 Exam Pattern
The IFS examination comprises two successive stages: the IFS Preliminary Examination and the IFS Mains Examination.
The IFS Preliminary Examination consists of two papers:
- General Studies
- Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
Both papers are objective type with a maximum of 200 marks each. The duration for each paper is 2 hours, with disabled candidates allowed an extra 20 minutes per paper. The medium of examination is English and Hindi, and there is a negative marking of 1/3 marks for each wrong answer.
The Preliminary Examination is a qualifying paper where candidates need to secure a minimum of 33% marks to qualify for the Main Examination.
IFS Mains Examination
The Mains examination consists of two sections: a written exam and an interview. The mains written examination comprises six descriptive type papers, totaling 1400 marks in total, to be completed within a time span of 3 hours.
| Paper | Subject | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General English | 300 Marks |
| Paper 2 | General Knowledge | 300 Marks |
| Paper 3 | Optional Subject | 200 Marks |
| Paper 4 | Optional Subject | 200 Marks |
| Paper 5 | Optional Subject | 200 Marks |
| Paper 6 | Optional Subject | 200 Marks |
The candidates have to select the two optional subjects from the given list below
- Agriculture
- Agricultural Engineering
- Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Forestry
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
- Statistics
- Zoology
Additionally, it should be noted that all the papers in the main written examination are of conventional type and must be answered in English. The qualifying marks will be determined by the commission, and only candidates who qualify can proceed to the interview round.
During the interview, conducted by a board of competent and unbiased observers, the candidate’s personal suitability for the service will be assessed. The interview, or personality test, carries a maximum of 300 marks. The marks obtained by the candidate in both the mains examination (written part) and the interview will together determine their final rankings.
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Syllabus of Indian Forest Service Exam
The preliminary examination consists of two papers that is Paper-I and Paper-II
| PAPER-1 | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Comprehension of given passages | General English |
| Precis Writing | General Knowledge |
| Usage and Vocabulary | Optional Subject |
| Short Essay | Optional Subject |
Paper-II General Knowledge – (300 Marks)
The General Knowledge paper includes the knowledge of current events, matters of everyday 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.
This paper will also include questions on Indian Politics including the political system and the Constitution of India, the History of India and the Geography of nature.
Paper-III, Paper-IV, Paper-V, and Paper-VI – (200 Marks for each paper)
Any two subjects to be selected from the list of the optional subjects mentioned in the exam pattern. Each subject will have two papers.
How to Apply for IFS Exam 2024
To apply for the Indian Forest Service Exam, follow these steps:
- Visit the official exam portal of UPSC at www.upsc.gov.in.
- Look for the application form link for the Indian Forest Services Exam (IFS Exam) and click on it.
- You will be directed to the application form where you need to register yourself.
- Enter your basic details such as candidate name, parents or guardian names, date of birth, postal address, valid mobile number, email address, and educational qualifications.
- Fill out all the details carefully and accurately.
- Upload scanned copies of your passport-size photograph and a running hand signature.
- After uploading the photograph and signature, click on the submit button.
- Before submission, review all the details entered to ensure accuracy.
- Proceed to pay the examination fee.
- You can pay the fee online using Visa, MasterCard, RuPay, credit/debit card, or net banking through the State Bank of India (SBI).
- Alternatively, for offline payment, select the cash payment option which will generate a challan (pay-in-slip).
- This challan can be paid at any branch of SBI across the country.
Registration Fee: The registration fee for this exam is Rs. 200/- for General and OBC category candidates. There is no fee for SC or ST category candidates.
Indian Forest Services Exam Test Centres
Indian forest services exam is usually taken at
- Bhopal
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Dhispur
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Kolkata
- Lucknow
- Nagpur
- Port Blair and Shimla
If you have a strong desire to make your career in the field of forestry then taking and clearing this IFS Exam 2024 can really provide wings to your career in Forest Services.