INDIAN FOREST SERVICE AS A CAREER & TIPS FOR  CRACKING THE  UPSC EXAM

 

 

BY DR. RAVINDER PALL SAINI

INDIAN FOREST SERVICE ( RETIRED)

MEMBER, BOARD OF MANAGEMENT

FOREST RESEARCH UNIVERSITY

DEHRADUN

 DEHRADUN, 10 MAY 2023:

The Indian Forest Service (IFoS) is one of the Civil Services Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the recruitment officers at the All-India level by the Government of India for the scientific management of its forests.

Importance

IFS is one of the three All India Services. The exam is conducted for recruitment to forestry services of India. The other two All India Services being Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).

Indian Forest Service is one of the Civil Services of India and belongs to the apex All India Services group. IFoS services are placed under various State cadres and joint cadres though they have the mandate to serve both under the State and Central Governments.

The main mandate of IFoS service is the implementation of the National Forest Policy which aims to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance.

An IFS officer is largely independent of district administration and exercises administrative, judicial, and financial powers in their own domain. All top positions in the state forest department are held by IFoS officers.

The IFS selection procedure consists of three stages – preliminary, main examination and personality test. Aspirants must note that they need to appear for the Civil Services (Preliminary) examination and qualify the same for the second phase of the examination, i.e., IFoS (Main Examination).

The desiring candidates can apply for the Indian Forest Service examination through a common online application form of Civil Services Examination (CSE). The applicant must submit the application form through online mode only.

Indian Forest Service is one of the Civil Services of India and belongs to the apex All India Services group. IFoS services are placed under various State cadres and joint cadres though they have the mandate to serve both under the State and Central Governments. The main mandate of IFoS service is the implementation of the National Forest Policy which aims to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance. An IFoS officer is largely independent of district administration and exercises administrative, judicial, and financial powers in their own domain. All top positions in the state forest department are held by IFoS officers.

Scheme and subjects for the Preliminary and Main Examinations 2020 are as follows (Consult latest UPSC publication as changes occur from time to time.:

1. IFS Preliminary Examination (400 Marks): The Prelims consists of two papers of 200 marks each. Both the question papers are of the objective type (MCQ) of two hours each. The question papers will be set in both Hindi and English. However, questions related to English Language Comprehension skills would be provided only in English. Blind candidates would be allowed an extra 20 minutes of time for each paper. The General Studies Paper-II of the Preliminary exam will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
2. IFS Main Examination (1700 Marks): Candidates who qualify Preliminary exam are called for the Main exam and based on marks secured in the Main exam, they will be called for Interview The total marks of the Main exam and Interview sum up to produce the result.
3. The written examination consists of the following papers:

 

Paper                           Subject                               Total Marks

 

Paper-I                 General English                            300 Marks

Paper-II               General Knowledge                       300 Marks

 

Paper-III                Any two subject to be

selected from the list of

to                        the optional subjects         200 Marks (For Each Paper) Paper-IV Paper-

V Paper-

VI Paper-

1. Interview Personality Test – 300 marks.

List of Optional Subjects for IFS Main Exam:

Agriculture Agricultural Engineering Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Botany Chemistry Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Forestry Geology Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Physics Statistics Zoology.

NB: The candidates will not be allowed to offer the following combination of subjects: Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Agriculture and Forestry Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Mathematics and Statistics Engineering subjects viz. Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering not more than one subject.

IFS Preliminary Syllabus:

The IFoS Preliminary syllabus are mainly designed to assess candidate’s comprehension on current affairs and aptitude within the stipulated time. The preliminary paper is a compulsory paper and qualifying in nature. Preliminary Syllabus

UPSC IFS Syllabus for Prelims

The UPSC IFoS Preliminary Exam is for screening purposes only with a minimum of 33% to be secured to sit for the Mains examination and will not be counted for determining a candidate’s final order of merit.

IFS Syllabus for Prelims Paper 1        

1. Current Event of National and International importance
2. of India and Indian National Movement
3. Indian and World Geography
4. Indian polity and Governance
5. Economic and Social Development
6. General Science
7. General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change.

IFS Syllabus for Prelims Paper 2

1. The English paper would consist of an essay and passages to write the summary.
2. The standard level of papers in General English and General Knowledge is for a Science or Engineering graduate of an Indian University.
3. Other questions are to test a general understanding of English and everyday use of words.

The questions in both Paper 1 (current affairs) and Paper 2 (aptitude test) will be of multiple choice and objective type. It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the papers of the preliminary examination for the purpose of evaluation failing which will result in disqualification.

The IFS Main examination is designed to test the academic talent of the aspirant, also his/her ability to present his/ her knowledge in a clear and coherent manner.

A.)      The written examination will consist of the following papers:

Paper-I General English – (300 Marks) Aspirants 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. Comprehension of given passages Precis Writing Usage and Vocabulary Short Essay

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, History of India and 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.

SYLLABUS FOR SUBJECTS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM UPSC SITE

Are prelims the same for IFoS and IAS?

The prelims exam is the same for both the administrative service and the forest service. It is only in the subsequent stages (mains and interview) that the process bifurcates.

How can ONE prepare for IFoS prelims?

 

Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Exam Preparation Tips

Study thoroughly through textbooks and practice writing model answers.

Get hold of previous years’ question papers and try formulating correct and precise answers. You must be proficient in English, as the questions are set and to be answered only in ENGLISH.

TIPS FOR IFS PREPARATION

1. Study the exam schedule and decide when you can prepare and appear.
2. First hurdle is passing the preliminary exam. Obtain its syllabus and select subjects etc.
3. Obtain a guidebook available in the market or net to know the exam pattern etc.
4. Obtain past several years of question bank to know what type of questions come. Find out which type of questions are getting repeated and prepare accordingly.
5. For the main exam select two papers like Zoology & Botany. English and General Studies are compulsory.
6. For Subjects:
7. Obtain Syllabus and earmark books which cover them
8. Obtain past several years’ question papers. These are available in the market or online.

iii.       Compare and see what all questions are coming, and which are getting repeated. There is a set pattern for example in Zoology a life cycle comes say for malaria or pinworms etc. Then accordingly prepare for all life cycles so that you can attempt a question promptly.

7. For General Studies read newspapers daily and listen to English news daily. Obtain a good guidebook on it from market to guide.
8. For English again see last few year patterns and prepare. Prepare an essay on climate change, wildlife conservation, environment issues etc. The Wren & Martin book is good for improving grammar.
9. Study daily early morning till lunch. Then take a rest and sleep. Study a few hours in the evening. After dinner, have a walk and try to recollect whatever you studied. Try to sleep by 11 PM. Early morning and evening study is better than late night study and it gives you rest.
10. Remember very few people prepare seriously. If you work hard the labour will never go wasted.
11. The past papers study would give you an idea to concentrate on which parts of the syllabuses subject wise.