UPSC IFS 2023: Application Form, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus and Vacancies

IFS Exam 2023 Important Dates

UPSC IFS Exam 2023 (Preliminary/Main) Important Dates -

IFS Exam 2023 Pattern & Syllabus

The Indian Forest Service Examination consists of three stages -

• The Civil Services Preliminary exam
• The IFS Main exam
• Interview or Personality Test

IFS Preliminary Exam Pattern -

UPSC IFS Preliminary Exam Syllabus

Note – The marks scored by the candidates in the IFS Paper-1 of the Preliminary stage are counted to get selected for the Mains exams. Paper 2 of the exam is only qualifying in nature. The candidate is required to score a minimum of 33% marks to be declared qualified for the Mains exam.

Indian Forest Service 2023 Main Exam Pattern -

UPSC IFS Main Exam Syllabus

Candidates are required to select two optional subjects from the given list of 14 subjects for the Mains exam. Each optional subject has 2 papers.

Each question paper on the optional subject contains 8 descriptive type questions. It has two sections, ‘A’ and ‘B’. Each section contains 4 questions. The candidates are required to answer only 5 questions on the question paper.

List of Optional Subjects from which a candidate should choose two subjects -

It should be noted that candidates are not allowed to have the following combination of subjects –

More info about IFS Exam Pattern & Syllabus.

UPSC IFS Preparation Tips & Guide

Just like the other two all-India Civil Service exams, cracking the Indian Forest Service 2023 exam also requires pure dedication, focus, and productive study. Every candidate has followed their own study method or strategy to do great in the exam. However, instead of wasting precious time on the preparation module, candidates can consider the following important tips to do well in the UPSC IFS exam.

Tip Number 1: Start Studying Earlier For Great Results 

Do not waste your precious time thinking that you can manage to cover the syllabus by studying for a month or less. One should keep a note that there is just no shortcut to passing any civil service exam, so start your preparation as soon as possible.

Tip Number 2: Set a Study Plan and Make Your Milestones

Milestones are some serious targets to achieve. That is why we advise you to set your defined schedule to achieve your study targets. Dedicate necessary study hours and effort to complete these study targets in time.

Tip Number 3: Schedule Do Mock Tests

It is recommended to take the mock test in periodic intervals, preferably at the end of each study milestone. This will help you to improve your problem-solving skill and make you visible to check how prepared for the exam. Also, make sure to note down weaknesses and start working on them.

Tip Number 4: Practice Previous Year Questions

Practice from the previous year's question papers is a key to success in the exam. Solving these papers not only helps you to prepare well for the exam but also help you to achieve excellent scores.

Tip Number 5: Refer To Good Books

Though there are several preparation and guidebooks available in the market, make sure to choose according to your needs to study. Here you can go through some of the most important books to study for the IFS 2023 exam.

IFS Exam 2023 Eligibility

IFS Exam Age Limit -

The candidate should not be less than 21 years of age and must not be more than 32 years of age on 01st August 2023. It means the candidates who were born before 2nd August 1991 or after 1st August 2002 are not eligible for the exam.

Age relaxation –

• The SC/ST category candidates are given an age relaxation of 5 years in the upper age limit.
• The OBC candidates are given a maximum of 3 years of age relaxation.

UPSC IFS Nationality Criteria -

• A candidate should be an Indian citizen.
• The subject of Nepal or Bhutan is also eligible for the exam.
• A Tibetan who migrated to India as a refugee before 1st January 1962 is also eligible for the exam.
• In addition, PIO (People of Indian Origin) candidates who migrated from some countries of the world are also eligible for this exam if they have migrated to India with the intention of settling down permanently. These countries are Vietnam, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and the East African countries of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Kenya. It is required that the government of India should have issued a certificate in their favor.

Educational Qualifications for IFS Exam

The candidate should have done Bachelor’s degree from a recognized University with at least one of the following subjects:

• Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Geology
• Physics
• Zoology
• Statistics

Candidates with Bachelor’s degrees in Agriculture or Forestry are also eligible.

Candidates possessing a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering are also eligible for the exam.

Number of Attempts Allowed for Indian Forest Service Exam -

Physical Standards Specification for IFS Officer –

Candidates, who qualify for the written test, will have to go for the physical standard test. This test will be carried out following the physical standards laid down in Appendix III of the rules of the Indian Forest Service Examination. They should note that this test is very important for their selection. If they do not fulfill the physical standards, they will be considered unsuitable for the Indian Forest Service.

Download the official Appendix-III

IFS Exam 2023 Application Process

How to Fill UPSC IFS Application Form

Candidates should visit the official website of the UPSC to fill out the IFS 2023 Exam application form. Here, they will be provided with guidance to fill out the Application form correctly.

Note: The application process for the 2023 session has been started on 1st February 2023.

• Candidates should, first of all, reach the official website or portal of the commission.
• They must try to fill out the Application form without making any mistakes. For this, they are required to read the instructions carefully. They must understand what is to be filled in and in which format.
• Candidates are required to register themselves first on the official website of the Commission. For this, they are required to provide information about their basic details like name, address, mobile number, and valid email id.
• The commission sends updates and communicates with the candidate through his email id. So candidates must keep their email id until the end of the process of the exam.  
• They must upload their photo and signature in the given size. They are required to keep the scanned copy of their photo and signature in the jpg format. The size of which should not be less than 3kb and must not exceed 40kb. This is to validate the Application of the candidate to the commission.
• They must pay the requisite amount of the Application fee to the Commission.

IFS Exam Application Fee

• Candidates should pay an Application Fee of ₹ 100/.
• However, the reserved category candidates (SC/ST and Physically handicapped) are exempted from paying any application fee. Female candidates are also not required to pay any application fee.
• Candidates can pay the fee thru cash, net banking, or credit/debit card.
• For net banking, candidates can use only the State Bank of India.
• Candidates can also pay the application fee in cash in any branch of the SBI. They should also take a print of the Pay Slip.

UPSC IFS 2023 Application Form Withdrawal Process

The Commission allows candidates the facility to withdraw applications if they do not wish to appear in the exam. Those who desire to withdraw their UPSC IFS applications can do the same through the website of the Commission within the specified schedule. Consider the following important points to withdraw the application form.

• Candidates must have submitted the application in the first place to withdraw the application, which means incomplete or applications that were not submitted cannot be withdrawn.
• Once you complete the withdrawal process, you will not be refunded the application fee.

Candidates need to enter their registration number and registered mobile number in order to withdraw the application. Besides, an OTP is sent at the registered email id and mobile number of the applicant.

IFS Exam 2023 Other Details

IFS 2023 Main Exam e-Admit card

• The IFS Main 2023 admit card will be released three weeks before the exam.
• The Commission does not send hard copies of admit cards to the postal address of candidates.
• Aspirants can only download the admit card from the "Admit Card" page of the official website of UPSC, upsc.gov.in.
• To download the IFS e-Admit card, candidates are required to enter their ‘Application number’ and ‘Date of Birth’.
• The admit card carries the roll number, date of exam, the center of the exam, name, and address of the candidate.
• It is mandatory to carry the admit card to the examination hall.
• Without the admit card candidate cannot be allowed to take up the IFS Main exam.

How to download UPSC IFS Main admit card?

• Visit the official website at upsc.gov.in.
• A link to download e admit card for IFS Mains will be displayed under the what’s new section on the homepage.
• Click on the link.
• Key in your login credentials.
• Your UPSC IFS main admit card will be displayed on the screen.
• Download and take its printout.

How to download IFS admit card if you forgot your registration ID?

Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to recover/ re-generate their registration ID:

Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC - upsc.gov.in

Step 2: Click on the Admit Card link available on the Home page of the website.

Step 3: Read the instructions given on the page and click on the Yes button.

Step 4: Click on the link, "Forgot Registration ID'

Step 5: Enter the following details:

• Name
• Father's name
• Mother's name
• Date of birth
• Captcha code as shown on the screen

Step 6: Click on Submit.

On clicking the button, a registration ID will be re-generated.

IFS 2023 Exam Result (Prel. & Main)

- The result of the IFS Exam comes in various stages.

- First comes the Preliminary exam result, and after that, the Main exam result.

- Qualifiers of the Preliminary exam will get a chance to sit and appear for the Main Exam, which will be conducted on 26th November 2023.

IFS 2023 Final Result –

- A total of 110 will be selected to recruit for the eligible posts and have been selected for appointment to the posts in IFS.

- The Sarkari result will also be available on the UPSC Website i.e. upsc.gov.in.

- The mark sheets of candidates are likely to be made available on the Commission’s website within fifteen days from the date of declaration of the result.

UPSC IFS Personality Test/ Interview 2023 –

• Candidates, who clear the Mains exam, are selected for the next stage of the selection procedure, i.e. the Personality Test.
• This stage of the exam carries 250 marks.
• Candidates are tested for their overall personality orientation, which covers their dressing style, communication skills, presence of mind, listening skills, etc.
• In addition to this, the board of qualified and unbiased observers checks their problem-solving and decision-making skills, leadership qualities, etc.

Candidates are advised to dress formally on the day of the interview and use formal words while being interviewed by the panel of interviewers. They should not use slang or any informal words. While answering the questions, they should speak moderately and avoid bluffing. The marks scored during an interview by the candidates play a crucial role in determining their overall selection in the Indian Forest Service exam.

IFS Exam Frequently Asked Questions