Indian Forest Service (abbreviated as IFS or IFoS) is one of the prestigious All India Services like Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Police Service (IPS). To get into IFS, a candidate has to sit for the same preliminary exam as all civil service aspirants do. But what is the minimum educational qualification for Indian Forest Service (IFS/IFoS) Exam? Let’s see.
Minimum Educational Qualification for Indian Forest Service (IFS/IFoS) Exam
The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any of the following subjects/ disciplines.
- Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects as Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science.
- Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects as Botany.
- Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects as Chemistry.
- Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects as Geology.
- Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects as Mathematics.
- Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects as Statistics.
- Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects as Physics.
- Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects as Zoology.
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.
- Bachelor’s degree in Forestry.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
Graduation should be from of any of Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.
Can last year students of graduation also apply?
Candidates who have appeared at an examination the passing of which would render them educationally qualified for the Commission’s examination but have not been informed of the results as also the candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying examination will also be eligible for admission to the Preliminary Examination.
All candidates who are declared qualified by the Union Public Service Commission for taking the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination will be required to produce proof of passing the requisite examination with their application for the Main Examination failing which such candidates will not be admitted to the Indian Forest Service Main Examination.
The applications for the Main Examination will be called sometime in the month of July/August, through online mode.
What is the age limit to apply for Indian Forest Service (IFS/IFoS) Exam?
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on 1st August of the respective year of Preliminary Exam.
But the upper age limit prescribed above will be relaxable –
- up to a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe.
- up to a maximum of three years in the case of candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.
- up to a maximum of three years in the case of Defence Services personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof:
- upto a maximum of five years in the case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and
ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on 1st August, and have been released (i) on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from 1st August) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or (ii) on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service, or (iii) on invalidment. - up to a maximum of five years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of
assignment of five years of Military Service as on 1st August, and whose assignment has been
extended beyond five years and in whose case the Ministry of Defence issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on three month’s notice on selection from the date of receipt of the offer of appointment. - up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of:-
(a) Low Vision
(b) Hearing Impaired (Partially deaf) and
(c) Locomotor disability (sub-category : Leprosy cured and Acid attack)
To know about further relaxations, refer the UPSC notification.
The Plan of Indian Forest Service (IFS/IFoS) Exam
The Indian Forest Service Examination will consist of two successive stages.
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) for the selection of candidates for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination
- Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the Indian Forest Service.
How can you make sure that you clear Indian Forest Service (IFS/IFoS) Exam?
Due to limited vacancies, the cut-off score of IFS aspirants for the Main exam is often greater than that of Civil Service Exam Prelims. But once you clear Prelims, your chances of converting are very high due to different factors.
Apply before the last date, if you eligible. You can apply for Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IRS etc) and IFS on the same online form.
To ensure that you clear Prelims in flying colours to fetch a mains call of IFS exam, we strongly recommend aspirants to enroll in ClearIAS Prelims Online Test Series.
rahul says
February 21, 2018 at 7:23 pmi have done B. tech and M. tech in Dairy Technology (JRF in Masters from NDRI, Karnal). Can I apply for the IFS?
Aditya says
May 9, 2018 at 9:39 amyes u can.any person with an engineering background can apply.
Samyuktha says
January 30, 2019 at 6:40 amYes you can
Arunima says
March 17, 2019 at 1:44 pmPlease I beg to know this anyone pls tell its mentioned bachelors witj at least one subject statistics I have done my ba with one subject elements of statistics will I be eligible to take ifos exams
Vishal choudhary says
February 21, 2018 at 9:39 pmSir I’m doing bsc (physics) from ignou can I apply for IFS.
Golu says
February 22, 2018 at 6:09 amIf we apply for only ifos exam and appear for prelims will it be counted as CASE attempt? Last year, UPSC desk office said appearing only for ifos exam is also a cse attempt.
Please confirm
ClearIAS.com says
February 22, 2018 at 10:18 amNo…In the same online application, there are separate options for marking CSE or IFS. If you opt only for IFS, that will not be counted as a CSE attempt.
vikesh says
February 28, 2018 at 10:37 amsir in options we can apply for both cse and ifos ?
it will have same paper or seperate paper for ifos and cse ?
ANKIT YADAV says
December 11, 2018 at 2:46 pmThanku very much
KARTHIKEYAN ANDI says
February 27, 2018 at 9:15 pmSir i had completed my degree in fisheries (B.F.Sc) am I eligible to apply for IFS.
Rajiya says
March 1, 2018 at 9:19 amSir, i have completed B.Sc in english medium ,i studied 10th in telugu medium,i am fluent in telugu can i choose main exam in IAS telugu language & interview
Atul says
March 6, 2018 at 10:00 amSir is IPS and Indian forest services exam is same. And known as CSP which will conduct on 3rd June 2018?
Kamlesh gupta says
March 23, 2018 at 7:53 pmSir,i have completed b pharm can i apply for ifs exam
Nivedita Latkan says
April 8, 2018 at 9:24 pmRespected Sir/ Madam
In some sites I noticed that bachelor with one subject as statistics is eligible for IFoS…! But here it does not appear….! I am a b.com graduate from IGNOU and studied statistics as one of my core subject in third year…! Am I eligible for
IFOS exam
Nivedita Latkan says
April 9, 2018 at 11:00 pmI am a bcom graduate with statistics as one of main subject in third year of B.Com Am I eligible for IFOS exam
B. M. Hasnu Umrongso Dima-Hasao,Assam. says
May 13, 2018 at 12:40 pmWhere as the candidates from sience stream can apply both the categories in IFS/IAS,students from Arts stream also should have been allowed to appear in the both IFS and IAS examinations because Arts stream students get less chance for applying the UPSC ( IFS). it is being deprived from the view of financial and merit categories.
Arpita says
May 18, 2018 at 5:57 pmI have done my bachelors with chemistry and biotechnology (zoology till 2nd year of graduation). Can I apply for IFS??
Sai Sree says
May 29, 2018 at 1:35 pmIs a b pharmacy student eligible for this test??
Sunil Kumar says
June 4, 2018 at 6:53 pmI’ve done Bachelor of Computer Application. Can I also apply for this ??
Manjusha says
June 6, 2018 at 7:23 pmI m a MBBS student can I appear for ifos exam?
Omnath says
June 13, 2018 at 9:36 amI am botany student 2nd year for ifos
exam eligible
Sam says
June 22, 2018 at 7:08 pmSir what are number of attempts for IFS
Ankita says
June 25, 2018 at 3:08 pmI am eligible for ifos if I am only doing 3yrs course of bvsc not animal husbandary.
And second question is that I will take only veterinary subject for prelims not animal husbandary shall I take that subject or not.
Demetrious sahoo says
June 29, 2018 at 4:26 pmSir I am a itm graduate can I apply for the exam
Jaydeep Bariya says
July 4, 2018 at 11:11 amI’m in BE automobile-2nd year.can I give IFS exam ?
Pranju says
July 13, 2018 at 9:29 pmI had completed Msc microbiology can I apply for this exam???
sagar says
July 19, 2018 at 6:37 pmcan an MBBS graduate write this exam? please reply
Sanjay S Paul says
July 22, 2018 at 7:35 pmI have completed my graduation in Botany. I’m very much interested in IFS. I have not moved applications yet for IFS exam. What shall I do now? Should I wait for next year’s test? Or should I go for Msc. Botany?
RAJESHKUMAR says
August 31, 2018 at 12:14 amSir I’m willing to IFS (Indian forest service) I’m completely my graduation degree in B.Sc Biotechnology course I’m eligible or I deserve it sir please tell me
Basith says
September 5, 2018 at 1:41 amI am completed plus two examination
Can I apply for this exam ?
Narayan says
October 15, 2018 at 6:57 pmI have completed Bachelor Degree in Economics and one paper having statics. Can I apply Indian Forest Service?
nithi says
October 30, 2018 at 4:39 pmSir i had completed my degree in BBA am I eligible to apply for IFS.
Mukesh Batham says
November 4, 2018 at 8:54 amsir I have done my BSc in forensic science am i eligible for the exam. I dont have any of the forementioned subjects in eligibility criteria but i had studied the gist of every Subject
Army patoliya says
November 4, 2018 at 3:57 pmSir horticulure degree can included in ifs…….???
Mayank says
November 6, 2018 at 11:22 pmSir anyone who has done his bachelor degree in architecture (B. Arch) can apply?
Swathi says
December 8, 2018 at 2:11 pmIs life sciences graduates are eligible for indian foreign service exam?
Swathi says
December 8, 2018 at 2:13 pmI am a life sciences student…
Am i eligible to write IFS exam?
Hari says
December 15, 2018 at 9:16 pmSir i am studying 12th std. I want more information about IFS &eligiblity creteria
Jalla Vicky says
February 23, 2019 at 8:11 amI’m a Arts Student in English Literature Can I apply for IFS ?
Chalapathi says
December 23, 2018 at 11:52 pmSir,,,,,,
I have master degree in zoology . Am interested to take Ifos/IFS exams, but i have dowt in physical criteria .
Is there height required ? Someone says height is required , my hieght is 5.4 so can i apply ?
Deepak Thakur says
December 27, 2018 at 9:58 pmSir,I’m in last year of my graduation in bsc.medical.with subjects chemistry, zoology and botany..how can apply for ISF
Sagar says
January 2, 2019 at 10:15 amI’m in none of these departments, so can’t i become IFS
Monalisha says
January 8, 2019 at 11:42 amI have done B.Sc. Horticulture…. Can I apply for IFS
Rinal says
January 21, 2019 at 12:06 amI am 2015 bscit pass out and have 4 years of experience in IT industry and now I want to change my career path. Can I apply for IFOS ?
Please do reply as it I am very confused right now.
Dinesh says
February 5, 2019 at 9:02 pmSir i finished my bsc nursing if iam eligible for indian forest Service
Sucharita panja says
February 6, 2019 at 8:22 amB. SC in environmental science can I eligible for Indian Forest Service exam?
Tendulkar says
February 6, 2019 at 3:58 pmInterested I n Wildlife
RIyas vkr says
February 15, 2019 at 10:14 amhave done Bcom (from calicut university )and MSW (From bharathiyar university,tamil nadu) .
Can I apply for the IFS?
Karthi says
February 19, 2019 at 8:40 pmIAM fisheries graduate am I eligible for IFS
chandana says
February 22, 2019 at 2:23 pmi have completed my intermediate n i completed my master diploma in hotel management can i apply for it
Preethi says
February 25, 2019 at 7:03 pmSir I’m studying imbsc final year can I apply
Ashish says
March 12, 2019 at 1:13 amSir, what is the writting medium for ifs mains?
jazz says
March 14, 2019 at 10:50 amSir my hons paper is chemistry and optional subject s are zoology and botany what I fill in upsc form…is it graduate with at least chemistry or zoology or botany??? Plz help & reply soon…
Amey Deshmane says
April 14, 2019 at 1:50 pmI have done bachelors in Microbiology and masters in Biotechnology , am i eligible for IFS .
Manikanta says
April 22, 2019 at 9:41 amRespected sir or madam my name is Manikanta I’m a engineering student should I can apply this exam
Anjali twari says
April 22, 2019 at 11:17 pmSir my height is 149cm ,can I eligible for ifos exam,, please reply sir
Sejal Deshmukh says
April 26, 2019 at 1:45 amI have done Bachelor’s degree in BCom. Can I apply for IFS?
Sugan says
May 7, 2019 at 11:02 amAre doctors eligible for the ifos examination..?
Manisha says
May 14, 2019 at 10:26 amHello sir, I’m b.sc microbiology students.. Can I apply UPSC in field IFS exam