Indian Forest Service Vacancy 2026 – Notification, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, and More

🌿 Indian Forest Service Vacancy 2026 – Overview: The Indian Forest Service (IFS) is one of the prestigious All India Services conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The IFS 2026 recruitment will aim to select candidates passionate about conserving forests, wildlife, and natural resources. The application process is expected to begin in February 2026, along with the UPSC Civil Services Examination notification.

IFS officers play a vital role in managing India’s forest resources and implementing the National Forest Policy.

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📋 Key Highlights – IFS Exam 2026

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✅ Eligibility Criteria for IFS Exam 2026

📚 Educational Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the following subjects:

  • Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science

  • Botany

  • Chemistry

  • Geology

  • Mathematics

  • Physics

  • Statistics

  • Zoology

  • Agriculture / Forestry / Engineering

🎯 Age Limit (as of 1st August 2026):

• Minimum: 21 years

• Maximum: 32 years

• Age relaxation:

  • SC/ST – 5 years

  • OBC – 3 years

  • PwBD – 10 years

🌐 Nationality:

• Citizen of India, or

• Subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or

• Tibetan refugee (arrived before 1st Jan 1962), or

• Indian origin migrant (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, etc.) intending to settle permanently in India.

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📝 IFS 2026 Application Process

1. Visit https://upsconline.nic.in

2. Click on “Online Application for Various UPSC Exams”

3. Register through Part I Registration

4. Fill details in Part II Registration (upload photo/signature, choose exam center)

5. Pay the application fee:

   • ₹100 for General/OBC

   • No fee for SC/ST/PwD/Female candidates

6. Submit and take a printout for future use.

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🧠 IFS Selection Process 2026

The selection is done in three stages:

1. Preliminary Exam (common with Civil Services)

2. Mains Exam (Only for IFS-selected candidates)

3. Interview/Personality Test

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🧾 IFS Exam Pattern 2026

🔹 Preliminary Exam (400 marks – Objective type)

• Paper I – General Studies (200 marks)

• Paper II – CSAT (Qualifying – 200 marks)

• Negative marking: ⅓rd mark per wrong answer

🔹 Mains Exam (Total: 1400 marks)

• Compulsory subjects:

  • General English – 300 marks

  • General Knowledge – 300 marks

• Optional Subjects (Two papers of two subjects) – 200 marks each paper

  • List includes Agriculture, Forestry, Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, etc.

🔹 Interview/Personality Test – 300 marks

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📅 Important Dates (Tentative)

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📚 Recommended Books for Preparation

📦 Amazon Affiliate Product Suggestion:

• 📘 IFS Prelims Guide – Buy on Amazon

• 🖋️ UPSC Answer Writing Practice Book – Amazon

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❓ FAQs – Indian Forest Service Exam 2026

1. Can I apply for both Civil Services and IFS exams?

Yes, the prelims are common. You can opt for both during application.

2. How many attempts are allowed?

• General: 6

• OBC: 9

• SC/ST: Unlimited (until age limit)

3. Is CSAT compulsory for IFS?

Yes. It’s a qualifying paper in prelims.

4. What is the salary of an IFS officer?

Starting salary: ₹56,100 + allowances (Level 10). Higher posts can go up to ₹2.25 lakhs/month.

5. Can engineering graduates apply?

Yes, if your degree is in Engineering or any science subject mentioned in the eligibility list.

6. Is there a physical test?

No specific physical test like in police forces, but candidates must be fit for forest service fieldwork.

7. How can I choose optional subjects?

Choose based on your graduation stream or comfort with the subject syllabus.

8. Where are IFS officers posted?

Mostly in forest departments across Indian states, wildlife sanctuaries, or in central agencies like MoEFCC.

9. When will the 2026 IFS notification be released?

Tentatively in February 2026 along with Civil Services notification.

10. Can I use Hindi language for the exam?

Yes. Mains can be written in English or any scheduled Indian language.

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🔗 Internal Linking Suggestions (For Criteria.in)

• UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026

• UPSC Exam Calendar 2026

• Forest Ranger Eligibility

• Optional Subject Syllabus for UPSC