UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam 2025: Notification, Eligibility, Application Process, and Key Date
UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2025, initiating the application process from January 22, 2025. Aspiring candidates can submit their applications through the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in, until February 11, 2025.
UPSC IFS 2025 Application Process:
- Registration: Visit the official UPSC website and access the One Time Registration (OTR) platform. Complete the registration by providing the necessary details to generate your login credentials.
- Application Form: Log in using your credentials and fill out the online application form for the IFS Examination 2025. Ensure all information is accurate and complete.
- Document Upload: Upload the required documents, including a recent photograph and signature, in the specified format.
- Application Fee: Pay the application fee of ₹100 through available online payment modes such as debit/credit cards, internet banking, or UPI. Candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwBD categories and all female candidates are exempt from paying the fee.
- Submission: Review the application form carefully before final submission. After submission, download and print a copy of the application form for future reference.
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UPSC Indian Forest Service Eligibility Criteria:
- Nationality: Applicant must be a citizen of India.
- Age Limit: Candidates must be at least 21 years old and not more than 32 years old as of August 1, 2025. This implies that the candidate must have been born not earlier than August 2, 1993, and not later than August 1, 2004.
- Educational Qualification: A bachelor’s degree with at least one of the following subjects: Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and Zoology; or a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry, or Engineering from a recognized university or institution.
UPSC IFS Exam Pattern:
The IFS Examination 2025 comprises three stages:
- Preliminary Examination: Scheduled for May 25, 2025, this stage serves as a screening test and is conducted alongside the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. It consists of two objective-type papers:
- General Studies Paper I: Covers subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, and Current Affairs.
- General Studies Paper II (CSAT): Assesses comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, and basic numeracy.
- Main Examination: Candidates who qualify the Preliminary Examination will be eligible to appear for the Main Examination, commencing on November 16, 2025. The Main Examination is descriptive in nature and includes the following papers:
- Paper I: General English
- Paper II: General Knowledge
- Papers III, IV, V & VI: Two optional subjects selected by the candidate, each having two papers. The list of optional subjects is provided in the official notification.
- Personality Test (Interview): Candidates who clear the Main Examination will be called for the Personality Test, which assesses the candidate’s overall personality, including intellectual capabilities, social traits, and interest in current affairs.
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UPSC IFS Exam Syllabus Overview:
- General English: Essay writing, comprehension, précis writing, and usage of grammar.
- General Knowledge: Current events of national and international importance, history of India, Indian polity and governance, economic and social development, environmental ecology, biodiversity, and climate change.
- Optional Subjects: Each optional subject has a detailed syllabus outlined in the official notification. Candidates are advised to refer to the notification for comprehensive information.
UPSC IFS Vacancies 2025:
The recruitment drive aims to fill approximately 150 vacancies in the Indian Forest Service. The number of vacancies is subject to change, and reservations will be made for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities as per government norms
UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam 2025 Important Dates:
- Notification Release Date: January 22, 2025
- Application Start Date: January 22, 2025
- Application Last Date: February 11, 2025
- Correction Window: February 12, 2025, to February 18, 2025
- Preliminary Examination Date: May 25, 2025
- Main Examination Commencement: November 16, 2025
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Application Fee:
- General/OBC/EWS Candidates: ₹100
- SC/ST/PwBD/Female Candidates: Exempted from fee payment
The application fee can be paid online using debit/credit cards, internet banking, or UPI.
Preparation Tips:
- Understand the Syllabus: Thoroughly review the syllabus for each stage of the examination and identify the key areas to focus on.
- Study Material: Refer to standard textbooks and reliable sources for each subject. Make concise notes for revision.
- Current Affairs: Stay updated with national and international events by reading newspapers, magazines, and reputable online sources regularly.
- Practice Previous Papers: To comprehend the format of the test and enhance time management, work through past years’ question papers.