Union Public Service Commission · Indian Forest Service (an All India Service)
UPSC IFoS: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility, Age Limit & Mock Tests
The Indian Forest Service Examination recruits officers for the Indian Forest Service. Candidates take the Civil Services Prelims as a screening test, then a separate IFoS Mains and interview. Everything about the exam on one page, from the official 2026 notice.
UPSC IFoS latest updates
New UPSC IFoS notifications, admit cards, answer keys and results appear here as soon as they are posted. Browse Govt Jobs →
Important dates
Dates for the next UPSC IFoS cycle (notification, last date, admit card, exam and result) appear here when they are announced. See the exam calendar →
Check your eligibility
- ✓Indian Forest ServiceAge 21–32 +3
UPSC IFoS vacancies
Total, category-wise and post-wise vacancies appear here when the UPSC IFoS notification is released.
Eligibility and age limit
| Posts | Qualification | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Forest Service | Bachelor’s degree with at least one of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Zoology; or a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering | 21–32 |
| Category | Age relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| PwBD (low vision, partially deaf, leprosy cured, acid attack victims) | Up to 10 years |
| Ex-servicemen (5 years’ military service) | Up to 5 years |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations | Up to 3 years |
Age is counted as on 1 August of the exam year.
You must be at least 21 and must not have turned 32 on 1 August 2026.
Attempts: General and EWS 6, OBC 9, SC and ST no limit. PwBD candidates get 9 (no limit if SC or ST). Appearing in any one Prelims paper counts as an attempt.
One online form covers both CSE and IFoS; you must qualify in the Civil Services Prelims to reach IFoS Mains.
Final-year students may apply; proof of passing is needed if you reach the interview.
Application fee
Selection process
- 1CS PrelimsSame 2 papers as CSE · screening only
- 2IFoS Mains6 written papers · 1,400 marks · in English
- 3Interview300 marks · merit on Mains + interview
UPSC IFoS exam pattern
Civil Services Prelims 2 objective papers · 2 hours each · 400 marks · −1/3 of the marks per wrong answer
| Paper | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper-I | 200 | 2 hours |
| General Studies Paper-II (CSAT), qualifying at 33% | 200 | 2 hours |
| Total | 400 |
IFoS Mains (written) 6 conventional papers · 3 hours each · set and answered in English only
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | 300 |
| Paper II | General Knowledge | 300 |
| Papers III–IV | First optional subject (2 papers) | 400 |
| Papers V–VI | Second optional subject (2 papers) | 400 |
| Total | Written + interview (300) | 1,700 |
Prelims is common with CSE and only screens candidates; UPSC prepares a separate IFoS Mains list from it, calling about 12–13 times the vacancies. Two optional subjects are chosen from 14: Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Forestry, Geology, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Statistics and Zoology. Some pairs are not allowed, such as Mathematics with Statistics or two engineering subjects.
UPSC IFoS syllabus
Subject by subject. The number on a topic is how many practice questions we have for it.
General Studies (Prelims Paper-I)
CS Prelims · 200 marksCSAT (Prelims Paper-II)
CS Prelims · 200 marks · qualifying 33%General English
Mains · 300 marksGeneral Knowledge
Mains · 300 marksOptional subjects
Mains · 2 subjects × 2 papers × 200 marksUPSC IFoS cut-offs
Year-wise official cut-offs for every category appear here once they are published.
UPSC IFoS salary by post
| Level / group | Posts | Pay scale |
|---|---|---|
| All India Service | Indian Forest Service | Not printed in the 2026 notice |
The IFoS 2026 notice does not state the pay level, and we have not verified it from a current official pay rule, so no figure is shown.
UPSC IFoS mock tests and previous year papers
Exams with a similar syllabus
Your IFoS preparation already covers most of these exams.
UPSC IFoS articles
Preparation strategy, syllabus breakdowns and cut-off analysis for UPSC IFoS are on the way. Read the blog →
UPSC IFoS frequently asked questions
How many vacancies are there in IFoS 2026?
About 80: 12 SC, 6 ST, 21 OBC, 8 EWS and 33 unreserved, with 5 posts for persons with benchmark disabilities. UPSC shortlisted 1,046 candidates for Mains against them. IFoS 2025 had 150 vacancies.
Which degrees are accepted for the Indian Forest Service?
A Bachelor’s degree with at least one of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Zoology, or a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering.
Is the IFoS Prelims different from the CSE Prelims?
No. IFoS candidates take the Civil Services Prelims. UPSC then prepares separate Mains lists for CSE and IFoS. You can apply for both through one form.
What is the age limit and how many attempts are allowed?
At least 21 and under 32 on 1 August 2026, with 3 more years for OBC and 5 for SC/ST. General and EWS candidates get 6 attempts, OBC 9, and SC/ST no limit.
What is in the IFoS Mains?
Six papers: General English (300), General Knowledge (300) and two papers each in two optional subjects (200 each), all in English. The interview carries 300 marks.
When is IFoS Mains 2026?
UPSC’s 2026 programme lists IFoS Mains from 22 November 2026, over 7 days. The date can change.
Sources: UPSC IFoS 2026 notice No. 06/2026-IFoSE (04-02-2026) · UPSC press note: IFoS (Prelims) 2026 result (15-06-2026) · UPSC Programme of Examinations 2026 (checked 14 Sept 2026). Always confirm in the official notice before applying.