The UPSC IFS 2024 selection process will start from 14th February 2024 with the release of its application form. The application form will be released in online mode and the interested candidates can submit their form if they fulfill the eligibility criteria as well. Selection of the candidates will be made on the basis of preliminary exam, main exam and interview. Depending on the number of vacancies and overall performance of the candidates, recruitment to the Forest services will be done.

Latest: UPSC IFS 2024 application form will be available from 14th February 2024.

UPSC IFS 2024 Overview

• The candidates aspiring for IFS exam must appear in the civil services (preliminary) exam and qualify the same to be eligible for main exam.
• Candidates with nationality other than Indian citizen mist hold a certificate of eligibility issues by the Government of India.
• It is important for the preliminary exam qualified candidates to fill the Detailed Application Form (DAF) to be eligible or the main exam.
• An attempt at a preliminary exam will be considered as an attempt at the UPSC IFS 2024 exam.
• Candidates who submit multiple applications due to any reason must note that the application with the higher Registration ID (RID) will be considered.
• The name in the admit card in some cases may be abbreviated due to technical reasons and should not be considered as discrepancy.

Important Dates (Out)

Check below the important dates related to UPSC IFS 2024 in the table below:

UPSC IFS 2024 Exam Pattern

The pattern for both preliminary and mains exam of UPSC IFS are given below:

Preliminary exam:

• Number of papers: 2 (Paper I and paper II)
• Duration of exam: 2 hours (for each paper)
• Question paper language: Both English & Hindi
• Mode of exam: Offline
• Type of questions: Objective type
• Total marks: 400
• Negative marking: One-third of the marks allotted will be deducted for each incorrect response.

Main exam:

• Number of papers: 4
• Duration of exam: 3 hours (for each paper)
• Question paper language: English
• Mode of exam: Offline
• Type of questions: Essay type
• Total marks: 1000

Interview for Personality Test

• Total marks: 300

UPSC IFS Syllabus 2024

The complete syllabi for the UPSC IFS exam are given in detail below:

For preliminary exam:

• Paper I: Current Events, History of India, National Movements, Indian & World Geography, Indian Polity & Governance, Economic &Social Development, General Issues of Environment and General Science.
• Paper II: Comprehension, Communication Skills, Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability, Decision Making & Problem Solving, General Mental Ability and Basic Numeracy.

For main exam:

• General English: Basic Understanding of English, Essay Writing, Passage for Summary & Précis Writing and Workmanlike Use of Words.
• General Knowledge: Current Events, Political System & Constitution of India and History of India & Geography.
• Optional Subjects: Questions related to the specific subjects selected by the candidates will be asked.

Eligibility Criteria

The following criteria should be fulfilled by the candidates to be eligible for UPSC IFS exam 2024:

Relaxation in age limit:

• SC/ ST candidates: 5 years
• OBC candidates: 3 years
• Defence Services personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof: 3 years
• Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/ SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on 1st August, 2020 and have been released on i) completion of assignment (or will be completed within one year from 1st August, 2018) 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: 5 years
• ECOs/ SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years of Military Service as on 1st August, 2018 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 offer of appointment: 5 years
• Candidates with Low Vision, Hearing Impaired (Partially deaf) and Locomotor Disability (sub-category: Leprosy cured and Acid attack): 10 years

Application Form

The application form for UPSC IFC 2024 will be released in online mode on the official website https://www.upsc.gov.in/. Candidates who fulfill the eligibility requirements and are interested in the IFS examination can submit their online application to the commission.

• The application form can be filled by providing the candidate’s basic personal and educational information.
• Important documents such as scanned photograph and signature should also be uploaded in the application form.
• Candidates should take care to provide all the details very carefully in the form as incorrect forms will get rejected.
• Once all the details are entered into the application form, the candidates can make its final submission.
• A prescribed amount of application fee will also be submitted along with the application form.
• After successful submission of form and fee, the candidates must take their printout and keep it safe for future use.

Application fee:

• The application fee will be Rs. 100/- except female/ SC/ ST/ PH candidates who are exempted from payment of fee.
• Payment of application fee can be done by depositing cash in any branch of SBI or through SBI net banking or any credit card/ debit card.

Admit Card

• Candidates who submit their application successfully will be able to download their admit card and appear for the exam.
• Admit card will be released online on the official website of UPSC around 3 weeks before the exam.
• The applicants will have to take a printout of the downloaded admit card and carry it to the exam center on day of exam.
• Any problem in downloading the admit card or discrepancy in the admit card should be communicated to the commission’s office.
• No candidate will be allowed to appear for the exam in case of absence of the admit card.

Result

• The result of the preliminary exam will be released on the website of the commission.
• Candidates who qualify the pre exams will be eligible to appear for the main exam. The main exam result will also be declared online.
• Those who clear the main exam as well will then be invited for the interview round.
• Recruitment of the candidates will be done on the basis of their performance in the written exam and in the interview.