UPSC IFS Notification 2025 Out: Check Eligibility Criteria & Apply Now

UPSC IFS Notification 2025 was issued by the Union Public Service Commission on 22 January 2025. Candidates can fill out the UPSC IFS Application Form 2025 from 22 January to 21 February 2025. Approximately 150 vacancies are expected to be filled through the examination. Interested and eligible candidates can apply online by visiting the official UPSC website. 

The Indian Forest Service Examination comprises two successive stages: the Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, which is objective in nature and serves as a screening test for the Main Examination, and the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, which includes written tests and an interview to select candidates for the Indian Forest Service. The Union Public Service Commission will hold the UPSC Indian Forest Service Preliminary Examination 2025 on 25 May 2025. Scroll down this page to get updates on UPSC IFS Recruitment 2025. 

UPSC IFS Recruitment 2025  

UPSC IFS Notification 2025 is out with detailed information on the UPSC IFS 2025. Candidates should check the UPSC IFS Notification carefully before filling out the application form. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Indian Forest Service Examination (IFS) every year to recruit candidates for esteemed roles in the Indian Forest Service. 

UPSC IFS Application Window 2025 is open now and eligible candidates can fill out the application form within the stipulated time frame to avoid last-minute technical difficulties. To begin the process, applicants are required to first register on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform available on the Commission’s website. Once registered, candidates can proceed to complete the online application for the examination.

UPSC IFS Exam 2025: Overview

UPSC IFS Notification 2025 is available now and candidates should check it thoroughly. In the below table, we are providing a table with a concise summary of the UPSC IFS 2025:-

UPSC IFS Important Dates 2025

UPSC IFS Application Windiow 2025 is open for those who want to apply for the UPSC IFS 2025. Candidates can check all the required dates related to the UPSC IFS 2025 in the below and start preparing for the UPSC IFS 2025:-

UPSC IFS 2025 Recruitment: Important Links

UPSC IFS Notification 2025 contains all the details such as exam date, application date, application process, eligibility criteria, vacancy, selection process, exam pattern, syllabus etc. In this section, we are providing all the required links related to the UPSC IFS Recruitment 2025 for your easy access:-

UPSC IFS 2025 Vacancy

UPSC IFS Notification 2025 was issued with the vacancy details for the Indian Forest Service. A total of 150 vacancies have been announced by the UPSC. The number of vacancies of UPSC IFS is liable to alteration. Reservations will be made for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Section and Person with Benchmark Disability Categories in respect of vacancies as may be fixed by the Government.  

UPSC IFS Eligibility Criteria 2025 

The Candidates applying for the examination should ensure that they fulfill all eligibility conditions for admission to the examination mentioned in the UPSC IFS Notification 2025. Admission to all stages of the examination will be strictly provisional, contingent upon meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria.

The registration process will strictly adhere to the standards set by the commission. Therefore, applicants must thoroughly review the UPSC IFS Eligibility Criteria. Any individual who does not meet the eligibility criteria but still attempts to register will be marked as ineligible, disqualifying them from the exam. Candidates are strongly encouraged to carefully read and understand the eligibility requirements.

In this section, we are detailing UPSC IFS Eligibility Criteria for your reference:-

Nationality

A candidate should be an Indian citizen in order to register for the exam. Nationals of the following countries may also apply for this examination, provided they are in possession of a valid Indian government document proving their nationality.

• Subject of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who has immigrated to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanent residence. 
• Migrants from Pakistan, Sri Lanka,  Burma, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Vietnam are now permanently settled in India.

Age Limit & Relaxation

The UPSC IFS Notification 2025 outlines the age criteria for candidates. To be eligible, a candidate must be at least 21 years old and not older than 32 years as of 1st August 2025. This means the candidate's date of birth must fall between 2 August 1993 and 1 August 2004 (inclusive).

Relaxation Age

Candidates for certain categories are offered specific age relaxations. Candidates should review the table given below to determine whether they meet the age requirements for the Union Public Service Commission's Indian Forest Services Examination.

Educational Qualification

• A candidate must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least one of the following subjects:
  • Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
  • Botany
  • Chemistry
  • Geology
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Statistics
  • Zoology

OR

• Must have a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, forestry, or Engineering 

Medical & Physical Standards

For admission to the 2025 Indian Forest Service Examination, candidates must be physically fit as per the guidelines set by the commission for the post.

UPSC IFS Application Process

Candidates must apply for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025 to be considered for the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) post, as UPSC will conduct a single preliminary examination. Follow the steps below to complete the application process for IFoS 2025 by 21 February 2025:

1. Access the official UPSC portal to submit your online application.
2. If not already registered, click the "New Registration" link on the One Time Registration (OTR) Portal and sign up as a new user. If you are already registered, you can skip this step.
3. Use your credentials (email ID, mobile number, and OTR ID) to log in to the portal.
4. Complete the Application:
   • The form is divided into Part I and Part II.
   • In Part I, provide personal details like name and birth date. Carefully review all information before proceeding.
   • In Part II, upload scanned copies of documents, including educational certificates, ID proof, photographs, and signatures.
5. Choose the exam for IFoS as per your preference.
6. Click the "I Agree" button after entering all required details to complete the submission.
7. Make sure to save and print a copy of the completed UPSC IFS form for your future reference.

Application Fees 

Candidates applying for the IFS 2025 must pay an application fee based on their category. The UPSC IFS fee can be paid through either online or offline methods. The category-wise application fee is detailed in the table below:-

Note:- The application fee can be paid in cash at any State Bank of India branch or through online modes such as credit card, debit card, MasterCard, RuPay card, UPI, or net banking from any bank.

Mode of Payment

You can pay the application fees by:

1. Visiting any State Bank of India branch and remitting the money, or
2. Using  RuPay Credit/Debit Card, Visa, MasterCard, UPI Payment, or Internet Banking from any bank

Note: During Part-II registration, print the system-generated Pay-in slip and deposit it at the SBI Branch counter the next working day only if you choose the "Pay by Cash" option.

UPSC IFS 2025 Selection Process

There are two stages to the UPSC Exam, which applicants who aspire to become Indian Forest Officers should be aware of:

Stage I: Preliminary Written Test (CSE Exam)

In this stage, candidates will be shortlisted for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination through the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type).

Stage II: Main - Written Test and Interview

The second stage of the IFS recruitment is divided into two parts, i.e., Written Examination and Interview.

UPSC IFS Exam Pattern 2025

The purpose of the IFS examination pattern is to evaluate a candidate's academic ability as well as their ability to express themselves in a systematic and coherent manner. Examining candidates' general intellectual capacity and comprehension levels is its goal. 

Preliminary Examination

• The exam consists of two 200-mark compulsory papers.
• Both of the paper’s questions will be of the objective type (multiple choice questions) in nature. 
• The minimum qualifying score for the General Studies Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be 33%.
• The question papers will be available in both Hindi and English languages.

Main Examination

In the Main Examination, answers to all question papers must be given in English only. 

• General English and General Knowledge are covered in Papers I and II, respectively.
• The selection of two optional subjects from the list provided below is required for Papers III, IV, V, and VI.

Note: There will be a negative marking of 0.33 marks for each wrong answer in the Prelims examination.

List of Optional Subjects for IFS Main Exam

Candidates have to select two subjects from the following optional subjects, each subject will have two papers.

UPSC IFS Personality Test (Interview) 2025

The final and most important step is the 300-mark Personality Test (Interview). 

A record of the candidate's career will be given to him or her before being interviewed by a board of knowledgeable and objective observers. The candidate's personal suitability for the Service is ascertained during the interview. The candidate should have demonstrated a keen interest in not only his or her academic fields but also in events occurring both inside and outside of his or her own state or country, as well as in modern philosophical currents and novel scientific discoveries that ought to fascinate well-educated young people.

UPSC IFS Exam Syllabus 2025

The UPSC IFS Exam Pattern and Syllabus are completely detailed, so students can make preparation plans based on this information. The given tables contain all the information on the UPSC IFS 2023 Syllabus.

IFS Prelims Syllabus

IFS Mains Syllabus

Number of Attempts for IFS Examination

Your steadfast resolve to study for the UPSC preliminary exam for the IFoS is the first step to joining the Indian Forest Service. Once you have received your diploma or are in the last year of your degree, you may submit an application for the UPSC IFoS- Forest Exam. Candidates are only permitted to administer the test once a year. It's also critical to understand how many times you can take the main exam to qualify for the Indian Forest Service. 

UPSC IFS Admit Card 2025

The UPSC CSE (Prelims) Admit Card will soon be made available by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on their official website (the prelims for the Civil Services and Indian Foret Service Examination will be same).  In order to enter the examination hall, candidates must provide their UPSC CSE Admit Card 2025. Those who fail to do so will not be permitted to take the UPSC IFS recruitment 2025 exam.

To download the UPSC admit card, just follow these easy steps: 

Step 1: Go to the UPSC website's official page.

Step 2: Click on the ADMIT CARD tab on the homepage and click the “Download UPSC CSE (Prelims) Admit Card 2025” link.

Step 3: Enter your login information, i.e., your registration number and password, and your admit card will be displayed on the screen.

Step 4: Save the Admit Card PDF to your device and print out two or three copies of it for later use.

UPSC IFS Answer Key 2025

The official UPSC Answer Key 2025 will be released on the UPSC's official website after the exam. Once available, candidates can download the UPSC IFS Answer Key 2025 to calculate their scores. We will provide a direct link to download the UPSC IFS Answer Key 2025 below as soon as it is released:- 

UPSC IFS Answer Key 2025 Link (Inactive)

UPSC IFS Result 2025 

After the test is over, the UPSC Forest Services Result 2025 will be made public. The commission's official website will host the results for each stage. Using the URL provided below, you can view your UPSC IFS results. When the exam is over, the link for the UPSC IFS Main Exam 2025 will become active.

UPSC IFS Main Examination Result 2025 Link (Inactive)

UPSC IFS 2025 Exam Cut-off 

After the selection process for UPSC IFS 2025 is completed, the IFS Cut-Off 2025 for Prelims, Mains, and Final Selection, along with the IFS Result 2025, will be announced. The IFS Prelims 2025 is scheduled for 25 May 2025. Once the UPSC IFS Cut-Off Marks 2025 are released, a direct link to download them will be provided here:-

UPSC IFS Cut-off Marks 2025 Link (Inactive)

Forest officers' roles and responsibilities

• The main goal of the Indian Forest Service Officer is to regulate the National Forestry Policy, which is intended to ensure environmental sustainability and the preservation of natural ecosystems. 
• The Indian Forest Service Officer is in charge of making sure that endangered and protected wildlife may survive, grow, and endure in their natural habitat. 
• The sustainable growth of the local fauna and flora is one of the responsibilities of Indian Forest Service officials. 
• In order to increase livelihood prospects for rural and isolated community members, Indian Forest Service officers work for sustainable agriculture, conservation, and management of animal habitats.