UPSC IFoS 2026 Notification – Indian Forest Service Exam Overview
The Union Public Service Commission has announced the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Examination 2026 alongside the Civil Services Exam. The official IFS notification is expected soon on the UPSC website. The IFoS exam selects officers for forest and wildlife management roles under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
📅 Important Dates (Confirmed / Expected)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 06/2026-IFoSE |
| Apply Online Start | 4 Feb 2026 |
| Last Date of Application | 24 Feb 2026 |
| UPSC IFoS Prelims | 24 May 2026 (Sunday) |
| Indian Forest Service Mains | 22 Nov 2026 (Expected) |
| Interview/Personality Test | To Be Announced |
👉 The IFoS Prelims are conducted along with the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination on the same day.
📌 Eligibility Criteria
🔹 Nationality
Candidates must be:
- Indian citizens
- Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan
- Tibetan refugees (arrived before 1 Jan 1962)
- Persons of Indian Origin intending to settle permanently in India.
🎓 Age Limit (as on 1 Aug 2026)
- Minimum: 21 years
- Maximum: 32 years
- Age relaxation exists for OBC, SC/ST and PwBD candidates according to Govt. norms.
📚 Educational Qualification
Candidates 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
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering (any discipline)
📄 Number of Attempts
| Category | Maximum Attempts |
|---|---|
| General | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC / ST | Unlimited (within upper age limit) |
| PwBD (General/OBC) | 9 |
(Note: specific attempt rules are as per UPSC notification and Government guidelines.)
🧠 Selection Process
The IFS selection follows the three-tier UPSC pattern:
✅ 1. Preliminary Examination
- Objective-type exam conducted together with UPSC CSE Prelims
- Two papers: General Studies I & CSAT (Paper II is qualifying)
✅ 2. Mains Examination
- Descriptive papers
- Typically 6 papers covering:
- General English
- General Knowledge
- Optional Subjects (choose 2 from science/technical & humanities lists)
✅ 3. Personality Test / Interview
- Final round to assess leadership, decision-making and fitness for IFS roles.
📘 Exam Pattern (Highlights)
📍 Prelims
- Paper I: General Studies (200 marks)
- Paper II: CSAT – qualifying (33% minimum)
📍 Mains
Contains descriptive papers including:
- General English
- General Knowledge
- Optional papers (4 papers for 2 optional subjects)
📌 Syllabus Overview
💡 Preliminary Syllabus
- General Studies: History, Geography, Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change
- CSAT: Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Basic Numeracy
💡 Mains Syllabus
- Compulsory: English & General Knowledge
- Optional Subjects: Choose from science, agriculture and forestry related subjects such as Botany, Geology, Agriculture, Zoology, etc.
💰 Application Fee (Expected)
- General / OBC: ₹100
- Female / SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen: Exempted
(The actual fee structure will be in the official notification once released.)
📥 How to Apply (Online)
- Visit https://upsconline.nic.in
- Register using OTP & email/mobile
- Fill in personal and academic details
- Upload photo & signature
- Pay the fee (if applicable)
- Submit form and keep registration ID safe
📌 Reservation
Reservation norms for IFoS follow Government of India policies:
- SC / ST
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)
- EWS
- PwBD categories
Specific seat allocation will be mentioned in the official notification.
🧠 IFoS Career & Role
Successful candidates are inducted into the Indian Forest Service, responsible for:
- Forest conservation and management
- Wildlife protection
- Environmental protection
- Policy implementation in forestry and allied sectors
📝 Important Notes
✔ The IFoS 2026 notification was postponed from the originally expected release date, and the Commission will announce the updated schedule soon.
✔ The IFS Preliminary Exam 2026 will be held on 24 May 2026 along with UPSC Prelims.
✔ Mains exam is expected from 22 November 2026.
🔎 Quick Summary
- Exam Name: UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFoS) 2026
- Conducting Body: UPSC
- Selection Stages: Prelims → Mains → Interview
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in specified subjects
- Age Limit: 21–32 years
- Application: Online at upsconline.nic.in
- Notification: To be announced soon
❓ SEO FAQs – UPSC IFoS 2026
Q1. What is UPSC IFoS 2026?
UPSC IFoS 2026 is the Indian Forest Service Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit officers for forest, wildlife and environmental management services.
Q2. Who can apply for UPSC IFoS 2026?
Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in subjects like Agriculture, Forestry, Engineering, Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or related disciplines can apply.
Q3. What is the age limit for UPSC IFoS 2026?
- Minimum: 21 years
- Maximum: 32 years
- Age relaxation is applicable for OBC, SC, ST and PwBD candidates as per government rules.
Q4. How many attempts are allowed in UPSC IFoS?
- General: 6 attempts
- OBC: 9 attempts
- SC/ST: Unlimited (within age limit)
Q5. What is the selection process for UPSC IFoS 2026?
The selection process includes:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Personality Test / Interview
Q6. Is UPSC IFoS Prelims conducted separately?
No. UPSC IFoS Prelims is conducted along with UPSC CSE Prelims on the same date.
Q7. What is the syllabus for UPSC IFoS 2026?
- Prelims: General Studies & CSAT (qualifying)
- Mains: General English, General Knowledge and Optional Subjects related to science, agriculture and forestry.
Q8. Is there reservation in UPSC IFoS 2026?
Yes. Reservation is applicable for SC, ST, OBC (NCL), EWS and PwBD categories as per Government of India rules.
Q9. Where can I apply for UPSC IFoS 2026?
Candidates can apply online only through the official UPSC portal:
https://upsconline.nic.in
Q10. Is UPSC IFoS a Group A service?
Yes, the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) is a Group A All India Service.
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)| Apply Date | 04 Feb 2026 — 24 Feb 2026 Expired |
| Career/Recruitment URL | Open Now |
| Department Website | Open Offical Website |
| Join Telegram Channel | |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | |
| Office Address | UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi - 110069 |
Also Apply
NEWICAI Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 109 Executive Officer & Director Posts
BARC Research Associate Recruitment 2026 – Apply Offline
Central Government Jobs
LIVECUHP Teaching Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for Professor, Associate & Assistant Professor
LIVECSIR-IMMT MTS Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 7 Posts
LIVEPrasar Bharati Recruitment 2026 – Doordarshan Guwahati Casual Assignee Notification
LIVE