AS the whole world focuses on climate change and its impact on environment, a group of officers sees to it that India’s forest cover does not shrink. They belong to the Indian Forest Service.
The IFS exam spread over 10 days is followed by a Personality Test conducted by the UPSC for shortlisted candidates. The number of attempts to appear for the exam is limited to four.
Fee: Examination fee is Rs. 100 payable through a single Central recruitment Fee Stamp. Fee is exempted for all female candidates, SC and ST candidates. Physically disabled candidates are exempted from paying the fee, subject to conditions of eligibility.
Eligibility: The minimum educational qualification is a Bachelor’s degree with at least one of these subjects: Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry or in Engineering or an equivalent qualification.
The exam: The written exam comprises 6 papers: Paper I - General English (300 marks); Paper II - GK (300 marks); Paper III, IV, V and VI - any two subjects to be opted by the candidate from the list of the optional subjects. Each subject has two papers of 200 marks each. The standard of papers in General English and General Knowledge is of the level of a Science or Engineering graduate. The syllabus for optional subject papers is broadly of the Honours degree level. Paper I, includes an essay in English and answer questions designed to test the understanding of English and precise use of words (comprehension and precis etc. ). Paper II includes questions on current events, Indian political system, Constitution, Indian History and Geography.
Related Job Options
Organisation/Department
Positions
Research Establishments such as Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education ,Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Agriculture Universities, Forest Research Institutes
Research Fellows/Associates
Research Organisations such as Indian Agricultural Research Institute (regional centre), Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering & Technology, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, ICAR Research Complex For NEH Region
Scientists
Krishi Vigyan Kendra
Subject Matter Specialists
State Public Service Commissions, for instance, Maharashtra Public Service Commission
Assistant Commissioner Animal Husbandry (over 150 vacancies)
Cantonment Boards, for instance, Chakrata
Foresters
Central Fertilizer Quality Control & Training Institute
Inspectors (Fertilisers)
Service category
Vacancies*
Indian Forest Service
84
• Based on exam scheduled to commence on July 10, 2010
The optional subjects include: Agriculture; Agricultural Engineering; Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science; Botany; Chemistry; Chemical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Forestry; Geology; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; Physics; Statistics and Zoology. The candidates are not allowed to opt for the following combination of subjects: (a) Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering (b) Agriculture and Animal Husbandary & Veterinary Science (c) Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (d) Mathematics and Statistics and (e) Engineering subjects viz. Agricultural Engineering, Chemical, Civil and Mechanical Engineering - not more than one subject. Optional subjects have 8 questions of equal marks.
Each paper is divided into Part A and Part B having four questions each. Out of eight questions, five questions are to be attempted. One question in each part is compulsory.
The interview or Personality Test carries 300 marks and is usually a directed and purposive conversation. It is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the eligible candidates.
