NEELGYAN EXAM GUIDE
UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination Guide
Indian Forest Service Examination (IFoS)
2026 examination cycle · Union Public Service Commission
Written and source-checked by NeelGyan Team · Last verified 2 August 2026
Checked against the official sources linked below
Cycle
2026
Current stage
Main stage after Prelims result
Vacancies
About 80
Age
21–32 on 1 August 2026
Main written marks
1,400
Interview marks
300
2026 cycle tracker
- Notification4 February 2026
- ApplicationsClosed 24 February
- Shared Prelims24 May
- Prelims result15 June
- IFoS MainUPSC schedule awaitedYou are here
- Interview/final resultAfter Main
On This Page
Exam Resources
Conducting body
Union Public Service Commission
Student level
Graduate recruitment in specified subjects
About UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination
What is UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination?
IFoS uses the Civil Services Preliminary Examination as its screening test, followed by a separate Indian Forest Service Main written examination and Personality Test.
The 2026 notice reports about 80 vacancies. Eligibility is narrower than CSE because the qualifying degree must include a notified science subject or be in agriculture, forestry or engineering.
Latest UPSC IFoS Updates
Verified updates, newest first
UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination at a Glance
Key exam details
- Full name
- Indian Forest Service Examination (IFoS)
- Conducting body
- Union Public Service Commission
- Student level
- Graduate recruitment in specified subjects
- Purpose / area
- Forestry, science and engineering
- Selection format
- Shared CSE Preliminary, IFoS Main and Personality Test
- Coverage
- National
- Current catalog status
- Active; consolidated canonical route
UPSC IFoS 2026 Important Dates
Official notification and exam timeline
- Notificationpublished4 February 2026
- Application deadlineclosed24 February 2026, 6:00 PM
- Civil Services Preliminary Examinationcompleted24 May 2026
- Preliminary resultpublished15 June 2026
UPSC IFoS Application Process and Fees
Official application route and fee details
Apply through the UPSC online portal and select IFoS in the common application used with Civil Services Preliminary Examination.
Prelims-qualified candidates must complete the Main-stage application/reconfirmation window announced by UPSC.
| Stage/category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Preliminary application; non-exempt candidates | ₹100 |
| Female/SC/ST/PwBD candidates | Exempt |
| Main-stage fee for non-exempt qualifiers | ₹200 |
- Main-stage payment is made during the post-result application window.
UPSC IFoS Eligibility Criteria
Qualification, age and other requirements
Age
21–32 years
- Measured on 1 August 2026; notified category and service relaxations apply.
Education
Specified science/agriculture/forestry/engineering degree
- Bachelor's degree with Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Zoology, or a degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering.
Attempts and fitness
Notice-specific
- Attempt limits and medical/physical standards apply; verify the notice and service rules.
IFoS Main admit card
Verified current-cycle status
Current status: Use the UPSC portal only when the Main-stage card is released.
No unofficial date should be predicted.
UPSC IFoS Exam Pattern and Selection Process
Stages, papers and qualifying rules
- Stage ICivil Services Preliminary Examination; screening only
- Stage IIIFoS Main: General English, General Knowledge and four optional-subject papers
- Stage IIIPersonality Test/Interview and final merit
Preliminary pattern
| Paper | Marks | Status |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies I | 200 | Merit for screening |
| General Studies II | 200 | Qualifying at 33% |
- Objective papers; negative marking applies.
IFoS Main and interview
| Component | Marks | Format |
|---|---|---|
| General English | 300 | Descriptive; marks count in merit and UPSC may prescribe minimum qualifying marks |
| General Knowledge | 300 | Descriptive |
| Two optional subjects, two papers each | 800 | Four papers of 200 marks |
| Personality Test | 300 | Interview |
UPSC IFoS Syllabus Overview
Subjects and stages in the official syllabus
Preliminary
CSE General Studies I and qualifying General Studies II/CSAT.
Compulsory Main papers
General English and General Knowledge at science or engineering graduate standard.
Optional subjects
Choose two permitted subjects; prohibited combinations in the notice must be checked before applying.
IFoS answer key
Verified current-cycle status
Current status: UPSC publishes objective-stage keys through its answer-key archive.
Check only after official publication.
IFoS 2026 result
Verified current-cycle status
Current status: Preliminary result published on 15 June 2026; Main and final results pending.
The Prelims result admits candidates to the separate IFoS Main stage.
IFoS 2026 cut-off
Verified current-cycle status
Current status: The 2026 final cut-off is not yet available.
UPSC normally publishes cut-offs after completion of the cycle.
UPSC IFoS Previous Question Papers
Official question-paper resources
UPSC IFoS Frequently Asked Questions
Is IFoS Prelims separate from CSE Prelims?
No. IFoS uses Civil Services Preliminary Examination as its screening stage, but requires a separate IFoS application choice and eligibility.
Are Prelims marks added to final merit?
No; final merit is based on IFoS Main and the Personality Test.
How many IFoS 2026 vacancies were notified?
Approximately 80, subject to change.
Can any graduate apply?
No. The degree must satisfy the science-subject, agriculture, forestry or engineering condition in the notice.
How many optional subjects are selected?
Two permitted optional subjects, with two papers for each.
What is the IFoS Main written total?
1,400 marks, followed by a 300-mark interview.
Is there a separate Main-stage fee?
Yes for non-exempt candidates; the 2026 notice states ₹200.
Where should current dates be checked?
On the UPSC IFoS examination page and online application portal.
Official Information and Sources
Primary notice and authority links
Related Exams and Student Routes
More options in UPSC Civil Services
Verify Before You Apply
Eligibility, dates, fees, vacancies, pattern and status can change. Read the latest notice on the official authority’s website before applying. NeelGyan does not collect application fees or guarantee admission or selection.