Forest ServicesUPSC Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Examination 2026Complete Notification Details — Vacancies, Dates, Eligibility & Pattern
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the official notification for the Indian Forest Service Examination 2026 on 04 February 2026 (Notice No. 06/2026-IFoSE). This page covers all the key details extracted from the official notification for aspirants preparing for IFoS 2026.
Official UPSC IFoS 2026 Notification PDF — Gazette of India, 04 February 2026 (Exam Notice No. 06/2026-IFoSE)
Important Dates — IFoS 2026
| Event | Date / Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notification Released | 04 February 2026 | Passed |
| Application Start | 04 February 2026 | Passed |
| Last Date for Online Application | 24 February 2026 (18:00 hrs) | Passed |
| Civil Services / IFoS Prelims Exam | 24 May 2026 | Upcoming |
| e-Admit Card (Prelims) | Last working day of preceding week | Upcoming |
| IFoS Main Examination | To be notified | Upcoming |
| Interview / Personality Test | To be notified | Upcoming |
| Final Result | To be notified | Upcoming |
The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 and the IFoS Screening Test are held on the same date (24 May 2026). Candidates can appear for both IFoS and CSE by marking both preferences in the single online application on upsconline.nic.in.
Vacancy Details — IFoS 2026
The total number of vacancies to be filled on the results of the IFoS Examination 2026 is expected to be approximately 80. The number of vacancies is liable to alteration. As per official notification, the category-wise breakup is:
PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability) Reserved Vacancies
| Disability Category | Current | Backlog | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blindness or Low Vision | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| Deaf or Hard of Hearing | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| Locomotor Disability (incl. Cerebral Palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, muscular dystrophy) | 01 | 02 | 03 |
| Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Multiple disability from above categories (incl. deaf-blindness) | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| Total | 03 | 02 | 05 |
Vacancy figures are provisional and liable to alteration by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Always verify with the latest official UPSC notification.
Eligibility Criteria — IFoS 2026
1Nationality
- A citizen of India
- A subject of Nepal or Bhutan
- A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India
- A Person of Indian Origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India
2Age Limit (as on 1st August 2026)
Minimum Age
21
Born on or before 1 Aug 2005
Maximum Age
32
Born on or after 2 Aug 1994
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST candidates | Up to 5 years |
| OBC candidates | Up to 3 years |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations | Up to 3 years |
| Ex-servicemen (5+ years military service) | Up to 5 years |
| ECOs/SSCOs (5+ years, assignment extended) | Up to 5 years |
| PwBD — Low vision, Partially deaf, Locomotor disability (leprosy cured & acid attack victims) | Up to 10 years |
3Minimum Educational Qualification
A Bachelor's degree from a recognised university with at least one of the following subjects:
OR a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering (any branch).
Appearing candidates who have not yet received their final results are also eligible for the written exam. However, proof of passing must be produced before the Interview/Personality Test.
4Number of Permissible Attempts
| Category | Attempts |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC / ST | No limit |
| PwBD (General / EWS) | 9 |
| PwBD (OBC) | 9 |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | No limit |
Note: Appearing in any one paper of the Preliminary Exam counts as one attempt, even if the candidate is later disqualified.
Application Fee
| Stage | Fee | Exemption |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | ₹100 | Female / SC / ST / PwBD candidates — NIL |
| Main Examination | ₹200 | SC / ST / PwBD / Women — NIL (OBC/EWS must pay full fee) |
Fee payment modes: Net banking / Visa / Master / RuPay / Credit / Debit card / UPI. Fee once paid is non-refundable. Applications without prescribed fee will be rejected.
Exam Pattern — IFoS 2026
Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
Screening in nature — marks are not counted in the final merit. Common with the Civil Services Exam. CSAT (Paper II) requires a minimum of 33% qualifying marks. Candidates must appear in both papers to be evaluated.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies (Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science) | 200 | 2 hrs | MCQ |
| Paper II (CSAT) | Comprehension, Reasoning, Mental ability, Numeracy, Data Interpretation | 200 | 2 hrs | Qualifying (33%) |
⚠ Negative marking applies for wrong answers in both papers.
Main Examination (Descriptive) + Interview
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | General Knowledge | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper III & IV | Optional Subject 1 (2 papers) | 200 each | 3 hours each |
| Paper V & VI | Optional Subject 2 (2 papers) | 200 each | 3 hours each |
| Interview | Personality Test | 300 | — |
| Total (Written + Interview) | 1900 | ||
Final Merit: Based solely on Mains written papers + Interview. Prelims marks are not counted. Optional subject papers are at Honours degree level (above Bachelor's, below Master's).
Mains Examination Centres
Optional Subjects
Candidates choose two optional subjects (2 papers each = 4 papers total). The following 14 subjects are available:
Prohibited Combinations
- ✗ Agriculture + Agricultural Engineering
- ✗ Agriculture + Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- ✗ Agriculture + Forestry
- ✗ Chemistry + Chemical Engineering
- ✗ Mathematics + Statistics
- ✗ More than one Engineering subject (Agricultural Engg, Chemical Engg, Civil Engg, Mechanical Engg)
How to Apply — IFoS 2026
Note: The last date for online application was 24 February 2026 (18:00 hrs). Applications for IFoS 2026 are closed. This information is for reference and future applicants.
OTR (One Time Registration)
Register on the Universal Registration Number (URN) platform at upsconline.nic.in. This is a one-time process. Upload photograph and capture live photo. Sign three times on plain white paper using black ink and upload.
Fill Common Application Form (CAF)
Fill the online Common Application Form (CAF). Candidates applying for both IFoS and CSE can use a single CAF by marking both preferences. Upload the required documents and Photo ID (Aadhaar / Voter ID / PAN / Passport / DL).
Examination Specific Module
Complete the fourth module (Examination Specific module) including selection of exam centre, fee payment, and other exam-specific details. Pay ₹100 Prelims fee (except exempted categories) via net banking / card / UPI.
DAF-I (After Prelims Result)
Candidates who qualify Prelims submit DAF-I within the 10-day window. Pay ₹200 Mains fee (except exempted). Upload certificates for DoB, category, and educational qualification.
DAF-II (After Mains Written Result)
Candidates who qualify Mains written submit DAF-II within 15 days. Indicate cadre/zone preferences. Upload proof of passing the qualifying degree. Update any personal/service details.
Official application portal: upsconline.nic.in — UPSC Helpline: 011-24041001 / upscsoap@nic.in (10 AM – 5:30 PM, working days)
Special Instructions
Mobile Phones Banned
Mobile phones, pagers, smartwatches, pen drives, Bluetooth devices and all electronic gadgets are strictly prohibited at examination venues. Candidates should not bring them at all as no safe-keeping is provided.
Face Authentication
All candidates must undergo mandatory face authentication at the examination venue. Reach at least 30 minutes before the exam. No late entry is allowed under any circumstances.
Black Ball Pen Only
For writing and marking answers in the OMR/answer sheet, candidates must use black ball pen only. Pencil and ink pens are prohibited.
No Withdrawal
Candidates will not be allowed to withdraw their applications after submission. Ensure all details are correct before submitting the application.
Scribe Facility
PwBD candidates (Low Vision, Partially Deaf, Locomotor disability 40%+) can avail a scribe. Scribe qualification: Matriculate or above, not more than minimum qualification for the exam.
Question Paper Portal
Candidates can submit representations on questions/answer keys within 5 days (from Day 3 to Day 7 at 6 PM) after the exam via the UPSC online portal only. No email/post representations accepted.
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