UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination 2026 Recruitment – Eligibility, Vacancy, Salary, Exam Pattern & Apply Online Details

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced the Indian Forest Service Examination 2026 Recruitment. This national-level examination is conducted to recruit officers responsible for forest conservation, wildlife protection, and environmental administration across India.

This SarkariSnap article explains the official recruitment details including eligibility, vacancy information, age criteria, selection stages, exam process, and application instructions in simple English based strictly on the official UPSC notification.

Recruitment Overview

Particular	Details
Organization	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	Indian Forest Service Examination 2026
Recruitment Type	Central Government Group A Service
Application Mode	Online
Job Location	All India
Selection Stages	Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Interview

Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Release	04 February 2026
Application Start	04 February 2026
Last Date to Apply	25 February 2026
Prelims Exam	24th May 2026
Main Exam	Not Mentioned in Notification

Organization & Service Role

Selected candidates will join the Indian Forest Service under the Government of India. Officers manage forest resources, environmental policies, biodiversity protection, and wildlife conservation programs.

Vacancy Details

Service	Vacancies
Indian Forest Service	80

Category-wise and state-wise distribution: Not Mentioned in Notification.

Eligibility Criteria

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
Agriculture / Forestry / Engineering

Age Limit (as on 01-08-2026)

Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 32 Years
SC/ST: 5 Years Relaxation
OBC: 3 Years Relaxation
PwBD: Up to 10 Years Relaxation

Selection Process Explained

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination
Indian Forest Service Main Examination
Personality Test / Interview

Exam Pattern & Syllabus

The Preliminary examination is objective type and acts as a screening test. The Main examination includes descriptive papers followed by an interview.

Detailed syllabus structure: Not Mentioned in Notification.

Salary Structure

Pay Level	Salary
Level 10 (7th CPC)	₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500

In-hand salary estimate: Not Mentioned in Notification.

Application Fee

Category	Fee
General / OBC / EWS	₹100
SC / ST / PwBD / Female	Nill

Documents Required

Graduation Certificates
ID Proof
Category Certificate
Photograph & Signature
Email & Mobile Number

Posting Location

Selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India.

Reservation Rules

Reservation benefits applicable as per Government of India norms.

How to Apply Online

Visit UPSC official website
Open IFoS 2026 notification
Complete One Time Registration
Fill application form
Upload documents
Pay fee
Submit and save application

Official Notification: Click Here

Additional Notes

Applications accepted online only
False information leads to disqualification
Admit cards issued online

FAQs

Q1: Is IFoS a Group A service?
Yes.

Q2: Is prelim common with Civil Services?
Yes.

Q3: Is interview mandatory?
Yes.

Q4: Is physical test required?
Not Mentioned in Notification.

Q5: Can final year students apply?
Refer official rules.

Q6: Is negative marking present?
Not Mentioned in Notification.

Q7: Are women eligible?
Yes.

Apply Early – SarkariSnap Advice

Candidates preparing for central government jobs should apply early and begin preparation for all stages of the examination.

Disclaimer: Information sourced from official UPSC IFoS 2026 notification PDF and UPSC website.