Civil Services & Indian Forest Service

Can you tell me about the eligibility requirement to apply for Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination which is a Civil Services Examination in India?

[pawan]

The Indian Forest Service (IFS) is one of the Civil Services Examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission for the recruitment officers at the All India level by the Government of India for the scientific management of its forests.

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality:
One must be
(a) a citizen of India, or
(b) a subject of Nepal, or
(c) a subject of Bhutan, or
(d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
(e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries like Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
One belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) should produce a certificate of eligibility, which has been issued by the Government of India.

Educational Qualification:
One must have Bachelor degree with at least one of the subjects namely, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a Bachelors degree in Agriculture or Forestry or Engineering of a recognised university or equivalent.

One appearing at degree exam (with prescribed subjects) can also compete. If qualify on the result of the written part of exam, will have to submit the proof of passing the required exam along with the detailed application form to be filled in at that stage.

Age Limit:
One should be minimum 21 years and maximum 30 years on 1st July of year of exam. While the upper age limit will be relaxable in the following cases:
o For Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe (SC /ST) : Upto 5 years
o Other Backward Classes (OBC): Upto 3 years
o State of Jammu & Kashmir (Domiciled during the period from the 1st January 1980 to 31st December 1989: Upto 5 years.
o Defence Services personnel: Upto 5 years
o Ex-servicemen including Commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least 5 years Military Service as on and have been released: Upto 5 years
o ECOs/SSCOs : Upto a maximum of 5 years.
o Blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically handicapped persons: Upto 10 years.
o SC, ST and the OBC who are also covered under other clauses mentioned above will be eligible to grant cumulative age-relaxation under both the categories.

Number of attempts:
The maximum number of attempts restricted for candidates are as follows:
General Candidates: 6 attempts
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Candidates: No restriction
Other Backward Classes: 9 attempts

Appearing for one or more papers of exam is counted as an attempt at exam even if one failed to qualify for the selection.