UPSC IFoS Notification 2026 Out, Apply Online for 80 Posts till Feb 24
What's New in UPSC IFoS?
- February 25, 2026: Union Public Service Commission has announced IFoS Mains Result 2025 on 24 February 2026. Candidates who appeared between 16–23 November 2025 can now check the result PDF. Download PDF
- February 5, 2026: UPSC IFoS Notification 2026 has been released on February 04, 2026. Apply online till February 24, 2026. IFoS Prelims on May 24, 2026 and Mains from November 22, 2026. Download PDF
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC IFoS Notification 2026 on February 4, 2026, for 80 vacancies. The online application process is now open and will close on February 24, 2026, at 6:00 PM. IFoS Prelims Exam, conducted alongside the Civil Services Exam, is scheduled for May 24, 2026. Meanwhile, IFoS Mains Examination is tentatively set to be conducted on November 22, 2026, subject to official confirmation. Aspiring candidates are encouraged to apply within the specified time frame for this prestigious opportunity.
What is UPSC IFoS?
In 1864, under British Rule, IFoS was known as the Imperial Forest Service. UPSC recruits IFoS officers, who are responsible for Forest Conservation, Wildlife Protection, Environmental Management, National Forest Policy Implementation, Climate change, and Community Engagement. To appoint officers for IFoS, UPSC undergoes a three-stage selection process, which includes Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
UPSC IFoS 2026 Highlights
The following table highlights the key points for the UPSC IFoS Exam 2026.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC IFoS Exam |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Level | National |
| Language | English & Hindi |
| UPSC IFoS Vacancies 2026 | To be announced |
| Selection Process of UPSC IFoS 2026 |
|
| Official Website of UPSC | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC IFoS Exam Dates 2026
The table given below shows UPSC IFoS Exam dates and other important dates:
| Events | Date |
|---|---|
| UPSC IFoS Notification 2026 Release Date | February 4, 2026 |
| UPSC IFoS Application Window Opens | February 4, 2026 |
| Last date to Apply for UPSC IFoS 2026 | February 24, 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Last Date for OTR Profile Modification of UPSC IFoS 2026 | TBA |
| UPSC IFoS 2026 Application Form Correction Window | TBA |
| Admit Card UPSC IFoS 2026 Release Date | TBA |
| UPSC IFoS Prelims 2026 Exam Date | May 24, 2026 |
| UPSC IFoS Mains 2026 Exam Date | November 22, 2026 |
| UPSC IFoS Interview 2026 | TBA |
| UPSC IFoS Final Result 2026 | TBA |
UPSC IFoS Exam Date
| UPSC IFoS Exam Events | UPSC IFoS Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| UPSC IFS Prelims 2026 Exam Date | May 24, 2026 |
UPSC IFoS Notification 2026
UPSC IFoS 2026 Notification has been released on February 4, 2026, by UPSC. Candidates can check out the notification to find exam dates, documents to be uploaded, eligibility criteria, vacancies, exam pattern, syllabus, application procedure, and information about reservation categories.
UPSC IFoS Eligibility 2026
To appear for UPSC IFoS 2026, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria laid down by UPSC. It includes Nationality, Age Limit, Educational Qualification, and Number of Attempts. UPSC IFoS Eligibility 2026 is given below:
- Nationality:
Candidates must be Indian. In case candidates are from Nepal, Bhutan or any other country, then they need to provide a certificate of eligibility provided by the Government of India.
- Age Limit:
- Candidates must be within the age limit of 21 to 32 years (as on August 1, 2026, i.e. he must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1994 and not later than August 1, 2005)
- Age relaxation:
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | Up to 5 years |
| OBC | Up to 3 years |
| Defence Services Personnel | Up to 3 years |
| PwBD | Up to 10 years |
- Educational Qualification:
Candidates must have:
- a Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects as Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and Zoology, or
- a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Forestry, or Engineering from any of the Universities.
- Number of attempts:
- General/Unreserved: 6 attempts
- OBC: 9 attempts
- SC/ST: Unlimited
- PwBD (General/EWS): 9 attempts
How to Apply Online for UPSC IFoS 2026?
UPSC has opened the online application form filling portal on its website on February 4, 2026. Thereafter, candidates can follow the steps given below to fill in UPSC IFoS application 2026:
- At first, visit upsc.gov.in
- Then, complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process.
- Log in with your Registration number and password.
- Fill in your personal details, educational qualifications and exam centres
- Upload a photograph, signature, and required documents.
- Pay the application fee (both online & offline available)
- Download and save the application receipt for future reference.
Aspirants are required to check out the official notification to know about the required documents, their size, and format.
UPSC IFoS Application Fee 2026
The table given below shows the fee structure for UPSC IFoS 2026 application fee:
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS (Male only) | Rs. 100 |
| Female/SC/ST/PwBD | Exempted |
The application fee can be submitted
- online by using Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit card/UPI Payment, or
- offline by depositing the money in any Branch of SBI by cash, or
- by using the net banking facility of any Bank.
Note: Candidates admitted to the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2026 will be required to pay a further fee of Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two hundred only) (Except exempted category i.e. SC/ST/PwBD/Women) through a window of 10 (Ten) days to be provided after declaration of IFoS Prelims Result.
UPSC IFoS Exam Admit Card 2026
UPSC will release UPSC IFoS 2026 Admit Card on its official website around 7 to 10 days before the Prelims exam. Candidates can follow the steps given below to download UPSC IFoS admit card 2026:
- At first, visit the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in.
- Then, go to the “Admit Card” section.
- Then, go to “E-admit card of various examinations of UPSC”.
- Then, click on the download link
- When UPSC Login window appears, enter your registration ID and password.
- Download UPSC Admit Card in PDF format.
UPSC IFoS Exam Centres 2026
UPSC IFoS Exam Centres 2026 have been designated across various cities for both the Prelims and Mains Examinations. The Prelims exam will be held in 83 centers, including major cities like Agartala, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata. The Mains exam will be conducted at 10 centers, including Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur, and Hyderabad.
UPSC IFS Prelims Exam Centre 2026:
| AGARTALA | GORAKHPUR | NAVI MUMBAI |
| AGRA | GURUGRAM | PANAJI (GOA) |
| AHMEDABAD | GWALIOR | PATNA |
| AIZAWL | HYDERABAD | SRI VIJAYA PURAM |
| AJMER | IMPHAL | PRAYAGRAJ (ALLAHABAD) |
| ALIGARH | INDORE | PUDUCHERRY |
| ALMORA (UTTARAKHAND) | ITANAGAR | PUNE |
| ANANTHAPURU | JABALPUR | RAIPUR |
| CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR | JAIPUR | RAJKOT |
| BAREILLY | JAMMU | RANCHI |
| BENGALURU | JODHPUR | SAMBALPUR |
| BHOPAL | JORHAT | SHILLONG |
| BHUBANESWAR | KANPUR | SHIMLA |
| BILASPUR (CHHATISGARH) | KARGIL | SILIGURI |
| CHANDIGARH | KOCHI | SRINAGAR |
| CHENNAI | KOHIMA | SRINAGAR (UTTARAKHAND) |
| COIMBATORE | KOLKATTA | SURAT |
| CUTTACK | KOZHIKODE (CALICUT) | THANE |
| DEHRADUN | LEH | THIRUVANANTHAPURAM |
| DELHI | LUCKNOW | TIRUCHIRAPALLI |
| DHARAMSHALA (HIMACHAL PRADESH) | LUDHIANA | TIRUPATI |
| DHARWAR | MADURAI | UDAIPUR |
| DISPUR | MANDI (HIMACHAL PRADESH) | VARANASI |
| FARIDABAD | MEERUT | VELLORE |
| GANGTOK | MUMBAI | VIJAYAWADA |
| GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR | MYSURU | VISHAKHAPATNAM |
| GAYA | NAGPUR | HANUMAKONDA (WARANGAL URBAN) |
| GHAZIABAD | NASIK | - |
UPSC IFS Mains Exam Centre 2026:
| BHOPAL | KOLKATA |
| CHENNAI | LUCKNOW |
| DELHI | NAGPUR |
| DISPUR (GUWAHATI) | PORT BLAIR |
| HYDERABAD | SHIMLA |
UPSC IFoS Syllabus 2026
UPSC has divided UPSC IFoS syllabus into Prelims, Mains and Interview. UPSC IFoS Prelims consists of two papers, General Studies and CSAT (Aptitude Test), in which questions are of an objective type. IFoS Mains contains six papers, which include English, General Knowledge, and 4 Optional subject papers. This is followed by an Interview to evaluate a candidate’s overall personality for IFoS. UPSC IFoS Syllabus 2026 is given below:
UPSC IFoS Prelims 2026
UPSC IFoS contains two objective-type papers:
- Paper 1 (General Studies): It contains current events, Indian History & National Movement, Geography, Polity & Governance, Economics, Environment and General Studies.
- Paper 2 (CSAT): It contains comprehension, interpersonal skills, decision making and problem solving.
UPSC IFoS Mains 2026
UPSC IFoS Mains contains six descriptive papers:
- Paper-1: General English
This paper contains an Essay and tests the basic understanding of the English language.
- Paper-2: General Knowledge
This paper contains current affairs, Indian polity, history and geography.
- Paper- 3,4,5,6: Optional Subject
Paper 3-6 contains two optional subjects, each with two papers. Candidates can choose any two optional subjects from a list of 14 optional subjects, like Agriculture, Botany, Forestry, Geology, etc.
UPSC IFoS Interview 2026
In UPSC IFoS Interview, UPSC assesses a candidate’s intellectual responses like critical thinking, decision making, leadership and teamwork, balance of judgement, etc.
UPSC IFoS Exam Pattern 2026
UPSC IFoS Exam pattern contains three stages: Prelims, Mains and Interview.
IFoS Prelims Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Studies | 200 |
| Paper 2 | CSAT | 200 |
| Total Marks | - | 400 |
| Nature | Counts for Prelims Cut-off | Qualifying only |
| Qualifying criteria | As per UPSC cut-off | Minimum 33% marks |
| Negative Marking | -1/3 for each wrong answer | -1/3 for each wrong answer |
IFoS Mains Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | 300 |
| Paper II | General Knowledge | 300 |
| Paper III & IV | Optional Subject 1 (two papers) | 200 each |
| Paper V & VI | Optional Subject 2 (two papers) | 200 each |
| Total (Written Exam) | - | 1400 |
IFoS Interview
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Personality Test | Interview | 300 |
Total marks: 1400 (mains)+ 300 (Interview) = 1700 marks.
Candidates shall check UPSC IFoS Exam Pattern 2026 to know more about it.
UPSC IFoS Vacancy 2026
UPSC Indian Forest Service 2026 has announced a total of 80 vacancies across various categories. These positions are allocated to General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwBD candidates as per the UPSC IFS Notification 2026.
| Category | Vacacny |
|---|---|
| UR | 33 |
| OBC | 21 |
| SC | 12 |
| ST | 06 |
| EWS | 08 |
| Total | 80 |
UPSC IFoS Selection Process 2026
UPSC IFoS Exam follows a three-stage selection process to shortlist candidates:
- Prelims: Objective-type, screening test
- Mains: Descriptive exam
- Interview: Personality assessment
UPSC IFoS 2025 Prelims is conducted in 80 cities and Mains in 10 cities across India.
UPSC IFoS Answer Key 2026
UPSC will release its Prelims answer keys for both General Studies Paper 1 and Paper 2 on its official website. Candidates are required to follow the given steps to get access to UPSC IFoS Answer Key 2026:
- Visit the official UPSC website upsc.gov.in or upsconline.gov.in.
- Go to the “Examination” section on the homepage and click on “Answer Keys”.
- Select UPSC IFoS Prelims option.
- Then click on the link to download the Answer Key PDF for Paper 1 or Paper 2.
- Open the PDF and cross-check your answers with the official key.
- Then calculate your score using the marking scheme (+2 for correct answers, -1/3 for wrong answers for Prelims Paper 1).
If a candidate qualifies UPSC IFoS Mains exam, his/her name will be enlisted for UPSC Interview. UPSC publishes the Mains exam and Interview marks after the declaration of the final merit list.
UPSC IFoS Result 2026
UPSC IFoS 2026 Result will be released on UPSC website. The final UPSC Merit List will include candidate names, roll numbers and service allotted in a PDF format. Given below are the steps to view UPSC IFoS Result 2026:
- Visit the official UPSC website upsc.gov.in.
- Go to the “What’s New” section.
- After that, click on UPSC Result link for UPSC IFoS Exam.
- UPSC Result PDF will be opened on your screen, which you can download.
UPSC IFoS Previous Year Question Papers
In order to understand how UPSC forms its questions for IFoS Exam, a candidate must go through the past 10 years of UPSC IFoS previous year papers.
By reviewing previous year papers, candidates have a clear idea of the exam pattern, the weightage of topics, and the level of difficulty in different subjects. Regular practice builds familiarity with the types of questions asked, helps with time management, and creates an effective exam strategy.
UPSC IFoS Official Prelims Exam Category-Wise Cutoff
Since UPSC IAS Prelims and IFoS Prelims exams are the same, the prelims cutoff of both exams is the same. Candidates can review the cut-off trends of the UPSC IAS Preliminary Exam over the last 5 years. The total marks of the General Studies paper 1 are 200. General Studies paper II is qualifying in nature, with a minimum score of 33 % or 66.66 marks out of 200 marks.
| Category | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 87.98 | 75.41 | 88.22 | 87.54 | 92.51 |
| EWS | 85.92 | 68.02 | 82.83 | 80.14 | 77.55 |
| OBC | 87.28 | 74.75 | 87.54 | 84.85 | 89.12 |
| SC | 79.03 | 59.25 | 74.08 | 75.41 | 74.84 |
| ST | 74.23 | 47.82 | 69.35 | 70.71 | 68.71 |
| PwBD-1 | 69.42 | 40.40 | 49.84 | 68.02 | 70.06 |
| PwBD-2 | 65.30 | 47.13 | 58.59 | 67.33 | 63.94 |
| PwBD-3 | 40.56 | 40.40 | 40.40 | 43.09 | 40.82 |
| PwBD-5 | 40.56 | 33.68 | 41.76 | 45.80 | 42.86 |
UPSC IFoS 2026 Salary
The table given below shows the basic salary of UPSC IFoS Officers in their career as IFoS officers:
| Grade / Designation | Pay Level | Basic Pay Range (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Time Scale (Entry-level) | 10 | 56,100 – 1,32,000 |
| Senior Time Scale | 11 | 67,700 – 1,60,000 |
| Junior Administrative Grade | 12 | 78,800 – 1,91,500 |
| Selection Grade (Deputy Conservator of Forest – Selection) | 13 | 1,18,500 – 2,14,100 |
| Super Time Scale | 13A | 1,50,000 – (top of Level 13A) |
| Senior Administrative Grade | 14 | 1,75,000 – (top of Level 14) |
| Higher Administrative Grade II (HAG II) | 15 | 2,00,000 – (top of Level 15) |
| HAG+ Scale | 16 | ~ 2,05,400 – (approx top of Level 16) |
| Apex Scale (Head of Forest Force, etc.) | 17 | 2,25,000 (fixed max basic pay) |
UPSC IFoS officers are responsible for the protection, conservation, and sustainable management of India’s forests, wildlife, and natural resources. They work to implement environmental laws, forest policies, and wildlife conservation programs. IFoS officers are posted in forest divisions, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and state or central government departments. They also handle issues related to climate change, biodiversity protection, and human-wildlife conflict. Senior officers may serve in policy-making roles at the state or national level.
UPSC IFoS 2026 FAQs
Ques: Can candidates with engineering degrees apply for UPSC IFoS 2026?
Ans: Yes. Candidates with an engineering degree are eligible to apply for the UPSC IFoS exam. But candidates must have a subject in forestry, agriculture, or environmental sciences.
Ques: Will there be a separate Prelims exam for UPSC IFoS 2026?
Ans: No. IFoS candidates take the same CSE Prelims as IAS/IPS candidates. The difference in CSE or IFoS comes at the Mains exam, in which IFoS has its own set of papers focused on forestry and environmental sciences.
Ques: What is the difference between UPSC IFS and IFoS Exam?
Ans: IFS stands for Indian Foreign Service, in which officers serve as diplomats representing India in foreign countries. IFoS stands for Indian Forest Service, in which officers manage forests, wildlife, and natural resources, and work in conservation and environmental protection.
Ques: After IFoS Prelims, can I switch my service preference from IAS to IFoS?
Ans: No. Once you have submitted your service preferences for IAS in the application form, you can’t change them. Before submitting your application form, carefully select your choices.
Ques: Is a degree in forestry mandatory for UPSC IFoS exam 2026?
Ans: No. You don’t need a forestry degree to apply for UPSC IFoS Exam. But having an understanding of forestry, ecology, and environmental science will help you in the Mains exam.
Ques: Where are IFoS officers usually posted after selection?
Ans: IFoS officers serve all over India, depending on their cadre. The postings could be in dense forests, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, or even administrative offices in state capitals and district headquarters.
Ques: How long is the IFoS training period, and where does it take place?
Ans: After selection in IFoS, officers undergo around 2 years of training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun. The training is a mixture of classroom learning and extensive fieldwork.
Ques: Is there any negative marking in UPSC IFoS Mains exam 2026?
Ans: No. UPSC IFoS Mains exam doesn’t have negative marking.
Ques: Can I use a calculator during UPSC IFoS exam?
Ans: No, calculators aren’t allowed at any stage of the UPSC exams. You’ll need to do all your calculations manually.
Ques: What happens if I had scored well in GS Paper I but didn't clear CSAT (Paper 2)?
Ans: In that case, you wouldn’t be qualified for the Mains exam. Even if your Paper 1 score is excellent, UPSC IFoF prelims require you to clear both papers.
Ques: Can I apply for both UPSC IAS and IFoS in the same year?
Ans: Yes. While filling out your application form, you can choose both IAS and IFoS. If you’ve opted for IFoS, you need to clear the required cutoffs.
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