Indian Forest Services (IFS) is one of the civil services of India, framed in 1966. It being a government job and one of the prestigious civil services attracts several aspirants every year to build their glorious career in the field of IFS.
Government job in India is still one of the humble working platforms that provide with a respectful job, handsome salary, and job security until retirement. Becoming an Indian forest service officer is indeed one dream for many. But the question “How to become an Indian forest service officer after 12th?” still needs to be answered.
The forest service department is a dedicated unit that looks after India’s forestry and makes sure that the most indigenous flora and fauna in the world are safe and sound. The Forest service department works towards protecting and preserving all the natural resources that come within the Indian boundaries. If this job exists for you as well and you are looking forward to appear for the Indian forest service officer examination, then the guide below will help you with the finest information. Have a look:
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What is Indian Forest Service, and who is an Indian Forest Service Officer?
Indian Forest Service is the Civil service of India, one of the three All India Services after the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS).
Being one of the authoritative services of the country, it directly comes under the government of India and is formed to ensure the ecological and topographical stability of India. The department, though, was created to look after the country’s nature and wildlife, but in the real sense, it goes much deeper than that. The department is in direct control of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate change authority and indirectly to the Governing body of India.
Indian forest service officers are the individual who works directly under the Forest Service department for the implementation of the National Forest Policies. These officers are appointed for individual Indian states and districts for ensuring for rising, overlooking, and saving all and every environmental concern of that dedicated region. Not only preservation but the development of any particular region also falls under the work responsibility of the forest service officers appointed for that area.
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How to Become an Indian Forest Service Officer?
Being part of one of the three All India Services, the journey of becoming an Indian forest service officer is indeed a tough one. If you’re looking to build career in Indian forest service after 12th then this article is for you.
Selection Process
Becoming an Indian Forest Service officer is not one easy task, and candidates have to undergo quite a long and challenging process for the same. Like all other civil services in India, IFS aspirants have to clear the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination.
Further, depending upon their ranks and merit list, the passed candidates, are granted positions as officers in one of the three All Indian Services departments.
Indian Forest Service- Eligibility
12th passed candidates directly cannot become the Indian Forest Service officers, but they have to undergo a long process before that. In order to become an Indian Forest Service officers, one must be eligible with the following requirements:
12th passed with Science/ Commerce/ Arts.
Graduation with any of the Bachelor’s degrees- Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Science Zoology, Geology, Statistics, Veterinary Science, Animal husbandry, Agriculture, Engineering, Forestry, or Medicine and Surgery.
Age Limit-
- Minimum 21 years and maximum 32 years on 1st July of the year of examination.
Age relaxation on the upper limit for the following categories-
- Up to 10 years for– Blind, deaf-mute, and Orthopaedically, handicapped persons.
- Up to 5 years for– Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe (SC /ST), Defence Services personnel, Emergency Commissioned Officers / Short Service Commissioned Officers (ECOs/ SSCOs), State of Jammu & Kashmir (Domiciled during the period from the 1st January 1980 to 31st December 1989.
- Up to 3 years for– Other Backward Classes (OBC)
Physical Standards: Candidates must fit upon all the physical and mental standards issues as per accordance with UPSC.
Nationality– Citizen of India
- Or the citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before the year 1962 intending to settle permanently into the country and after that residing here.
- Migrants from East Africa, Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Zaire and Vietnam, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi before the year 1962, and now are the permanent citizens of India.
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Indian Forest Service’s Exam- UPSC
Indian Forest Service aspirants have to sit for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. The examination is conducted within three phases:
Preliminary Examination (Written)- It is only a qualifying exam for the main examination, and the result is not counted on the final score.
- General Studies (150 marks)
- Optional subject (300 marks)
Optional subject may include– Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and veterinary science, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, Indian History, Law, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology.
Main Examination (Written)
- Essay type of Indian Language Qualifying Paper (300 marks)
- English Qualifying Paper (200 marks)
- General Essay type of paper (200 marks)
- General Studies papers (300 marks each)
- Optional subjects’ papers (300 marks each)
The following subject combinations are not allowed-
- Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering
- Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Mathematics and Statistics
Interview/ Personality test
The last examination process includes clearing the Personal Interview session, which finally decides one’s fate.
The UPSC examination notification is issued during the first half of March every year, and candidates can apply online. For Indian Forest Services, approximately 110 vacancies are released every year (more or less depending upon the requirement).
Out of the total vacancies, the following are the reserved number for several categories:
- Low Vision category: 2
- Partially Deaf category: 2
- Locomotor disability (sub‐category: Leprosy cured and Acid attack): 1
Candidates who hold all the required eligibilities as mentioned above can sit for the IFS Preliminary Examination. Further candidates are promoted for the Main Examination depending upon the cut-off marks.
Finally, the ones who have cleared the UPSC Main examination and fall under the selected category for Indian Forest Service are then called for the interview.
Once after qualifying all the three UPSC stages, the IFS aspirants are further required to attend two years training program at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy. Candidates are trained in soil conservation, surveying, Scheduled Tribes, forest and wildlife management, and weapons and handling.
Number of attempts:
- 6 attempts– General Candidates
- 9 attempts- Physically handicapped (General and OBC), Other Backward Classes (OBC)
- No attempt restriction– Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe Candidates (both physically fit and able)
*Every single attempt is counted despite qualifying for any stage of the examination or not.
Indian Forest Service Officer- Job Positions and description
The qualified candidates are then recruited for several posts depending upon their overall UPSC performance.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest: He/ She is appointed as the head of the Forest force and holds major responsibilities issues in the regards of the State; it is the highest IFS position within the State.
Additional Chief Conservator of Forest: The job role of Additional Chief Conservator of Forest is to assist the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and is directly answerable to the same.
Deputy Conservator of Forest: Also known as the Divisional Forest Officer, the Deputy Conservator holds the responsibilities of managing the forest, environment, and wildlife-related issues within the boundaries and division of the State.
Assistant Conservator of Forest: These individuals carry out the responsibilities and duties assigned by any of the higher-level officers. Though generally, they as well manage the forest, environment, and wildlife-related issues within the boundaries and division of the State.
Forest Range Officer (FRO): The Forest Range Officer or the Ranger is the custodian of all government property associated with the forest range (respective). They report directly to the Divisional Forest Officer.
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Job roles and responsibilities
The prime responsibility of the Forest Service Officers is to implement the National Forest Policy. It includes:
- Protection, preservation, and conservation of Indian Forest and wildlife heritage.
- Keeping an eye upon the illegal logging of trees and permitting for the legal logging requirements as well.
- Initiating events and programs for planting more and more trees.
- Looking after animal safety and assuring their security against illegal activities, including hurting, killing, and smuggling. They are also responsible for making sure about animal health and well-being within their respective forest range.
- They are also responsible for looking after the livelihood opportunities of forest-dependent communities.
- They have to chalk-out plans and implementation for legal, commercial exploitation for timber, sandalwood, and other crucial wood used to manufacture several commodities.
- Forest officers also conduct regular and uninvited surveys to make sure both Flora and Fauna are rightly being preserved.
Indian Forest Service Officer- Salary
Being one of the main bodies of the All India Services, the Forest Service Officers earn a hefty amount in the form of Salary, including all other benefits that a government official is worthy of. The government of India has a fixed Salary grade for various civil servants, which keeps changing (increasing) with new implementations.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force)- ₹2,25,000 (fixed)/ month
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests– ₹2,05,400-2,24,400/ month
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests/Chief Wildlife Warden– ₹1,82,200-2,24,100/ month
Chief Conservator of Forests– ₹1,44200-2,18,200/ month
Conservator of Forests- ₹1,31,100-2,16,600/ month
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Selection Grade)- ₹1,23100-2,15,900/ month
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Junior Administrative Grade)- ₹78,800-2,09,200/ month
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Senior Time Scale)- ₹67,700-2,08,700/ month
Probationary Officer/Assistant Conservator of Forests/Asst. Dy. Conservator of Forests/ACF Trainees in the field/Range– ₹56,100-1,77,500/ month
*The Pay scale is subject to differ depending upon the implementation by the State government.
Summary
By the end of the article, we hope that all your answers to the queries related to the questions “how to become a forest officer?”. Keeping in mind the nature of the job and process it requires to become a Forest officer in India, one needs to prepare hard enough than other regular government jobs. Clearing the UPSC examination in itself is one demanding task that requires dedication, commitment, hard work, and sincerity.
Candidates looking forward to becoming an Indian forest service officer after the 12th must also know that this job demands a high amount of dedication as one has to protect the Indian government property, i.e., Forest and its habitats. Further, there are always risks of animal attacks, encounters with smugglers, and some hazardous situations. Even though this job demands quite a lot of strength, the employee benefits justify it all.
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