A competitive examination for recruitment to the Indian Forest Service (IFS) will be conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 14th July 2012.

The selection process for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) comprises of a written exam followed by an interview (personality test).


(A) The written examination for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) consists of the following papers. The exam pattern of IFS 2012 will be along similar lines:

Note: The answer scripts of only those candidates who have obtained the minimum marks as decided by UPSC for Paper II (General Knowledge) will be evaluated.

List of optional subjects in the UPSC IFS 2012 exam: -

i) Agriculture
ii) Agricultural Engineering
iii) Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
iv) Botany
v) Chemistry
vi) Chemical Engineering
vii) Civil Engineering
viii) Forestry
ix) Geology
x) Mathematics
xi) Mechanical Engineering
xii) Physics
xiii) Statistics
xiv) Zoology

The candidates will not be allowed to offer the following combination of subjects: -

(a) Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering
(b) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
(c) Agriculture and Forestry
(d) Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
(e) Mathematics and Statistics
(f) Of the Engineering subjects viz. Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering- not more than one subject.

More about the exam pattern of IFS 2012 conducted by UPSC:

1. All the question papers for the examination will be of conventional (essay) type.
2. All questions in the IFS 2012 exam must be answered only in English. The questions papers also will be set only in English. 
3. The duration of each of the papers will be three hours.
4. Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. Under no circumstances will they be allowed the help of a scribe to write the answers for them. However, blind candidates will be allowed to write the examination with the help of a scribe. An extra time of 30 minutes for each paper will also be allowed to a blind candidate.

The standard of papers in General English and General Knowledge will be such as may be expected of a Science or Engineering graduate of an Indian University.

The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers for the examination is broadly of the honours degree level, i.e. a level higher than the Bachelors degree & lower than the Masters degree. In the case of engineering subjects, the level corresponds to the Bachelors degree.
There will be no practical examination in any of the subjects.

GENERAL ENGLISH: Candidates will be required to write an essay in English. Other questions will be designed to test their understanding of English and workmanlike use of words. Passages will usually be set for summary or précis.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: General Knowledge including knowledge of current events and of such matters of every day observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject.
The paper will also include questions on Indian Polity including the political system and the Constitution of India, History of India and Geography of a nature which the candidate should be able to answer without special study.

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS: The total number of questions in the question papers of optional subjects will be eight. All questions will carry equal marks. Each paper will be divided into two parts, viz. Part A and Part B, each part containing four questions. Out of eight questions, five questions are to be attempted. One question in each part will be compulsory. Candidates will be required to answer three more questions out of the remaining six questions, taking at least one question from each part. In this way, at least two questions will be attempted from each part i.e. one compulsory question plus one more.

Things to keep in mind while writing the IFS 2012 exam:

1. The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the "papers" of the examination.
2. If a candidate’s handwriting is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to him/ her.
3. Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.
4. Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.
5. In the question papers, wherever required, SI units will be used.
6. Candidates should use only the international form of Indian numerals (i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc.) while answering question papers.
7. Candidates will be allowed the use of Scientific (Non-Programmable type) Calculators at the conventional type examination of UPSC. Programmable type calculators will, however, not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair means by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the Examination Hall is not permitted.

(B) Interview (Personality Test) of Qualified Candidates

You reach the interview (personality test) level of IFS 2012 selection process only after clearing the IFS written examination. The IFS (Indian Forest Service) interview has 300 marks.

1. The candidates will be interviewed by a Board of competent and unbiased observers who will have before them a record of their career. The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for the Service. The candidate will be expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in his/her subjects of academic study but also in events which are happening around him/her both within and outside his/her own State or Country, as well as in modern currents of thoughts and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.

2. The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross examination, but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation, intended to reveal mental qualities of the candidate. The Board will pay special attention to assessing the intellectual curiosity, critical powers of observation and assimilation, balance of judgement and alertness of mind, initiative, tact, capacity for leadership; the ability for social cohesion, mental and physical energy and powers of practical application; integrity of character; and other qualities such as topographical sense, love for out-door life and the desire to explore unknown and out of way places.

Source: Official Website of UPSC

Related Articles:

UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam 2012 (IFS 2012): Exam Notification

UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam 2012 (IFS 2012): Eligibility Criteria

UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam 2012 (IFS 2012): How to Apply

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