Important Information for Candidates
Candidates applying for the Indian Forest Service Examination are required to appear in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination and qualify to proceed to the second stage, which is the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination (Written and Interview).
Vacancy Details
The number of vacancies to be filled is approximately 80. The category-wise distribution is as follows:
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 12
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 06
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 21
- Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 08
- Unreserved (UR): 33
Reservations for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) categories are also available.
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be either:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Age Limits (as on August 1, 2026)
- A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years.
- The candidate must have been born not earlier than August 2, 1994, and not later than August 1, 2005.
- Age relaxation is applicable for candidates belonging to reserved categories as per government rules.
Minimum Educational Qualifications
A candidate must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least one of the subjects namely Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and Zoology, or a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Forestry, or in Engineering from a recognized university or equivalent.
Application Fee
- Candidates (except Female/SC/ST/PwBD candidates who are exempted) are required to pay a fee of ₹100/-.
- Candidates admitted to the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination will be required to pay a further fee of ₹200/- (except exempted categories).
- Payment can be made using net banking, Visa/Master/RuPay/Credit/Debit card, or UPI.
How to Apply
- Candidates are required to apply online by using the website https://upsconline.nic.in.
- The online application can be filled from February 4, 2026, to February 24, 2026, till 18:00 hours.
- Applicants are required to upload their photograph and capture a live photograph while filling up the Common Application Form (CAF).
Scheme of Examination
The examination consists of two successive stages:
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type): This serves as a screening test for the Main Examination.
- Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination (Written and Interview): For the selection of candidates for the Indian Forest Service.
Important Dates
- Date of Notification: 04.02.2026
- Last Date for Submission of Online Application: 24.02.2026 (till 18:00 hours)
- Date of Preliminary Examination: 24.05.2026
For further details, candidates are advised to carefully read the official notification on the Commission's website https://upsc.gov.in.