Syllabus
UPSC Indian Forest Service Syllabus 2026
The exam pattern and the official topic lists for UPSC Indian Forest Service, read from the recruiting body’s own notice — with the notice’s own caveats kept, not trimmed.
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (objective type, 400 marks; screening only)
Syllabus, section by section
Paper I (200 marks, two hours)
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography — Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World
- Indian Polity and Governance — Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
- Economic and Social Development — Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change — that do not require subject specialization
- General Science
Paper II (200 marks, two hours)
A qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level)
Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination — Written (six conventional papers, 1400 marks)
Syllabus, section by section
Paper I: General English (300 marks)
An essay in English; other questions test understanding of English and workmanlike use of words; passages usually set for summary or precis.
Paper II: General Knowledge (300 marks)
General knowledge including current events and matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects, as expected of an educated person without special scientific study; Indian Polity including the political system and the Constitution of India, History of India and Geography of a nature answerable without special study.
Papers III-VI: two optional subjects, two papers each (200 marks per paper)
Any two subjects from the 14 listed in Section II (B) para 2 — Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Forestry, Geology, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Statistics, Zoology. Barred combinations: Agriculture with Agricultural Engineering, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science or Forestry; Chemistry with Chemical Engineering; Mathematics with Statistics; and not more than one Engineering subject. Each optional paper has eight questions of equal marks in two parts (A and B) of four each; five are attempted — one compulsory question in each part, plus three of the remaining six taking at least one from each part. Section III carries each subject's full syllabus.
Interview for Personality Test (300 marks)
Syllabus, section by section
Personality Test
An interview by a Board of competent and unbiased observers with a record of the candidate's career, to assess personal suitability for the Service. The Board pays special attention to intellectual curiosity, critical powers of observation and assimilation, balance of judgment and alertness of mind, initiative, tact, capacity for leadership, ability for social cohesion, mental and physical energy, powers of practical application, integrity of character — and qualities such as topographical sense, love for out-door life and the desire to explore unknown and out of way places.