How to Become Forest Officer

How To Become Forest Officer 2023

Responsibilities Of A Forest Officer

A first Officer safeguards the forest range that comes from his jurisdiction from illegal tree cutting, poaching, and encroachment.

• They prepare a survey, estimation, and conservation report of forest ecological balance.
  
  

• Be alert to hunters, encroachers, and trespassers round the clock.
  
  

• Delegating tasks to subordinates in their absence.
  
  

• Initiating tree plantation in the forest for the green vegetation.
  
  

• Collection of forest revenue and utilization in other forest work.
  
  

• Seizing illegal timber and skin of animals.
  
  

• Need to look after the construction work of forest trails, roads, bridges, canals, dams, cabins, and fences around the border areas.
  
  

• Guarding against forest fires.
  
  

• Placing warning signboards in and around the danger zone areas.
  
  

• Compelting paperwork formalities for sudden forest inspection.

How To Become a Forest Officer

How to be a Forest Officer in india , by following a few steps:

1. APPLICATION FORM

Candidates have to request an application form at the respective Head Post office of their state along with a brochure. They need to fill it and submit it with the required documents and send the same to-

• The Secretary
  
  
• Union Public Service Commission
  
  
• Dholpur House
  
  
• New Delhi-110011

Note- Notification mostly arrives every year in the month of December in employment news, Rozgaar Samachar and some of the top newspapers in India.

2. PRELIM EXAM

Prelims examinations are mostly conducted in the month of May/June. It consists of two papers such as:

• General studies-150 and optional subjects-300

Optional subjects can be chosen from subjects of your choice such as:-

• Agriculture, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, animal husbandry, and veterinary science.
  
  
• Civil engineering, electrical engineering, commerce, and economics.
  
  
• Geography, Indian History, Law, Political Science, Public Administration, and sociology.
  
  
• Mathematics, mechanical engineering, physics, statistics, zoology, etc.
  
  
• This exam is just a qualifying exam to appear for the Main exam.
  

3. Main

• Candidates who have qualifies prelims can take up the Main exam in the month of October in the following papers. Such as:-
  
  
• Essay type of Indian Language-300 marks
  
  
• English-300 marks
  
  
• A general essay consists of -200 marks
  
  
• General studies consist of -300 marks and
  
  
• Optional subject’s papers consist of -300 marks each.
  
  
• After clearing the Main exam, candidates need to appear for the Personality test/Interview, where they need all the rounds of interviews. For candidates who have qualified in the interview,
  
  A list will be generated and those students are herby admitted to Lal Bahadur Shastri training academy at Mussorie, followed by another training session for two years.

Requirements Of The IFS Examination 

1. EDUCATION

• Forest Officer Qualification
  
• A graduate from a recognized University with a minimum of 50% in aggregate in Science in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, geology, statistics, 
  
  Veterinary science or animal husbandry or in engineering, forestry, agriculture, and medicine, etc. is eligible to apply for the post of Forest Officer in India.
  
  
• Clear the UPSC Prelims exam and Main exam followed by a personality test and Interview to be eligible for selection of forest officer in various states in India

2. NATIONALITY

• Candidates need to be a citizen of India.
  
  
• People of Nepal, and Bhutan who has settled in India since 1962.
  
  
• A person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Srilanka, Zambia, Uganda, etc with an intention to settle in India.
  
  
• Candidates who belong to CAT B, C, D & E need to submit an eligibility certificate at the time of the interview.

3. AGE LIMIT

• The minimum age limit for forest officers should be in between 20 and 32 yrs.
  
  
• The maximum age is relaxed according to category benefits such as-
  
  
• General-20 to 30; OBC- 3 years and for SC/ST- 5 years.
  
  
• Defense personnel- up to 3 years ;
  
  
• Ex-servicemen & commissioned Officers-upto 5 years etc.
  
  
• ECO/SSCO- up to 5 yrs
  
  
• Blind, deaf, and handicapped up to 10 yrs.

4. Number of attempts

• General-9 attempts
  
  
• SC/ST-no restrictions
  
  
• Other BC-9 attempts
  
  
• Physical handicapped- 9 attempts for general & OBC; SC/ST-ni

Note- candidates appearing for one or more attempts may be counted as attempts.

5. Obtain A Bachelor's Degree

Candidates need to be a graduate to qualify for the IFS examination. It can be of 3 to 4 years with specialization in Veterinary science, animal husbandry, agriculture, Zoology botany, etc.

6. Submit The IFS Exam Application

Candidates need to submit the IFS application form obtained from the UPSC website. It will be available in two parts. One can fill it in through the drop-down menu.

• Fill in your personal and contact details.
  
  
• Examination center of your choice.
  
  
• Valid signature.
  
  
• A valid photo ID proof such as an aadhar card, passport, etc.
  
  
• A prescribed fee needs to be submitted online through various channels as mentioned in the form.

7. Pass The Main Examination

Candidates need to clear the Prelims and then go ahead with the Main exam. It is conducted in English with 6 papers including optional subjects of your choice.

Candidates need to score minimum marks in prelims to appear for the Main exam. If they qualify prelimns and fail to qualify Main. They have to appear next year in both Prelims and Main.

 Be prepared on all the topics and work hard to qualify for both exams.

8. Clear The Personility Test

• Personality tests will be conducted by the Board of Observers on academic, general knowledge, local, national, and international events.
  
  
• It tests your mental alertness, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, judgment abilities, observation skills, and mental alertness.
  
  
• A basic understanding of topography, appreciating nature, and having an adventurous spirit may improve your chances of selection.

9. Undergo Medical Check-Ups

• Candidates must be physically fit for the post of Indian Forest Service Examination as per civil service rules and department of personnel and training.
  
  
• The central medical board will do a complete check-up at the designated hospital.
  
  
•  It includes a walking test of 25kms completed in 4 hours for men and 14kms in 4 hours for women.

10. Get Work Training

• Training of four months duration will be conducted for selected IFS probation trainees at Lal Bahadur Shastri national academy of administration at Mussorie.
  
  
• A 20-month technical forest-specific course will be conducted at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy-Dehradun.
  
  
• Last but not the least, a year of field training with a stipend at the assigned state to check your fitness and mental ability.
  
  
• Indian Forest Service training covers culture, law, economy, polity, fieldwork, forest and wildlife management, motor mechanics, first aids, swimming, and handling weapons
  
  
• The Forest Research Institute at Dehradun will award you a master's degree in science and forestry after completion of training.

Salary

• Salary pay scale for various Forest Officers post vary according to the designation and the pay scale differs from grade pay to total salary in hands as follows:-
  
  
• People posted in deep forest areas are paid more as their job is riskier than people working in the hire range areas.
  
  
• Junior is paid in the range of Rs 15,600 to Rs 39,000 with grade pay of Rs.540
  
  
• Seniors are paid in the range of Rs 15,600 to Rs 39,000 with grade pay of Rs 6,600 ( divided into 3 ranges)
  
  
• Higher designation officers are paid between Rs 37,00 to Rs. 90,000 depending on experience and area of posting.
  
  
• In addition, they are paid Dearness allowance, city compensatory allowance, Leave travel allowance, medical, housing allowance, and other subsidiary allowance.

Indian Forest Officer Career Prospective

Indian forest officers hold a prestigious position in the UPSC sector, their main job is to protect the environment and be a part of the environment. Career prospects are challenging for IFS officers.

After completion of training, they can be eligible to be posted in various fields of forestry in wildlife as plan officers with state forest corporations to assign various tasks.

Ranks Of Forest Service

• The ranks of Indian Forest Officers that come in a hierarchy are as follows:
  
  
• Assistant Conservator of Forests.
  
  
• Deputy Conservators of Forests.
  
  
• Conservators of Forests.
  
  
• Chief conservators of forests.
  
  
• Additional Principal Chief Conservator of forests.
  
  
• Director-General of Forests- top post selected among the senior officer of PCCFs of States.

Conclusion

An IFS Officer holds a designated post in the UPSC sector. He is a Grade B officer whose main job is to safeguard the forest from poachers and illegal cutting within his jurisdiction.

He should be a nature and forest lover, who can shower love, and care for the environment, just as the mother takes care of the baby. candidates have to be competitive with other aspirants to be a part of the forest service area.

Profession not only demands money but self-satisfaction and love for forest can give you a chance to enjoy the beauty with a burning desire to be on top of the world.

I hope you liked our article on how to become forest officer, if you have any comments or suggestions do share them in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can become Indian Forest Officer?

Candidates need to graduate in science with 55% in marks within the age range of 20 to 32. They need to clear Prelimns and the Main exam followed by an Interview and good communication, alert mind, and analytical thinking for conserving forest range.

2. What is the salary of an Indian Forest Officer?

The salary of an Indian forest Officer can be in the range of Rs 50,000 to Rs. 3 lacs per year depending on designation and area of work allotted to an individual. A person serving in the forest is paid more as they put their life at risk while being with the wild animals.

3. Which course is best to become a forest Officer?

Candidates need to graduate from science streams such as Botany, Zoology, Botany, Physics, Chemistry, Veterinary Science, or Animal husbandry, which makes it easier for them to understand the Forest and their environment.

4. What is the syllabus for Indian Forest SErcive?

Candidates need to follow the exam patterns the same as UPSC with prelims and Main. Prelimns consist of General studies and optional subjects, whereas main consists of an essay, general English, essay and two optional subjects of your choice.

They need to be updated with the latest and updated local, national and international news.