UPSC Indian Forest Services Admit Card 2024 – Mains Admit Card Download

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the admit card for the Indian Forest Services (IFS) Mains Examination 2024. Candidates who have qualified the preliminary examination and are eligible to appear for the mains can now download their admit cards from the official UPSC website.

Structure of the UPSC IFS Examination

The UPSC IFS exam is conducted in three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Objective Type): The preliminary exam consists of two papers:
   • Paper I: General Studies, which tests a candidate’s general knowledge on topics like history, geography, politics, economics, environmental science, and current affairs.
   • Paper II: General Studies (CSAT – Civil Services Aptitude Test), which assesses the candidate’s analytical ability, reasoning, decision-making, and basic numeracy skills.
   Both papers are objective (multiple choice questions). The preliminary exam serves as a qualifying stage, and candidates who pass the exam are eligible to appear for the Mains Examination.
2. Mains Examination (Descriptive Type): The Mains exam consists of six papers, which include both general studies and subject-specific papers related to forestry. The subjects offered for the IFS Mains examination are:
   • Paper I: General English
   • Paper II: General Knowledge
   • Paper III to VI: Candidates must choose two optional subjects from the list of subjects provided by UPSC. These are typically related to subjects like Botany, Zoology, Geology, Agriculture, Forestry, and others.
   The Mains exam is descriptive and aims to evaluate the candidate’s in-depth knowledge of these subjects. The optional subject papers are highly important in determining the candidate’s success.
3. Personality Test/Interview: After the Mains Examination, candidates who qualify are called for the Personality Test, or the interview. This stage assesses a candidate’s personality, leadership qualities, intellectual capability, and suitability for a career in the Indian Forest Service. The interview panel typically consists of UPSC board members and senior officials, who evaluate the candidate on various aspects, including communication skills, presence of mind, and decision-making ability.

Eligibility Criteria

To appear for the UPSC IFS exam, candidates must meet certain eligibility criteria:

• Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with at least one of the following subjects: Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, or a degree in Agriculture, Forestry, or Engineering.
• Age Limit: The candidate must be between 21 and 32 years of age as of the 1st of August of the exam year. Age relaxations apply for reserved categories like SC/ST, OBC, and others.