To be eligible for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India, candidates need to fulfill certain criteria. Here’s a general overview of the eligibility requirements:
- Nationality:
- Candidates must be citizens of India, or
- Candidates must be a subject of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
- Candidates of Indian origin who have migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
- Age Limit:
- The candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on August 1 of the year of examination.
- There are certain relaxations in the upper age limit for candidates belonging to reserved categories and for certain other categories as per government rules.
- Educational Qualifications:
- Candidates 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 Engineering from a recognized university or institution.
- Candidates appearing for their qualifying examination or waiting for results can also apply provisionally, but they will have to submit proof of passing the examination along with the detailed application form later.
- Physical Standards:
- Candidates must meet the physical standards as prescribed by the UPSC in the notification.
- Number of Attempts:
- The maximum number of attempts varies for different categories. Generally, the number of attempts is limited to six for general category candidates, nine for OBC candidates, and there are no limits for SC/ST candidates.
It’s important to note that eligibility criteria may change from year to year, so candidates should refer to the official UPSC notification for the specific year they intend to apply.