The Indian Forest Service (IFS) Mains examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) follows a specific pattern. Here’s an overview of the IFS Mains exam pattern:
- Number of Papers: There are six papers in the IFS Mains examination.
- Duration of Each Paper: Each paper is of 3 hours duration.
- Type of Questions: The IFS Mains exam consists of descriptive type questions.
- Language Medium: The medium of examination is English.
- Paper-wise Pattern:
- Paper I: General English
- Paper II: General Knowledge
- Paper III: Optional Subject 1
- Paper IV: Optional Subject 2
- Paper V: Optional Subject 3
- Paper VI: Optional Subject 4
- Optional Subjects: Candidates need to choose two optional subjects from the list provided by the UPSC. The list includes subjects such as Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Forestry, Geology, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Statistics, and Zoology.
- Evaluation: Each paper is evaluated independently. The optional subject papers carry a maximum of 200 marks each, while the General English and General Knowledge papers carry a maximum of 300 marks each.
- Negative Marking: There is negative marking for incorrect answers in the IFS Mains examination.
- Interview: After the Mains examination, candidates who qualify are called for a Personality Test (Interview). The interview is conducted to assess the candidate’s suitability for the Indian Forest Service.
Candidates should thoroughly prepare for each paper according to the syllabus provided by the UPSC. It’s important to understand the weightage of each paper and allocate time for preparation accordingly.