The UPSC IFS Eligibility Criteria 2026 is prescribed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for candidates applying to the Indian Forest Service (IFS), covering educational qualification, age limit, nationality, number of attempts, and physical standards requirements.
These criteria ensure candidates are suitable for the specialized role in forest, wildlife, and environmental management under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
UPSC IFS 2026 Eligibility Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Recruitment Level | All India Service (IFS cadre) |
| Selection Through | Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination followed by separate IFS Mains & Personality Test |
| Job Type | Group A Central Government Service (All India Service) |
| Application Mode | Online via UPSC website/UPSConline portal |
| Official Website | https://www.upsc.gov.in |
What is the Indian Forest Service (IFS)?
The Indian Forest Service (IFS), often referred to as IFoS, is one of the three All India Services responsible for forest, wildlife, and environmental administration across states. IFS officers implement forest and wildlife policies, manage protected areas, oversee conservation projects, and enforce environmental laws at the field and policy levels.
Unlike IAS and IPS, which focus on broad civil and police administration, IFS specializes in forestry, ecology, and natural resource management. Officers typically spend a significant part of their career in forests and field formations, progressing to roles such as Divisional Forest Officers, Conservators, Chief Conservators, and Principal Chief Conservators of Forests at state and central levels.
UPSC IFS Educational Qualification 2026
To be eligible for UPSC IFS 2026, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the following subjects from a recognized university:
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Agriculture
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Forestry
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Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
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Botany
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Chemistry
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Geology
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Mathematics
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Physics
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Statistics
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Zoology
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Engineering (any recognized engineering degree)
Key rules:
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The degree must be from a university incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature, or from an institution declared a university under the UGC Act, or from an equivalent foreign degree recognised by the Government of India.
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Integrated degrees are acceptable if equivalent to a bachelor’s in the listed subjects.
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Pure commerce or arts degrees without any of the specified subjects are not eligible.
UPSC IFS Eligibility for Final Year Students
Candidates appearing in the final year of the qualifying degree examination or awaiting results are permitted to apply provisionally. They must produce proof of passing the qualifying examination with the required subject(s) before the IFS Mains or by the deadline specified by UPSC; failure to do so results in disqualification at later stages.
UPSC IFS Age Limit 2026
The age is calculated as on 1 August 2026.
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Minimum age: 21 years
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Maximum age: 32 years for General/EWS candidates
Category-wise Age Limits
| Category | Effective Upper Age |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 32 years |
| OBC | 35 years |
| SC / ST | 37 years |
| PwBD | Up to 42 years (additional relaxations when combined with other categories) |
Age Relaxation Rules (Detailed)
Additional relaxations apply for:
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Defence Services personnel disabled in operations: up to 3 years.
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Ex-servicemen and commissioned officers (including ECOs/SSCOs) with specified military service: as per UPSC rules (often up to 5 years).
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Other categories (e.g., Jammu & Kashmir domiciled during specified periods): as mentioned in the notification.
Number of Attempts Allowed (IFS through Civil Services Prelims)
Since IFS uses the same Civil Services Preliminary Examination as CSE, attempts are counted accordingly:
| Category | Attempts Allowed |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 6 attempts up to 32 years |
| OBC | 9 attempts up to 35 years |
| SC / ST | Unlimited attempts up to 37 years |
| PwBD | Generally 9 attempts (General/OBC/EWS), within extended age limits |
UPSC IFS Nationality Criteria
A candidate must be:
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A citizen of India, or
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A subject of Nepal, or
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A subject of Bhutan, or
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A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
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A person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries (e.g., Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries) with the intention of permanently settling in India, holding an eligibility certificate from the Government of India.
Certain restrictions may apply for non-Indian citizens regarding specific All India Services appointments.
UPSC IFS Physical Standards 2026
IFS requires stricter physical and medical standards due to field and forest duties.
Core Physical Requirements
Minimum height:
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Male: 163 cm (relaxable by 5–10 cm for certain tribal/hilly communities as per rules).
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Female: 150 cm (relaxable similarly).
Chest measurement (expansion at least 5 cm):
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Male: Minimum around 84 cm.
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Female: Minimum around 79 cm.
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Vision: Normal or corrected visual acuity with limits on myopia/hypermetropia; colour blindness is typically disqualifying.
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Weight: Proportionate to height and age; no fixed limit, but must support field duties.
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General health: Free from serious diseases, deformities, or conditions hindering strenuous outdoor work.
Who is NOT Eligible for UPSC IFS?
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Candidates without a bachelor’s degree in the prescribed subjects (e.g., pure B.A./B.Com without listed science subjects).
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Candidates below 21 years or exceeding the category-wise upper age limit on 1 August 2026.
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Candidates who have exhausted their permitted Civil Services Prelims attempts.
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Candidates failing physical/medical standards (e.g., insufficient height/chest, colour blindness, serious visual defects).
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Candidates not meeting nationality requirements or lacking valid eligibility certificates.
Documents Required for Eligibility Verification
During the Detailed Application Form (DAF) and service allocation:
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Degree certificate and mark sheets proving the required subject(s).
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Date of Birth proof (10th certificate or equivalent).
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Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) in the prescribed format.
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Nationality/eligibility certificate for non-Indian citizens, where applicable.
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Medical fitness report from designated boards.
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Identity proof (Aadhaar, Passport, etc.).
UPSC IFS Result 2026 & Final Eligibility
Civil Services Prelims result qualifies candidates for the IFS Mains. After the IFS Mains and Personality Test, UPSC releases a separate IFS merit list. Final appointment requires meeting all eligibility criteria, including medical standards.
