HowIndiaEarns

Government jobPay Level 10Group AGazetted

Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer

भारतीय वन सेवा अधिकारी

All India Service via the UPSC IFoS exam — managing forests, wildlife and protected areas in a state cadre.

Indian Forest Service · Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (cadre controlling authority) · central government

In-hand pay at joining, per month

₹92,000–₹1,02,000

Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.

Exam
UPSC IFoS
Qualification
Graduate
Age limit
21–32 years
Transfers
Within the state
Work hours
Irregular; emergencies such as fires and wildlife conflict come at any time
Probation
About 2 years of training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun, then on-the-job training in the state

Estimated in-hand / month

₹97,054

Gross ₹1,06,740 · CTC ≈ ₹14.3 lakh/yr

Level 10

Where are you posted?

Joining

Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer · rates as of January 2026 (DA 60%). Excludes CGHS, GPF/insurance deductions and special allowances. Estimate only.

New to pay slips? Read how in-hand salary is worked out.

What you will actually do

  • Managing a forest division: protection, plantations and working plans
  • Preventing illegal felling, poaching and encroachment
  • Managing national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves
  • Handling human–wildlife conflict and compensation
  • Processing forest clearance proposals for projects
  • Supervising range officers, foresters and forest guards

A typical day

A Divisional Forest Officer splits time between the office and the forest. Mornings may go in a field inspection of a plantation or a fire line, sometimes on foot over rough ground. Then files: clearance proposals, court cases on encroachment, staff matters and budgets. A leopard in a village or an elephant herd in crops means dropping everything. Headquarters are often small towns, and night patrolling with staff is expected at times.

Stress3/5
CalmIntense
Public dealing3/5
LittleConstant
Field work5/5
DeskOutdoors

Promotion path

Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.

  1. Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer (joining)

    Pay Level 10

    ₹92,000–₹1,02,000 in-hand

  2. Deputy Conservator of Forests (Senior Scale)

    After 4 years · Level 11 · via dpc

    ₹1,02,000–₹1,19,000 in-hand

  3. Conservator of Forests

    After 14 years · Level 13A · via dpc

    ₹1,74,000–₹1,96,000 in-hand

  4. Chief Conservator of Forests

    After 18 years · Level 14 · via dpc

    ₹1,88,000–₹2,12,000 in-hand

  5. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests

    After 28–30 years · Level 17 · via dpc

    ₹2,69,000–₹3,04,000 in-hand

Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.

How to get in

UPSC IFoSOnce a year

Union Public Service Commission

  1. 1.Civil Services Preliminary examination (common screening)
  2. 2.IFoS Main examination (six papers)
  3. 3.Personality test (interview)

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree with at least one of: Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Zoology; or a degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering. Age 21–32. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years. General candidates get 6 attempts and OBC 9.

Physical standards: Candidates must pass a walking test set in the service rules (25 km in 4 hours for men and 14 km in 4 hours for women), plus height and chest standards. These are checked after the written stages.

The good

  • Outdoor work with direct conservation impact
  • All India Service pay and status with a smaller, less political cadre
  • Fewer candidates than the Civil Services Main exam

The hard parts

  • Remote postings with limited schooling and healthcare for family
  • Risk from timber and wildlife offenders
  • Restricted to certain degree backgrounds

Postings

A state cadre is allotted at entry. Most postings are in forest divisions and wildlife areas of that state, away from big cities, with later postings in the state forest headquarters or on central deputation.

Government housing, usually with official transport in field postingsNPS with a 14% government contributionStudy leave and funded mid-career trainingCentral or state medical coverLeave Travel Concession (LTC)

Questions people ask

What is the in-hand salary of Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer?+

Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer is a Pay Level 10 post with a starting basic pay of ₹56,100. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹92,000–₹1,02,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.

What is the qualification and age limit for Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer?+

Bachelor's degree with at least one of: Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Zoology; or a degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering. Age: 21–32 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years. General candidates get 6 attempts and OBC 9.

Which exam do I need to clear for Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer?+

UPSC IFoS (Union Public Service Commission).

Can an arts graduate apply?+

No. The exam requires a degree with at least one of the listed science subjects, or a degree in agriculture, forestry or engineering.

Compare with similar posts

Indian Forest Service vs IAS OfficerIndian Forest Service vs IPS OfficerIndian Forest Service vs Assistant Commandant

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₹92,000–₹1,02,000 in-handUPSC CSE

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Assistant Commandant (CAPF)

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Group A gazetted officer via the UPSC CAPF exam — commanding a company in BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP or SSB.

₹92,000–₹1,02,000 in-handUPSC CAPF

Books to prepare for UPSC IFoS

  • Indian Polity

    M. Laxmikanth (McGraw Hill)

    The one polity book almost every serious aspirant uses. Dense; plan on several readings.

    See on Amazon

  • A Brief History of Modern India

    Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum)

    Concise modern history in a factual, revision-friendly format.

    See on Amazon

  • India's Struggle for Independence

    Bipan Chandra

    The narrative behind the freedom movement. Longer than Spectrum; read it for understanding and for Mains.

    See on Amazon

All 8 books for UPSC Civil Services, Forest Service, CAPF and EPFO

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Sources

This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.