Union Public Service Commission has released the official notification for the Indian Forest Service Examination 2026. The notification was issued on 4 February 2026 for recruitment to Indian Forest Service posts through a national-level examination.
Around 80 vacancies have been announced for the Indian Forest Service. Interested and eligible candidates can submit their applications online from 4 February 2026 to 24 February 2026. The Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 will act as the screening test for the IFS Main Examination.
Overview of UPSC IFS Recruitment 2026
| Organisation | Union Public Service Commission |
| Advertisement No. | Published in Gazette of India dated 04.02.2026 |
| Post Name | Indian Forest Service Officer |
| No. of Posts | Approximately 80 |
| Category | Government |
| Type | Regular |
| Job Location | All India |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Interview |
All important details related to UPSC IFS Recruitment 2026 are provided below. Candidates are advised to read all sections carefully before applying.
Important Dates
Below is the table for the important dates related to UPSC IFS Recruitment 2026.
| Notification Release Date | 04 February 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 04 February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 24 February 2026 (till 18:00 Hrs) |
| Preliminary Examination Date | 24 May 2026 |
Vacancy Details of UPSC IFS Recruitment 2026
The category-wise vacancy details are given below.
| Category | No. of Vacancies |
| Unreserved | 33 |
| Scheduled Caste | 12 |
| Scheduled Tribe | 06 |
| Other Backward Classes | 21 |
| Economically Weaker Section | 08 |
| Total | Approximately 80 |
Five vacancies are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities as per the notification.
Eligibility Criteria of UPSC IFS Vacancies
The eligibility conditions for Indian Forest Service posts are given below.
| Post | Educational Qualification | Age Limit |
| Indian Forest Service Officer | Bachelor’s Degree with prescribed science, engineering, agriculture or forestry subjects | 21 to 32 years as on 01.08.2026 |
Age relaxation is applicable for reserved categories as per rules mentioned in the notification.
Application Fee
The application fee details are provided below.
| Category | Prelims Fee | Mains Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 100 | Rs. 200 |
| Female / SC / ST / PwBD | Nil | Nil |
Selection Process
The selection process for UPSC IFS Recruitment 2026 consists of the following stages.
- Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026
- Indian Forest Service Main Examination (Written)
- Personality Test / Interview
Final selection will be based on marks obtained in the Main Examination and Interview.
UPSC IFS Official Notification & Application Details
Official Website: upsc.gov.in
Application Portal: APPLY ONLINE
Notification: DOWNLOAD OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION PDF