Indian Forest Department – Recruitment, Ranks, Duties, Salary, etc!

We can state that India is the birthplace of many woods because it has some of the world’s forests. The endangered species of animals is one of the most prized aspects of Indian culture. A respected organisation needs to work to preserve and improve the culture, beauty, and history of such distinctive fauna & flora. This power in India is controlled by the Indian Forest Service. There are times when Indian Forest Service officials must cope with natural disasters that threaten ecosystems and the existence of wildlife.
In India, there is a great demand for jobs in the forest service. Because annual announcements of employment news notifications for various openings are made by forest departments, zoological parks, wildlife ranges, sanctuaries, national parks, the central forest department, the (UPSC) Union Public Service Commission, and the Indian Council for forestry research & education. Thus, aspirants who want to work in the forest might apply for these positions.

What do you mean by Indian Forest Service Department?

The (IFoS) Indian Forest Service is a renowned division of the Indian government. The Indian Forest Service’s key duties include carrying out the National Forest Policy, preserving natural resources, and ensuring the nation’s ecological stability through participatory sustainable management.
The Indian Forest Service recruits are responsible for managing the nation’s tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and other protected areas. Aspirants should practise past question papers and mock exams while studying for the UPSC IFoS recruitment exam.

Career Options in the Indian Forest Department

Non-governmental & government organisations, corporations, research institutes, and international agencies all have excellent career prospects in this subject. The following list of employment choices is available in forestry and wildlife areas:

Forest Officer: The role of a forest officer is to maintain and protect wildlife & forest habitats. Forester is another name for this phrase. They may be hired by the government’s Forestry Department.

Wildlife Biologist: A wildlife biologist investigates the creatures that live in woods. They may find employment in academic roles, conservation or research posts within the Forest Department, or non-governmental groups.

Forest range officer – A forest range officer is responsible for maintaining parks, sanctuaries, and botanical gardens. Both non-governmental & governmental entities hire them.

Dendrologist: conducts studies on trees, reforestation, etc. Through the UPSC or other competitive tests, the government posts job openings.

Ethnologist: researches forest wildlife and creates aquariums and zoos, among other things. They are qualified for employment with both governmental and non-governmental institutions.

Animal specialist – An animal specialist manages wildlife damage and works to minimise or completely stop wildlife damage. Both non-governmental & governmental entities hire them.Entomologists research illnesses brought on by insects and other pests. They are qualified for employment with both non-governmental & governmental institutions.
Silviculturists research plants. Both governmental and non-governmental entities hire them.

Wildlife Officer (Forensics): Examine samples from criminal cases involving poaching, smuggling, animal mistreatment, and ecological & bioterrorism catastrophes. The government, academia, and non-governmental groups all have openings for them.

Curators: The management of zoo operations and other conservation efforts are the responsibility of curators. In the government zoo, they may find employment.

Filmmaker/Photographer/Wildlife Journalist: For forestry graduates, difficult careers like documentary filmmaking, photography, and journalism are also available. Employing full-time, skilled forest specialists are organisations like Natural Geographic & Discovery.

What is IFS & its importance?

For the purpose of hiring personnel at the All-India level for the Government of India’s scientific management of its forests, the Indian Forest Service (IFS) is a Civil Services Examination organised by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Its Importance
India’s forestry services are being recruited through the exam. Indian Police Service & Indian Administrative Service (IAS) are the rest two All India Services (IPS). A top-tier All India Services organisation, the IFS is India’s civil services. Even though IFS services have the right to work for both the Central & State Governments, they are given to a variety of combined cadres & State cadres.

The IFS service’s principal duty is to carry out the National Forest Policy, which focuses on protecting ecological balance and environmental stability. An IFS officer has broad judicial, administrative, and budgetary authority over their particular area of duty and is essentially independent of the district government. IFS officers hold every executive post in the state forest agency.

What are the duties and obligations of a forest officer?

The National Forest Policy is the IFS’s main area of responsibility.

• Foresters oversee the preservation and use of the resources found in forests. They are well-versed in ecology, biology, the manufacturing procedures of trees, and wood science.
• Using a variety of tools and remote sensing equipment, sketch up the map of the forested areas.
• They list forest resources including timber, pasture land for cattle, a place for wild creatures to live, as well as food and water for animals.
• Keep up with all technical data relating to forests.
• Locate the regions that need special attention for new felling, planting, thinning of dense woods, pruning, or pest control.
• Create wildlife refuges.
• They design roads that lead to lakes, recreation areas, and new locations in wildlife reserves.
• Maintain records of the projects’ progress while supervising the teams assigned to them.
• Forests should be protected against campers & poachers.
• Stop the illicit cutting of trees for their wood.
• Work in research facilities and businesses that manufacture wood goods.
• Work in wood preservation industries, furniture companies, sawmills, and paper and pulp mills, hardboard & plywood mills.

Skills Needed for a forest officer

• Both physical and mental fitness
• Ability to analyse
• Leadership Talent
• Decision-Making Capabilities
• Effective communication
• Technical expertise

Top Exams to become forest officer in the Indian forest department

For Graduates the exams are:

• Staff Selection Commission Junior Engineers-SSC JE
• Civil Services Exam- (UPSC) Union Public Service Commission
• SSC Delhi Police Constable Exam
• Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level-SSC CGL

Compensation and Perks of the Employee of the Forest Department

In addition to their excellent salary packages, the government provides the following perks to their members:

Housing Allowances: While in the service period, the government provides them with dwellings in reputable colonies where they can shift with their families.

Traveling for Work: The government pays travel allowances & travel expenditures for those whose jobs need them to frequently travel to various locations.
For the course of their service, members of Medi-Claim receive medical benefits for their family members.
They are supplied with security guards & housekeepers for the residence they are staying in.

Transport: For their field service, they are given a transport service such that any vehicle and a verified driver.
Lease Benefits: Members can rent a property for up to a certain amount, as determined by their station if they meet certain criteria.

Bills: The government pays for their water, phone, and energy bills.

Special Benefits:

• Members who exhibit exceptional performance are granted special allowances in the form of incentives or bonuses.
• They are permitted to take a leave of absence to pursue their higher education overseas.
• Retirement: Following retirement, they are credited with monthly pension benefits on time each month.

Basic Eligibility to apply for the Indian Forest department

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has established the requirements for taking the UPSC IFoS Civil Services Examination in four key areas: educational attainment, nationality, age requirements, and the number of attempts. Below is a detailed discussion of the UPSC IFoS Eligibility Criteria.
Citizenship:
The aspirant must belong to India or hold Indian nationality.

Educational Requirement:
The applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in one of the following: animal husbandry, botany, veterinary science chemistry, mathematics, geology, physics, zoology, or statistics.
The UPSC IFoS exam is also open to applicants having a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, agriculture, or forestry.

Age Limit for UPSC IFos:
The candidates can be as young as 21 or as old as 32. However, age relaxations in the upper age range are provided to candidates from restricted categories.

The total number of Tries or attempts:

The maximum restricted number of attempts for aspirants is as follows:

• 9 attempts for general aspirants
• No restrictions apply to aspirants from Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes.
• Additional Backward Classes: 9 tries
• Physically challenged: 9 tries for general and OBC,
  unlimited for SC/ST

Even if an applicant does not meet the requirements for selection, showing up for one or more exam papers will count as an effort.

Career Path in Indian Forest Service

With advancement, the IFoS wage rises. Following IFoS, all aspirants are required to complete two years of training at IGNFA (Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy). Aspirants are hired as Assistant Forest Conservators after completing their training (ACF). For this position, the IFoS remuneration is Rs 56,100. If officer keeps up their hard work, they can advance through the ranks on several occasions. The positions that applicants can obtain through the promotion are listed below.

• Deputy Conservator of Forests
• Head of Forest Force
• Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
• Chief Conservator of Forests
• Conservator of Forests
• Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests

The levels and positions for the central department differ, including:

• (DIGF) Deputy Inspector General of Forests
• (DGF) Director-General of Forests
• (ADGF) Additional Director General of Forests
• (AIGF) Assistant Inspector General of Forests
• (IGF) Inspector General of Forests

Final Words

You could be a good fit for the position if you care deeply about the environment and are driven to improve the nation’s environmental circumstances. To work for a position in the IFoS, which involves a lot of hard work, an officer must be rigorous and passionate. You should also be aware that the majority of the time spent performing the task will be spent on the field. Apply for the Indian Administrative Services instead, which requires one to pass the same test as the Indian, if you would rather sit in an office indoors than work outside.
However, for those who are sure of their objectives for the IFoS, we hope our blog has been motivating enough for you to stick with your decision. You can subscribe here for assistance with your study strategies and put all of your exam-related queries to rest.