UPSC IFS Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2021: The syllabus for the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam is divided into two parts: preliminary, and mains. However, UPSC IFS 2021 Exam Pattern specifies the details of the examination paper that candidates will confront throughout the examination. Check all the details regarding UPSC IFS Syllabus 2021.
UPSC IFS Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2021
The IFS Syllabus and Exam pattern describe the type of questions, the number of questions, the number of sections in the complete paper, the sectional marks, the total marks, the time length, the mode of assessment, the language of the paper, and so on.
UPSC IFS Syllabus 2021 for Prelims
Check the UPSC IFS Syllabus 2021 for Preliminary Exam.
General Studies Paper I
| Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Social Sector Initiatives, Poverty, Demographics, Inclusion, etc. | Indian and World Geography – Economic Geography of India and the World, Social and Physical |
| General Science | Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Public Policy, Political System, Rights Issues, Panchayati Raj, etc. |
| History of India and Indian National Movement | General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change |
| Current Events of National and International importance | – |
Paper: II – General Studies
| Decision Making and Problem Solving | General Mental Ability |
| Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability | Interpersonal Skills including Communication Skills |
| Comprehension | Basic Numeracy, Data Interpretation |
UPSC IFS Syllabus 2021 for Mains
The IFS Main examination is meant to assess an aspirant’s academic competence as well as his/her ability to convey his/her information in a clear and logical way. Check the UPSC IFS Syllabus for Mains Exam 2021.
The written test will include the following papers:
Paper I General English – (300 Marks)
Aspirants will be asked to prepare an English essay. Other questions will be aimed to assess their command of the English language and their ability to utilize words correctly. Typically, passages will be designated for summary or precis.
- Comprehension of given passages
- Precis Writing
- Usage and Vocabulary
- Short Essay
Paper-II – General Knowledge (300 Marks)
The General Knowledge paper contains knowledge of current events, topics of everyday observation, and knowledge in their scientific elements, as might be anticipated of a well-educated person who has not studied any scientific subject in depth.
Papers III and IV, as well as Papers V and VI – (200 Marks for each paper)
Any two subjects from the list of optional subjects included in the test pattern must be chosen. There will be two papers for each topic.
UPSC IFS Exam Pattern 2021
Candidates appearing for UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) examination should have a good understanding of the exam pattern of the entrance exam. As per the latest IFS exam pattern of UPSC IFS, the entrance exam is conducted in two stages i.e.
- Civil Services Examination (Preliminary) and
- Indian Forest Service Examination (Main).
Candidates preparing for the test should be aware that the exam will be held in both Hindi and English.
UPSC IFS Prelims Exam Pattern 2021
The UPSC IFS prelims 2021 test pattern is described further below –
- The preliminary exam comprises of two papers: Paper 1 is General Studies (GS) based, and Paper 2 is Civil Service Aptitude Test based on General Studies (GS) (CSAT).
- Both papers have multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- The examination mode is offline (pen and paper).
- Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the UPSC IFS Prelims are both worth 200 marks.
- The UPSC IFS Prelims are administered in English and Hindi.
- There is a negative marking of one-third of a point.
- The Preliminary exam is used to assess applicants for admission to the Mains exam.
| Particulars | Details |
| Type of questions | Objective type |
| Mode of Examination | Offline |
| Duration of exam | 2 hours for each paper |
| Total Marks | 400 |
| Marks Per Question | 200 |
| Language | English and Hindi |
| Number of papers | Two |
| Negative marking | – 1/3 marks for each incorrect response |
UPSC IFS Mains Exam Pattern 2021
- The UPSC IFS mains test pattern for 2021 is mentioned further below –
- The mains exam is divided into two parts: the written exam and the personality test.
- The written exam for IFS Mains consists of six papers, all of which must be answered in English exclusively.
- Papers 1 and 2 cover General English and General Knowledge, respectively, and the test paper is worth 300 points.
- Papers 3, 4, 5, and 6 are set on any two subjects chosen by the candidate from the optional subjects. Each paper is worth 200 points in this case. Statistics, Zoology, Physics, Mathematics, Geology, Mechanical Engineering, Forestry, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Botany, Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Veterinary Science are optional courses.
- Candidates who pass the Mains exam are invited to take the Personality test/Interview, which is worth 300 points.
| Particulars | Details |
| Number of Papers | Six |
| Mode of Examination | Offline |
| Total Marks | 1400 |
| Language | English only |
| Paper I | General English (300 marks) |
| Paper-II | General Knowledge (300 marks) |
| Papers III, IV, V and VI | Candidates are required to select two optional subjects (200 marks each) |
Must Read: UPSC IFS Selection Process 2021
UPSC IFS 2021 Selection Process is carried out in 3 stages to choose the most qualified applicants for the various jobs within the Forestry Department of the Government of India. Candidates must pass all three stages of the admission exam as part of the UPSC IFS Selection Process.
We have covered everything related to UPSC IFS Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2021. If you have any doubts, feel free to ask us in the comment section below.
FAQs related to UPSC IFS Syllabus and Exam Pattern
Assume I apply for both IAS and IFS and pass my preliminary exams. But would there be any problems if I solely write IFS test papers in the mains?
If you are preparing for IFS, you only need to write the IFoS mains if you pass the CSE prelims.
Does the UPSC IFS Syllabus change every year, or may we use the same one?
The UPSC IFS Syllabus appears to have remained unchanged. If there is a significant change in the curriculum, it will be announced in the UPSC Notification.
What is the total number of points allowed for IFS Prelims?
The total number of marks available for Prelims is 400.
Is there a negative marking system in the UPSC IFS Exam?
Yes, there is negative marking in Prelims, with one-third of a point lost for each incorrect answer.
When will the UPSC IFS Main Exam be held?
The UPSC Main Exam is scheduled to take place from February 28 to March 7, 2021.
What is the UPSC IFS Exam selection procedure?
The UPSC IFS exam is divided into three stages: preliminary, mains, and interview. The preliminary test is for 400 points, while the main exam is at 1400 points and the interview is worth 300 points.