Candidates for the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam must fulfill certain age and educational criteria. Understanding the age limit and eligibility criteria for IFS Exam is essential for aspirants preparing to apply.
Age Limit for IFS Exam
As per the official UPSC guidelines, candidates must be between 21 and 32 years old as of August 1st of the examination year. This means for the 2025 IFS exam, the candidate’s date of birth should fall between August 2, 1993, and August 1, 2004.
Age Relaxations:
Certain categories are granted age relaxation:
- Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST): 5 years
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 3 years
- People with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Up to ten years
- Defense Services Personnel (disabled during duty): Up to 5 years
- Candidates domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1989: 5 years
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited Indian university in order to be eligible. The degree must be in one of the following fields:
- Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Statistics
- Zoology
In addition, applicants with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, forestry, or engineering are also eligible.
Students in their last year of studies may also take the IFS Preliminary Exam. When applying for the Main Examination, however, they must provide evidence of completing the necessary degree.
Nationality Criteria
In terms of citizenship, the candidate must satisfy the IFS Exam requirements by being:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
- a Tibetan refugee who arrived in India prior to January 1, 1962, with the aim of establishing permanent residence, or
- A person of Indian descent who moved to India with the intention of staying there forever from nations like Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, etc.
In summary, the age limit and eligibility criteria for IFS Exam include being within the specified age range, possessing a relevant bachelor’s degree, and fulfilling nationality conditions. Candidates must carefully verify their eligibility before applying to ensure they meet UPSC’s requirements for the prestigious Indian Forest Service.
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