Salary of Indian Forest Service Officer 2026: Pay Scale & Perks
An Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer’s basic salary starts at Level-10 (Rs 56,100 – Rs 1,77,500) at the Junior Time Scale entry level and progresses up to Level-17 (fixed at Rs 2,25,000) for the top post of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forestry). Established as one of the three All India Services of the Union Government, the service provides structured pay bands alongside government benefits.
Aspiring candidates can find details on the rank-wise pay scales, experience-based pay progression, job roles, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, training schedule, and step-by-step application process outlined below.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Starting Basic Pay Scale | Rs 56,100 – Rs 1,77,500 (Level-10) |
| Highest Basic Pay Scale | Rs 2,25,000 fixed (Level-17) |
| Cadre Controlling Authority | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) |
| Selection Process | UPSC Civil Services Prelims, IFoS Main Exam, and Interview |
| Training Academy | Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun |
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 years (Relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) |
| Minimum Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in specified Science subjects, Agriculture, Forestry, or Engineering |
Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer Salary in India
| Post / Designation | Pay Level | Pay Scale (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forestry) | Level-17 | 2,25,000 (Fixed) |
| Principal Chief Conservator of Forests | Level-16 | 2,05,400 – 2,24,400 |
| Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests | Level-15 | 1,82,200 – 2,24,100 |
| Chief Conservator of Forests | Level-14 | 1,44,200 – 2,18,200 |
| Conservator of Forests | Level-13A | 1,31,100 – 2,16,600 |
| Deputy Conservator of Forests (Selection Grade) | Level-13 | 1,18,500 – 2,14,100 |
| Deputy Conservator of Forests (Junior Administrative Grade) | Level-12 | 78,800 – 2,09,200 |
| Deputy Conservator of Forests (Senior Time Scale) | Level-11 | 67,700 – 2,08,700 |
| Junior Time Scale | Level-10 | 56,100 – 1,77,500 |
Entry-level officers at Level-10 receive a pay scale of Rs 56,100 – Rs 1,77,500, while the apex Level-17 post receives a fixed pay of Rs 2,25,000. Officers work on a full-time, permanent basis across field sites and administrative offices.
Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer Salary by Experience
Probationers start at Level-10 in the Junior Time Scale during initial training. Four years after the Year of Allotment, officers progress to the Senior Time Scale at Level-11 (Rs 67,700 – Rs 208,700) as Divisional Forest Officers or Deputy Conservators of Forests.
Subsequent promotions lead to the Junior Administrative Grade at Level-12 (Rs 78,800 – Rs 209,200) and Selection Grade at Level-13 (Rs 1,18,500 – Rs 214,100). Senior administrative service opens access to Level-13A for Conservators of Forests (Rs 1,31,100 – Rs 216,600), Level-14 for Chief Conservators of Forests (Rs 1,44,200 – Rs 218,200), Level-15 for Additional Principal Chief Conservators of Forests (Rs 1,82,200 – Rs 224,100), Level-16 for Principal Chief Conservators of Forests (Rs 205,400 – Rs 224,400), and Level-17 (fixed at Rs 2,25,000) at the apex level.
Eligibility criteria, age limits, and allowed attempts for IFoS recruitment
| Category | Max Age Limit | Age Relaxation | Number of Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 32 Years | NIL | 6 |
| OBC | 32 Years | Up to 3 Years | 9 |
| SC / ST | 32 Years | Up to 5 Years | No Limit |
| PwBD (Gen/EWS/OBC) | 32 Years | Up to 10 Years | 9 |
Candidates require a Bachelor’s degree featuring specified science subjects, Agriculture, Forestry, or Engineering. The minimum age for eligibility is 21 years while the maximum age limit is 32 years, subject to category relaxations.
Training progression and cadet probation structure
- Forestry Training: Selected IFoS probationers undergo forestry training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in Dehradun.
- Foundation Course: Probationers complete a Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.
- Practical Cadre Training: Following academy training, IFoS probationers complete one year of practical training within their allotted state cadre.
Four years after the Year of Allotment, officers progress to the Senior Time Scale (Level-11) as Divisional Forest Officers or Deputy Conservators of Forests.
Career growth path and organizational hierarchy in state forest departments
- Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
- Additional Chief Conservator of Forests
- Deputy Conservator of Forests (Divisional Forest Officer)
- Assistant Conservator of Forests
The Indian Forest Service (IFoS) was constituted in 1966 under the All India Services Act, 1951, tracing its origins to the Imperial Forest Service formed in 1867. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) serves as its Cadre Controlling Authority.
How to Start Your Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Officer Journey: Step by Step
- Check eligibility criteria: Ensure candidate is 21–32 years old and holds a Bachelor’s degree with at least one science subject, Agriculture, Forestry, or Engineering.
- Register on UPSC OTR platform: Complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the official portal at https://upsconline.nic.in.
- Submit online application form: Fill out the combined Civil Services / IFoS application form on the UPSC online portal.
- Appear for Civil Services Preliminary Examination: Take General Studies Paper I and Paper II (CSAT), scoring at least 33% in CSAT to qualify for IFoS Mains.
- Attend Personality Test / Interview: Appear before the UPSC board for the final interview round.
- Undergo training upon selection: Complete professional training at IGNFA Dehradun, Foundation Course at LBSNAA Mussoorie, and 1 year practical training in allocated state cadre.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| application | UPSC Online Portal | upsconline.nic.in |
FAQs
What is the monthly salary of a forest officer?
An entry-level IFoS officer at Junior Time Scale (Level-10) has a basic pay scale of Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500 per month, while the highest rank (Head of Forestry) receives a fixed basic pay of Rs 2,25,000 per month.
What is the highest rank in the Indian Forest Service?
The highest rank in the Indian Forest Service is the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forestry), placed at Pay Level-17 with a fixed basic pay of Rs 2,25,000 per month.
What is the exam pattern for the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) exam?
The exam comprises UPSC Prelims (GS Paper I & CSAT with 33% qualifying mark), IFoS Mains (6 written papers: English, GK, and 2 optionals), and a Personality Test/Interview.
Where are Indian Forest Service officers trained?
Selected officers complete forestry training at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) Dehradun, a Foundation Course at LBSNAA Mussoorie, followed by one year of practical cadre training.
What is the age limit and attempt count for the IFoS exam?
Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years of age. General candidates get 6 attempts, OBC gets 9 attempts (with 3 years relaxation), and SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts (with 5 years relaxation).
