The UPSC IFoS syllabus is divided into two stages. The Prelims syllabus is identical to the UPSC CSE Prelims. The Mains syllabus is entirely science/forestry-specific and differs completely from CSE Mains.
Stage 1: Prelims (Shared with CSE)
| Paper | Topics | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper-I | Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, General Science | 200 |
| CSAT Paper-II (Qualifying) | Comprehension, Reasoning, Numeracy, Data Interpretation | 200 (min 66 to qualify) |
Stage 2: IFoS Mains Syllabus
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General English | 300 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 2 | General Knowledge | 300 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 3 | Optional Subject I – Paper 1 | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 4 | Optional Subject I – Paper 2 | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 5 | Optional Subject II – Paper 1 | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 6 | Optional Subject II – Paper 2 | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Total | 1400 |
IFoS Optional Subjects (Choose Any 2)
- Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering
- Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Forestry
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
- Statistics
- Zoology
General Knowledge Paper Topics (IFoS Mains)
- General Science, Current Affairs of National & International importance
- History and Geography of India, Indian Polity & Economy
- Forest Policy, Forest Laws, Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change
- Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Rights Act, Environmental Impact Assessment