On February 2, 2022, the Indian Forest Service Examination notice was released. In the linked article, aspirants may get the most recent UPSC Notification.
The Indian Forest Service (IFS) is one of the Union Government’s three All-India Services, together with the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS). Although the service was founded in 1864 as the Imperial Forest Service during the British Raj, it was not formed in its current form until 1966.
You can learn everything you need to know about the Indian Forest Service Exam in this article including the syllabus, preparation tips and reference books.
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Forestry Syllabus for IFS
You must be well familiar with both the material and the exam pattern to devise an effective preparation approach. There are two optional subjects in the IFoS mains, each with four papers.
Each document is broken into two parts: Part A and Part B. The papers have a total of 8 questions, four in each portion. Only five of these eight questions must be answered by both parties. Part A’s question 1 and Part B’s question 5 are both required. Aside from this, you must attempt two more from each section. Any of the sections can be used to answer the fifth question.
Forestry Optional Subject for Indian Forest Service
Even though that forestry is not necessarily a subject of specialisation for many candidates, many who have related disciplines in their undergraduate degrees pursue it.
Forestry is a good alternative for those who are interested in agriculture, gardening, or botany. Here are some of the benefits that make it a good option for many candidates:
#There isn’t a lot of factual data on this subject, therefore you won’t have to memorise a lot of dates and events. Many candidates find the subject simple to comprehend and study primarily for that reason.
#If you can remember the botanical names of different trees and back up your answer with good diagrams, this is a very high-scoring subject.
Paper-1, Forestry Optional Syllabus
One and Two
General silviculture
The greatest source for this chapter is L.S. Khanna’s book.
To get the most points, use as many examples as possible while composing the answers to this chapter’s questions.
This is the most crucial chapter in paper 1, so devote as much time as possible to its preparation and go over the questions from prior years several times.
Silviculture system
This, like the previous chapter, is a fundamental forestry chapter that necessitates a large amount of effort and attention to prepare the themes.
Because questions are frequently repeated, reviewing past years’ papers will be beneficial.
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Three and Four
Mangrove and cold forests
Mangroves have scientific names that you should remember.
Cold desert plants, shrubs, and plant species must be examined carefully, and their scientific names must be remembered as well.
The chapter is short, but there is a lot to remember. In addition, in 2015, direct questions about scientific names were requested from this chapter.
Silviculture of trees
Investigate the many tree species and their characteristics.
This chapter is less significant than the previous three, yet it should not be overlooked.
Five and Six
Social forestry, agroforestry, tribology, and joint forest management
This chapter is straightforward and provides a wealth of resources for crafting effective responses.
To best prepare for this chapter, try preparing your notes and answers.
Watershed management, soil management and forest soils
This is another chapter with a lot of room for substantive replies and is simple to prepare.
Questions on the subjects addressed in this chapter are usually always asked, thus they can’t be ignored.
Seven and Eight
Conservation of environment and biodiversity
The syllabus coincides with the general studies papers in the prelims, so you can start studying just before the exams.
Seed technology and improvement of trees
Prepare topics such as provincial tribes with the use of online resources.
Long 8-point questions from this chapter are common, so studying it thoroughly is a smart idea.
Paper-2: Forestry Optional Syllabus
One and Two
Management system and forest management
This is an essential issue, and Prakash Ram’s Forest Management is the best reference book on the subject. If you don’t have time, S. Prabhu has enough material to give you a basic understanding of this chapter.
Forest working plans
This chapter is crucial since it focuses on one of the IFoS officer’s most critical responsibilities.
This chapter’s information will benefit you not only in your main exam but also in your employment throughout your career.
Three and Four
Remote sensing and mensuration for forests
This is a technical issue, thus it’s more important to comprehend the concepts than to memorise anything.
Allow enough time for you to think about the topic so that you may write substantial and impromptu replies in the examination hall.
Forest engineering and surveying
This is another technical issue that can be difficult to grasp if you are unfamiliar with the principles.
Spend more time mastering the theory of this topic, as being able to produce solid technical responses will help you get good grades.
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Five and Six
Ethno-botany and forest ecology
Although S.Prabhu covers this topic, the internet is the finest resource for learning about it.
Utilization of forest resources
This chapter is frequently asked several questions in a single year, making it a very essential topic.
The points are not addressed in any of the reference books systematically, but if you read the chapter several times, you will acquire a good concept of the complete topic.
Allow plenty of time to learn about this subject, as it is equally crucial to your job as an IFoS officer.
Writing responses to questions in this chapter requires examples of scientific names.
Seven and Eight
Wildlife biology and forest protection
This topic is significant both in terms of the main exam and the interview phase, as many questions are based on principles covered in this chapter.
Economics and legislation of forests
Wikipedia is a wonderful place to start if you want to study the basics of the chapter.
It is not as critical, but having a basic understanding will allow you to attempt any questions posed from this point forward.
Reference Books for Forestry Optional
While some aspects of paper 1 overlap with the broad environment themes for prelims, the subject is essentially distinct, and there are numerous new issues and techniques that you must become acquainted with.
This is why it’s critical to identify books that cover the majority of the curriculum in such a way that secondary sources aren’t required. The following are a few of the top books to look into. To avoid confusion, keep your reference booklist short and precise.
#Principles and Practice of Silviculture by L.S. Khanna
#Theory and Practice of Silviculture Systems by Ram Prakash, L S Khanna and K. #Manikandan and S. Prabhu
#Indian Forestry by K. Manikandan and S. Prabhu
#Forest Management by Prakash Ram
#Agroforestry: Indian Perspective by L. K. Jha
#Wikipedia
#YouTube videos for forestry optional
# An Internet search for important terminologies and scientific names of trees.
Forestry Optional Preparation Strategy
Here are a few things you can do to improve your preparation strategy and make it more time-efficient and successful if you are familiar with all of the topics and syllabus:
#Do not put off your main preparation till you receive your prelims results. Because time will be limited, it is recommended to begin prelims and mains preparation at the same time.
#Examine prior years’ question papers to see if you can see a pattern in the questions. Determine the most critical and often questioned topics so that you may schedule your study time accordingly.
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Tips
#Begin your preparation with the common components of the prelims exam. Environmental issues, watershed management, ethnobotany and forest ecology, soil and its conservation, conservation and biodiversity, and forest legislation are just a few of the usual topics you can start studying.
#As you prepare for the subject, make a list of all the scientific names of trees, shrubs, and cold desert plants. Make a table with the many types of soils and their qualities. These will come in helpful for last-minute revisions just before the exam, as well as for more thorough preparation.
Suggestion Tips for Interview Round
The optional subject you select has a significant impact on your interview round. This topic has the potential to generate several specialised inquiries. Here are a few pointers to remember throughout the interview:
#Aspirants who have studied forestry are more likely to be quizzed on environmental and core forestry themes.
#Candidates should be up to date on forestry and environmental issues, as well as topics such as NAPCC, green building, and REDD.
#Candidates must have a thorough understanding of how to map a forest area. Also, learn about the various native shrubs, trees, plants, and herb species that exist in your district and state.
Conclusion
Forestry is an intriguing optional subject to select, and if you prepare properly, the knowledge you get will stick with you for the rest of your life, and you may need to apply it frequently during your career. This is the ideal moment to start preparing for the IFS 2022 if you keep the thoughts and tips we’ve shared in mind. We wish you luck in your examinations!
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