The Indian Forest Service was constituted under the All India Services Act of 1951, in the year 1966 by the Government of India. A similar service was set up by the British Government in 1867 known as the Imperial Forest Service. The main objective of the IFoS is the implementation of the National Forest Policy.
The policy was implied to promote the ecological stability of the country through the protection and sustainable management of natural resources. The IFS officers are also responsible for the management of National parks (NP), Tiger Reserves (TR), Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS), and other Protected Areas (PA).
In the article below, find out about the job of an IFS officer concerning the salary bracket and the benefits they receive apart from their salary.
Indian Forest Officer Salary
Candidates who clear the UPSC exam, are sent over to the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy by the Central Government for their two-year-long training. They get deputation into the State and Central government jobs after their training. In the Central Ministries, they can be deputed as Deputy Secretary, Director, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, and such posts in Public Sector Units. They can also be posted to foreign governments, United Nations bodies, international organizations, NGOs, and other voluntary organizations.
Based on the ranks and positions, the salary bracket of Indian Forest Service includes the following-
|
Designation in Government of India | (Grade Level in Pay Matrix) |
| Probationary Officer/Assistant Conservator of Forests/Assistant Dy. Conservator of Forests/ACF Trainees in the field/Range | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | Junior Time Scale (Pay level 10) |
| Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | Senior Time Scale (Pay level 11) |
| Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | Junior Administrative Grade (Pay level 12) |
| Deputy Conservator of Forests (Selection Grade) | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | Selection Grade (Pay level 13) |
| Conservator of Forests | Deputy Inspector General of Forests | Super Time Scale (DIG/Conservator Grade) (Pay level 13A) |
| Chief Conservator of Forests | Inspector General of Forests | (Above Super Time Scale) Senior Administrative Grade (Pay Level 14) |
| Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests/Chief Wildlife Warden | – | HAG scale (Pay level 15) |
| Principal Chief Conservator of Forests | Additional Director General of Forests | HAG+ Scale (Pay level 16) |
| Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) | Director-General of Forests | Apex Scale (Pay level 17) |
As indicated through the table above, the pay scale of an IFoS member can range from ₹50,000 to ₹ 3,00,000 per month. Depending on the work experience and performance of the members, they can also be promoted to higher positions in a short period.
Also Read: Indian Forest Services (IFoS) Eligibility Criteria
Benefits and Perks Received by IFoS Officers
Other than their exceptional pay packages, IFoS members receive the following benefits from the government-
- House Rent Allowances- the government provides them with houses in reputed colonies during their term where they shift with their families.
- Traveling for Work- the job requires someone in the field to constantly travel to different areas, and the government bears the travel expenses and provides travel allowances.
- Medi-Claim- the members receive medical benefits for their entire family for the entire duration of their term.
- Lease Allowance- Depending on the location they are posted in, the members can opt for lease accommodation up to a certain limit set by the government norms.
- House helps- they receive domestic helpers and security guards for the house they stay in.
- Transport- they are allotted a car and a designated driver to travel for their field service.
- Bills- their electricity, water, and phone bills are taken care of by the government.
Other Benefits
- Special Allowances- members are given incentives or bonuses based on an extraordinary performance.
- Study leave- they are given the liberty to take a leave to go study abroad for their higher education.
- Retirement- after their retirement, they are given regular pension benefits credited to them on time every month.
Conclusion
If you are someone who is fond of the environment and are passionate about bringing a positive impact on the environmental conditions of the country, you can be fit for the job. It requires rigour and passion at the end of the officer to work for a job in the IFoS, that needs one to put in a lot of hard work into what they do. You should also know that the job requires one to be on the field for the majority of the time. If you are someone who prefers to sit in an office indoors rather than working on the field, you should instead apply for the Indian Administrative Services that requires one to take the same exam as the Indian Forest Services, that is, UPSC.
That said, for those who are clear about their goals for IFoS, we hope the article has been encouraging enough for you to stay dedicated to your choice. For help with your study plans, you can subscribe here and leave all your worries about the exam behind.
Also Read: Difference between the three All India Services: IAS vs IPS vs IFS
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