Indian Forest Service (Main) Exam 2017 Preparation Tips

It is said that the UPSC exams are toughest in the country. Only the brilliant minds are able to crack them. However, if one is aspiring to be an IAS officer or any other government officer of the highest rank, he or she is equipped with everything that takes him or along the success path. What remains is the motivation kindled by simple preparation tips. Before we share simple and easy-to-do tips, let us get acquainted with the Indian Forest Service Main exam this year. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is set to take the Indian Forest Service Main Exam from December 3, 2017 (Sunday) to December 13, 2017 (Wednesday). View the entire time table here. The Indian Forest Service (IFS) is one of the important Civil Services Examinations conducted by Commission. The other two All India Services are Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).

Objective of IFS Exam:
The IFS exam is for the recruitment officers at All India level by the Government of India for the scientific management of its forests. IFS services come under various State cadres and joint cadres though they have the mandate to serve both under the State and Central Governments. The main objective of IFS service is the execution of the National Forest Policy that aims to ensure environmental stability and upkeep of ecological balance. An IFS officer is principally independent of district administration. He has powers to exercise administrative, judicial and financial powers in his own domain. All the top positions in state forest department are held by the IFS officers.

Prelims

The preliminary Examination which was held on June 18, 2017 (Sunday) had two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carried a maximum of 400 marks in the subjects set out in sub-section (A) of Section II. This examination served as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination are counted for determining their final order of merit. The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination will be about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year through this examination. Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in the year will be eligible for admission to the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission, to the Main Examination.

Main Exam: The Main exam has General English (300 Marks), General Knowledge (300 Marks) and any two subjects from the list of optional subjects. These two subjects will have 2 papers each. Optional subjects include (i) Agriculture (ii.) Agricultural Engineering (iii) Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science (iv) Botany (v) Chemistry (vi) Chemical Engineering (vii) Civil Engineering (viii) Forestry (ix) Geology (x) Mathematics (xi) Mechanical Engineering (xii) Physics (xiii) Statistics (xiv) Zoology. However, the candidates will not be allowed to offer the following combination of subjects: (a) Agriculture and Agricultural Engg. (b) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science. (c) Agriculture and ·Forestry. (d) Chemistry and Chemical Engg. (e) Mathematics and Statistics. (f) Of the Engineering subjects viz. Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering not more than one subject.

Personality Test and Interview:

• The interview will carry 300 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks). Marks thus obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination (written part as well as interview) would determine their final ranking.
• The candidate will be interviewed by a Board of competent and unbiased observers who will have before them a record of his/her career.
• The object of the Interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for the Service. The candidate will be expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in his/her subjects of academic study but also in events which are happening around him/her both within and outside his/her own state or country, as well as in modem currents of thoughts and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.
• The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross examination, but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation, intended to reveal mental qualities of the candidate. The Board will pay special attention to assessing the intellectual curiosity, critical powers of observation and assimilation, balance of judgment and alertness of mind, initiative, tact, capacity for leadership; the ability for social cohesion, mental and physical energy and powers of practical application; integrity of character; and other qualities such as topographical sense, love for out-door life and the desire to explore unknown and out of way places. (Sources: IFS)

Preparation Tips: Candidates must pay special attention while getting ready for a critical exam like IFS Main.

• Make proper time-bound study plans to focus on weaker areas.
• You may refer to the best books to help you prepare for the exam in less time. The best way to prepare is solving previous years’ question papers. This will help you gain better idea about the exam pattern.
• Time management is the key. Keep a track on your time while cracking previous question papers to check your speed and accuracy.
• Discussion with people who are appearing for the IFS exam matters the most. Meet up with your fellows who are also preparing for the same. This will clear a number doubts you have.
• The interview is a test of your personality, nature and behavior. 15-20 minutes of your daily time should be parked aside for the activities that add to your personality like pursuing hobby, introspection of the activities that you have done, spending time with people who can give you genuine feedback about your personality, discussing philosophies with the like-minded fellow beings, studying good books and the like.

The best way is to prepare well under proper guidance before you take up the exams. One must clear the exam with maximum two attempts maximum should be enough to clear the exam. Make sure you keep a backup as these exams are uncertain. Failure is not the end of everything.