NEW DELHI, October 8 — The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday published the definitive examination schedule for the Indian Forest Service (IFS 2026) Main Examination and activated the online portal for Detailed Application Form-II (DAF-II) submissions on its website (upsc.gov.in).
Shortlisted candidates who cleared the screening cutoffs in the Joint Civil Services and IFS Preliminary Examination 2026 are required to submit their DAF-II by October 18, 2026. The comprehensive form captures zonal cadre preferences, educational credentials, and reservation verifications essential for subsequent Personality Test evaluations.
The IFS Main Examination is scheduled to commence on November 24, 2026, across designated examination hubs. The rigorous descriptive testing format spans six papers: Paper I (General English, 300 marks), Paper II (General Knowledge, 300 marks), and two optional subjects chosen from a curated list of natural science and engineering disciplines (two papers each, 200 marks each), totaling 1,400 descriptive marks.
Constitutional foundations of All India Services under Article 312 of the Constitution of India (IAS, IPS, and IFS constituted in 1966), the statutory architecture of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and the Biological Diversity Act 2002 are essential study domains for UPSC Civil Services and State Forest Service aspirants. Candidates should note that unlike other central services, IFS cadre allocation follows the revised zonal distribution formula managed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).