The UPSC IFoS Prelims 2026 is the first stage of the Indian Forest Service Examination 2026, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) along with the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. As per the UPSC Calendar 2026, the IFoS Prelims exam will be held on Sunday, 24 May 2026. Candidates preparing for the IFS exam 2026 should stay updated on the official exam date, notification, eligibility criteria, syllabus, exam pattern, and application process to plan their preparation effectively.
UPSC IFoS Prelims Exam Date 2026 (Official)
The Indian Forest Service Prelims exam is designed to filter candidates for the Mains stage. IFoS Prelims tests general knowledge, reasoning, and understanding of environmental issues. The IFoS Prelims is conducted along with the Civil Services Preliminary Examination , with separate cut-offs for IFoS candidates. Here is a highlight of the Prelims exam 2026:| UPSC IFoS Prelims - Overview | |
| Particular | Detail |
| Exam Name | Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination |
| Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Exam Mode | Pen and paper-based |
| Prelims Exam Date 2026 | 24 May 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Centres | 80 |
| Total Papers | Two, GS and CSAT |
| Total Marks | 200/Each |
| Duration | 2 Hours/Each |
| Nature of Exam | Qualifying |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC IFoS Prelims Exam Date 2026
With the declaration of results, the cycle for IFS Prelims 2026 is complete, and aspiring candidates should now begin preparing for the 2026 exam. Having an advanced idea of the UPSC IFoS Prelims Exam Date is crucial, as it sets the timeline for your preparation. The UPSC IFoS Prelims 2026 exam is scheduled for May 24, 2026, which falls on a Sunday. The exam will be held in two shifts, and candidates will be required to report by 09:00 AM.
The multiple-choice (MCQ-based) exams serve as preparation for the UPSC Mains Exam in 2026. Crucially, the same set of exams will be used for the IFoS Prelims Exam 2026, which will also take place on the same day. Candidates now have around 16 months from the calendar's release to organize their preparation since the exam date was announced well in advance.
Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Notification 2026
The Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Notification 2026 will be released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) along with the Civil Services Examination notification on its official website. The notification will contain complete details regarding the IFoS Prelims 2026, including important dates, eligibility criteria, number of vacancies, application procedure, exam pattern, and syllabus. Candidates planning to appear for the Indian Forest Service exam 2026 are advised to regularly check the official notification to stay updated on the application timeline and examination schedule.
UPSC IFoS Prelims Eligibility Criteria 2026
To be eligible for the UPSC IFoS Prelims, candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in a specific discipline. They must also meet the age criteria and rule of the number of attempts. Here are the UPSC IFoS Prelims Eligibility 2026 requirements:Nationality
- Citizen of India
- Subject of Nepal/Bhutan/Tibetan refugee/Person of Indian origin (Under certain conditions and a certificate of eligibility)
Age Limit
- 21 and 32 years as of August 1st.
- Age relaxation is provided for certain categories such as SC/ST, OBC, defense personnel, ex-servicemen, ECOs/SSCOs, and PwBD
Educational Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree with at least one of the subjects being Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and Zoology
- Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry, or Engineering from a recognized university.
Number of Attempts
- Candidates from the General Category are allowed a maximum of 6 attempts.
- OBC candidates are allowed 9 attempts.
- There is no limit on the number of attempts for SC/ST candidates.
UPSC IFoS Prelims Syllabus 2026 (GS & CSAT)
The syllabus for UPSC IFoS Prelims is extensive, covering a variety of subjects that test a candidate's overall knowledge and aptitude. There are two objective-type papers in the preliminary examination: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Here is the UPSC IFoS Syllabus for both papers:General Studies (GS) Syllabus
- Events of national and international importance.
- Physical, Economic, Social, Geography of India and the World.
- India's History and Indian National Movement.
- Social Sector Initiatives, Inclusion, Sustainable Development, Poverty, Demographics, etc.
- Constitution of India, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Rights Issues, Public Policy, etc.
- General Science, General issues on Environmental ecology, Climate Change, and Biodiversity.
Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Syllabus:
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability, decision-making, and problem-solving.
- Class X level topics on basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)
- Class X level charts, tables, graphs, data sufficiency, etc.
UPSC IFoS Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The UPSC IFoS Prelims exam pattern includes two objective-type papers, each consisting of multiple-choice questions. The total duration will be 4 hours, divided into two shifts: Paper 1 (General Studies) in the morning and Paper 2 (CSAT) in the afternoon. Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 33% in the CSAT for their GS Paper 1 score to be considered for Mains.| UPSC IFoS Prelims Exam Pattern | |||
| Paper | Total Questions | Total Marks | Negative Marking |
| Paper I (GS) | 100 | 200 | -0.66 marks |
| Paper II (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | -0.83 marks |
UPSC IFoS Application Form 2026 – How to Apply
The UPSC IFoS Prelims Registration process is given below:
- Visit the UPSC official website ‘upsc.gov.in’ when the application portal is active.
- Register by completing the UPSC One-time registration process. If you are an old candidate, then enter OTR credentials to log in.
- Fill out the all modules of the application form by entering the required information like your educational qualifications and other relevant details.
- Choose the exam center from the given list and upload the required documents.
- Male candidates from UR/OBC/EWS candidates will be required to pay the application fee of INR 100 through net banking, credit card, or debit card.
- Double-check all the details before submitting the IFoS application form.
UPSC IFoS Prelims Question Paper
Practicing with previous years' question papers is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the UPSC IFoS Prelims. These papers help you familiarize yourself with the exam pattern, types of questions, and time management strategies. Solving UPSC IFoS previous year papers regularly can improve your chances of success.| Previous Year’s UPSC IFoS Prelims Question Paper | ||
| Prelims Exam Year | Paper | Download Link |
| 2024 | GS Question Paper | Click Here |
| CSAT Question Paper | Click Here | |
| 2023 | GS Question Paper | Click Here |
| CSAT Question Paper | Click Here | |
| 2022 | GS Question Paper | Click Here |
| CSAT Question Paper | Click Here | |
| Download Prelims Previous Years Solved Papers for IFoS Exam 2026 | ||