India is one of the few countries, which have a forest policy since 1894, revised in 1952 and again in 1988. The main plan of the current policy is protection, preservation and development of forests. The Indian forest Service was created in 1966 to cater to the need for inter-state coordination and uniformity of approach, in dealing with the scientific management of forests and the environment. Being an all India service, the members are recruited by the centre but their services are put under various state cadres with the privilege of serving both under the state and under the centre.
Entry into the Indian Forest service is open to candidates between 21-29 years of age. You are not eligible if you reach 30 before July 1, of the year of the examination (Indian forest service examination) with a bachelor's degree with at least one of the subjects.
They are animal husbandry and veterinary science; botany, chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, statistics and zoology or a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture/Forestry/Engineering/equivalent. Those who have an abiding interest in the environment, love for outdoor life and interest in serving the country through the corridors of bureaucracy, conspire to the Indian Forest services.
The Indian Forest Service examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It provides an opportunity for direct entry into employment. You are trained by the government to play a vibrant role at the grassroots level as also in policy formulation. Within the specified age slot, (upper age limits are relaxed for SC/ST/OBC and other categories) a general candidate may get up to four attempts. An OBC candidate is allowed a maximum of seven attempts and there are no limitations on number of attempts for SC/ST candidates.
SELECTION
Notification of the Indian Forest Service examination s expected in February and the first round of selections; written examination comes up in July.
The written examination is of the conventional (essay) type with each paper lasting three hours.
Applicants appear for tests on two compulsory subject (300 marks each).
1) General English 2) General Knowledge
Two optional subjects from a list of 14 subjects including four branches of engineering- agricultural, civil, chemical and mechanical.
Each optional subject has two papers with each paper worth 200 marks.
These combinations of optional subjects are not allowed: * Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering * Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science * Chemistry and Chemical Engineering * Mathematics and Statistics
Candidates who qualify the written examination appear for an interview of 300 marks. All papers are set only in English and they must be answered in English. Candidates must have a good command over their subject matter and be proficient in the English Language, so that they can give an orderly, systematic presentation with due economy of words in all the subjects of the examination. Sufficient writing practice is essential for a worthwhile attempt.
STANDARD AND SYLLABI General English consists of essay writing, a precis/summary and questions to assess your comprehension and verbal ability in English. The General Knowledge paper covers questions related to the Indian political systems, the constitution of India, history of India geography, genera science and current events (national and international). The higher secondary level of knowledge is a good base. In the optional subjects, the level of testing is at least of the honours degree level. A good bibliography for the subjects provides the base material for study.
THE INTERVIEW
As with all UPSC interviews, the personality of a candidate is evaluated
through a guided conversation rather than a stress exercise. Expected
questions could revolve around subjects of academics; current affairs, basic
knowledge of forest-related issues/policies, status of their implementation,
knowledge of one's state of domicile with respect to geographical features,
forest cover, wildlife, economic status, cultural outlook, etc. The interview
board wishes to see evidence of leadership qualities, tact, diplomacy,
initiative, alertness,observation, mental and physical energy and enthusiasm,
love for the outdoors, a sense of adventure, curiosity in surrounding and
balance of judgement.
SELECTION
Selected candidates are sent for foundation training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. Specialised orientation for the Forest Service follows at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy with inputs on wild life management, tribal welfare, soil conservation, forest management, engineering survey, weapon handling, etc. This is followed by field training in the state to which they are allotted.
PROSPECTS
After training, Indian Forest Servic officers are posted as assistant conservators/ assistant deputy conservators. The next step is the deputy conservator and so to the next higher grade of conservator of forests. Within the same designation, officers also move from one salary scale to another. The chief conservator of forests, additional principal chief conservator of orests and principal chief conservator of forests, are the highest designations in the hierarchy. Each officer has the opportunity to rise to the highest post in the cadre.
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ADMINISTRATIVE KIND
Whenever the cars with the flashing beacon lights atop it, pass by, we generally look it it. Most of these vehicles are for the IAS/IPS/IFS and other class I officers. But achieving this is not all that essay. It requires not only hard work butalso suitable guidance. This is where the careers (SIAC) is doing its bit.
Instituted i n 1976, the SIAC is an undertaking by the government of Maharashtra. This was in pursuit of the recommendation made by an interdepartmental committee, which had gone into the question of improving the performance of the candidates from Maharashtra, in the matter of securing appointments to the ISA/IPS/IFS and other class I services made through the competitive examination conducted annually by the union public service commission (UPSC). As a matter of fact, the setting need for full-time residential institute devoted to conducting free training programme round the year.
The performance of the SIAC trained candidate at the national level competitive examinations has been indeed, praiseworthy. The performance level of the SIAC trained candidate compares quite favorably with the all India averages and certainly makes us proud but not complacement.
Admission at the SIAC for exposure programmes are intended to benefit deserving students, for developing a deeper familiarity with the overall structure of the UPSC competitive examination for r ecruitment to civil services. The exposure programme are of much shorter duration (usually one month) So that a larger number of student can drive benefit from them.
Under the residential category, a limited number of students (25 males and 5 females) selected. are offered free hostel facilities (only lodging). These student are also entitled to a monthly stipend of Rs 400. Another thirty student are also admitted as full time non-resident or day scholars, who are entitled to a monthly stipend of Rs. 150. Apart from these 2 categories, depending upon the availability of space, a certain number of part time students may also be admitted. These students are not entitled to any stipend but are permitted to attend the lectures & make use of the Library and Reading room facililites, for the specified limited period only.
The main training activity at the SIAC is carried on by the guest faculty members, who are drawn from various academic institutions of higher learning as also from various practical fields. The personalities associated with the SIAC training programmes are not only outstanding in their respective fields of expertise, but they also bring in their responsibilites at the SIAC. The SIAC is fortunate to have these learned academicians who havemade the SIAC what it is today.
The training programmes at the SIAC mostly comprise of interactive lectures from experts from various fields, group discussion and seminars. The student are administered several tests on the UPSC Pattern in their respective elective subjects as also in the General studies paper. These tests enthuse a sense of boldness and confidence, which stands in excllent stead when they actually appear at the UPSc examination.
Services/ posts to which recruitment is to be made through the Examination are :
• Indian Administrative service • Indian Foreign Service. • Indian Police service • Indian P & T Accounts & Finance service,Gropu 'A' • Indian Audit and Account service, Group 'A' • Indian customs and central Exercise Group 'A' • Indian Revenue service. Group 'A' • Indian Ordinance Factories service Group 'A' (Assisant Manager, Non-technical) • Indian postal service, Group 'A' • Indian civil Accounts service, Group 'A' • Indian Railway accounts service,Group 'A' • Indian Railway personnel service Group 'A' • Posts of assistant security officer, Group 'A' • Indian defence estates service, Group 'A' • Indian information srvice (junior Grade),Group 'A' • Indian Trade service, Group 'A' • Posts assistant commandant, Group 'A' • Central secretarist service, Group 'B' • Railway Board Secretarist Service. Group 'B' • Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group 'B' • Customs Appraisers service Group 'B' Delhi and Andaman & Nicobar Island Lakshadweep, • Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli civil service Group 'B' • Posts of Deputy Superitendent of police in the central Bureau of Investigation, Group 'B'
Humanity is facing one of the biggest dangers ever, with depleting forest cover due to rapid urbanisation. Dense forest account for 11 % open forests rerpresent eight % and mangrove forest occupy 0.15%.
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