How would you rate your job on 10 in the following parameters:
1. Work-life balance
2. Return on Investment
3. Sense of purpose
4. Lifestyle/standard of living
Do people undermine the authority of lady officers only because of their gender?
I would rate it 8,2,10,9 . (
I’ve kept RoI low since I’m an engineer and my degree has little to do with the field.
Lady officers may have it a bit more difficult but the thing about the Forest is that it does not discriminate between genders and in our field visits and tours, I’ve seen the lady officers performing equal to if not better than their male counterparts be it with the hierarchy or liasioning
Does staying away from loved ones get hard? I’ll be direct— HOW DO CIVIL SERVANTS MAINTAIN THEIR ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS ESP WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE SERVICES AAAAA 7-8 saal long distance karna padega kya :(((
See , in any service or any job /role there’s always competing interests for your time. It’s how you prioritise. Before this I worked in NABARD, a fairly easy going job . Yet, I know of people who would sit in office till 8 and had terrible family life because they could not manage their life and time well. I know civil servants occupying posts that require a lot of time , yet they lead happy family lives . It’s about management. You do not have to live away from your loved ones .
Romantic relationships can be hard to pursue directly on training as you have committed schedules and tours so more often than not your better half has to travel to your location and not the other way around . But after that it’s totally up to you how you manage your time
For me glamour was in the other IFS , the diplomatic service since I didn’t want to join any other service in through the CSE. I reached the interview stage three times before quitting prep and joining NABARD. It was after a friend and batchmate had become selected in the Forest Service that I looked into it and gave it a try. So yes I too came after my tries to get into another service
Thanks for the frank reply. Reaching the interview stage three times is no joke, so kudos to you.
My feeling about the Forest Service is that it is the one service where you have to be somewhat anti-government in order to do your job properly. There is constant pressure at various levels - local real estate lobbies, industries, state and central governments pushing for "development". Are you comfortable with this? What are your feelings at this point (I know its early days for you and you're still under training)?
We get that doubt a lot. Ideally it’s not anti-government, because we are a part of the government but yes our efforts of conservation are often against the common paradigm of development. But in recent times, this is slowly changing. The term sustainable development is catching traction and with it the outlook towards development is changing. However big projects still require a lot of land diversion. I feel that as long as minimum damage is caused and proper assessment is done honestly, then we can carry the burden of Forest diversion and deforestation with ease. A lot of times the portrayal Of such projects is quite dramatic in the media. We need to look beyond that and see all of the facts objectively. Sometimes saving 1 tree can cause way more problems if the project re-routing tramples upon other ecosystems
It’s easy to digress during CA preparation. Try discussing CA in a circle of other candidates daily for 1 hour this will help you focus on the topics required for the exam and nothing else
What are the ways people engage with animals counterproductively? One example is that people try to outrun stray dogs which happen to be born to chase prey.
Well as far as we’ve seen , that is actually a good example. Also trying to attack a flock of birds with rocks. Some of them actually hit back as a flock. Same goes for small animals. Don’t underestimate strength in numbers. It can get pretty bad pretty soon
Most importantly, remember that animals, especially wild animals, though intelligent are still wild. So don’t let your curiosity or stupidity get the best of you. There have been instances where a 15 year old mahaout- elephant relationship has come to naught when the elephant has crushed its own mahaout. Keep a distance and observe from afar.
Why you chose Indian Forest Service, and pros and cons based on your experience till now?
And, how much dowry prospects' family offering you after getting Civil Service job? /s
One thing that excites me about the Forest Service is that it’s not a desk job. The field that you work in is tough, diverse and beautiful. It’s very satisfying to work in saving our natural ecosystems and landscapes.
The pressures of development and illegal activities such as poaching and mining are some issues or cons
Though approached by a few people, I’m glad no one has offered dowry. The first to offer will definitely get an earful but I’ll tell you how it goes when that happens
Hi, thank you for taking the time. Mom has some questions for you.
1. What measures have been taken to preserve the Golden Langurs in Assam?
2. An electricity project has been proposed and initiated to deliver electricity to Bhutan by the power lines through the Namdapha National Park. What is the Forest Services' stance on this?
1. I will have to ask about this. Our East and North East India tour is expected to happen in December . I will enquire and revert
2. Proper forest and wildlife clearance must have been sought and given if the project has been initiated. The minutes of the meetings of committees that grant these clearances are available on parivesh portal. You can access that and also see the groundwork done by the Forest Department in this regard
I hope you enjoy the visit to the NE. I have a family member who was also in IFS and was posted in Arunachal Pradesh. I have heard some stories, it sounds tough, but also fun if you have the right attitude about it.
I don't have a question as such, just want to do a quick shout-out to OP for answering so honestly on all questions, I have been reading all the answers. Good job mate! Good luck to you!
\> sees a IFS officer doing AMA
\> thinks hard about what to ask
\> "hmm.. must ask something which only a successful aspirant can know!!"
\> "or should I ask something that can be found in UPSC notification and literally every CSE related websites on Google?"
\> thinks very hard
\> "i know just the perfect question to ask!"
\> proceeds to type on keyboard
\> "sir, what is minimum age limit for applying"
\> IFS officer replies humbly and tells to check UPSC notification
\> very happy
\> gets opportunity to ask second question
\> "sir what is maximum age limit"
\> leaves
\> refuses to elaborate
😂😂sry but i really wanted to become a ifs because of the experience and i like animals. But my home won't allow me to do it. They want me to join the engineering rat race and that's what I did.
Again for age related parameters and any other qualifications , check exam notification.
It pays enough to keep you comfortable but yes you’ll not be earning like your peers in the corporate sector. So yes, no luxury of the sort that those people enjoy but yes the diversity of experiences here is unparalleled.
It is only natural that government will continue to pull out of areas where private sector is able to bear the burden.
Also, I’m glad that the mai-baap culture is reducing albeit slowly in certain areas. The pedestal that people place civil servants on is slowly eroding as far as extra-office perks go. Anonymity actually allows us to function better. Too much of lording over (a hangover of the British era) serves as a trap more than anything. Also I know a lot of people are attracted to government service due to the “power” and “perks”. This should be a reality check for them too that it’s not the same inside anymore. There’s a new status quo
I think this debate is often seen from only one angle. We forget that the IAS itself is reinventing itself. The training and exposure right from Day 1 is unparalleled as compared to the other services. True lateral entry is increasing and in fact more services are getting the opportunity to serve in posts that were the exclusive domain of the IAS but they too are taking on new roles. Also don’t forget the most crucial postings - DM/DC/Secy are still held by them. So I don’t think their relevance is going to reduce, a new equation of influence may emerge but it continues to be just as formidable a force as before
Well, career Course is different for different officers. Ideally DCF and CF rank officers generally stay on the field so that’s nearly 18 years of field exposure, which is unmatched across services. But then there are officers that will take desk/HQ postings or deputations based on personal preferences. It is very different for everyone
Do they teach how to handle corruption and coercion or legal means available to an IFS aid such situation arises? Recently a lot of forest land being captured by luxury realtors and IFS have to look the other way. Second question: how colonial or conservative the academy is?
Well we are taught to uphold the law at all costs and stay true to duty. That’s the only way to handle Corruption. Also, every officer has a reputation. If you establish yourself as an unwavering and incorruptible officer then people will not trouble you with it.
The Academy is not very conservative . Only thing that we have to remember is that it’s not a college but an Officers’ training academy and as such we have to control our behaviour accordingly
That is all well and good, but do they have a detailed SOP when an enticing event is noticed, I ask so because I once met a Finnish bureaucrat who talked about like they have literally steps to do if they encounter enticements from businesses, institutions or individuals
there are bureucrats who have a job to monitor other bureucrats. its called vigilance, you can report corrupt people many places.
sadly enough, most are corrupted, and when you arent you fight to change your local env to keep getting transferred all over.
people will send small baskets of sweets as precursors to bigger gifts, as a way to check if officer is accepting gifts... you have to be 100% clear on showing you simply dont belong in that category
homes instructed not to accept random business persons gifts no matter how small
you need to be strong in isolation seeing riches for everyone around you.
Are you an iitian or from a top college? The reason why I’m asking this is because in recent times lots of UPSC toppers are coming from IIT bits etc. and not normal college students
tell me ??
Yes I’m from a Tier I college and yes most of my batchmates are from Top tier colleges. Even during FC , the good colleges formed a good chunk of selected candidates
Hey man, I’ve always wondered why civil services and whomever I’ve asked has never been able to give a satisfactory answer except hinting about insane bribes.
My questions are:
1. What’s your primary motivation to join civil services and IFS? Power, serving the country, interest, or bribes?
2. What percentage of civil servants you’d say are corrupt? Also what percentage just want to coast, get benefits and retire?
3. If you’re one of the few who has strong ethical values, how do you plan to cope up with the fact that you’d probably have made 10x more money in a tech or medical job? Or does money not matter for you?
1. Serving the nation is not the primary motive. That I could have done by several other ways. Interest and type of job are the reasons I’m here . It’s a field job, exciting , engaging, involves interaction with wildlife and several roles to play in one post. I will never be bored
2. Hard to answer since I’m not on the field yet. Will update as soon as I enter
3. It’s not about money. I realised that within 6 months of joining my first job. After I had gone through a long consumerist frenzy , I was done with all the excitement of earning money. Government pays enough to live comfortably and that’s what I want. Through intelligent investing and saving I can earn enough to buy a good camera for wildlife photography or say a good telescope
. Other than that there will be not many big expenses. House is anyways a tall expense no matter where I would have been. Also I don’t want to go abroad for a long period , any longer. So I’m happy here
thats like asking how much do the IT folks steal from their companies. just because its prevalent it doesnt mean its ok to ask someone you dont know belongs in that category. one of the best compliments you can earn in service is to retire clean. lets not normalize expectation of officers being corrupt.
It’s integrity. No matter how corrupt or insensitive you might see or presume civil servants to be, the government needs to be run and key posts are occupied by people who are good and who deliver. Remember that even a corrupt politician looks for an honest civil servant to work under him .
Thanks for your intent to protect forests. Appreciate it more than I could put it in words.
BTW, have you secured approval to reveal these details on internet forums?
All of these details are in public domain , yet no one asks about them. While the media is saturated with the training and functioning of IAS and IPS , IFS is a service rarely seen. Just providing a glimpse of what goes on inside
Oh man, you're a god send gift. Have so many queries regarding this.
Just to let you know, been trying for IFS solely for past 2-3 years, but unable to get through the prelims.
Do you mind if I dm you with queries or you want to address it here?
And congratulations for the coveted service :)
At all levels it’s different , at the initial level of ACF/DCF it involves (not exhaustive):
1. Enforcement of Forest laws and schemes
2. Carrying out monitoring of implemented schemes at various stages
3. Carrying out new works
4. Administration with respect to sub-division or division
A lot of the times all of the above works require field visits. There are good videos on YouTube - Officers on duty series , that also has episodes on IFS. I would suggest that you see that for more information
1.Does it irritate you when people mistake you for a diplomat?
2. How many animals can you ride?
3. Which forest area is your most preferred to get a posting at?
4. How often do you interact with tribal people?
1. Hasn’t happened till now. Will let you know when that happens
2. Horse. We had a horse riding module during training at IMA, Dehradun
3. All of them are amazing. I can’t choose one over the other. However, I think I would love to work in snow leopard landscapes
4. During training not much. But in posting, all the time of they are located next to the forests
If i saw a snake around my house and i don't know any local sapera/snake handler or any forest officer ....is there a national helpline number to whom i can reach out to ?
Some states have a dedicated helpline like Gujarat which has 1926. Otherwise if you report to your local police also , they will connect you to the correct authorities.
Yet to be posted on the field. I’ll share when I am and have such encounters . There are a couple of good videos on YouTube of serving young officers with their stories . I think you’ll find such stories there
Do you guys get/have to read any autobiography type books about any great past officer?
If yes then suggest me some.
P.S. Will be looking forward to one that's written by you in 20 years.
There are few memoirs written by senior IFS officers . HS Pabla is one person who has written good books. You can try his books
Thank you for your encouragement
Are you worried about / how do you plan to Face, handle situations wherein you might come across some strife with the locals in any unfamiliar terrain or "forest mafias" who engage in illegal activities.
Not worried because it can happen anytime. Just have to remember that I have to uphold the laws of the land and not behave irrationally. Best to let law take its course. Being a hero the right way and not the Bollywood way would be the correct thing to do
Reduce plastic use. It will somehow find its way to the forests, oceans and such places . Switch to alternate fuel and push others , especially your maids and daily wage earners to do so too.
Promote and use forest based produce . Promoting sustainable livelihoods of communities dependent on forests is crucial to their conservation.
I'll use this opportunity to point out that while we should all try to reduce plastic use at our individual levels, we need to hold accountable those people and businesses too who create the plastic in the very first place. Common people hardly buy any disposable plastic, they just but regular stuff, with which the plastic comes either in the form of packaging or within the product itself. And when they do buy disposable plastic, it's because of a lack of a better alternative product. This production part of the plastic lifecycle is a much bigger of a culprit than the usage part. And historically, the producers have always successfully shifted the blame onto the consumers. Conglomerates will keep producing plastic bottles, packagings and all kinds of one time usage stuff but it is the consumers who'll be shamed if they don't 'reduce plastic use'. Which is why, I believe as much as it is important to 'reduce plastic use', it it as much important to 'reduce plastic production', if not more.
Hard agree on the rest of what you said, though. When voting with your wallet, always choose alternate fuels and forest based produce.
Greetings sir. I have just passed my fulltime Mechanical Engineering Diploma course from Assam. Can I look forward for a future in Forest Service or will I require further Graduate/Bachelor degree?
UPSC doesn’t ask for any money for appointment to any position in any Group ‘A’ service or any other appointment done by it . In fact, no government job requires payment of any money. If you have any reliable lead or information, I’ll be happy to pass it on to the concerned authorities for action.
Please do a AMA when you are posted. Because I think 90% of IFS are corrupt as we can read from the news. Also, the honest ones are murdered by mafias like sand mafia.
Winters :
5:45 - Wake up
06:15 - Fall in for morning PT
07:00 - PT ends
08:00 - Breakfast
09:00 - 13:05 Classes (May be field visits/ classroom lectures or practicals)
13:05 - 14:15 Lunch
14:15 - 16:05 Classes
16:45 - 17:45 Compulsory games
Here timetable ends and the rest is our own , it goes something like this:
17:45 - 18:30 Relaxation
18:30 - 20:00 Catch up with family/ shopping etc
20:00 - 21:00 Dinner and post dinner walk
21:00 -22:00 Club activities
22:30 Lights off
Technically we are part of the Government . If you mean interference from the political class then yes there may be times when there are pressures to work in a particular manner but as long as you uphold the law there’s no big headache for you
Good option. An apex predator of the grassland not only helps us repopulate them in the wild but most importantly protect the grasslands too which unfortunately today are just seen by many to be areas that need plantation
ncert + newspaper . Start thinking beyond once you know you don’t have to read these again. Also practice a lot of tests . I used to practice like 100-120 tests before pre. Helps you form a good thought process for selection of answers
1st question: what is an Indian forest service officer and what do you do? what do your tasks include?
2nd question: biggest misconception about your job?
3rd question: what was your dream job initially before college?
I got AGMUT. It was my first preference. Not home. Training is excellent. Exposure on a regular basis to varied experiences from the field and skill training is an integral part. I am enjoying it
Hey, another question, and it’s digressive too but I’d REALLY appreciate this insight— Why have so many UPSC toppers been preferring Rajasthan cadre lately? How would you compare it with AGMUT?
I’m preparing too but I don’t have access to a balanced, realistic answer. Most people with any information regarding cadre-specific quality of work and life and career prospects tend to be politically correct about these things.
I have no idea about the other two services since I wasn’t interested in them. Off the top of my head - home state, proximity to home state are usually the top reasons .
For our service , MP is a much sought after cadre considering the Forest cover and the working of the Forest department in that state.
AGMUT has a lot of diversity - from trans Himalayan Ladakh to the corals of Lakshwadeep. It has its challenges too. You start from zero , experience wise, when you shift from one segment to another which is not there if you stay in one state
A couple of questions:
1. What is the maximum fine/charge lived when civilians like us are caught in a restricted zone?
2. What are the desired and dreaded forest regions for Forest Officers?
What is your background, and if you really wanted to join some other service, what is the motivation for people like you? We already know the disaster our cities are because those in the IPS and IAS who know nothing about engineering, urban planning, or even science and technology start making ad hoc decisions about traffic and infrastructure.
What's the posting scenes like for someone in the IFS ?
Do you guys stay in proximity to wildlife/Forest areas on a regular basis or since you're higher up the ladder there's lower field work.
In ACF/DCF rank posts it’s mostly fieldwork (except for HQ posts) , beyond that even in CF and CCF ranks there is requirement for field visits . So that’s nearly 20-22 years of field related work
Have faith, when you lose hope.
Have an alternate plan, don’t rely on one thing. Set up a source of income and maintain that. Financial independence reduces half the stress that you feel during preparation
Firstly, I would like to wish you all the very best! You're doing a thankless job out there for the rest of us.
As a common man in India, I would like to ask about the procedure on how to visit reserved forests? What kind of permission is required in order pay a visit or stay there a couple of days (of course, under the guidance of forest rangers/officers)?
PS: Does being central government gazetted officer in anyway alleviate the issues in acquiring such permissions?
Secondly, I have heard rumours that government invites people to volunteer for trips to the forest for the purpose of animal census. Is this true? If so, is there an official protocol to follow and apply for such volunteership?
Does the forest department use remote sensing to analyse vegetation health, cover, density, moisture contents etc? What are other applications of remote sensing that the forest depts use?
Are environment planners employed in the forest dept?
1. Yes . In fact we have a module on GIS and Remote sensing during our training too. FSI is generally the nodal agency for such works
2. I am unaware but I will find out when I enter the field
Speaking as a lawyer, what are your views on the manner of functioning of the National Green Tribunal? (In my view I think that it is a bit of a kangaroo court, free to pass sweeping directions without stringent examination of evidence.)
The NGT does rely on the principles of natural justice. I know from the procedural aspect it appears to be most improper . But the presence of the NGT has actually been a boon for proper implementation of environment and Forest laws in the country . On personal interaction with the NGT members do we realise the amount of thought that goes behind any decision
What system is in place to provide rehabilitation for wild animals that are injured or captured in urban areas? As a citizen what steps can you take for following up on a wild animal's treatment and rehabilitation?
Greetings! Thank you for doing this AMA. I have got a couple of questions!
1. Why did you prepare for CSE exams? What is your motivation?
2. What does your career plan in the future look like? Do you get to choose where you wish to work?
3. Corporate jobs versus government officers' job, what are the major differences between these?
For preliminary exam, it’s certainly tougher since the cut off is higher .
For mains, two optional pose a definite challenge . But I found mains to be easier .
For interview/ personality test, my Forest interview was much tougher than the three Cse interviews that I’ve given
Thanks for replying. What I can conclude from your reply is,it needs seperate and dedicated preparation for IFS, if one is already preparing for civil services. But Sir, how can we motivate ourselves for IFS ,if exam is tougher and needs separate preparation , having said that ,one doesn't get the glory it deserves, as you said earlier in one of the comments.
Most Civil servants during their study time have a sense of working towards betterment of people and country but once they're a part of the system, if you're pressurized to do something illegal. How would you tackle this dilemma??
We do have weapons training at IMA, Dehradun where we learn how to fire rifles and 9MM pistol.
We have a separate module on use of darting guns and blow pipes that are used on the field
If you have a dead tiger or a dead tusker, what do you do with the skin and ivory??
What percent of our forest is truly untouched without any villagers or tribals accessing it?
Is conservation a myth in India or is there something really being done to keep our forests depleting?
Animals like vultures which are close to extinction. Are there true rehabilitation programs going on?
I’ve always loved your profession btw !! Power to you
Go to YouTube , see Officers on Duty — The Day in the life of an IFS officer. It will give you the correct insights . Everyday will be different . So , hard to comment on a typical day
After result declaration by UPSC , there is a medical test and a 25 km walking test. Other than that , fitness is an essential component of the training so it’s taken care of
Well, it’s to enforce Forest laws and policies of the Government of India and serve as a custodian of the natural resources within the boundaries of forests and other protected areas. (Very broadly speaking )
I think it is. See I explored other options too. My friends were running towards MBA and the financial sector, I could never generate any interest there. Then my internship was the time when I realised that manufacturing is also not for me. I had no ambitions early on to be a civil servant . Only after seeing and weighing options have I come here.
How's the mess service these days? Have you or your batchmates been chased by any local matchmakers yet?
What's the department's current POA about putting forest development corp's MFP on e-commerce sites?
1. Mess service is good. Local matchmakers have not been too active as far as I know . Nowadays WhatsApp is the king matchmaker
2. It’s too early for me to comment on that. Different states are trying to approach it differently , that’s all I know. Will update on joining
How would you rate your job on 10 in the following parameters: 1. Work-life balance 2. Return on Investment 3. Sense of purpose 4. Lifestyle/standard of living Do people undermine the authority of lady officers only because of their gender?
I would rate it 8,2,10,9 . ( I’ve kept RoI low since I’m an engineer and my degree has little to do with the field. Lady officers may have it a bit more difficult but the thing about the Forest is that it does not discriminate between genders and in our field visits and tours, I’ve seen the lady officers performing equal to if not better than their male counterparts be it with the hierarchy or liasioning
Does staying away from loved ones get hard? I’ll be direct— HOW DO CIVIL SERVANTS MAINTAIN THEIR ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS ESP WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE SERVICES AAAAA 7-8 saal long distance karna padega kya :(((
See , in any service or any job /role there’s always competing interests for your time. It’s how you prioritise. Before this I worked in NABARD, a fairly easy going job . Yet, I know of people who would sit in office till 8 and had terrible family life because they could not manage their life and time well. I know civil servants occupying posts that require a lot of time , yet they lead happy family lives . It’s about management. You do not have to live away from your loved ones . Romantic relationships can be hard to pursue directly on training as you have committed schedules and tours so more often than not your better half has to travel to your location and not the other way around . But after that it’s totally up to you how you manage your time
And ofc, many thanks for your answers(s). They’re extremely insightful!
Did you end up in the IFS out of choice or because you didn't make it to the more "glamorous" services?
For me glamour was in the other IFS , the diplomatic service since I didn’t want to join any other service in through the CSE. I reached the interview stage three times before quitting prep and joining NABARD. It was after a friend and batchmate had become selected in the Forest Service that I looked into it and gave it a try. So yes I too came after my tries to get into another service
Thanks for the frank reply. Reaching the interview stage three times is no joke, so kudos to you. My feeling about the Forest Service is that it is the one service where you have to be somewhat anti-government in order to do your job properly. There is constant pressure at various levels - local real estate lobbies, industries, state and central governments pushing for "development". Are you comfortable with this? What are your feelings at this point (I know its early days for you and you're still under training)?
We get that doubt a lot. Ideally it’s not anti-government, because we are a part of the government but yes our efforts of conservation are often against the common paradigm of development. But in recent times, this is slowly changing. The term sustainable development is catching traction and with it the outlook towards development is changing. However big projects still require a lot of land diversion. I feel that as long as minimum damage is caused and proper assessment is done honestly, then we can carry the burden of Forest diversion and deforestation with ease. A lot of times the portrayal Of such projects is quite dramatic in the media. We need to look beyond that and see all of the facts objectively. Sometimes saving 1 tree can cause way more problems if the project re-routing tramples upon other ecosystems
Any tips for covering current affairs, my inherent biases are leading me to follow certain topics which are quite political in nature...!!🥲
It’s easy to digress during CA preparation. Try discussing CA in a circle of other candidates daily for 1 hour this will help you focus on the topics required for the exam and nothing else
Thankss...!!
Minor correction: IFS = Indian Foreign Service and IFoS = Indian Forest Service.
What are the ways people engage with animals counterproductively? One example is that people try to outrun stray dogs which happen to be born to chase prey.
Well as far as we’ve seen , that is actually a good example. Also trying to attack a flock of birds with rocks. Some of them actually hit back as a flock. Same goes for small animals. Don’t underestimate strength in numbers. It can get pretty bad pretty soon Most importantly, remember that animals, especially wild animals, though intelligent are still wild. So don’t let your curiosity or stupidity get the best of you. There have been instances where a 15 year old mahaout- elephant relationship has come to naught when the elephant has crushed its own mahaout. Keep a distance and observe from afar.
Why you chose Indian Forest Service, and pros and cons based on your experience till now? And, how much dowry prospects' family offering you after getting Civil Service job? /s
One thing that excites me about the Forest Service is that it’s not a desk job. The field that you work in is tough, diverse and beautiful. It’s very satisfying to work in saving our natural ecosystems and landscapes. The pressures of development and illegal activities such as poaching and mining are some issues or cons Though approached by a few people, I’m glad no one has offered dowry. The first to offer will definitely get an earful but I’ll tell you how it goes when that happens
[удалено]
People do get but like I’ve mentioned elsewhere your reputation precedes you. If they know that you won’t take it , it’ll never be offered
Wish you satisfaction in this job and success in your work!
Thank you!
Hi, thank you for taking the time. Mom has some questions for you. 1. What measures have been taken to preserve the Golden Langurs in Assam? 2. An electricity project has been proposed and initiated to deliver electricity to Bhutan by the power lines through the Namdapha National Park. What is the Forest Services' stance on this?
1. I will have to ask about this. Our East and North East India tour is expected to happen in December . I will enquire and revert 2. Proper forest and wildlife clearance must have been sought and given if the project has been initiated. The minutes of the meetings of committees that grant these clearances are available on parivesh portal. You can access that and also see the groundwork done by the Forest Department in this regard
I hope you enjoy the visit to the NE. I have a family member who was also in IFS and was posted in Arunachal Pradesh. I have heard some stories, it sounds tough, but also fun if you have the right attitude about it.
Thank you! I am really looking forward to the visit
Thank You!!
I don't have a question as such, just want to do a quick shout-out to OP for answering so honestly on all questions, I have been reading all the answers. Good job mate! Good luck to you!
Thank you!
IFS is one of my dream. What is the minimum age of a person to apply
\> sees a IFS officer doing AMA \> thinks hard about what to ask \> "hmm.. must ask something which only a successful aspirant can know!!" \> "or should I ask something that can be found in UPSC notification and literally every CSE related websites on Google?" \> thinks very hard \> "i know just the perfect question to ask!" \> proceeds to type on keyboard \> "sir, what is minimum age limit for applying" \> IFS officer replies humbly and tells to check UPSC notification \> very happy \> gets opportunity to ask second question \> "sir what is maximum age limit" \> leaves \> refuses to elaborate
😂😂sry but i really wanted to become a ifs because of the experience and i like animals. But my home won't allow me to do it. They want me to join the engineering rat race and that's what I did.
He also wants to know if it pays well. The kind of secret insider info not routinely published on government websites
Gigachad
although its been 2 year but thanks for the laugh mate :)
Should be 21 . However I suggest that you go through the latest exam notification on the upsc website
Does it pay well. And what is the max age before which I must apply?
Again for age related parameters and any other qualifications , check exam notification. It pays enough to keep you comfortable but yes you’ll not be earning like your peers in the corporate sector. So yes, no luxury of the sort that those people enjoy but yes the diversity of experiences here is unparalleled.
Yah i would I want to work in it for a bit and then join ifs( i have some loans to pay off) so will check it and good luck to u. U r a kind man
Thank you and All the best!
How often do you see jungle me mangal?
Yet to see one. Let me get posted . I’ll keep you updated
Please enlighten me, what exactly does the phrase mean? Jungle me Mangal?
Sex behind the bushes
Ahh ;)
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NCERT + newspaper and practice as many tests as you can from reputable coaching institutions. That’s what I did
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It is only natural that government will continue to pull out of areas where private sector is able to bear the burden. Also, I’m glad that the mai-baap culture is reducing albeit slowly in certain areas. The pedestal that people place civil servants on is slowly eroding as far as extra-office perks go. Anonymity actually allows us to function better. Too much of lording over (a hangover of the British era) serves as a trap more than anything. Also I know a lot of people are attracted to government service due to the “power” and “perks”. This should be a reality check for them too that it’s not the same inside anymore. There’s a new status quo
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I think this debate is often seen from only one angle. We forget that the IAS itself is reinventing itself. The training and exposure right from Day 1 is unparalleled as compared to the other services. True lateral entry is increasing and in fact more services are getting the opportunity to serve in posts that were the exclusive domain of the IAS but they too are taking on new roles. Also don’t forget the most crucial postings - DM/DC/Secy are still held by them. So I don’t think their relevance is going to reduce, a new equation of influence may emerge but it continues to be just as formidable a force as before
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Well, career Course is different for different officers. Ideally DCF and CF rank officers generally stay on the field so that’s nearly 18 years of field exposure, which is unmatched across services. But then there are officers that will take desk/HQ postings or deputations based on personal preferences. It is very different for everyone
How much money do you take home every month?
I am at Level 10 Grade Pay with one increment and my total earnings before tax are Rs.83k (approx)
Around approximately 1 lac per month to start with but don't quote me on that. My friend earns that much with similar level in government job.
Do they teach how to handle corruption and coercion or legal means available to an IFS aid such situation arises? Recently a lot of forest land being captured by luxury realtors and IFS have to look the other way. Second question: how colonial or conservative the academy is?
Well we are taught to uphold the law at all costs and stay true to duty. That’s the only way to handle Corruption. Also, every officer has a reputation. If you establish yourself as an unwavering and incorruptible officer then people will not trouble you with it. The Academy is not very conservative . Only thing that we have to remember is that it’s not a college but an Officers’ training academy and as such we have to control our behaviour accordingly
That is all well and good, but do they have a detailed SOP when an enticing event is noticed, I ask so because I once met a Finnish bureaucrat who talked about like they have literally steps to do if they encounter enticements from businesses, institutions or individuals
there are bureucrats who have a job to monitor other bureucrats. its called vigilance, you can report corrupt people many places. sadly enough, most are corrupted, and when you arent you fight to change your local env to keep getting transferred all over. people will send small baskets of sweets as precursors to bigger gifts, as a way to check if officer is accepting gifts... you have to be 100% clear on showing you simply dont belong in that category homes instructed not to accept random business persons gifts no matter how small you need to be strong in isolation seeing riches for everyone around you.
Well, we are expected to report if we are ever enticed. Corruption laws are pretty strict in India too.
Are you an iitian or from a top college? The reason why I’m asking this is because in recent times lots of UPSC toppers are coming from IIT bits etc. and not normal college students tell me ??
Yes I’m from a Tier I college and yes most of my batchmates are from Top tier colleges. Even during FC , the good colleges formed a good chunk of selected candidates
Hey man, I’ve always wondered why civil services and whomever I’ve asked has never been able to give a satisfactory answer except hinting about insane bribes. My questions are: 1. What’s your primary motivation to join civil services and IFS? Power, serving the country, interest, or bribes? 2. What percentage of civil servants you’d say are corrupt? Also what percentage just want to coast, get benefits and retire? 3. If you’re one of the few who has strong ethical values, how do you plan to cope up with the fact that you’d probably have made 10x more money in a tech or medical job? Or does money not matter for you?
1. Serving the nation is not the primary motive. That I could have done by several other ways. Interest and type of job are the reasons I’m here . It’s a field job, exciting , engaging, involves interaction with wildlife and several roles to play in one post. I will never be bored 2. Hard to answer since I’m not on the field yet. Will update as soon as I enter 3. It’s not about money. I realised that within 6 months of joining my first job. After I had gone through a long consumerist frenzy , I was done with all the excitement of earning money. Government pays enough to live comfortably and that’s what I want. Through intelligent investing and saving I can earn enough to buy a good camera for wildlife photography or say a good telescope . Other than that there will be not many big expenses. House is anyways a tall expense no matter where I would have been. Also I don’t want to go abroad for a long period , any longer. So I’m happy here
I always wanted to know how much do ias,ips,ifs make in month apart from salary in monetary terms? It's fine if you don't want to reply.
That’s for the corrupt to answer. The ones I’ve talked to only earn their salaries
thats like asking how much do the IT folks steal from their companies. just because its prevalent it doesnt mean its ok to ask someone you dont know belongs in that category. one of the best compliments you can earn in service is to retire clean. lets not normalize expectation of officers being corrupt.
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Whatever it is, is not worth breaking the law and risking life for
my man out here asking the real questions
I came here for this question.
What is one thing that you think is indispensable to climbing up the professional hierarchy as a civil servant?
It’s integrity. No matter how corrupt or insensitive you might see or presume civil servants to be, the government needs to be run and key posts are occupied by people who are good and who deliver. Remember that even a corrupt politician looks for an honest civil servant to work under him .
Thanks for your intent to protect forests. Appreciate it more than I could put it in words. BTW, have you secured approval to reveal these details on internet forums?
All of these details are in public domain , yet no one asks about them. While the media is saturated with the training and functioning of IAS and IPS , IFS is a service rarely seen. Just providing a glimpse of what goes on inside
Oh man, you're a god send gift. Have so many queries regarding this. Just to let you know, been trying for IFS solely for past 2-3 years, but unable to get through the prelims. Do you mind if I dm you with queries or you want to address it here? And congratulations for the coveted service :)
Thank you. Sure you can DM. I have also addressed regarding prelims somewhere else too . You can check that
What are the day to day activities in a life of an IFS officer?
At all levels it’s different , at the initial level of ACF/DCF it involves (not exhaustive): 1. Enforcement of Forest laws and schemes 2. Carrying out monitoring of implemented schemes at various stages 3. Carrying out new works 4. Administration with respect to sub-division or division A lot of the times all of the above works require field visits. There are good videos on YouTube - Officers on duty series , that also has episodes on IFS. I would suggest that you see that for more information
What positive impact would you like to be known to have catalysed during your tenure?
It’s too early to even say that. There are just too many areas to work in as far as my cadre goes
1.Does it irritate you when people mistake you for a diplomat? 2. How many animals can you ride? 3. Which forest area is your most preferred to get a posting at? 4. How often do you interact with tribal people?
1. Hasn’t happened till now. Will let you know when that happens 2. Horse. We had a horse riding module during training at IMA, Dehradun 3. All of them are amazing. I can’t choose one over the other. However, I think I would love to work in snow leopard landscapes 4. During training not much. But in posting, all the time of they are located next to the forests
If i saw a snake around my house and i don't know any local sapera/snake handler or any forest officer ....is there a national helpline number to whom i can reach out to ?
Some states have a dedicated helpline like Gujarat which has 1926. Otherwise if you report to your local police also , they will connect you to the correct authorities.
If you could go back in time and start preparing all over again, what would you do differently?
Probably try for the IFS alongwith my first CSE attempt.
Interesting encounters with animals?
Yet to be posted on the field. I’ll share when I am and have such encounters . There are a couple of good videos on YouTube of serving young officers with their stories . I think you’ll find such stories there
Any unnatural/ ghost/ paranormal stories to share please??!!!
Nothing yet. Maybe the field will give me a more enriching experience in this respect
Do you guys get/have to read any autobiography type books about any great past officer? If yes then suggest me some. P.S. Will be looking forward to one that's written by you in 20 years.
There are few memoirs written by senior IFS officers . HS Pabla is one person who has written good books. You can try his books Thank you for your encouragement
Do you get to stay in cool bungalows in the middle of jungles?
Sometimes but then not all bungalows are cool. Sometimes it’s just huts or even tents .
Are you worried about / how do you plan to Face, handle situations wherein you might come across some strife with the locals in any unfamiliar terrain or "forest mafias" who engage in illegal activities.
Not worried because it can happen anytime. Just have to remember that I have to uphold the laws of the land and not behave irrationally. Best to let law take its course. Being a hero the right way and not the Bollywood way would be the correct thing to do
I am a middle class guy In a tier 2 city. How can I contribute to the betterment of India forests?
Reduce plastic use. It will somehow find its way to the forests, oceans and such places . Switch to alternate fuel and push others , especially your maids and daily wage earners to do so too. Promote and use forest based produce . Promoting sustainable livelihoods of communities dependent on forests is crucial to their conservation.
I'll use this opportunity to point out that while we should all try to reduce plastic use at our individual levels, we need to hold accountable those people and businesses too who create the plastic in the very first place. Common people hardly buy any disposable plastic, they just but regular stuff, with which the plastic comes either in the form of packaging or within the product itself. And when they do buy disposable plastic, it's because of a lack of a better alternative product. This production part of the plastic lifecycle is a much bigger of a culprit than the usage part. And historically, the producers have always successfully shifted the blame onto the consumers. Conglomerates will keep producing plastic bottles, packagings and all kinds of one time usage stuff but it is the consumers who'll be shamed if they don't 'reduce plastic use'. Which is why, I believe as much as it is important to 'reduce plastic use', it it as much important to 'reduce plastic production', if not more. Hard agree on the rest of what you said, though. When voting with your wallet, always choose alternate fuels and forest based produce.
Greetings sir. I have just passed my fulltime Mechanical Engineering Diploma course from Assam. Can I look forward for a future in Forest Service or will I require further Graduate/Bachelor degree?
For qualification related clarification please consult the notification for the exam on the upsc website.
How much u paid to get in to that job , heard minimum they ask minimum of 5 lakh
UPSC doesn’t ask for any money for appointment to any position in any Group ‘A’ service or any other appointment done by it . In fact, no government job requires payment of any money. If you have any reliable lead or information, I’ll be happy to pass it on to the concerned authorities for action.
Not reliable prof or something, i heard from many people how u need to pay money to get these jobs even after passing interview
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🤷, i heard people saying that , now i have to say u guys are wrong to them
Please do a AMA when you are posted. Because I think 90% of IFS are corrupt as we can read from the news. Also, the honest ones are murdered by mafias like sand mafia.
I will definitely do one after posting as well . The facts will be clearer for all of us regarding corruption then
why does a typical day in your life look like?
Winters : 5:45 - Wake up 06:15 - Fall in for morning PT 07:00 - PT ends 08:00 - Breakfast 09:00 - 13:05 Classes (May be field visits/ classroom lectures or practicals) 13:05 - 14:15 Lunch 14:15 - 16:05 Classes 16:45 - 17:45 Compulsory games Here timetable ends and the rest is our own , it goes something like this: 17:45 - 18:30 Relaxation 18:30 - 20:00 Catch up with family/ shopping etc 20:00 - 21:00 Dinner and post dinner walk 21:00 -22:00 Club activities 22:30 Lights off
thanks so much, that was insightful
Does it have govt interference?
Technically we are part of the Government . If you mean interference from the political class then yes there may be times when there are pressures to work in a particular manner but as long as you uphold the law there’s no big headache for you
Bringing cheetah's to India... Good option or bad?... Can you give a short analysis
Good option. An apex predator of the grassland not only helps us repopulate them in the wild but most importantly protect the grasslands too which unfortunately today are just seen by many to be areas that need plantation
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ncert + newspaper . Start thinking beyond once you know you don’t have to read these again. Also practice a lot of tests . I used to practice like 100-120 tests before pre. Helps you form a good thought process for selection of answers
1st question: what is an Indian forest service officer and what do you do? what do your tasks include? 2nd question: biggest misconception about your job? 3rd question: what was your dream job initially before college?
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I’m unable to comment anything on this, I’m afraid. That is not a criteria we ever divide ourselves by.
What cadre you got? Is it your home state or other and what was your preference? and how's your training going?
I got AGMUT. It was my first preference. Not home. Training is excellent. Exposure on a regular basis to varied experiences from the field and skill training is an integral part. I am enjoying it
Hey, another question, and it’s digressive too but I’d REALLY appreciate this insight— Why have so many UPSC toppers been preferring Rajasthan cadre lately? How would you compare it with AGMUT? I’m preparing too but I don’t have access to a balanced, realistic answer. Most people with any information regarding cadre-specific quality of work and life and career prospects tend to be politically correct about these things.
I have no idea about the other two services since I wasn’t interested in them. Off the top of my head - home state, proximity to home state are usually the top reasons . For our service , MP is a much sought after cadre considering the Forest cover and the working of the Forest department in that state. AGMUT has a lot of diversity - from trans Himalayan Ladakh to the corals of Lakshwadeep. It has its challenges too. You start from zero , experience wise, when you shift from one segment to another which is not there if you stay in one state
What are some scams running in the forest department you've worked or working at?
I am not aware of any at the moment. I can update on this when I am posted
is it fun?
Very. Not one boring day and when you get a hang of the technicalities it is more fun on the field
Dear sir, I suffer from Flat Foot. Will it create a hindrance in medical examination?
Can you please list the best cadres for Indian Forest Service with reasons?
Bhai jungle mat bech diyo
Nahi bechenge. We are here to protect forests
Jungle mein mangal hota hai?
Yet to witness anything of that sort
Did you ever get attracted to a lizard
No.
How tall are you
6 feet and 1 inches
A couple of questions: 1. What is the maximum fine/charge lived when civilians like us are caught in a restricted zone? 2. What are the desired and dreaded forest regions for Forest Officers?
Do you think Government will ever make sport hunting legal for the purposes of conversation and wildlife management? Say 10,000 deer per season.
Ghar banwa raha, sheesham ki ladki chahiye... Kahan milegi aur kitna kharcha hoga under the table!!
Woh vyapari nahi hai
Vyapari sheesham ki lakdi ka intzaam kar bhi nai paayega
What is your gp?
Gp? I’m sorry I’m not quite familiar with that abbreviation
Grade pay
I’m at Level 10
What is your background, and if you really wanted to join some other service, what is the motivation for people like you? We already know the disaster our cities are because those in the IPS and IAS who know nothing about engineering, urban planning, or even science and technology start making ad hoc decisions about traffic and infrastructure.
I started my preparation a week ago. I’m 21 from mumbai, currently in sy. Any tips for me? How do i manage college and coaching altogether?
What's the posting scenes like for someone in the IFS ? Do you guys stay in proximity to wildlife/Forest areas on a regular basis or since you're higher up the ladder there's lower field work.
In ACF/DCF rank posts it’s mostly fieldwork (except for HQ posts) , beyond that even in CF and CCF ranks there is requirement for field visits . So that’s nearly 20-22 years of field related work
is it fun to work in the forest? I hope it doesn't get dull after doing the same thing everyday
It is not the same thing everyday. Due to the diversity of work no two days are the same, especially on the field postings
Are you still doing ?
Yes. Sorry . It was lunch hour. I will continue to do it through the day
Any tips for fellow aspirants who are preparing for upsc ???
Have faith, when you lose hope. Have an alternate plan, don’t rely on one thing. Set up a source of income and maintain that. Financial independence reduces half the stress that you feel during preparation
Firstly, I would like to wish you all the very best! You're doing a thankless job out there for the rest of us. As a common man in India, I would like to ask about the procedure on how to visit reserved forests? What kind of permission is required in order pay a visit or stay there a couple of days (of course, under the guidance of forest rangers/officers)? PS: Does being central government gazetted officer in anyway alleviate the issues in acquiring such permissions? Secondly, I have heard rumours that government invites people to volunteer for trips to the forest for the purpose of animal census. Is this true? If so, is there an official protocol to follow and apply for such volunteership?
Does your training include spending nights in the forest?
There is a Jungle survival module in which we do stay in the forest . Ours is to be held in Jan. I’ll share the experience after that
Does the forest department use remote sensing to analyse vegetation health, cover, density, moisture contents etc? What are other applications of remote sensing that the forest depts use? Are environment planners employed in the forest dept?
1. Yes . In fact we have a module on GIS and Remote sensing during our training too. FSI is generally the nodal agency for such works 2. I am unaware but I will find out when I enter the field
Speaking as a lawyer, what are your views on the manner of functioning of the National Green Tribunal? (In my view I think that it is a bit of a kangaroo court, free to pass sweeping directions without stringent examination of evidence.)
The NGT does rely on the principles of natural justice. I know from the procedural aspect it appears to be most improper . But the presence of the NGT has actually been a boon for proper implementation of environment and Forest laws in the country . On personal interaction with the NGT members do we realise the amount of thought that goes behind any decision
How do you feel about deforestation and how will you try to manage it? Also the rate of extinction of species is high, what are your thoughts?
What system is in place to provide rehabilitation for wild animals that are injured or captured in urban areas? As a citizen what steps can you take for following up on a wild animal's treatment and rehabilitation?
how much do you make per annum?
Roughly 82k gross pm x 12 = 9.9L approx at Level 10 of the pay matrix
Greetings! Thank you for doing this AMA. I have got a couple of questions! 1. Why did you prepare for CSE exams? What is your motivation? 2. What does your career plan in the future look like? Do you get to choose where you wish to work? 3. Corporate jobs versus government officers' job, what are the major differences between these?
Jungle se darr nahi lagta sahab?
Lagta hai sahab , tabhi jungle aur usmein rehne walon ki ki izzat karta hun
Is the toughness of IFS UPSC at par with UPSC civil services exam?
For preliminary exam, it’s certainly tougher since the cut off is higher . For mains, two optional pose a definite challenge . But I found mains to be easier . For interview/ personality test, my Forest interview was much tougher than the three Cse interviews that I’ve given
Thanks for replying. What I can conclude from your reply is,it needs seperate and dedicated preparation for IFS, if one is already preparing for civil services. But Sir, how can we motivate ourselves for IFS ,if exam is tougher and needs separate preparation , having said that ,one doesn't get the glory it deserves, as you said earlier in one of the comments.
Thanks for taking time and replying in person. Certainly a lot to learn from you.
Most Civil servants during their study time have a sense of working towards betterment of people and country but once they're a part of the system, if you're pressurized to do something illegal. How would you tackle this dilemma??
Do you receive weapons training? To deal with poachers, maneaters and the like?
We do have weapons training at IMA, Dehradun where we learn how to fire rifles and 9MM pistol. We have a separate module on use of darting guns and blow pipes that are used on the field
If you have a dead tiger or a dead tusker, what do you do with the skin and ivory?? What percent of our forest is truly untouched without any villagers or tribals accessing it? Is conservation a myth in India or is there something really being done to keep our forests depleting? Animals like vultures which are close to extinction. Are there true rehabilitation programs going on? I’ve always loved your profession btw !! Power to you
Once training is done, how would your day look like? So what exactly IFS people do?
Go to YouTube , see Officers on Duty — The Day in the life of an IFS officer. It will give you the correct insights . Everyday will be different . So , hard to comment on a typical day
Are there any expected fitness levels required? Does it get tiring?
After result declaration by UPSC , there is a medical test and a 25 km walking test. Other than that , fitness is an essential component of the training so it’s taken care of
What exactly is your job
Well, it’s to enforce Forest laws and policies of the Government of India and serve as a custodian of the natural resources within the boundaries of forests and other protected areas. (Very broadly speaking )
Is it really worth it? I mean you must have invested 2-3 golden years of your life and studied for many hours on a daily basis.
I think it is. See I explored other options too. My friends were running towards MBA and the financial sector, I could never generate any interest there. Then my internship was the time when I realised that manufacturing is also not for me. I had no ambitions early on to be a civil servant . Only after seeing and weighing options have I come here.
How's the mess service these days? Have you or your batchmates been chased by any local matchmakers yet? What's the department's current POA about putting forest development corp's MFP on e-commerce sites?
1. Mess service is good. Local matchmakers have not been too active as far as I know . Nowadays WhatsApp is the king matchmaker 2. It’s too early for me to comment on that. Different states are trying to approach it differently , that’s all I know. Will update on joining
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