New Delhi: This year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) seems to be on a special drive to bring in significant changes in the patterns of its prestigious examinations. As per recent reports, apart from making changes in the basic pattern of the Civil Services (Main) examination; the commission has made changes in its Indian Forest Service (IFoS) examination by introducing the concept of 'preliminary test' for it.
However, it is further notified that the Commission would not carry out a separate preliminary examination for the IFoS. Besides, it has come up with a special provision of common preliminary test for both, the CSE and Forest Service examinations. As per the official notification issued for CSE, the preliminary test is scheduled to be held on May 26, which will now be a common screening test for both these examinations, for their respective ‘Main’ examination.
However, considering a probability of common candidates for both the examination, the main examination of CSE and IFoS, will be conducted on different dates / months, seperately. CSE is a common test in order to select eligible candidates for IAS, IPS, Indian Foreign Service (IFS), IRS, IIS and other top central services, however, the IFoS examination is conducted to select officers for Indian Forest Service.
Previously, there wasn’t any concept of preliminary test for IFoS examination. Apparently, the preliminary examination is a subject-neutral test that only assesses candidate’s aptitude, analytical skill and general awareness. Therefore, it will not affect the basic character of the IFoS examination, which is open only for science and engineering graduates. As per the officially notified changes, the IFoS competitive exam will consist of two consecutive stages.
According to which, at first, candidate will appear for the Civil Services (Preliminary) examination (objective type) for the screening & selection for Indian Forest Service (Main) examination. There after, he / she will take part in Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination (written and interview) for the final selection, against the vacancies identified and reported for the Indian Forest Service Examination.
