Indian Forest Service - Training and Rank Structure

Training and Rank Structure

Selected candidates are sent for foundation training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussourie. This is followed by Forest Service-specific orientation at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy at Dehradun, with training on forest and wildlife management, soil conservation, surveying, Scheduled Tribes, and handling weapons.

After completing training at the academies, candidates go through a year of on-the-job field training in the state to which he or she is assigned. There is a probationary period of three years during which they are posted as Assistant Conservators of Forests. On completion of this, and after a total period of four years of service in the junior scale, officers are appointed to the Senior Time Scale and are entitled to be posted as Deputy Conservators of Forests or Divisional Forest Officers in charge of districts/forest divisions.

Ranks of the Indian Forest Service are as follows:

• Probationary Officer / Assistant Conservator of Forests (प्रशिक्षु पदाधिकारी / सहायक वन संरक्षक)
• Divisional Forest Officer / Deputy Conservator of Forests (वन प्रमंडल पदाधिकारी / उप वन संरक्षक)
• Conservator of Forests (वन संरक्षक)
• Chief Conservator of Forests (CCFs) (मुख्य वन संरक्षक)
• Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (अपर प्रधान मुख्य वन संरक्षक)
• Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (प्रधान मुख्य वन संरक्षक) - highest post in a State

• Director General of Forests - highest post at Centre, selected from amongst the senior-most PCCFs of states.