* Why cut all at once, think from demand perspective
* Higher demand — shorter regen required
* Leaves roots intact
* What according to you has highest demand?
* I said not sure, but can take a guess
* Said bamboo
* He said no, fuelwood is highest demand
* Thanked him again

M2: (old female, looked very bored, closed her eyes when other members were asking, looked most disappointed whenever i said i dont know)

* You compose music — what kind?
* Jazz and rock
* You have geology optional — what is geologic time scale?
* Defined at a broad level about aging of solar system and earth based on rock dating
* Not sure of specifics
* What is NTFP?
* Defined with some examples as non-wood produce, fruits, leaves, flowers
* Are gum and resin ntfp?
* Yes
* Tell me about social forestry
* Defined
* Tell specifics — how can we do it
* JFM, sacred groves, community reserves
* What are sacred groves?
* Broadly defined
* Can you name some specific ones?
* Said i can’t recall
* You have done wildlife and street photography (just statement but waited for a response)
* Said i started with wildlife, recently tried street
* Where did you do wildlife?
* Most at bandhavgarh and sanjay dubri, plan to go to kuno soon
* Did you focus on animals or vegetation?
* Animals, especially on tiger
* What is the vegetation at bandhavgarh
* Dense forest, moist, mixed and dry deciduous; patches of grassland too
* Small area — high density vegetation and animal population
* Are there gymnosperms in bandhavgarh?
* Not sure ma’am, but perhaps there are exceptions
* (Felt like she wanted me to say no)

M3: (did not listen to anything before, looked tired)

* You have a great profile, and you have lived all over the country
* Smiled and thanked him
* What was your specialisation in mba?
* We did not have specialisation, but my focus areas were finance and strategy
* (Clarified about changes is specialisation at iims)
* What do you think of judicial activism?
* Said that it has both positive and negative connotations
* Can be suo muto or PIL based
* What is the legal backing?
* Article 142 for SC
* (Before i could finish) Do you think there has been a lot of encroachment on executive domain recently?
* I said there have been examples of both encroachment and restraint
* Gave example of CJI recusal in collegium case
* (He dismissed it — that’s personal choice not restraint)
* Tell me about judicial activism in forests
* Mentioned TN Godavarman, definition of forest wider, but no legislative backing yet
* Tell more recent
* Mentioned FRA
* Sorry, can’t recall more
* No, more recent, past year
* Said i’m not certain, but remember reading something about Aravallis
* No need to be unsure, it happened
* (Couldn’t hear him, asked him to repeat)
* Said thank you
* One more case in recent news
* Not sure
* Vantara case — have you heard?
* Not about the case
* What is vantara
* Private conservation reserve in Gujarat
* Do you think the case involves judicial activism?
* Sir, since im not aware of judgement, I can’t say if it was activism
* Okay, yeah, since you don’t know

(No further question, thanked and left)

Mocks: just one (forum), helpful to let off jitters/anxiousness

Overall: very cordial board, quite room with good sunlight, felt comfortable saying ‘i don’t know’ (no obvious judgement on their faces, except the female member)

#IFoS_PT

Hello people,
You are requested to share your interview transcripts of IFoS PT 2025 for common good (in following format)

This way you will be able to keep your transcript in memory for you also. It is important for you also.

Name: (If you wish to reveal- Real/ Tg/Other)

Date:

Key DAF Details:

Board:

Questions asked:
(Can write answers also if one wishes)


Mocks/O20 (If any):

Can give in chat/text format or word format

Can use your preferred language or the language of PT


Please forward transcripts on following ids —
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@psm0506
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Team @csetranscripts

Board: Chairman Ajay Kumar sir - 06.04.26 morning, first one to go - Duration ~ 35 minutes

Daf points- AI, Data Science, IITG, Assam, UP, Mechanical, Automobile, Forestry, Athletics, Running, Aeromodeling

Chairperson Sir-
Q1- What have you been doing since your graduation?
Q2- You have a diverse background, how would you apply knowledge of AI in Forest service.
Q3- Do you really think AI will work in the forest?
Q4- What are the problems of legacy data? Is it authentic?
Q5- What is predictive intelligence and where are we applying it?
Q6- Do you think that the rate of data generation is increasing in current times?

M1:
Q1- How would you apply AI for resolving human wildlife conflict?
Q2- Can you apply AI for cheetah knowing cheetah is very unpredictable?
Q3- What are the ways in which
AI is being applied in forestry?
Q4- What are the differences you observed in Assam and UP?
Q5- What are all the places you have visited in the North East?
Q6- There are some concerns regarding mining in the North East, what is that? And why is it unsafe?
Q7- What is the reason for your interest in forest and wildlife?
Q8 - How many types of dolphins are found in India?


M2-
Long monologue on forestry
Q1- What is agroforestry?
Q2- How does agroforestry support forest conservation?
Q3-Do you think that we should support agroforestry? Considering that there are concerns regarding food security.
Q4- What are heritage sites?
Q5- What are heritage trees?
Q6- Long monologue on forest conservation. What do you think we should do to conserve forest as well as tribal welfare?

M3-
Q1- What are the changes you made in vehicles for BS6 implementation?
Q2- What are the issues of EV vehicles?
Q3- What are the environment concerns of IC engine, EV vehicles and hydrogen vehicles?
Q4- What are the problems of batteries?
Q5- If given a chance, how will you make a policy for batteries and their management?

Mocks- Samkalp, Vajiram, Forum, Shankar, Hornbill, DAF analysis with Mahesh Bhagwat Sir

Name - Sairat the Hanuman

Date- 7th APRIL 2026

Board - Dr. Ajay Kumar (upsc chairman)-3rd to go

Interview duration -15-20 minutes (don't know exactly because I don't know at what time I entered the room)
Daf keywords :- Madhya pradesh, bsc physics

Sir may I come in ?
Yes please
Entered into room
Greeted everyone starting from chairman
Sit down

Chairman sir:-(always smiling)

C. Sairat the Hanuman
Me. Yes sir
C. Are you a girl or boy
Me. Boy
C. Then why you wear earing?
C. Is it gold?
C.You have done graduation in bsc Hons physics in 2023
Me.Yes sir
C.What are you doing since then.
C.You know recently what is going on space missions?
Me.I said Artemis
C.Explain armetis and how it is different from earlier missions ?
C.What's special tell more
C.Do you know about human habitation at moon
C.Why it is important
Me. Insitu experiment, developing future capabilities
C. What is it?


M1 :-(no smile at all seems to be a diplomat)
1.West Asia is in turmoil
I said yes sir
2.Explain track 2 diplomacy
3.Are private sector involved
4.Is there any nation doing it
5.What about Pakistan proposal
6.Islamabad accord
7.Is India lossing
8.Is Pakistan a dalal nation
9.Who called Pakistan a dalal nation
10.is it good to call a nation a dalal
11.Are usa and iran accepting pakistan proposal

M2:-(women with no smile but simple question)
1.What are your optional?
Me.Physics and forestry
2.How will you use physics in forestry ?
3.What is exsitu and insitu conservation
4.What is cryo preservation

M3:- (sir with all smiling face throughout definitely a ifos officer or a expert of forestry)

1.Why you want to join forest service
2.Tell me total number of elephant reserves
3.Elephant population has stabilized in India what's the current population
4.Why elephant human conflict occurs
5.What is jumstart method
6.How is it done
7.What is opposite of jumps start
8.Why it is called jumpstart
9.You come from Madhya Pradesh
Yes sir
You know Madhya Pradesh is one of those states which provides highest compensation for human animal conflict
Yes sir it is mandated under a law
10.Tell me about the law in detail
Sorry I don't know


Chairman:- Thank you
I thanks everyone come out of the room

Mocks given:- zero (not given)
One to one mocks:- zero (not given)
Daf discussion :- not done with someone else
Did whole preparation via chat gpt and google


Extra information can be avoided:-

1. One thing which annoyed me the most during interview is that except M3 all were speaking with very less voice that I am not able to hear the question properly specially M1 . I told him to repeat the questions as I was not able to get what he was asking.
2. Speak each and every word with caution because they are framing questions from my own answers itself
For example
Mam ask me about exsitu. I mentioned cryo preservation in my answer and next question come on it. Then while exploring the answer i tell about jumpstart method then next member ask me about jumstart method.as you have observed they are framing questions from my own answers

3. When I was going to interview room from Central hall I was checked by checking team they told me to remove the rudraksha in my neck and gold earring in my ear . They asked me to remove both of them. I removed the rudraksha but cannot remove the earring as it is a permanent earing not temporary one ,then
They called a senior to check once again. Senior repeated the same thing. I all repeated the same thing. I can't remove.
Senior said don't you know that earing are not allowed. I said sir it is not mentioned in the summon letter that's why I don't remove it
Then the senior entered the interview room before me to ask chairman to allow me or not.
After 2 minutes he came and said chairman allowed you then ball rang and I entered into room.
Then interview starts
What I want to say - don't debate with them at all .
Go with free mind and confidence

All the best to all.
Hoping Good for all
May Good fulfill all your wishes ✍️😄🇮🇳

*Name : runmachine

*Board: Anuradha prasad madam

7th forenoon (3rd to go)

*DAF ( keywords asked) : GKVK , agriculture, RAWE , Analysing cricket , Karnataka.

Optionals: AGRICULTURE and BOTANY ( most of my questions from this optional although my graduation was in agri. )

Chairman mam :

1. what is the full form of GKVK ?
2. Rural agriculture work experience program, what is it ? , what did you observe in the villages over their ? ( i said about monoculture )
3. Horticulture and how to effectively utilise space ( i said pigeon pea ) ?
4. Which is the pulp variety of mango that is grown in Karnataka?
5. What are the non agricultural activities you would suggest for womens and other agricultural landless labourers ?

Member 1 :
1. Asked about a statement “ Viruses can predate human beings “ . ( i answered , but mam said you did not understood the ques and asked sir to repeat the ques ) .
2. Total number of viruses ?
3. Classification of viruses ?
4. Number of plant species in the world ?
5. Do you think all the viruses in the universe are enumerated and identified ?
6. Harmful effects of monoculture ?

Member 2 ( completely daf oriented ) :
1. RAWE village - political structure , panchayath systems and its types in india.
Even asked about gram sabhas and different government offices in the village
2. What is bodyline in cricket during 1980s ?
3. Who actualyy does strategies in cricket matches ?
4. Asked about post soviet bifurcation countries ?

Member 3 :
1. What do you know about shivmoga ( not mentioned in my daf ) ? Said about agumbe
2. Tell me about agumbe , which species is it famous for ?
3. Do you know about snake man of india ?
4. Do you know about lichens ?
5. What is the importance of Fungi in environment?

Jai anjaneya 🤞🏻🙏🏻 :)

Name: SAB
Board: Suman Sharma
Interview duration : 20-25 min
Date :07/04/26 ,5th to go (forenoon session)
DAF keywords : energy studies ,chess ,Tamil Nadu

Chairperson:
1)what is energy studies?
2) what is free chess?
3)should it be promoted?
4)issues with solar energy ?
4.1)how do you solve those issues?
5)should duration of PPAs be higher or lower in general ?why?
6)what about issues with integration of solar energy into the grid at generator side ?
7) should PPAs duration be higher or lower at generator side ?(specifically)

Member 1:
1)with current issues in IR India is facing energy insecurity ? How do we promote energy security ?
2) views on hybrid Renewable energy?(as I mentioned in previous question)
3)any improvement in tidal energy ?
4)issues with wind energy ?
5)yesterday ,PM Modi mentioned about nuclear energy in TN on his election campaign ? What did he mention ?
6) types of forests in India ?
7)what is NEP and its provisions ?
8) issues and concerns with three language policy ?


Member 2:
1) what is CCUS? (I mentioned it to member 1 in one of the answers)
2) What is INDCs?
3)what are India’s recent updated INDCs?
4) what are various types of forest acts and policies in India ?
5) what are the provisions of FCA 2023? (Picked up from previous answer )


Member 3:
1) applications of renewable and electrical energy in forest management ?
2) Use of AI in it compared to current use of technology ?
3) why do we need IFoS officers when robotics and AI can do all works ?

Panel mocks : vajiram ,forum,Samkalp, Shankar,graceIAS , MentoraIAS

O2O mock: Farees sir (2-3 times) , Gurucharan sir

Most of my questions revolved around renewable energy and electrical engineering !

Name: X men
Board : suman sharma madam
Daf keywords: civil engineering, water works ,
Forestry .


Chairman : 1 . There is international momentum towards water marketing, how does it affect india .
2 . What are green buildings .
3. Any codes related to green buildings .
4.sustainable construction.
5 . New construction methods in environmental sound manner .
M2.
1. Asked about jerard kushner and Steve witkoff .
2. Pakistani finance minister statement of bombing mumbai with nuclear weapons.
M3
1 . What is afforestation and how do you implement it .
2. Difference between national parks and wildlife sanctuary.
M4.
Asked about my name.
2.( Related with name ) About incarnation of gods .
3. How do you solve water crisis in major cities .
4. What are sdg


Thanks to vinayak sir , farees sir ,Sandeep , Shankar ias ( rajitha madam) , sankalp for guidence.

Date: 7th April afternoon.

Key DAF Details: Retail Business, diesel engine project, formula 1, aircraft.

Board: B B Swain Sir

Questions asked:
[ ] B B Swain sir: Formula 1
[ ] Earlier, We had formula 1 in India, now we don’t have it. Why is it not present?
[ ] Member 1:
[ ] Project on Diesel engine: What was the project about? What was its outcome?
[ ] Despite benefits, why industry has not adopted? And few follow up questions.
[ ] Business: what is your role? More details on the kind of business operations.
[ ] Member2 (lady member)
[ ] Business: What do you sell? Compared with organized sector.
[ ] Emission and pollution percentage: what all are the other pollutants and their percentage?
[ ] Because of emissions and other reasons, there’s Increase in temperature what will you do?
[ ] As a forest officer, What actions will you take?
[ ] One of the point was, Recovering the Green and blue space. How to reclaim them back?
[ ] It’s all theory, Any practical solution?
[ ] Member 3:
[ ] Cricket: your role?
[ ] Why not join professional cricket?
[ ] What is chinaman?
[ ] What is googly?
[ ] After graduating, why not mechanical? Why forestry and geology?
[ ] What did you learn in forestry? What will you do in forestry?
[ ] How to reduce man animal conflict?
[ ] Indian Guar. Do you know? How will you reduce HWC?
[ ] Tiger or other animal venture out of forest. Why are they venturing out of the forest? Is it because of increased population? What will you do to reduce HWC?
[ ] Any population control measures?
[ ] Any other method? Sterilization. Can’t we use it? What method is used in sterilization?
[ ] War in Iran, one specific species with is critically endangered, with around 30 to 40 in number, which is that?
[ ] Kuno national park: what is its connection?
[ ] Whether it is successful?
[ ] Recently a critically endangered specie which is found in Rajasthan, development took place in Gujarat. Which is that specie?
[ ] Swain sir: your interview is over.

O2O: Farees Sir, Kartikeyan Sir
Mocks: Samkalp, Vajiram and Ravi, Forum and Shankar.

IFoS 2025 Transcript

SHUKLA Sir
-What are you doing?
-So IFoS a steppingstone?
-Why do you want to join IFoS?
-Why we are not able to achieve 33%?
-Can we achieve?
-Why not able to replicate China?
-Exchange of ideas happens better in a democracy or authoritarian regime?
-Then why China’s ahead?
-Anyway, why not able to achieve 33% target?
-Why can’t we just move out communities from forests?
-How will you deal with human-WL conflict?

MEMBER 1(Ma’am)
-Are forests self contained systems?
-You’re from Pilani. What is famous there?
-Why did you pursue engineering if you wanted to join IFoS?
-What will you do uniquely in the IFoS?
-What will happen if population of wildlife reduces?
-Other way around if it becomes too much?
-Has it become too much?
-So what should we do?
-Any way to reduce crop damage due to animals?
-Role of oceans in sequestering Carbon? Any limit?
-What is climate neutrality?
-What are carbon sinks? Examples?
-What do you think will be the temperature rise by 2050?
-What is Global Warming Potential?

MEMBER 2
-How will sparrows affect rodent population?
-Community doesn’t let you touch sacred groves. How will you proceed?
-Why can’t we do massive afforestation in deserts like China did?
-Name of a Marine national park in India.
-Kind of features found in Gulf of Kuchh?

MEMBER 3
-I was in Kerala cadre. Leading cause of agri raids is because they grow very palatable crops like Tapioca.
-How many islands in Gulf of Kuchh?
-How will you approach soil conservation?
-What about contour trenching?
-Despite heavy rainfall soil is impervious. (I said sir in that case we can go for GW recharge pits)
-Most problematic invasive crop in Madhya Pradesh?
-Managing how?
-Scale is very large. What about some chemical or biological method?
-Any research on forestry in MP? (I mentioned agroforestry)
-Is it being done or some are being used? Which ones?
-What is the rotation period of Teak in MP?
-How is Tendu collected in MP?
-Since you’ve seen forests since day 1, give 2 examples of good coppicers in MP?

Name - STR_1

DATE - 08/04/26 , FORENOON , 4th to go

Board - Sanjay Verma sir

Daf keywords - Agricultural Engineering , forestry handball , ncc , Mahatma phule , cooperative , Maharashtra

Greeted everyone , asked to sit

Before chairman began , one guy brought mix fruit plate for everyone on board

Chairman sir
Q1. Tell me the difference between Apple and banana which was grown 100 years before and today

Q.2 how currents apple and are expensive than fruits 100 years before ( then told me current prices are cheap )

Q.3 varieties of fruits increased or decreased over 100 years ( told apple increased but banana decreased)

Q.4 what do you think taste of banana and apple better now or 100 years before ?

(For above few questions i told I don't know still chairman sir asked again and again to answer them as I am agricultural graduate .... And visibly not satisfied with my answers ( as I dont have idea for 100 year old fruits ), even nodded head in negative connotation)


Q.5 when you played handball ? At what level you played ? Why you lost nationals ? What are reasons for your defeat ? Who won final ?

Q.6 you have also done NCC , why not opted for military , naval or armed forces ?

Q.7 tell me famous personalities who worked in forest and environment ? ( told 3 ) tell me more famous personalities

Q.8 tell me NGOs who are working for forest

Q. 9 why suicides of farmers more in Maharashtra

Member 2

Q. 1 Who was str1 ( my name in past )
Q. 2 what work Mahatma phule did ( my college name )
Q.3 I think major work for women was done by his spouse , what do you think
Then cracked one joke but was not able to hear
Q.4 how will you use cooperative knowledge in forestry
Q.5 though you are young , we make you a chairman of cooperative, what changes you will bring in the entire cooperative structure

Asked few more , but can't recall ( almost all I said I am not aware )

Member 3 ( lady member )

Q.1 how will you use knowledge of agricultural engineering in forestry

Q.2 how will you use food processing in forestry ? Isn't it difficult to make cold storages in dense forests ? Suppose your forest product is at other end of forest so how will you transport it as trucks can't be used in dense forests

Q.3 which products from forests can be processed

Q.4 from gums and resins what products can be made by processing

Q.5 what is regur soil ?

Q 6 what is boreal forest

Q.7 what is agro forestry

Q.8 what are stages in agro forestry

Q.9 what are limitations in agro forestry

Member 4 ( probably forest officer , one one with smile on his face , who made interview little bit friendly and comforting , others were with poker face , and staring hard , specially chairman sir )

Q.1 you mentioned about tiger relocation in sahyadri ( during chairman sir discussion) , why so much fascination for tigers

Q.2 which tigers are translocated

Q.3 from where these tigers are relocated

Q.4 isn't is wrong for humans to intervene and transcolate tigers

Q.5 why sahyadri tiger reserves should have tigers

Q.6 one tiger from Maharashtra walked from Telangana to andhra , then why tigers from tadoba can't walk to sahyadri tiger reserves

Q.7 you mentioned about BAIF ( ngo I mentioned previously in chairman sir's question) , what is it ?

Q.8 what is famous model of baif ( I said Wadi model )

Q.9 what is shifting cultivation

Q.10 why are we opposing shifting cultivation , it is traditional practice and we should not intervene, what's your opinion

Q.11 can we replicate wadi model for orchards in North East

Chairman sir - thank you , your interview is over

( One musical instrumental song was playing at background, which was irritating, and disturbing)

Mocks given - Mahesh Bhagawat sir one to one ( special thanks ) , vajiram , shankar , forum , samkalp ( best of all ) , manobal ( very helpful)

IFoS Transcript

Date: 8 April 2026, FN
Board: Sanjay Verma sir
5th one to go (last)
Relevant keywords: Civil engineering, Delhi, natural landscape pencil sketching
optionals= Forestry, Agriculture Engineering


Chairman:
Doesn't the IFS need less Civil engineers?
Name some landscape sketch artists from India?
pointed at a statue in room and asked who his name (a famous cartoonist)
Art museum visited?
any wall murals seen in Delhi?
Should we have UPSC interviews at art museum Delhi?
tell me something about plywood
Negatives of plywood
famous plywood companies
lot of focus on tiger, so what are ignored animals
Examples of transportation engineering in forest
What could be civil engineering application to reduce noise pollution on roads?noise barriers
Are you staying in Delhi currently?
things you like in Delhi?
trees you like in Delhi?
Do all trees shed leaves in spring?
Is there any tree which does not shed leaves?
Why fruiting in alternate years in mango?

Member 1:
coastal vs green forest cover, approx data
stakeholder in coastal area
Geographical area of Delhi
area of asola bhatti WLS
nearby NP, etc, like sultanpur in Gurgaon?
Is asola bhatti a WLS? flora and fauna there
Why Nilgai on the fringes of the forest?
Why monkey menace increased?
Forest cover of Delhi
Despite 23% FC in Delhi, still air pollution issue, why?
favourite topics in forestry
Any Agroforestry policy at national level? year?
Why is Agroforestry promotion needed?

Member 2: (ma'am, serious/ poker face)
Issues with EPA 1986
Ecosystem,
abiotic factors
different pyramids in ecosystem. Best pyramid?
you are a forest officer, how will you tackle forest fire?
What is silviculture
Which silviculture system to choose?

Member 3 (serious face throughout)
What is traffic engineering?
ways to reduce congestion and road accidents?
What is blind spot?
Why are there fewer accidents in hilly regions?
traffic engineering solutions to reduce accidents?
reasons illegal sand mining
alternatives to sand mining
What is M sand?
can we replace sand with m sand

(couple of questions I can't recall)

mocks given: many, samkalp offline panel was the closest one, but not a single question repeated, DAF session by Mahesh Bhagwat sir, Satyendra Garg sir. Special mention Karthikeyan sir.

Chairman and member 1 (probably IFoS) were charming and engaging. The other 2 members had a serious poker face all throughout.

NAME: XYZ
BOARD: Dinesh Dasa Sir
Date: 08/04/2026 – afternoon (3rd to go)
Key DAF details: Saurashtra, Gujarat, Vedic maths, Instrumentation and control engineering, GNFC (job)
Chairman:
1. How do you want to introduce yourself?
2. What are you doing since 2019?
3. Trees inside forest are protected, but Gujarat made one law for protection of trees outside forest. Do you know which one? (answered the name of act)
4. What was its main provision?
5. Can you name reserved trees under this act? (There are 5, I named 4, sir reminded me last one)
6. What was one unique provision of this act? (I told one another provision but sir wanted to hear something else. So, sir explained that provisions to me and every board member)
7. Since you are from Saurashtra, there is concern going on regarding Lions in GIR and some expert suggest that they should be relocated. Tell me why?
8. What are some probable areas for relocation?
9. There is also talk going on Cheetah introduction in Gujarat. Where? (told Banni grassland)
10. What is going on there? (answered)
11. So, now cheetah will be seen in wild in Banni? (I said no as there is no such plan of introducing them in wild)
12. One last que, Maldharis are relocated outside their natural home in Gir. What do you think should they be allowed stay inside?
13. But, Maldharis are residing there for long even before forest department created. When was it created?
14. So, why they were relocated? (explained the reason)
M1 (Female):
1. Should Vedic maths be introduced in schools?
2. At what level it should be introduced?
3. Name some birds seen in Gujarat? (I named some native and migratory birds)
4. Are Owls also coming in Gujarat? (As I mentioned it)
5. Some follow up on birds.
6. Name world heritage sites of Gujarat.
7. Have you visited any?
8. What is your view on project cheetah?
(There were one or two more questions but I am not able to recall now.)
M2 (Male):
1. What was your role at GNFC?
2. What types of measurement instruments did you use?
3. So, you controlled the process? (explained how)
4. Since it is fertilizer company, tell me the raw materials used in producing fertilizers.
5. So, did you not like there?
6. Was your job profile similar to your graduation?
7. Where flamingoes are seen in Gujarat? (as I said flamingoes in M1 que of birds seen in Gujarat)
8. Are they found near coastal areas or on land?
9. What is the status of flamingoes in last few years in Gujarat? (although migratory birds, I said some of them has made Gujrat as their permanent home)
10. So, flamingoes are seen in Gujarat throughout the year?
11. Many believes that female officers do not do great at field level jobs in forest. What is your view? (explained why that is not the case through example of Ms Sonali ghosh-first female director of Kaziranga)
12. Give me name of some recent Padma awards winner from Gujarat? (Said I am not aware and Dasa sir asked the board member about which awardee you are asking to which he replied even he doesn’t know. Just wanted to check if anyone received this year. Dasa sir once again asked him any particular name from forest or environment related. He said no)
M3 (Male):
1. Have you visited Kankaria lake in Ahmedabad? (I did my graduation from Nirma university in Ahmedabad. Hence the question)
2. Which birds did you see there?
3. Name some tribes of Gujarat?
4. How traditional knowledge of tribals helps in forest conservation? (I mentioned role of Ms Tulsi Gowda)
5. In follow up - What role do tribal women in general play in this? (I answered few roles and sir explained one more role)
(Some questions not able to recall now)
Chairman: ok, your interview is over. Do you want to add anything? (I said no and thanked all board members)
 
Mocks: Samkalp and upsiwe. However, one to one with my mentor and mocks with my senior helped me more.

Date: 09-04-26 FN
Suman Sharma Mam
DAF: Forestry and geology, TN, Skill development corporation, Computer science (nothing from hobbies asked)
Duration ( around 15mins)

Chairperson:
1. Tourism comparison between TN beach and Goa Beach
2. What can be done?
3. Your job role?
4. Iran - US war what would be the further course?
4. Why is skilling in India failing?

M2
1. Iran - US war monologue and my perspectives on it
2. Why IFoS not CSE?


M3. (Situation based)
1. Increasing revenue of forest department within short period (1 lakh to 10lakh in 5years)
2. Leopard HAC and way forward
3. Agroforestry (monologue) revenue sharing and it's impact

M4
1. Explain Hominidae evolution
2. Explain biocomputing emerging trends
3. Carbon dating method /carbon isotope explanation
(He asked about some technical name - I don't get what exactly he is looking for)
4. Explain evolution of computer processors and it's future

A few questions can't be recollected.

DAF - Electrical (nothing else asked from DAF)
Chair - 
What is network? 
Network externality? 
What's present issue related to data? (Don't remember exactly. Some discussion on why we want to keep datas domestically, what other challenges etc) 
IFoS role related to data centers

M1 - 
Recent mining issue in Odisha? (In news)
What was being mined? 
Environmental issues related to mining?
Formula of Bauxite? 
How is it mined? 
NDC targets ? 

M2 - 
What is forest? 
What is ecosystem? Biome and Biodiversity? Differentiate these.
Green house gases? Examples? Do they have any utility? 
Green energy? Why called green? 
Carbon sink? How to sequester? 

 M3 -
Agroforestry trees name? 
Wood species trees,name a few.
AQI? It's constituents? 
Units of measuring PM 10, 2.5 ? For other gases? 
Which metro city has largest forest cover? 

PT Date : 06 April 2026
Time : AF, Third to go
Board : Hon. Sheel Vardhan Verma sir
Key words : MFP, Tribal, Bastar, Reflective writing, Videography, Chhatisgarh

Chairperson
Do u work in IAS coaching institute?
Tell me something which is not there in DAF. (I told about my village stay in Bastar and Integrated Farming model I worked)
Follow up questions on my stay with tribal family.
What don't while staying with a tribal family.
Relationship between agriculture and forest.

Member 1
What are issues in MFP
Elephant corridors in Chhattisgarh, why degrading?
Impact of minning on elephants
What was your work in IFS
How.many tiger reserves in Chhattisgarh.
Other (not able to recall)

Member 2
What is structure of district administration (I said I had worked with District administration in my previous answer)
What are other departments
What is structure of police administration
What is difference between commissionerate system and SP system
Can forest officers carry weapons
If any violent conflict are there what will you do as a DFO?

Member 3
Why you choose Botany with Agriculture
What is photo respiration
How is it useful
Why it is being focused these days
What is reflective writing
What kind of videography you do

PT date: 7th April afternoon session

Board: BB Swain Sir

Keywords in DAF: IIT, Automotive, Upcycling, Andhrapradesh, Bangalore


Chairman:
1. Are you working?
2. where do you work?
3. What exactly is your role?
4. You have a interesting list of activities in DAF, what exactly you do in Upcycling?
5. What is the meaning of Ottoman?
6. Take a guess?
(a min of convo there around it)

M1.
1. You follow developments automotive technologies, what do you do there ?
2. What are recent developments w.r.t Environment?
3. Are Ethanol 100 less powerful engines?
4. Effects of E20 on engines?
5. Problems of E20 in existing Engines?
6. Which components does it affect?
7. Isn,t common rail used in diesel only?
8. Renewable energies? Sources, Benefits and challenges for all?
9. What are methods to store RE?

M2:
1. You work in XYZ techpark, What is its ecosystem like?
-Long conversation on lake encroachments followed by a question on how to stoo it but did not let me answer that and moved on to a different question-
2. What is a heritage tree?
What do you want to do in IFS?
3. What tech will you administer?
4. Are drones safe to use in forest?
5. How’s AP forest is functioning these days?

M3:
1. How is your surname pronounced and its meaning?
2. What qsns are you expecting me to ask?
(- current career? and why IFOS)
3. Okay, answer both those qsns?
4. How does your role be useful in Iran conflict?
5. How’s Andhra doing in forestry?
6. Isn’t there a similar scheme in Kerala? Is it a copy?
7. Have you ever seen turtle in coasts?
8. What’s the difference between turtle and tortoise?
9. There’s one tortoise species that’s exploited for illegal smuggling in AP, what’s that?
10. Why it is called a star tortoise?
11. What are those two different things that you’ll do as a DFO, which are not already being done?
(Responded with 2 technologies which are not being used yet in forest administration)
12. How can you use those?

Chairman: your interview is over, thanks.

O2O: Farees sir, Karthikeyan sir
Mocks: Shankar(online), Forum, Samkalp, Vajiram

Date:9th forenoon (6th person)
Board : B B swain sir
DAF: forestry,bird watching ,tiger census,turtle walk,dye extraction

Chairman : sry for the delay.i know you become tensed.any ways how i should call you.
Since child hood u become a forestrian

1 )what you done during tiger census

Member 1:(i think he is ifs.then carry questions regarding tiger census)

1)consider this is tiger this is head and tail.place the camera
2)at which height you place and why
3)have you hear mstripes
4)in the room one bird is there identify
5)types of hornbill in india
6)name few bird species
7)one bird population keed decreasing in local locality.
I said can i guess.house sparrow sir
8)reason declining due to techology
9)any architectural reason?

Member 2:
1)have you read news paper name some?
2)what is SIR
3)when was the last SIR
done
5)name sone renewable energy
6)is hydropower far better than solar power and how

3 mem(mam)
1)u mentioned dye from species .tell the local name and common name
2)is is economically viable
3)have you heared bixa?
4)used which industry and tell the product
5)have you heared butterfly conservation park ?
6)tell the pros and cons

Chairman:
Have you want to tell some think
Over all 20 min and for me the board was cordial and it went like an interactive session

Date: 9th April afternoon session
Board: Anuradha Prasad mam
DAF: cooking, Kerala, civil engineering, teacher, forestry & geology optional

Chair:
1. Were you a classmate of the previous candidate ( actually yes🤷)
2. Do you only like Kerala cuisines
3. Difference between cuisines of Kerala and Bihar
4. Impact of west Asian war on Kerala Economy and society
5. Isn't the impact waning down
6. How remittance reduction impacts India as a whole
7. Why did you start teaching in 2023?

Member 1:
1. Speciality of Nilambur teak plantation
2. How much is the canopy cover of the plantation there.
3. Differentiate between forest types found to the west and East of palghat gap in western ghats
4. Give examples of trees from deciduous climate
5. Name the Scandinavian countries
6. What are they famous for in social sector
7. What should be the components of a diet?
8. Name some micronutrients and their utility for human.

Member 2:
1. Different schools in xth and xiith, which are those places
2. Distance from your xiith school to graduation college place
3. Considering high rainfall and high population density of state of Kerala, what are options for new roads.
4. How will you construct Roads in heavy rainfall places, describe the cross section.
5. Name any ramsar site
6. What is that site famous for
7. Name some of the dance forms of Kerala
8. What stories do they portray

Member 3:
1. What is your opinion on EIA
2. Is it mandatory for all projects?
3. W.r.to west and East of western ghats, which region's ethno botany is rich?
4. How can we protect the IPR of ethno botanical resources and traditional knowledge?
5. What is the role of national biodiversity authority?
6. What is quartz?
7. What are different sections of oceans?

Back to chairperson:
Your interview is over thank you.

Overall: cordial board.

Big big thanks to Karthikeyan sir for the daily sessions and continuous support during interview preparation.
Sincere thanks to Mahesh Bhagwat IPS Sir for his invaluable guidance and for coordinating interactions with senior officers.

Mocks taken: Shanker IAS
One to one:
Mahesh Bhagwat IPS sir
A K Malhotra IFoS sir
Vajiram - Karthikeyan sir

09/04/2026. - AN
Name : Ficus .
Board : Hon'ble member Raj Shukla
Optionals- Forestry , Geology

Key words: Forestry,Bird watching,Tamil Nadu, All India Tiger Estimation, Turtle walk,

Chairperson:
1)Are you passionate about Forestry
(Gave his own monologue about his training period )
2)Why are you choosing forestry agriculture in your college ( I did graduation in forestry)
Why nowadays urban kids are not interested in the Forest why?
3) is there any person famous in the wildlife documentary?(I said Mr.David Attunbero.)
Any Indian Personalities?
4)Why there is no competition in India in this field?

M1:
1)You studied in coimbatore Famous institute in coimbatore which is under MoEFCC?
2)Mullaiperiyar dam issue?why Tamil Nadu always problem with near states in water .
3)NPs in Tamilnadu?
4)you are from TN one of the water stressed state ? tell me the scheme about water conservation?
5) Tamilnadu specific rules about timber ?- i said timber transit rules .
6 ) Any timber restrictions from felling
7) sandel related industries in tamilnadu
8 ) Distributions of sandel in India
9) which part of sandel wood is used in sandel
10 ) Regeneration in sandel - (i said root suckers and talked about semi parasitic,host plants )

M2:
1)Tell me about FRA? I said answers in detail.( About their rights and criteria)
2) Is there any tribe that got in TN?( List out the tribes and Case study of coimbatore)
3) Why did Elephant count reduce the last census ?(DNA analyses and double counting)
4)Difference between coastal region and Eastern Ghats of TN?specific places in EG
Is Yercaud in Tamilnadu ?
5)Difference between Nilgiri and Coastal region of TN?
6) recently one famous personality went mudhumalai?
7) why mudhumalai has more elephant.
8)Coastal region birds ( both native and migratory)
9) what Bird species are commonly  present in your area.- common myna,lapwing,parakeet
10 )is there no crow - i said yes sir, it's also a common one.

M3: Lady
1)Define Forestry
2) wildlife includes ?
3) nowadays increase the wildlife population inside the forest ? Can we legalise the hunting?
4)how can we reduce the human wildlife conflict- i said problems first .then she said give me the solution.
5) state bird of tamil nadu
6) trees commonly found in india .
7) Minerals found in TN.
8) BioDiversity in forest and it's types.
9 ) Ecotone and It's important.

The chairperson said all the best your interview is over.

Duration - 25 minutes.
Overall a good experience.