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.

NAME: Bob the Builder
BOARD: Ajay Sir
Date: 08/04/2026 – afternoon
Key DAF details: IIT B, Civil Engineering Govt. Job (nothing else asked from daf)

Chairman
Started with DAF,
Asked me what u r doing since college
job in govt. Sector

So how policy is made in govt? (Many follow ups. Not able to convincingly answer it )

Member 1
1. Difference b/w Indian teak and Burmese teak? ( asked to guess )
2. States having boundary with Myanmar
3. How can use civil engineering knowledge in constructing house in forest?
4. Few more questions - not able to recall

Member 2 (lady member)
Asked direct questions
1. What is genetic biodiversity?
Follow up on it can't recall
2. Why sundarbans are important ?
3. What are sacred groves?
4. What is allowed in sacred groves?
5. No of tiger reserves
6. Name any? Where is it ?
7. Elephant corridors ?

Member 3 ( probably forest service officer) talked more, asked less
1. Long monologues,
2. Asked some practical questions
(Not able to recall )

I nodded here and listened him

Overall experience
Since they were sitting far, it become hard to listen their questions correctly.
 
Mocks: already selected in CSE. So didnt prepare this. 0 mocks

Name - The Spiritual Nomad

Date - 8th April Afternoon session 4th to go

Board -B B  Swain Sir

Keywords -Yuva Nisargmitra, Jalmaitri , metallurgy and materials science ,watching issue based movies , dhol pathak

Optionals - Forestry and Agri engineering

Chairperson:

Which movies u recently watched ? Can u name few ( i mentioned paani by adinath kothari) Why do u watch it ? Why didn't u watch Asha ?

Member 1:
1. You are Nisargmitra,what did u do there ,why did they recognized u

2. Why are we not able to make progress in critical minerals?

3. How should we manage pollution causing by its processing

4. Also he asked about if not IFS and you want to pursue career in metallurgy and materials science which field u would have chosen in it ?

M2: lady member


1.Gave me long monologue on how corrosion of pipes in moist places happen and asked me about bio corrosion.

2.which material we use in underground piping.

3. what's the life of pipe and  how will u prevent corrosion  

4.Further she asked about what did u do to the water remained out of idol immersion that I mentioned in earlier answer of member 1

5. So many broken idols are kept under heritage tree ,what will you do for that as a forest officer?

6. Do u know a  bird species and disease outbreak due to it in China and mentioned india is also facing that people are feeding them with grains , which is that species. What will u do for that .

Member 3:
1. Meaning of your name ... I said indestructible. He asked me so u are non perishable I said no I'm not but my values are

2.so u are Nisargmitra and worked in Haritkranti means revolution and u brought revolution..

2. Why wetlands are important  He asked me about the any convention related to it I  mentioned Ramsar. Where is it and Is it safe now?

3.What are  Zoonotic disease then how to tackle? Can human infection the animals?

4.What is  one health approach ?

5.What are invasive species ? I mentioned few plants  He asked me any animal ? - i said i remember one fish African catfish in MH. He asked to  guess one more?

6.why IFoS after metallurgy ?

7.Have u thought what will you do as IFS

8. What are NDCs? What are India's commitments? Will india achieve net zero by 2070?

9.  World Heritage sites do u know...what are different categories

Any example? - I mentioned kanchanjunga. Now asked me about purely ecological site .He asked one more and dropped a hint but I was unable to recall. Said thank you and chairman  sir said okay All the best

I thought I should take permission and asked may i leave sir ? Chairman sir asked me do u want to discuss anything and asked me to sit. I took a seat and asked me what happened.. I said i didn't get any closure sir . He smiled and said what's the closure . If u want to discuss anything form your daf let's do it. I said sir u discussed it very well . If u have any questions please ask me .

Then member 3 asked me about which dhol u play as I'm also  a drummer then I said a barrel shaped dhol in ganesh festival. So he asked do u get any training before .
Chairman sir asked so u play in group ?
After answering i explained how I made a Mula Mutha river conservation awareness through Dhol Paathak
He wished me all the best and I left .

Abu dhabi
9th April, Forenoon, 3rd to go, Lt. gen Raj Shukla Sir board
DAF Keywords: NOTHING ASKED SO IMMATERIAL

C: Good morning, read out my name. Where are you from?
Why is India not moving ahead in Renewables?
(i talked about generation v/s installed capacity)
Yes, so why this issue?
(talked about intermittency, storage etc)
This is all smart language, tell me ground reasons? (I, as an electrical engg spoke more of technical issues, but probably he as an ex-military person wanted more geopolitical and China-factor response)
So are these schemes, INDCs and all false promises?
(Then to and fro conversation about renewables and EVs; compared landscape in India v/s Europe, US, China)
(then he guided the conversation to IMPORT DEPENDENCE OF CRITICAL MINERALS from china)
So what should India do about this import issue?
So what is this Pax Silica and what is its aim ?
But in the current Trump scenario, do you think it is trustable?
Okay thank you.

M1 (lady): (Probably an academician, wanted to talk about theoretical concepts of Science.
But a warm person)
You want to become IFOS, you must know Plant biology? (I clarified I have studied Biology till 10th and then Forestry for the exam)
Why did you not pursue Biology after 10th?
What is timber made up of, biologically? (then discussion about fibres, cells, xylem, phloem etc )
How do plants grow?
How do plants make food?
What is photosynthesis? How do you describe it?
How are plants able to do photosynthesis?
You want to become an IFOS, what do you know about the nature of duties?
Do you think you will be able to do it?
How many Biosphere reserves in India?
Name the one (BR) in Arunachal Pradesh
Have you played any sport?
(Yes ma'am swimming)
Any competition you have been to? (yes…)
Okay

M2: (wanted very specific stuff)
Which species of trees India is producing for Economic purposes?
(I listed some 5-6 for timber, paper, bat etc)
You missed sandalwood. Ok so there is another species like sandalwood used in perfumery. What is it? (Agarwood)
How does it work.. What happens in it? Where is it found in India?
What is special about the Indian rhino? How is it different from African rhino?
Name rhino sanctuaries of India
Why are rhinos poached?
Horn factor aside, tell me why is it easier to poach a rhino compared to an elephant?
Now tell speciality about “Rajasthan dress”
You missed “Safa” (pagdi) what is special about it and what colour safa is found in what part of Rajasthan?
What minerals are found in Rajasthan?
A new mineral was discovered…. (I could not understand his pronunciation and it
was a weird and new mineral, so I said sorry idk)
(Still he went on to ask) I will tell the district, you tell me where exactly in that district this mineral is found? (Sir idk the mineral discovery news sorry)
Ok thank you

M3: (probably Ifos- was more inclined towards telling than asking)
Hmm chemistry optional. You must have studied it recently as the exam was quite recent. What are noble gases?
Why are they noble?
What are gaseous elements in AQI?
What is their unit?
(I said micro grams per metre cube but he said it is ppm)
What about of unit of PM? (I said micro grams per metre cube for concentration and micron for size)
Some sports other than Cricket and Hockey in which India is doing good at International level? (I started speaking Badminton, Shooting and then he interrupted and said Archery, wrestling, boxing…)
IFOS is an All India Service. What are the other 2?
What is the difference between AIS and Central Service?
So do you think you will work with states or centre in AIS?
Do you think you can also get to other departments than Forest? What do you know about it?
You can also work with the Centre in AIS, what do you think?
What are the 3 Internationally recognized categories of forests?
What is the Forest working plan and management plan? ( The he went on to speak about working plan, working scheme, annual plan of operations)

C: Thank you, All the Best.

Observations, acknowledgement and inferences:
Unable to recall some other theoretical questions
There was “nothing” from my DAF at all except “random” Rajasthan stuff.
Even very typical areas like Aravali, GIB were not discussed
Only the lady member had some expressions. Quite nice and warm.
The 2 male members were very neutral face, not very clear enunciation and low volume level.
O2O: special thanks to Mahesh Bhagwat sir for extensive preparation guidelines & topics and Kartikeyan sir (Vajiram) for thorough discussions and much needed moral support. Ayush sir (Forum) for critical behavioural tips.
Offline mocks: Samkalp, Forum, Vajiram, Shankar Delhi
Online mocks: Samkalp panel, Samkalp in-group, Upwise, Shankar Chennai, Hornbill
Actual interview was very different from mocks, more discussion oriented, lesser speaking time, more interruptions; when Shukla sir said to my keywords “those reasons are smart English, tell me ground reasons”, i quickly adapted to precise and simpler language and tone with less keywords
Do watch your mock recordings and prepare their answers as many theory questions were asked directly

Additions I remembered now;

M2:

- Minerals found in Rajasthan.... which are found in Barmer?
- how is petroleum formed?
- what are fossils? Petroleum is formed from plant or animal fossils?
- why petroleum found in certain places only and not everywhere on earth?

M3:
- Name some condensation polymers and addition polymers
- name the polymers found in human body
- who is the Indian batsman ranked top in T20I format

Name: Oryza
Date: 07-04-2026 Afternoon
Board: Sanjay verma sir
DAF: Tour leader, Agriculture, Karnataka, Optional (Forestry and Geology).

Chairman
1. A long discussion on All India Study tour during graduation.
2. JRF and SRF scholarship difference.
3.Which is the most remote forest and which is the most urban centric forest area in india, mention one for each.
4. Do you like flora or fauna, choose one.
5. Which is your favourite flora.
( I said Coconut, then followed up questions on this, with some laughter movements as discussion went a little casual)
6. Can you name one important Judicial pronouncement that shifted environmentalism in the world? It should be outside India.
The chairman was smiling throughout.

Member 1:
1. Asked about my district Bagalkot, why is it famous for?
2. Difference between agriculture and horticulture
3. Define food security?
4. World institutions and programs related to food security.
5. Where FAO is located and its contribution to the world.
6. A long monologue on India's food security and hunger issues, and how will you resolve this.
7. Which is the backward region in Karnataka and what are the reasons.
8. How will you ensure nutrition security in those regions (condition was you should provide by cultivating in those regions only)

Member 2 (lady):
1. What is the difference between crops and plantations.
2. How do you classify crops?
3. Difference between rice and wheat ( physiologically)
4. Which among both is C3 and C4 plants.
5. Difference between C3 and C4 plants?
6. What is coconut water botonically called?
7. Which is the best suitable soil for agricultural production. What all crops can be grown?
8. Define rock and classify them?
9. Which rock holds fossils in them?

Member 3: Always smiling
1. What is a conservation
reserve?
2. Who manages conservation reserves?
3. Types of Bamboo flowering
4. Why in gregarious flowering bamboo dies?
5. What is NPV value?
6. Biodiversity Hotspots?
7. Specific criteria to select biodiversity hotspots?
8. Western ghats related some questions.
9.Define ecological succession.
10. Explain primary and secondary succession.

Mocks: Samkalp, Shankar, Vajiram and Forum.
O20: Karthikeyan sir, Kanagaraj sir, Sanju Singh mam ( Grace IAS).
DAF discussion: Mahesh Bhagwat sir, Satyendra Garg sir, Farees sir.
Duration : 30 min.

9th April,2026
4 th to go

Name: s.kanchanapally
Board: bbs
Daf: wildlife documentaries, GST, geography, forestry,ngc

Chairman
1. Recent documentry ( secrets of Asian elephant)
2. Filmmaker
3. Indian documentary
4. Filmmaker
5. Where it shooted
6. It is in which states

Member 1.

7What is national green club
8.Activities
9.Gst and federalism
10.Gst performance
11.S.i.r and its impact
12.What are other institutions in Nampally( my working place)

Member 2.

13.Meaning of your name
14.Meaning of elephant in the room
15.Look at that elephant( there was a elephant in the room)Which type of elephant?
16.Differences between asian elephant and African elephant
17.Again how will you identify it as Indian elephant
18.Differences between africanrhino and indian rhino--- said don't know
19Reasons of human elephant conflict
20.How many elephants are there in India
21.Have you seen any elephant in real.

22. Again see that elephant, what is the that one in white color - tusk .teeth Sir..
23. Do you know any hindi. Saying in it - said no Sir
24. He said in Hindi.
Do you understand it meaning,can you translate.


Member 3
25.Why did your university considered geography as science
Science vs humanities of geography
26.Types of mapping
27.How did you locate yourself if you missed in jungle
28. What is the instrument to use to measure direction
29.What was your project
30.Impact of mining on soil
31.Acid mining drainage
32.Is closure of mining with wastage is good
33.Role of remote sensing
34.Types of geographical regions of India

Chairman:
35.
do you want ask any thing.--- I started ...thank you note.
Sir interrupted and
Asked me... Are we missing any topic ,do you want me to ask question.

I took few seconds to organise my thoughts and told that sir ask me questions on toddy tapping
36.Sir said why.
I said it's my fathers profession
37.Where are you from
38.What is neera

All members are talking about neera and related events and I am just nodding my head like venki mama yea ...yea...

Chairman:Okay sk.thank you .thank you.

25-30 minutes.
Board was very cordial.
I enjoyed a lot .

Thank you for Mocks : tsscstudycircle, Hyderabad. samkalp,manobal.( Helped a lot), forum ias

A special thanks to A. *Narasimha Reddy sir* , IFS, director tsscstudycircle -tailored personality development
, *Mamatha madam* ,Femias one to one sessions,
And *Mahesh bagawat sir ,* IPS for DAF group discussion,
and special thanks to my *seniors* and to my friends who gave me time for interview preparation.

IFoS 2025 Interview transcript
Board - Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla
Date - 09/04/2026 (Afternoon shift, last to go)
Keywords - IITB, Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Maharashtra, CAG, Football, Lawn Tennis (pertaining to questions asked)
Time - Approx 25 Minutes

Chairman
1. India is a country where wealth creation is perceived positive (as we worship Goddess Lakshmi). But, Audit finds fault in everything and is against wealth creation. Do you feel that way?
2. Audit in Defence deals related monologue, asked me importance of audit, whether it needs any revisiting?
3. Whether audit is against ease of doing business, especially Red Tapism for new startups

Member 1

1. Social forestry species in Maharashtra
2. NTFP species in Maharashtra
3. Western Ghats - 2/3 cross questions
4. Avni Tigress issue
5. Human- wildlife conflict related question
6. Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Leopard - human wildlife conflict
7. Earthquake prone zone in Maharashtra
8. What is Deccan trap?
9. Why is black soil called black?

Member 2

1. National parks in Maharashtra and major species in them
2. Tiger reserves in Maharashtra
3. Nuclear plant in Maharashtra
4. Kalpakkam reactor criticality issue - explain the whole process and 2/3 counter questions
5. Asked about thorium and it’s reserves in India

Member 3

1. Asked World No. 1 in Lawn Tennis, nationality and Messi’s nationality
2. Asked 5-6 quick questions related to radioactivity (Based on previous members discussion)
3. You have lived in urban area most of the time, are you suitable for IFoS?
4. 5 qualities why you are suitable for IFoS?
5. Don’t you prefer short term goals, why long term? (Based on previous questions answer)
6. 7-8 quick questions relating to definitions - forest, jungle, ecosystem, biome, ecotone and it’s characteristics, biotic and abiotic factors, aspects of forest, etc.

Official Channel of AIR4-CSE 2025 Raghav Jhunjhunwala

https://t.me/raghavJ_AIR4_UPSC

Date: 10th April Forenoon
Name: Pathan
Board: Anuradha Prasad
1st to go
Daf: UP, Maths, forestry
Duration: 25min

Chairperson
-Meaning of name
-Historical personalities w/ same name as yours
-Will UP be able to meet target of $1tn
-Bifurcation of UP(for/against)
-What is Capital
-Factors for attracting investment

M1
-Characteristics of Pine forest
-Which instruments used to measure tree height
-How would you decide thinning intensity
-Have you visited any protected area? Describe the working of any Protected area
-What activities are allowed in core areas
-Tell me about any protected area where there is ongoing tussle between forest dept & tribals

M2
-What are conic sections
-Why was Iran able to defend against major powers like Romans

M3
-difference between diffusion and osmosis
-compare desert and deciduous vegetation
-What is Canopy how is it measured
- Which state is the richest in India & why?

Mocks: Samkalp, Vajiram, Hornbill 1-1 with Kartikeyen sir