The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) has published the official schedule for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Mains Examination 2025. Candidates who cleared the Preliminary stage can now prepare for the Mains exam, which will be held in November.
Exam Dates & Timing
- Dates: November 16 to November 23, 2025
- Day: November 17 is a rest day — no papers will be held on this date.
- Daily Time Slots:
• Morning shift — 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Afternoon shift — 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Subject-wise Papers Schedule
Here is a summary of what subject-papers will be held on each day:
| Date | Morning Paper | Afternoon Paper |
| Nov 16 | General English | General Knowledge |
| Nov 17 | Rest Day | Rest Day |
| Nov 18 | Mathematics-Paper I / Statistics-Paper I | Mathematics-Paper II / Statistics-Paper II |
| Nov 19 | Civil / Chemical / Mechanical Engg / Zoology – Paper I | Same subjects – Paper II |
| Nov 20 | Agricultural Engg / Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science / Physics – Paper I | Same subjects – Paper II |
| Nov 21 | Chemistry / Botany – Paper I | Chemistry / Botany – Paper II |
| Nov 22 | Geology – Paper I | Geology – Paper II |
| Nov 23 | Agriculture / Forestry – Paper I | Agriculture / Forestry – Paper II |
What Candidates Should Know
- The Mains exam is descriptive in nature. This means answers have to be written in detail
- Each paper is for 3 hours
- After the written exam, there will be a Personality Test (Interview) as part of the selection process. Marks from both the written papers and personality test will be counted.