UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination · India · Union Public Service Commission
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersUPSC Indian Forest Service Examination is a government recruitment exam run by Union Public Service Commission, for candidates in India. Prelims shared with the Civil Services Prelims; mains with two general papers and two optional subjects (two papers each); interview.
Official site: upsc.gov.in.
We have not been able to confirm these details against the exam body's own specification, so fees, dates and pass marks are left out on purpose. Check the current format, eligibility, fees and dates on the official site.
The rules: principles of environmental law, the major multilateral agreements and how national laws implement them. India's Acts are examined in GATE ES and UGC NET; the manual uses them as the worked example and states where other countries differ. Trade and agricultural policy are in the Agribusiness track.
Our 19 UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination questions in this subject: 4 easy, 9 medium, 6 hard, across 4 units.
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
These 10 were written to UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination and are not shown on any other exam's page.
Which doctrine did the Supreme Court apply in M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997)?
A. The public trust doctrine
The Court held that the state holds natural resources such as rivers and forests in trust for the public and cannot transfer them to private use harmful to the public. The other doctrines concern compulsory acquisition, partial invalidity of statutes and finality of judgments.
What is required before a CITES Appendix II specimen can be exported?
D. An export permit with a finding that trade is not detrimental to the species
Appendix II exports need an export permit issued after the scientific authority finds the export not detrimental to the species' survival and that specimens were legally obtained. Trade is not free, the Security Council is not involved, and extinction certificates are absurd.
Under the CMS, what kind of measures apply to species listed in Appendix II?
A. Range states conclude agreements or memoranda for cooperative conservation
Appendix II covers species with unfavourable conservation status that need international cooperation, implemented through regional agreements (for example on African-Eurasian waterbirds). Strict protection is the Appendix I obligation; there is no automatic CITES listing.
When did the Ramsar Convention enter into force?
D. 1975
Adopted in 1971, Ramsar entered into force in 1975, the same year as CITES. CMS entered into force in 1983; 1992 is the Rio summit.
What share of India's geographical area did the National Forest Policy 1988 aim to bring under forest or tree cover?
D. One-third
The 1988 policy set a goal of one-third of the geographical area under forest or tree cover (two-thirds in hills). One-tenth and one-half are not the national target.
Under the Forest Rights Act 2006, which body has a central role in recognising and managing community forest rights?
C. The gram sabha
The gram sabha initiates claims and manages community forest resources under the FRA; in the Niyamgiri case (2013) gram sabhas decided on bauxite mining. The other bodies have no such role.
In the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad case (from 1995), how did the Supreme Court interpret 'forest'?
A. By its dictionary meaning, regardless of ownership or classification
The Court held that 'forest' should be understood in its dictionary sense, covering all statutorily recognised forests and land recorded as forest in any government record, irrespective of ownership. It did not restrict the term to notified, dense or private forests.
Which authority was created by a 2006 amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act for tiger conservation?
D. The National Tiger Conservation Authority
The NTCA was constituted under the 2006 amendment to oversee tiger reserves. WII is a research institute, ZSI a survey organisation and the CZA regulates zoos.
What did the Supreme Court decide in Orissa Mining Corporation v. Ministry of Environment and Forests (2013)?
B. Gram sabhas should decide if mining affected their religious and cultural rights
The Court directed that gram sabhas in Niyamgiri decide under the Forest Rights Act whether bauxite mining affected their rights; they rejected the project. The other statements contradict the judgment.
Under Brazil's Forest Code (2012), up to what share of a rural property in the Amazon forest biome must be kept as legal reserve?
D. 80 %
The legal reserve is 80 % of properties in forest areas of the Legal Amazon, 35 % in Cerrado within the Legal Amazon and 20 % elsewhere. 5 % is not a Forest Code figure.
This plan follows where our questions actually fall, so the time goes where the marks are likely to be. It is our reading of the syllabus, not the exam body's weighting.
Read the manual chapters for these first and do every worked question you can find on them.
Aim for one sitting per unit, then mixed questions across them.
Come back to these after a first pass, untimed, and read every explanation, including for the options you rejected.
Do these early in revision so they are fast on the day.
Last updated · How Laisha writes and checks its pages · Report a mistake
US$10 a month · one price worldwide · cancel any time
| Free | Smarter | |
|---|---|---|
| Grow guides, pest pages, articles | Read all | Read all |
| Ask Laisha | 5 a day | Up to 1,000 a month |
| Exam practice | The sample on each page | Every question, timed papers |
| Crop calendar and pest alerts | — | For your own fields |
| Calculators and tools | — | All |
| Uploads and reports | — | 100 a month, real files |
An AI operating system for agriculture: free guides, manuals and tools written for every country.