Who Should Apply? (Quick Eligibility Check)
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has officially released an advertisement under advertisement number 12026/02/2026-IFS-I [E- 311076], inviting applications from eligible candidates for 81 tentative vacancies across senior forestry administrative levels for the vacancy year 2027. This recruitment cycle operates under the Central Staffing Scheme, providing an exceptional career path for qualified professionals looking to transition into key national environmental and forestry governance roles in New Delhi and regional stations across India.
Detailed Vacancy & Eligibility Breakdown
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Circular number | 12026/02/2026-IFS-I [E- 311076] |
| Circular | First Vacancy Circular, Vacancy Year 2027 |
| Posts | ADGF, DDGF, IGF, DIGF and AIGF levels |
| Total vacancies | 81 (sum of the five levels in Annexure-II; tentative) |
| Basis of appointment | Tenure deputation under the Central Staffing Scheme of the Ministry |
| How to apply | By email to [email protected] |
| Date of circular | 13 October 2026 |
| Last date | 1 December 2026 |
| Website | MOEF website |
| Level of Post | Vacancies | Stations |
|---|---|---|
| ADGF Level | 02 | New Delhi (2) |
| DDGF Level | 03 | Nagpur (1), Ranchi (1), Shillong (1) |
| IGF Level | 07 | Bangalore (1), Guwahati (1), Kolkata (1), Nagpur (2), New Delhi (1), Shimla (1) |
| DIGF Level | 34 | Bangalore (1), Bhopal (1), Bhubaneswar (1), Burnihat (1), Chandigarh (3), Dehradun (10), Kolkata (1), Lucknow (1), Nagpur (3), New Delhi (8), Ranchi (2), Shillong (1), Shimla (1) |
| AIGF Level | 35 | Bangalore (1), Bhubaneswar (1), Burnihat (4), Coimbatore (2), Dehradun (9), Guwahati (1), Kolkata (2), Kurseong (3), Mumbai (1), New Delhi (11) |
| Post | Service criteria (either) | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| AIGF (NTCA) | Holding an analogous post on a regular basis; or holding posts in the scale pay of Rs.10,000 - 15200 (Pre-revised) or equivalent with five years' regular service in the grade | At least five years' field experience in wildlife management |
| DIGF (NTCA) | Holding analogous post on regular basis; or holding posts in the scale pay of Rs.12,000 - 18,000 (Pre-revised) or equivalent with six years' regular service in the grade | At least five years of experience in a tiger reserve or protected area |
| IGF (NTCA) | Holding an analogous post on regular basis; or a minimum of 19 years of service in IFS, with respect to the year of allotment | At least 8 years of experience in wildlife conservation, of which five years should be in tiger reserves or the National Tiger Conservation Authority/ Project Tiger Division of the Ministry |
Candidates interested in exploring related federal openings can also review the National CAMPA Assistant Inspector General of Forests Recruitment 2026 recruitment details to compare parallel opportunities within the forestry sector. Eligible officers who meet the service criteria and wish to contribute to national conservation policy, wildlife management, and environmental administration should thoroughly review the eligibility parameters before preparing their application packages.
What Posts Are Available? – Post & Discipline Breakdown
The current recruitment notification covers a total of 81 positions distributed across multiple senior hierarchy levels. Appointments are made on a tenure deputation basis under the Central Staffing Scheme guidelines.
| Post Designation | Hierarchy Level | Vacancies | Required Experience & Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADGF Level | Level 15 | 2 | Senior Indian Forest Service officers meeting prescribed service length and eligibility norms. |
| DDGF Level | Level 14 | 3 | Eligible IFS officers with requisite senior-level administrative experience. |
| IGF Level | Level 14 | 7 | Experienced IFS officers fulfilling Central Staffing Scheme requirements. |
| DIGF Level | Level 13 / 13A | 34 | Qualified officers with mandatory regular service and field experience in forestry or conservation. |
| AIGF Level | Level 13 | 35 | Eligible Indian Forest Service officers and select State Forest Service officers as per regulations. |
Who Is Eligible? – Education, Age & Domicile
Eligibility for this deputation scheme is strictly regulated by service rules rather than standard open-market educational qualifications. Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Educational Qualification: Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers meeting Central Staffing Scheme criteria, or eligible State Forest Service (SFS) officers as per applicable Government regulations.
- Experience Criteria: Required regular service and field experience in forestry, wildlife management, tiger reserves, or conservation depending on the post level, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant service.
- Age Limit: Governed strictly as per Central Staffing Scheme and IFS deputation norms.
- Cooling-Off Period: Officers must have successfully completed any mandatory cooling-off periods following previous deputation assignments.
What Is the Salary & Official Benefits?
Selected officers receive compensation in accordance with the Central Government deputation pay matrix norms under the Central Staffing Scheme. The salary structure reflects senior administrative positioning:
- Pay Scale & Matrix: Central Deputation Pay Matrix Level 13 to Level 15 (Entry basic pay starting around Rs. 1,23,100 with a total estimated gross monthly salary package up to Rs. 2,25,087 depending on the exact post level and admissible allowances).
- Allowances: Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), and other admissible central government benefits as per extant rules.
Selection Process & Exam Pattern Breakdown
There is no written examination, computer-based test, or descriptive paper conducted for this tenure deputation process. Selection is based entirely on service records, Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs), experience, and suitability.
- Stage 1: Screening of applications and thorough verification of vigilance status by competent authorities.
- Stage 2: Preparation of the official Offer List for Vacancy Year 2027 under the Central Staffing Scheme.
- Stage 3: Final appointment based on station availability, administrative requirements, and candidate suitability.
Important Dates & Schedule Guidance
Candidates must take note of the crucial operational schedule for submitting their nomination applications:
- Application Start Date: 13 October 2026
- Last Date to Submit Application: 1 December 2026
- Vacancy Year: 2027
What Is the Application Fee & Payment Mode?
No application fee is specified in the official circular for this tenure deputation process. Fee is completely exempted for all candidates across every category.
How to Apply? (Step-by-Step Walkthrough)
Eligible and willing officers must follow the offline-cum-email submission procedure outlined by the Ministry:
- Step 1: Download the prescribed application format (Annexure-I, including Parts I, II, and III) from the official IFS website or the MoEFCC IFS portal.
- Step 2: Fill in Part I completely, providing your service details and indicating up to three station preferences.
- Step 3: Have Part II and Part III completed, signed, and stamped by the Head of the Forest Department or the concerned State/UT Government authority.
- Step 4: Ensure that state-level vigilance clearance and duly attested APARs for the last eight years are attached.
- Step 5: Email the complete application set to the official ministry email address at [email protected] on or before 1 December 2026.
What Can Get Your Application Rejected?
Critical Disqualification Warnings:
- Applications received without the formal consent and signature of the concerned State or UT Government will be summarily rejected.
- Submissions arriving past the strict deadline of 1 December 2026 will not be entertained under any circumstances.
- Officers who have not completed their mandatory cooling-off period following a prior deputation will be disqualified.
- Incomplete application sets lacking required APARs, Executive Record Sheets, or vigilance clearance certificates will lead to immediate rejection.
Editor's Key Advisory for Candidates
Ensure that your Executive Record Sheet is updated and verified before forwarding your application through proper channels. Coordinate well in advance with your cadre controlling authority and Chief Vigilance Officer to avoid last-minute delays in obtaining vigilance clearance and APAR attestations. For reference, you may review the Official Notification PDF, explore details on the IFS Official Website, check the MoEFCC IFS Page, or visit the MOEF Official Website.
