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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2296
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2026
Reforming Indian Forest Service
2296. DR. M. DHANAPAL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether Government has reviewed the calls for reforming the Indian Forest Service (IFS)
to align its mandate with 21st-century environmental challenges, including water security,
climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, beyond its traditional
colonial-era policing role;
(b) if so, the details of assessments made by Government on expanding the role and
responsibilities of IFS Officers in ecological outcomes such as groundwater recharge and
forest stream revival; and
(c) the action plan proposed by Government to modernise the forest service’s framework?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c): Officers inducted into the Indian Forest Service (IFS) undergo structured and
professional training programmes. Direct recruit IFS officers undergo a two-year training
programme conducted at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun and the Lal
Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, and on-the-job training in
their respective State cadres. The Indian Forest Service (Probationers’ Training and Evaluation)
Rules, 2023 were notified to establish a structured framework for the training, assessment and
professional development of IFS probationers. The revised curriculum incorporates subjects
such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, watershed management
and environmental governance. Emphasis is also placed on field-based learning and practical
exposure to enable officers to better understand and address emerging environmental
challenges. The State Forest Service officers upon induction into the Indian Forest Service also
undergo an induction training conducted by the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy,
Dehradun.
Officers of the Indian Forest Service also undergo Mid-Career Training Programmes to enhance
their professional, managerial, and leadership capabilities at different stages of their career.
These programmes include multidisciplinary modules aimed at strengthening technical and
operational management skills, developing leadership and policy-oriented capacities, and
equipping officers for strategic decision-making and roles in national and international
environmental policy.The Ministry also conducts short-term training programmes and workshops to support
continuous professional development of IFS officers during their careers.
The Academic Council constituted under the Indian Forest Service (Probationers’ Training and
Evaluation) Rules, 2023 undertakes the monitoring, assessment, feedback, and periodic review
of the training programme for IFS officers so as to ensure that the training remains relevant and
updated.
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