Evolution of Training of IFS Probationers in Independent India

Syllabus of IFS training which was notified in 1968 has been revised four times in 1971, 1983, 1995 and 2007. Major components of training as well as their proportion has remained almost same in all these years. Tours and exercises have undergone changes. Qualifying tests have remained more or less same. In theory and practicals some subjects have been renamed and in some cases redistribution of contents has been made. New subjects have been added and some subjects have been done away with. In case of wildlife management, environmental conservation, forest policy and law, NTFP, forests and people contents have been enriched by addition of new topics. Subjects like botany, engineering, forest protection, wood technology, harvesting and industries, working plan and forest engineering are reduced in terms of contents. In terms of weightage soil science, geology, botany, silviculture, forest survey, forest management, utilization, forest protection, forest engineering have gone down. Weightage has increased for mensuration, forest policy and law, wildlife management, forests and people and environmental conservation. Training curriculum of IFS probationers in independent India has been revised periodically to respond to the new challenges but the changes made are far less and a lot more needs to be done by looking into all aspects.