| In the beginning, Assistant Conservator of Forests/Assistant Deputy Conservator of Forests in the Indian Forest Service enjoy a monthly salary of Rs 56,100. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, who works as the Head of the Forest Force, enjoys the highest salary of Rs 2,25,000 per month. With experience, the officers in the Indian Forest Service get promoted to higher ranks, consequently increasing their basic salary. |
The salary that an Indian Forest Service Officer gets is a decent one. They are responsible for working in preservation of forests and nature. Their job is not only about caring for trees and wildlife but also about maintaining the balance between what humans need and what the environment needs. These officers manage the rich and diverse forest areas of India, including wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and reserved forests.
Their role is critical because forests provide many benefits, such as clean air and water, and a home for animals. The officers ensure that the resource is utilized judiciously and conserved for future generations. Besides the significance of their work, the job is rewarding because it provides stable and competitive pay, and other benefits. This makes the Indian Forest Service a very respectable and alluring career choice for the sensitive nature of individuals, who have immense affection towards nature and wish to help conserve it.
What is Per Month Salary of Indian Forest Service?
The table below presents the salary structure:
Rank/Position | Years of Service | Monthly Salary (Basic Pay) | Highlights |
Assistant Conservator of Forests/Assistant Deputy Conservator of Forests | Entry-level | ₹56,100 | This is the salary when you begin your journey with Indian Forest Service. |
Mid-Level Ranks | 5, 8, 12, 16, 20, 27 | Incremental salary increases | At this stage, officials get promotions and with each promotion, salary increases substantially. |
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) | Top-level | ₹2,25,000 | This is the highest post and the head supervises all forest-related operations. |
Ranks and Salary of Indian Forest Service
The table below details a comprehensive guide to the ranks and their salary structure:
Grade | Designation(State Government) | Designation (Government of India) | Salary |
Junior Time Scale | Assistant Conservator of Forests/Assistant Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | Rs 56,100 |
Senior Time Scale | Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | Rs 67,700 |
Junior Administrative Grade | Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant General of Forests | Rs 78,800 |
Selection Grade | Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector of Forests | Rs 1,18,500 |
Super Time Scale | Chief Wildlife Warden | Deputy Inspector General of Forests | Rs 1,50,000 |
Senior Administrative Grade | Chief Conservator of Office | Inspector General of Forests | Rs 1,75,000 |
HAG Scale | Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests | - | Rs 2,00,000 |
HAG+ Scale | Principal Conservator of Forests | Additional Director General of Forests | Rs 2,05,400 |
Apex Scale | Head of Forest Force | Director-General of Forests | Rs 2,25,000 |
Allowances Enjoyed by Indian Forest Service Officers
The officers in Indian Forest Service are entitled to get allowance of various kinds and they are an addition to the basic salary they get. The table below shows the allowances and benefits:
Allowance/Benefit | Highlights |
Dearness Allowance | Cost of living changes with time. This allowance is adjusted according to the salary of officers. The calculation is done as a percentage of the basic pay. The revision is done periodically. |
House Rent Allowance | Officers don't need to worry about accommodation. Accommodation allowance for comfortable living is another benefit they enjoy. There housing expenses help them work efficiently without stress. |
Transport Allowance | It is a great part of their benefits and help them travel without money considerations. Location and the grade of the officer determines this allowance. |
City Compensatory Allowance | Cities have a higher cost of living. This allowance alleviates the burden of officers regarding increased expenses associated with urban areas. |
Daily Allowance | When officers travel for official purposes, this allowance helps them cover their expenses for meals and other requirements. |
Medical Allowance | Medical benefits for self-treatment or medical treatments at hospitals is provided to them and their dependents like family members. |
Leave Travel Concession | LTC is an important benefit they get. It allows them to travel to their hometown or any place of their choice along with their family during specified periods. |
10 Key Duties and Responsibilities of IFoS Officers
When it comes to the management, conservation, and sustainable development of forest resources and ecosystems, officers play a substantial role. Be it protecting biodiversity, ensuring environmental balance, or promoting community engagement, officers have a broad range of duties to perform. Some of the important duties they are accountable to perform are:
- Forest Conservation and Management is their primary accountability. They make sure forest resources are used sustainably and efficient measures are being taken effectively to protect biodiversity.
- They ensure the protection of wildlife habitats and prevention of poaching, illegal hunting, and wildlife trafficking.
- Forest Conservation Act and Wildlife Protection Act are well known measures and they make sure that adherence to laws and policies are being facilitated.
- They are also responsible for the proper implementation of forestation and reforestation programs so that degraded forest areas can be restored.
- They also conduct surveys, maintain records related to forest and sustainable use of resources like timber and medicinal plants.
- Officers collaborate with local communities in their vision of sustainability. Community engagement helps them in conservation endeavors.
- Chances of forest fires, floods, and other emergencies affecting forest ecosystems are commonly seen. They make sure that they respond to these occurrences sustainable and efficiently.
- Research and development on forest policies, climate change is also done by them.
- The idea of eco-tourism has gathered prominence in recent times and a lot of discussions and debates are also being organized to tackle the challenges involved. They also work to promote eco-tourism to create awareness regarding them.
- They also have responsibilities with to administration, be it preparing budgets, or reporting to government departments, their work portfolio encompasses these activities as well.
Career Progression, Promotions and Growth
There are avenues for growth and progression in Indian Forest Service. Officers improve their position along with pay and other benefits with every promotion. The table below highlights what the career growth of Indian Forest Service Officers look like.
Career Progression, Promotions and Growth | |
Rank | Duration |
Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF/ DFO) | After 2-3 years of service |
Conservator of Forests | 14-15 years of service |
Chief Conservator of Forests | 5- 6 years as Conservator |
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) | - |
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) | - |
Head of Forest Force (HoFF) | - |
For the central department, the ranks and posts are different such as:
- Assistant Inspector General of Forests (AIGF)
- Deputy Inspector General of Forests (DIGF)
- Inspector General of Forests (IGF)
- Additional Director General of Forests (ADGF)
- Director-General of Forests (DGF)
Perks and Additional Benefits
There is an addition to the normal allowances given to officers. These benefits are the result of their extraordinary administration and their vision for efficiency and sustainability.
- Officers get supplementary allowances. Incentives are given to them for their exceptional performances.
- Educational leave is another great advantage. If they wish to go for advanced studies, they can get leave for that purpose.
- Post-retirement pension adds another level of security and stability to their profession. When they retire, they get pension and other payments monthly as a retirement benefit. q