Forestry Optional
APSC Forest Ranger 2025
Lecture: 1
For Admission Contact Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
APSC Forest Ranger 2025
Subject Type of Examination Marks Duration Number of Questions
English Conventional essay type 100 3 Hours
(Essay, Precis writing
etc.)
General Knowledge OMR 100 2 Hours 100
Optional Subject- I OMR 200 2 Hours 100
Optional Subject- II OMR 200 2 Hours 100
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
APSC Forest Ranger 2025
Course Fees
▪ English + G.K. + Forestry Optional : 2500 rupees
▪ English + G.K. : 1500 rupees
▪ Forestry Optional: 2000 rupees
For Admission Contact: 8638391721/9395075044
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forestry Optional: Syllabus (UPSC IFS)
1. Silviculture - General :
General Silvicultural Principles : ecological and physiological factors influencing vegetation, natural and artificial regeneration
of forests; methods of propagation, grafting techniques; site factors; nursery and planting techniques-nursery beds, polybags
and maintenance, water budgeting, grading and hardening of seedlings; special approaches; establishment and tending.
2. Silviculture - systems :
Clear felling, uniform shelter wood selection, coppice and conversion systems. Management of silviculture systems of
temperate, subtropical, humid tropical, dry tropical and coastal tropical forests with special reference to plantation
silviculture, choice of species, establishment and management of standards, enrichment methods, technical constraints,
intensive mechanized methods, aerial seeding thinning.
3. Silviculture - Mangrove and Cold desert :
Mangrove : habitat and characteristics, mangrove, plantation-establishment and rehabilitation of degraded mangrove
formations; silvicultural systems for mangrove; protection of habitats against natural disasters.
Cold desert - Characteristics, identification and management of species.
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forestry Optional: Syllabus (UPSC IFS)
4. Silviculture of trees :
Traditional and recent advances in tropical silvicultural research and practices. Silviculture of some of the economically
important species in India such as Acacia catechu, Acacia nilotica, Acacia auriculiformis, Albizzia lebbeck, Albizzia procera,
Anthocephalus Cadamba, Anogeissus latifolia, Azadirachta indica, Bamboo spp, Butea monosperma, Cassia siamea,Casuarina
equisetifolia, Cedrus deodara, Chukrasia tabularis, Dalbergia sisoo, Dipterocarpus spp., Emblica officindils, Eucalyptus spp,
Gmelina Arborea, Hardwickia binata, Largerstroemia Lanceolata, Pinus roxburghi, Populus spp, Pterocarpus marsupium,
Prosopis juliflora, Santalum album, Semecarpus anacardium,. Shorea robusta, Salmalia malabaricum, Tectona grandis,
Terminalis tomemtosa, Tamarindus indica.
Section B
1. Agroforestry, Social Forestry, Joint Forest Management and Tribology :
Agroforestry - scope and necessity; role in the life of people and domestic animals and in integrated land use, planning
especially related to (i) soil and water conservation; (ii) water recharge; (iii) nutrient availability to crops; (iv) nature and
ecosystem preservation including ecological balances through pest-predator relationships and (v) providing opportunities for
enhancing bio-diversity, medicinal and other flora and fauna. Agro forestry systems under different agro-ecological zones;
selection of species and role of multipurpose trees and NTFPs, techniques, food, fodder and fuel security. Research and
Extension needs.
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forestry Optional: Syllabus (UPSC IFS)
Social/Urban Forestry : objectives, scope and necessity; peoples participation.
JFM - principles, objectives, methodology, scope, benefits and role of NGOs.
Tribology - tribal scene in India; tribes, concept of races, principles of social grouping, stages of tribal economy, education,
cultural tradition, customs, ethos and participation in forestry programmes.
2. Forest Soils, Soil Conservation and Watershed management :
Forests Soils: classification, factors affecting soil formation; physical, chemical and biological properties.
Soil conservation - definition, causes for erosion; types - wind and water erosion; conservation and management of eroded
soils/areas, wind breaks, shelter belts; sand dunes; reclamation of saline and alkaline soils, water logged and other waste
lands. Role of forests in conserving soils. Maintenance and build up of soil organic matter, provision of loppings for green leaf
manuring; forest leaf litter and composting; Role of microorganisms in ameliorating soils; N and C cycles, VAM.
Watershed Management - concepts of watershed; role of mini-forests and forest trees in overall resource management, forest
hydrology, watershed development in respect of torrent control, river channel stabilization, avalanche and landslide controls,
rehabilitation of degraded areas; hilly and mountain areas; watershed management and environmental functions of forests;
water-harvesting and conservation; ground water recharge and watershed management; role of integrating forest trees,
horticultural crops, field crops, grass and fodders.
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forestry Optional: Syllabus (UPSC IFS)
3. Environmental Conservation and Biodiversity :
Environment; components and importance, principles of conservation, impact of deforestation; forest fires and various
human activities like mining, construction and developmental projects, population growth on environment.
Pollution - types, global warming, green house effects, ozone layer depletion, acid rain, impact and control measures,
environmental monitoring; concept of sustainable development. Role of trees and forests in environmental conservation;
control and prevention of air, water and noise pollution. Environmental policy and legislation in India. Environmental Impact
Assessment. Economics assessment of watershed development vis-a-vis ecological and environmental protection.
4. Tree Improvement and Seed Technology : General concept of tree improvement, methods and techniques, variation and its
use, provenance, seed source, exotics; quantitative aspects of forest tree improvement, seed production and seed orchards,
progeny tests, use of tree improvement in natural forest and stand improvement, genetic testing programming, selection and
breeding for resistance to diseases, insects, and adverse environment; the genetic base, forest genetic resources and gene
conservation in situ and ex-situ. Cost benefit ratio, economic evaluation.
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forestry Optional: Syllabus (UPSC IFS)
PAPER II
Section A
1. Forest Management and Management Systems :
Objective and principles; techniques; stand structure and dynamics, sustained yield relation; rotation, normal forest, growing
stock; regulation of yield; management of forest plantations, commercial forests, forest cover monitoring. Approaches viz., (i)
site-specific planning, (ii) strategic planning, (iii) Approval, sanction and expenditure, (iv) Monitoring (v) Reporting and
governance. Details of steps involved such as formation of Village Forest Committees, Joint Forest Participatory Management.
2. Forest Working Plan : Forest planning, evaluation and monitoring tools and approaches for integrated planning;
multipurpose development of forest resources and forest industries development; working plans and working schemes, their
role in nature conservation, bio-diversity and other dimensions; preparation and control. Divisional Working Plans, Annual
Plan of Operations.
3. Forest Mensuration and Remote Sensing : Methods of measuring - diameter, girth, height and volume of trees; form-factor;
volume estimation of stand, current annual increment; mean annual increment. Sampling methods and sample plots. Yield
calculation; yield and stand tables, forest cover monitoring through remote sensing; Geographic Information Systems for
management and modeling.
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forestry Optional: Syllabus (UPSC IFS)
4. Surveying and Forest Engineering :
Forest surveying - different methods of surveying, maps and map reading. Basic principles of forest engineering. Building
materials and construction. Roads and Bridges; General principles, objects, types, simple design and construction of timber
bridges.
Section B
1. Forest Ecology and Ethnobotany :
Forest ecology - Biotic and aboitic components, forest eco-systems; forest community concepts; vegetation concepts,
ecological succession and climax, primary productivity, nutrient cycling and water relations; physiology in stress environments
(drought, water logging salinity and alkalinity). Forest types in India, identification of species, composition and associations;
dendrology, taxonomic classification, principles and establishment of herbaria and arboreta. Conservation of forest
ecosystems. Clonal parks, Role of Ethnobotany in Indian Systems of Medicine; Ayurveda and Unani - Introduction,
nomenclature, habitat, distribution and botanical features of medicinal and aromatic plants. Factors affecting action and
toxicity of drug plants and their chemical constituents.
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forestry Optional: Syllabus (UPSC IFS)
2. Forest Resources and Utilization : Environmentally sound forest harvesting practices; logging and extraction techniques and
principles, transportation system, storage and sale; Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) definition and scope; gums, resins,
oleoresins, fibres, oil seeds nuts, rubber, canes, bamboos, medicinal plants, charcoal, lac and shellac, Katha and Bidi leaves,
collection; processing and disposal. Need and importance of wood seasoning and preservation; general principles of seasoning,
air and kiln seasoning, solar dehumidification, steam heated and electrical kilns. Composite wood; adhesives-manufacture,
properties, uses, plywood manufacture-properties, uses, fibre boards manufacture properties, uses; particle boards
manufacture; properties uses. Present status of composite wood industry in India in future expansion plans. Pulp-paper and
rayon; present position of supply of raw material to industry, wood substitution, utilization of plantation wood; problems and
possibilities. Anatomical structure of wood, defects and abnormalities of wood, timber identification - general principles.
3. Forest Protection & Wildlife Biology : Injuries to forest - abiotic and biotic, destructive agencies, insect-pests and disease,
effects of air pollution on forests and forest die back. Susceptibility of forests to damage, nature of damage, cause, prevention,
protective measures and benefits due to chemical and biological control. General forest protection against fire, equipment and
methods, controlled use of fire, economic and environmental costs; timber salvage operations after natural disasters. Role of
afforestation and forest regeneration in absorption of CO2. Rotational and controlled grazing, different methods of control
against grazing and browsing animals; effect of wild animals on forest regeneration, human impacts; encroachment, poaching,
grazing, live fencing, theft, shifting cultivation and control.
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forestry Optional: Syllabus (UPSC IFS)
4. Forest Economics and Legislation :
Forest economics: fundamental principles, cost-benefit analyses; estimation of demand and supply; analysis of trends in the
national and international market and changes in production and consumption patterns; assessment and projection of
market structures; role of private sector and co-operatives; role of corporate financing. Socio-economic analyses of forest
productivity and attitudes; valuation of forest goods and service. Legislation-History of forest development; Indian Forest
Policy of 1894, 1952 and 1990. National Forest Policy, 1988 of People's involvement, Joint Forest Management, Involvement
of women; Forestry Policies and issues related to land use, timber and non-timber products, sustainable forest management;
industrialization policies; institutional and structural changes. Decentralization and Forestry Public Administration. Forest
laws, necessity; general principles, Indian Forest Act 1927; Forest Conservation Act, 1980; Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and
their amendments; Application of Indian Penal Code to Forestry. Scope and objectives of Forest nventory.
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forestry Optional
➢ Reference Book: Indian Forestry by K. Manikandan & S. Prabhu, IFS
➢ Online Class (Live + Recorded)
➢ Class Notes + Class Explanation
➢ Study Materials (in PDF format)
➢ MCQs discussion in the class
➢ Weekly Tests
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
The term Forest is derived from the LATIN term FORIS: which means outside of village boundary
Definition of Forest
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Canopy
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Forest is composed of many plant species which may be principal,
accessory or auxiliary species
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Classification of Forest
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Classification of Forest
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Classification of Forest
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Classification of Forest
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Classification of Forest
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Classification of Forest
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
Classification of Forest
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
A Brief Chronology of Indian Forestry
▪ 1927: Indian Forest Act, 1927
▪ 1950: Vanamahotsava- Nationwide programme of tree planting launched (started by K.M. Munshi)
▪ 1952: 1st National Forest Policy of 1952 after independence released
▪ 1957: National Zoological Park, New Delhi
▪ 1961: Integrated Forestry Training School, Tamil Nadu initiated to train foresters
▪ 1962: Indian Plywood Industrial Research and Training Institute formed (IPIRTI) at Bangalore
▪ 1965: 1st Lion census after independence by forest department
▪ 1966: Indian Forest Service (IFS) was constituted under the All India Services Act, 1951
▪ 1970: Project Hangul- protection of Kashmir stag
▪ 1972: Project lion started
▪ 1972: Wildlife protection act enacted
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
A Brief Chronology of Indian Forestry
▪ 1973: Chipko Movement- prevent felling of trees in Garhwal Himalaya by hugging the trees
▪ 1973: Project tiger
▪ 1976: Tree protection act enacted
▪ 1976: State Forest Service College (now renamed as Central Academy for State Forest Service) Burnihat (Assam)
▪ 1980: Forest conservation act enacted
▪ 1981: Forest Survey of India founded; headquarter at Dehradun
▪ 1982: Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehradun established
▪ 1986: Indian Council of Forestry research and Education (ICFRE) established at Dehradun
▪ 1987: Indian Forest College was reestablished as Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy at Dehradun,
Uttarakhand
▪ 1987: 1st India’s State of Forest Report (ISFR) released
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
A Brief Chronology of Indian Forestry
▪ 1988: National Forest Policy released
▪ 1988: Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI)- Jorhat
▪ 1988: Tropical Forest Research Institute (TFRI)- Jabalpur
▪ 1990: Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore
▪ 1992: Central Zoo Authority of India, New Delhi
▪ 1992: Centre for Social Forestry and Eco- Rehabilitation- Prayagraj (UP)
▪ 1993: Institute of Forest Productivity- Ranchi
▪ 1997: Institute of Forest Biodiversity, Hyderabad, Telangana
▪ 1999: Project sea turtle
▪ 2002: Centre of Excellence on Environmental Economics, Chennai
▪ 2002: National Biodiversity Act enacted
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
A Brief Chronology of Indian Forestry
▪ 2003: National Forest Commission established
▪ 2003: National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai
▪ 2004: Advanced Research Centre for Bamboo and Rattan (a unit of ICFRE)- Aizawl (Mizoram)
▪ 2006: 1st Tiger census conducted
▪ 2006: The National Bamboo mission launched
▪ 2007: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, New Delhi
▪ 2009: Project Snow Leopard
▪ 2010: National Green Tribunal established
▪ 2021: ‘Bharat Vatika’, Haldwani, Nainital, U.K. first biodiversity garden in which the state tree of every state is
planted
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
PYQ
The Biological Diversity Act was enacted in the year (Forestry/APSC Forest Ranger 2019)
a) 2000
b) 2002
c) 2006
d) 2008
The Rain Forest Research Institute is located at (Forestry/APSC Forest Ranger 2019)
a) Shillong
b) Dehradun
c) Kolkata
d) Jorhat
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
PYQ
The Academy for Training of IFS Officers is named after (Forestry/APSC Forest Ranger 2019)
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Indira Gandhi
c) Rajiv Gandhi
d) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
The idea of celebrating Van Mahotsava every year was mooted by (Forestry/APSC Forest Ranger 2019)
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Indira Gandhi
c) K.M. Munshi
d) None of them
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
What is Forestry?
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
APSC Forest Ranger 2025
Course Fees
▪ English + G.K. + Forestry Optional : 2500 rupees
▪ English + G.K. : 1500 rupees
▪ Forestry Optional: 2000 rupees
For Admission Contact: 8638391721/9395075044
Julon Jyoti Hazarika – 9954881935 II Bhadra IAS Academy: 8638391721
