Comprehensive draft being finalized for MoEF
*Final call to be taken up by UPSC after completion of formalities
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 25: In a significant decision that could lead to induction of nearly 32 officers into the Indian Forest Services (IFoS), the Jammu and Kashmir administration has initiated the process and will shortly be sending comprehensive proposal to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) which requires further clearance from the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC).
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Decks have been cleared for drafting and finalization of the proposal following communication received from the MoEF.
The induction of Jammu and Kashmir Forest officers into the IFS has not been done for last 13 years.
Commissioner/Secretary Forest Department Sheetal Nanda, when approached for comments, confirmed to the Excelsior that a comprehensive proposal is being drafted by the Department for submission to the MoEF for induction of officers into IFoS.
“We are in the stage of drafting the proposal. We will incorporate all details and then submit the proposal to the MoEF for taking a call,” she said.
However, Nanda declined to comment on number of posts available for inductions of the Jammu and Kashmir officers into IFS.
Officials, however, told the Excelsior that nearly 32 officers of the Union Territory could be inducted into the IFS depending upon clearance of the Union MoEF
The process of induction remained paralysed for more than 13 years because of prolonged litigation over the constitution of a valid `State Forest Service’.
The recruitment into the IFS is governed by two methods: direct recruitment through UPSC and induction via promotion quota. Sixty six percent of posts are filled through direct recruitment by the UPSC while the rest 33 percent are reserved for promotion of SFS officers.
According to documents, the Union Ministry of Forest Environment and Climate Change has not determined IFS promotion quota vacancies for J&K beyond Select Year 2012, due to the legal and procedural constraints.
Sources said the proposal for constitution of SFS with the approval of the Competent Authority was forwarded to the Union MoEF for approval on December 11, 2025.
Sources said the MoEF has examined the all issues of recruitment into the IFS in detail and submitted its opening to the Forest Department of Jammu and Kashmir for sending it the proposal for inductions.
“Once the proposal is submitted by the Forest Department and cleared by the MoEF, the UPSC role will come into the play,” the sources said, adding the UPSC has to convene the meeting with representatives of the MoEF and Jammu and Kashmir administration for finalization of the inductions into IFoS.
Induction of nearly 32 officers into IFoS will help the Government overcome shortage of the officers in Jammu and Kashmir, the officers said.
The proposed induction into IFoS shortly comes close on the heels of 23 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS) officers getting inducted into IAS on April 23 and 24 meeting convened by the UPSC with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and top concerned officers of the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
The procession for induction of eight Jammu and Kashmir Police Services (JKPS) officers into the IPS has also been initiated.
This, as per the officials, will benefit a lot to local officers of Jammu and Kashmir who will make it to the All India Services.
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