IFS exam has a total of six papers in the written test. Paper I will be General English and will be for 300 marks. Paper II will be General Knowledge and will also be for 300 marks.

Paper III, IV, V and VI will be from any two optional papers (Given below) selected by the candidates with each optional having two papers. Each paper will be for 200 marks.

So in total the written test for IFS exam will be for 1400 marks.

The written test will be followed by and Interview only to those candidates successful in the Interview. The Personal Interview will be for 300 marks.

The list of optionals is given below:

  • Agriculture (CODE: 01)
  • Agricultural engineering (CODE:02)
  • Animal husbandry and veterinary science (CODE:03)
  • Botany (CODE:04)
  • Chemistry (CODE:05)
  • Chemical engineering (CODE:06)
  • Civil engineering (CODE:07)
  • Forestry (CODE:08)
  • Geology (CODE:09)
  • Mathematics (CODE:10)
  • Mechanical engineering (CODE:11)
  • Physics (CODE:12)
  • Statistics (CODE:13) and Zoology (CODE:14) [But there are some restrictions in choosing the two optionals]

The candidates are not allowed to choose the following combination of subjects as their two optionals:

  • Agriculture and agricultural engineering
  • Agriculture and animal husbandry and veterinary science
  • Chemistry and chemical engineering
  • Mathematics and statistics

Not more than one subject can be chosen from Agricultural engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering and mechanical engineering.

Exam pattern:

  • All questions will be of essay type and will only be given in English and should be written in English.
  • All answers must be written in neat legible hand writing.
  • Each paper mentioned above will be for 3 hours duration.

General English:
Candidates will be given topics and need to write essay answers. Your use of words, vocabulary will be tested seeing your answers. Other questions include summary, précis writing.

General knowledge:
General knowledge questions include current affairs with major stress on political system in India, Indian constitution, History of India and its Geographies.

Optionals:
Total number of questions in the question papers of optional subjects will be eight. All questions will carry equal marks. Each paper will be divided into two parts, viz. Part A and Part B, each part containing four questions. Out of eight questions, five questions are to be attempted. One question in each part will be compulsory. Candidates will be required to answer three more questions out of the remaining six questions, taking at least one question from each Part. In this way, at least two questions will be attempted from each Part i.e. one compulsory question plus one more.

Some required codes for filling application form:

Area code for remote areas and abroad
Assam 01, Meghalaya 02, Arunachal Pradesh 03, mizoram 04, Manipur 05, nagaland 06, tripura 07, sikkim 08, J&K 10, Lahaul and Spiti District and Pangi Sub Division of Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh 10, Andaman and nicobar 11, lakshdwwep 12 and abroad 13.

Educational Qualification Code:
01  If you have already passed the requisite qualifying Examination, with prescribed subject
02  If you have appeared/appearing at the requisite qualifying Examination, with prescribed subject.