Kashmir Impulse Desk

Jammu, May 26

The Jammu and Kashmir government has initiated the long-pending process for the induction of nearly 32 officers into the Indian Forest Service (IFoS), ending a delay that had continued for more than 13 years, officials said on Tuesday.

Official sources said the Forest Department is preparing a detailed proposal that will be submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for approval and further action through the Union Public Service Commission.

The process gathered momentum after fresh communication from the ministry, paving the way for the formal submission of the proposal.

Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner/Secretary of the Forest Department, confirmed that the department was finalising the proposal.

“We are drafting the proposal, and after completing all formalities, it will be submitted to the Ministry,” she said.

Sources said around 32 officers from Jammu and Kashmir are likely to be inducted into the Indian Forest Service, subject to approval from the ministry and the UPSC.

The induction process had remained stalled since 2012 because of legal disputes and procedural issues related to the constitution of the State Forest Service.

Under service rules, 66 percent of posts in the Indian Forest Service are filled through direct recruitment by the UPSC, while the remaining 33 percent are reserved for promotion from the State Forest Service.

Officials said the Union Ministry had not determined promotion quota vacancies for Jammu and Kashmir beyond the select year 2012 due to pending legal and administrative issues.

According to sources, the proposal regarding the constitution of the State Forest Service was submitted to the Union Ministry on December 11, 2025, after approval by the competent authority.

After examining the matter, the ministry advised the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department to submit a formal proposal for the induction of officers into the service.

Officials said that once the proposal is cleared by the ministry, the UPSC is expected to convene a meeting with representatives of the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to finalise the induction process.

The induction is expected to address the shortage of senior officers in the Forest Department and open up long-awaited career advancement opportunities for local officers, officials said.