Last year many of us didn't tick IFoS thinking that there are two optionals in IFoS and they wouldn;t be able to prepare for it. Dont repeat the mistake this time. Please tick both CSM and IFoS.
If you are asking why, then here are my arguments.
1. It won't cost you anything extra. You just have to tick it.
2. Now you dont have to worry about number of attempts in IFoS as they have increased it to 6. So even if can't qualify for IFoS mains, you wont feel like wasting one IFoS attempt.
3. As we saw last year, CSM was based very much on the lines of IFoS i.e. more no of questions, no question with marks more than 10, increased weightage of current affairs etc. IFoS GS exam is the best test series possible for CSM.
4. Low Competition: Last year only 350 people gave IFS mains and out of that 250 were selected.
5. AIS service: In India we have only three AIS services, IAS, IPS and IFoS. So you can estimate the prestige and power associated with IFoS. I would anyday prefer IFoS over any service other than IAS, IPS, IRS.
6. Due to high cutoff of IFoS only engineers would qualify, who would most likely have knowledge of either one or zero optional.
7. Giving IFoS would help you immensely for CSM interview. Remember, IFoS results are declared 1 month before CSM interviews and hence you would be able to know your marks also and prepare accordingly.
If anyone has more reasons, please add.
Comments
This time around I have seen IFoS people ( Only IFoS giving) preparing for prelims for last 9-10 months because they know if they with 2 science optional have a fair chance of final selection , if only they clear prelims.
2.A lot of people thinking like there is less competition so I will tick and if everybody does that then there is no more case of less competition.
3. Last time there was a gap of 2 months between IFoS Main and CSE Main , but this time hardly a month so you will be seriously compromising your CSE Main at peak stage of your preparation.
4. If you are not sold about IFoS as a career option ahead of IAAS, IRTS etc. then focus on CSE ( 1291 seats) that IFoS(85 seats)
5. It may seem manageable at this time but reading 2 science optionals in middle of 4 GS papers and another optional is not easy
6.Last year mostly selected in IFoS were those who had at least 1 science optional in CSE or given with that previous CSE( in 2 optional pattern). There is now 2 years gap and even if anyone have given CSE main in 2012 with science optional and then left it then without revision ( syllabus is vast, Maths require 1 month for only a revision of whole syllabus) it is not easy to give exam
7. Do not go by lure of being easy. lets face it-its not easy and if IFoS is not your choice of preference ( as compared to many posts of CSE) then do not tick
8. Ticking by lot of people only make prelims cutoff higher and again only at max 500 people will write main exam. it is unfair to genuine IFoS aspirants and makes no sense of giving an exam just because you can do it.
9.If you have multiple year plan and not confident that you will clear CSE itself then only you can do that for risk distribution.
10. I have seen people leaving IFoS for IRTS , this is a brilliant chance with 1291 vacancies so try to capitalise on it.
Only opt for IFoS ,if you
1. have at least one optional of IFoS as CSE optional
2.Earlier written CSE or IFoS main with at least one of optional that you opting this time for IFoS
3. Of course , have genuine interest in career of a forest officer or
4.are willing to take risk and compromise CSE for sake of IFoS
Correct, there is no point in opting for IFoS, if we have no interest of joining it. I found some brilliant forestry candidates not clearing it because of the high prelims cutoff. Out of experience , I can say that do not join a uniformed service like IFos / IPS, if you do not have genuine conviction. It is really a shame to the nation. I can see almost 90% of IPS trainees take a break and try for IAS again , I cannot see more stupids than that. Carrying a Gun in hand, but no courage at heart.
Remember an IFoS aspirant never wants to become IAS.
An IPS aspirant never want to become IAS.
But IAS aspirants opts for uniformed service and quit later....( Intellectual fools).
I agree with you to a limited extent, but think of it from the aspirational point of view. The trainees who re-appear for the exam are not cheating the IPS in any way. Every candidate- non-IAS OTs included- may aspire for the IAS and I don't see anything untoward in that. It's not that these persons, if they do not qualify for the IAS, do not serve as honest and committed bureaucrats. Many non-IAS/non-IPS bureaucrats have done very well for themselves and for the government, and I am also equally certain that they aspired for the IAS/IPS when they were taking the exams.
Anywho, coming back to the point of this thread- go with what you see yourself doing 5 years from now. If you think you'll be happy as an IFoS officer, fill it and then work hard towards it. If not, stick to the CSE.
Cheers.