Central Government Revises Indian Forest Service Pay Scales in Uttar Pradesh

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) issued a notification on May 23, 2025, introducing the Indian Forest Service (Pay) Amendment Rules, 2025. These rules were enacted by the Central Government in consultation with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, exercising powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the All India Services Act, 1951. The amendment rules came into force immediately upon their publication in the Official Gazette on May 23, 2025. The primary objective of this legislative instrument is to update and revise the pay structure for various posts within the Indian Forest Service cadre in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The key provision of the amendment involves the substitution of existing entries in Schedule II-A and Schedule II-B of the Indian Forest Service (Pay) Rules, 2016, specifically concerning Uttar Pradesh. Schedule II-A, which lists posts carrying pay above the Time Scale under State Governments, has been entirely replaced for Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, Schedule II-B, detailing posts carrying pay in the Senior Scale, has also seen its entry for Uttar Pradesh substituted. This comprehensive update affects a wide range of positions, from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) to various Conservator of Forests and Deputy Conservator of Forests roles across numerous territorial and specialized divisions within the state. For instance, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF is now designated at Level 17 in the Pay Matrix (a structured system for determining salaries), while several Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests positions are set at Level 15, and numerous Chief Conservator of Forests roles are at Level 14. Conservator of Forests positions, including those for Silviculturists and Territorial Conservators, are placed at Level 13A. The legislation provided: “In Schedule II- A Posts carrying pay above the Time Scale in the Indian Forest Service under the State Governments, in the Table, for the entry "Uttar Pradesh" appearing in the first column and the corresponding entry in the second column, the following shall be substituted, namely:” This ensures that the remuneration for Indian Forest Service officers in Uttar Pradesh aligns with current administrative designations and the established pay structure.

The legislative intent behind these amendments is to address the evolving administrative landscape and ensure that the pay scales for Indian Forest Service officers in Uttar Pradesh accurately reflect their responsibilities and positions within the state's forest department. The earlier legal position, governed by the Indian Forest Service (Pay) Rules, 2016, had entries for Uttar Pradesh that were deemed to require revision. This amendment specifically targets statutory gaps or limitations that may have arisen due to changes in departmental structure, creation of new posts, or re-evaluation of existing roles since the 2016 rules were initially formulated. By substituting the detailed lists of posts and their corresponding pay levels, the Central Government aims to provide a clear and updated framework for the remuneration of these officers. The amendment introduces new designations and clarifies the pay matrix levels for existing ones, thereby streamlining the pay administration for the Indian Forest Service cadre in Uttar Pradesh. This ensures that the compensation structure remains relevant and equitable, supporting the effective functioning of forest administration and conservation efforts in the state.

Keywords: Indian Forest Service, Pay Rules, Uttar Pradesh, Central Government, Ministry of Personnel, DoPT, All India Services Act, Pay Matrix, Forest Officers, Amendment Rules Geo Tags: India, Uttar Pradesh District: Not Applicable