Union Minister Yadav presides over Ceremony of IFS Probationers

The Convocation Ceremony of the 2024 Batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) probationers undergoing training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun, was held on Saturday at the Convocation Hall of the Forest Research Institute (FRI). Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, presided over the ceremony as the Chief Guest and presented certificates and medals to the successful probationers.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Yadav congratulated the officers on successfully completing their training and said that they had received outstanding technical and leadership training at one of the country’s premier academies. He expressed confidence that when these officers reach the most productive phase of their careers, India will be celebrating 100 years of Independence and they will play a significant role in achieving and leading the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Earlier, Director, IGNFA, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Khajuria presented the Director’s Report and stated that the institution, which began as the Indian Forest College and now functions as the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, has been serving the nation since 1938. He informed that all Indian Forest Service officers of independent India, along with 369 forest officers from 14 friendly countries, have received training from the institution. He further stated that under the revised curriculum aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, a total of 111 officers, comprising 109 Indian Forest Service probationers of the 2024 Batch and two officer trainees from Bhutan, completed the 20-month training programme. Of these, 75 officers secured more than 75 per cent marks and were awarded the Honours Diploma.

The ceremony was attended by Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Tanmay Kumar; Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, Sushil Kumar Awasthi; Chairman, CEC, C.P. Goyal; Additional Director General of Forests, Santosh Tiwari; Additional Director General of Forests, Ramesh Kumar Pandey; Additional Secretary, Amandeep Garg; Director General, ICFRE, Smt. Kanchan Devi; Director, IGNFA, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Khajuria; Additional Director, IGNFA, Shri N.C. Saravanan; Inspector General of Forests, Dr. V. Clement Ben; Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dr. G.S. Bhardwaj; Director, FRI, along with several senior officers, heads of forestry and other institutions based in Dehradun, faculty members and staff of IGNFA and the Central Academy for State Forest Service, retired Indian Forest Service officers, senior officers from the Central and State Governments, trainee officers of the 2025 Batch, and family members of the passing-out officers of the 2024 Batch. (UPDATED ON 1ST AUGUST 2026)