Transcribed from the Official UPSC Papers

IFoS Mains 2018 — General English & GK Question Paper

The complete 2018 compulsory papers of the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, readable online. Long reading passages are summarised with a pointer to the official PDF; every question is verbatim. New to these papers? Start with the English & GK strategy hub and the verified paper structure.

General English 2018 (Paper I)

Maximum marks: 300 · Time allowed: three hours · Official PDF

Q1 — Essay (100 marks)

Write an essay of 800 to 1000 words on any one of the following topics :

(a)Education as Social Justice
100 marks1000 words
(b)The Earth as Home
100 marks1000 words
(c)The Future of Heritage Buildings
100 marks1000 words
(d)Compassion as a Human Virtue
100 marks1000 words

Q2 — Letter and Report (25 + 25 marks)

(a)Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper complaining about the errors in the language of news reporting.
25 marks
(b)Write a report on a school programme you organized on the theme— "Good sense is ecological sense".
25 marks

Q3 — Précis (50 marks)

Write a précis of the passage given below in about one-third of its length. Please do not give any title :

3.[Passage of ~480 words on the principles of good management — that management is the development of people, not the direction of things, and that management and human resources administration are one and the same — see official PDF]
50 marks

Q4 — Reading Comprehension (10×5=50 marks)

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow in about 30–40 words each : 10×5=50

Passage[Passage of ~480 words on trees as nature's pumps — the 'ridge and furrow method' of using trees (eucalyptus, poplar, subabul) and the algae Spirulina platensis to soak up sewage water and factory effluents, and environmental protection as a universal responsibility — see official PDF]
(a)How do trees prevent waterlogging?
10 marks40 words
(b)What is the 'ridge and furrow method' ?
10 marks40 words
(c)What quality of the eucalyptus has been described in the passage?
10 marks40 words
(d)Explain why wastewater from the factories is injurious to health.
10 marks40 words
(e)Why is it a universal responsibility to protect the environment?
10 marks40 words

Q5 — Grammar and Vocabulary (40 marks)

(a)Rewrite the following sentences after correcting the grammatical errors in each : (1×10=10) (i) There is too many people in the room. (ii) I kept the box besides me. (iii) I have no expert in the area so I cannot do the work. (iv) Let there be no misunderstanding between you and I. (v) Did he played the first match? (vi) Wanted armchairs for old people with folding legs. (vii) Colleges spend a lot of money on equipments. (viii) I shall respond to your letter after I return back. (ix) The meeting will be held between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (x) He is one of the finest actor in Indian cinema.
10 marks
(b)Make sentences using the following words in such a way that the meaning of each word is clear from the context : (2×5=10) (i) Confirm; Conform (ii) Luxuriant; Luxurious (iii) Idle; Idol (iv) Devise; Device (v) Defy; Deify
10 marks
(c)Use the following idiomatic expressions in sentences in order to bring out their meaning : (2×5=10) (i) Being in somebody else's shoes (ii) See eye to eye (iii) Kangaroo court (iv) Between devil and the deep sea (v) Catch red-handed
10 marks
(d)Write the adjectival forms of the following words : (1×5=5) (i) Signify (ii) Cinema (iii) Benevolence (iv) Vulgarity (v) Turbulence
5 marks
(e)Write the noun forms of the following words : (1×5=5) (i) Tenacious (ii) Proficient (iii) Irreverent (iv) Disturb (v) Eloquent
5 marks

Q6 — Sentence Transformation (2×5=10 marks)

Rewrite the following sentences as directed : 2×5=10

(a)He said that his neighbour was bitten by a dog. (Change to direct speech)
2 marks
(b)He is so weak that he cannot play. (Rewrite using 'too')
2 marks
(c)He was ill. He came to the party. (Combine using 'despite')
2 marks
(d)Commercial reasons rule the cinema industry. (Change to passive voice)
2 marks
(e)She must weep or she will die. (Change to complex sentence)
2 marks

General Knowledge 2018 (Paper II)

Maximum marks: 300 · Time allowed: three hours · Official PDF

Q1 — History & Culture

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)Describe the characteristic features of Mughal Architecture. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)Trace the main events of Modern Indian History from the Cripps Mission to Independence of India. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Enumerate the causes for the rise of Buddhism and Jainism during ancient times. (125 words)
10 marks125 words
(d)Discuss the contribution of various organisations in the Social and Religious Reform Movement during the nineteenth century. (125 words)
10 marks125 words

Q2 — Economy

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)How does increase in current account deficit of India influence the fall in the value of rupee against the US Dollar ? What remedial measures have been suggested ? (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)India is going to experience the situation of demographic dividend in the near future, roughly around 2025. Is India capable to reap the benefits of demographic dividend ? Give reasons for your answer. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)What is black income ? Examine the recent policy efforts by the Government of India to tackle the problem. (125 words)
10 marks125 words
(d)How do rising oil prices fuel inflation ? What measures would you suggest to contain it in context of the Indian scenario in the recent past ? (125 words)
10 marks125 words

Q3 — Polity

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)What do you understand by the term 'Judicial Governance' ? Do you think the judiciary in India has started exercising overarching powers in the name of judicial governance ? Comment citing recent examples. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)Communal-Secular debate in Indian polity seems to be dissipating under the ambit of 'Government-Governance' discourse. Comment. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Though the right to life as enshrined in Part III of the Constitution includes rights to food, shelter and employment, these rights remain non-justiciable. Examine. (125 words)
10 marks125 words
(d)Providing constitutionality to the backward classes will ensure their legitimate empowerment and integration. Give arguments in light of the passage of the recent Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill for backward classes. (125 words)
10 marks125 words

Q4 — Geography

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)Write on the vertical distribution of natural vegetation of Himalayas. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)Discuss the importance of off-shore oil and gas resources for India. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Examine the economic and strategic importance of the Island regions of India. (125 words)
10 marks125 words
(d)Write on the problematic soils formed due to poor management of irrigation in India. (125 words)
10 marks125 words

Q5 — Biology / Biotechnology

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)What are the basis for using micro-organisms in a manufacturing industry ? Describe the various ways in which micro-organisms are involved with the petroleum industry. Also put a brief note on how industrial microbiology has been affected by the new biotechnology (applied genetics) ? (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)What are patents ? Briefly describe the various requirements and the process of award of a patent. Discuss the pros and cons of patenting life forms. What is the status of India in this context ? Also write your views on effects of patenting on commercialization of biotechnological products, with justification. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Why are enzymes important to a cell ? Describe two most striking characteristics of enzymes. Describe three specific types of regulation of enzyme activity. Also differentiate between constitutive and induced enzymes. (100 words)
10 marks100 words
(d)How do garden peas stand up to the requirements for good experimental organisms for genetic breeding ? Basically, how does the first division of meiosis differ from mitosis ? (100 words)
10 marks100 words

Q6 — Physics & Chemistry

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)Define a "Polymer" and "Degree of Polymerisation". Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the usage of polymers over metals in modern industries. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)What is Bose-Einstein condensate ? Discuss in brief how the first Bose-Einstein condensate was created. Mention its significance in Modern Physics. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Write down the full form of the acronym SQUID. Where does one use SQUID ? Mention the important applications of SQUID in medical sciences. (100 words)
10 marks100 words
(d)How does a quantum computer differ from a digital electronic computer ? Mention in brief the working of the quantum computer. (100 words)
10 marks100 words

Turn the 2018 paper into practice

The Sherlocking IFoS Combined Module discusses every English & GK PYQ from 2013 to 2025, with model answers for the 2019–2023 GK papers and one evaluated GK mock FLT.

Get the IFoS Combined Module All IFoS previous year papers

← IFoS Mains 2017 IFoS Mains 2019 →

Source: Transcribed from the official UPSC question paper PDFs (General English · General Knowledge ). Spellings and punctuation are preserved as printed. Last updated: July 2026.

Transcribed from the Official UPSC Papers

IFoS Mains 2018 — General English & GK Question Paper

General English 2018 (Paper I)

Maximum marks: 300 · Time allowed: three hours · Official PDF

Q1 — Essay (100 marks)

Write an essay of 800 to 1000 words on any one of the following topics :

(a)Education as Social Justice
100 marks1000 words
(b)The Earth as Home
100 marks1000 words
(c)The Future of Heritage Buildings
100 marks1000 words
(d)Compassion as a Human Virtue
100 marks1000 words

Q2 — Letter and Report (25 + 25 marks)

(a)Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper complaining about the errors in the language of news reporting.
25 marks
(b)Write a report on a school programme you organized on the theme— "Good sense is ecological sense".
25 marks

Q3 — Précis (50 marks)

Write a précis of the passage given below in about one-third of its length. Please do not give any title :

3.[Passage of ~480 words on the principles of good management — that management is the development of people, not the direction of things, and that management and human resources administration are one and the same — see official PDF]
50 marks

Q4 — Reading Comprehension (10×5=50 marks)

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow in about 30–40 words each : 10×5=50

Passage[Passage of ~480 words on trees as nature's pumps — the 'ridge and furrow method' of using trees (eucalyptus, poplar, subabul) and the algae Spirulina platensis to soak up sewage water and factory effluents, and environmental protection as a universal responsibility — see official PDF]
(a)How do trees prevent waterlogging?
10 marks40 words
(b)What is the 'ridge and furrow method' ?
10 marks40 words
(c)What quality of the eucalyptus has been described in the passage?
10 marks40 words
(d)Explain why wastewater from the factories is injurious to health.
10 marks40 words
(e)Why is it a universal responsibility to protect the environment?
10 marks40 words

Q5 — Grammar and Vocabulary (40 marks)

(a)Rewrite the following sentences after correcting the grammatical errors in each : (1×10=10) (i) There is too many people in the room. (ii) I kept the box besides me. (iii) I have no expert in the area so I cannot do the work. (iv) Let there be no misunderstanding between you and I. (v) Did he played the first match? (vi) Wanted armchairs for old people with folding legs. (vii) Colleges spend a lot of money on equipments. (viii) I shall respond to your letter after I return back. (ix) The meeting will be held between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (x) He is one of the finest actor in Indian cinema.
10 marks
(b)Make sentences using the following words in such a way that the meaning of each word is clear from the context : (2×5=10) (i) Confirm; Conform (ii) Luxuriant; Luxurious (iii) Idle; Idol (iv) Devise; Device (v) Defy; Deify
10 marks
(c)Use the following idiomatic expressions in sentences in order to bring out their meaning : (2×5=10) (i) Being in somebody else's shoes (ii) See eye to eye (iii) Kangaroo court (iv) Between devil and the deep sea (v) Catch red-handed
10 marks
(d)Write the adjectival forms of the following words : (1×5=5) (i) Signify (ii) Cinema (iii) Benevolence (iv) Vulgarity (v) Turbulence
5 marks
(e)Write the noun forms of the following words : (1×5=5) (i) Tenacious (ii) Proficient (iii) Irreverent (iv) Disturb (v) Eloquent
5 marks

Q6 — Sentence Transformation (2×5=10 marks)

Rewrite the following sentences as directed : 2×5=10

(a)He said that his neighbour was bitten by a dog. (Change to direct speech)
2 marks
(b)He is so weak that he cannot play. (Rewrite using 'too')
2 marks
(c)He was ill. He came to the party. (Combine using 'despite')
2 marks
(d)Commercial reasons rule the cinema industry. (Change to passive voice)
2 marks
(e)She must weep or she will die. (Change to complex sentence)
2 marks

General Knowledge 2018 (Paper II)

Maximum marks: 300 · Time allowed: three hours · Official PDF

Q1 — History & Culture

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)Describe the characteristic features of Mughal Architecture. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)Trace the main events of Modern Indian History from the Cripps Mission to Independence of India. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Enumerate the causes for the rise of Buddhism and Jainism during ancient times. (125 words)
10 marks125 words
(d)Discuss the contribution of various organisations in the Social and Religious Reform Movement during the nineteenth century. (125 words)
10 marks125 words

Q2 — Economy

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)How does increase in current account deficit of India influence the fall in the value of rupee against the US Dollar ? What remedial measures have been suggested ? (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)India is going to experience the situation of demographic dividend in the near future, roughly around 2025. Is India capable to reap the benefits of demographic dividend ? Give reasons for your answer. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)What is black income ? Examine the recent policy efforts by the Government of India to tackle the problem. (125 words)
10 marks125 words
(d)How do rising oil prices fuel inflation ? What measures would you suggest to contain it in context of the Indian scenario in the recent past ? (125 words)
10 marks125 words

Q3 — Polity

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)What do you understand by the term 'Judicial Governance' ? Do you think the judiciary in India has started exercising overarching powers in the name of judicial governance ? Comment citing recent examples. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)Communal-Secular debate in Indian polity seems to be dissipating under the ambit of 'Government-Governance' discourse. Comment. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Though the right to life as enshrined in Part III of the Constitution includes rights to food, shelter and employment, these rights remain non-justiciable. Examine. (125 words)
10 marks125 words
(d)Providing constitutionality to the backward classes will ensure their legitimate empowerment and integration. Give arguments in light of the passage of the recent Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill for backward classes. (125 words)
10 marks125 words

Q4 — Geography

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)Write on the vertical distribution of natural vegetation of Himalayas. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)Discuss the importance of off-shore oil and gas resources for India. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Examine the economic and strategic importance of the Island regions of India. (125 words)
10 marks125 words
(d)Write on the problematic soils formed due to poor management of irrigation in India. (125 words)
10 marks125 words

Q5 — Biology / Biotechnology

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)What are the basis for using micro-organisms in a manufacturing industry ? Describe the various ways in which micro-organisms are involved with the petroleum industry. Also put a brief note on how industrial microbiology has been affected by the new biotechnology (applied genetics) ? (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)What are patents ? Briefly describe the various requirements and the process of award of a patent. Discuss the pros and cons of patenting life forms. What is the status of India in this context ? Also write your views on effects of patenting on commercialization of biotechnological products, with justification. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Why are enzymes important to a cell ? Describe two most striking characteristics of enzymes. Describe three specific types of regulation of enzyme activity. Also differentiate between constitutive and induced enzymes. (100 words)
10 marks100 words
(d)How do garden peas stand up to the requirements for good experimental organisms for genetic breeding ? Basically, how does the first division of meiosis differ from mitosis ? (100 words)
10 marks100 words

Q6 — Physics & Chemistry

Answer all the following questions within the word limits indicated in the brackets at the end of the questions :

(a)Define a "Polymer" and "Degree of Polymerisation". Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the usage of polymers over metals in modern industries. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(b)What is Bose-Einstein condensate ? Discuss in brief how the first Bose-Einstein condensate was created. Mention its significance in Modern Physics. (200 words)
15 marks200 words
(c)Write down the full form of the acronym SQUID. Where does one use SQUID ? Mention the important applications of SQUID in medical sciences. (100 words)
10 marks100 words
(d)How does a quantum computer differ from a digital electronic computer ? Mention in brief the working of the quantum computer. (100 words)
10 marks100 words

Turn the 2018 paper into practice

The Sherlocking IFoS Combined Module discusses every English & GK PYQ from 2013 to 2025, with model answers for the 2019–2023 GK papers and one evaluated GK mock FLT.

Get the IFoS Combined Module All IFoS previous year papers

← IFoS Mains 2017 IFoS Mains 2019 →

Source: Transcribed from the official UPSC question paper PDFs (General English · General Knowledge ). Spellings and punctuation are preserved as printed. Last updated: July 2026.