Below mentioned are the Forest Department ranks in order of seniority (from highest to lowest) along with their full forms:
- CCF – Chief Conservator of Forests
- DCF – Deputy Conservator of Forests
- DFO – Divisional Forest Officer
- ACF – Assistant Conservator of Forests
In India's forest administration, the CCF is usually a senior officer, often from the Indian Forest Service. The ACF, on the other hand, is generally an entry-level officer.
These ranks form a key part of the forest administration in India. Typically, CCF is a very senior officer (often an Indian Forest Service officer), while ACF is an entry-level gazetted officer rank.
- Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) – Training-level officer.
- Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) / Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) – In charge of forest division.
- Conservator of Forests (CF) – Supervises multiple divisions.
- Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) – Zonal head or circle head.
Mention differences in scope and authority.
Below mentioned are their full forms in Hindi.
- CCF – मुख्य वन संरक्षक
- DCF – उप वन संरक्षक
- DFO – वन प्रभागीय अधिकारी
- ACF – सहायक वन संरक्षक
In the Indian Forest Service, the position of District/Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Conservator of Forests, Chief Conservator of Forests and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests etc., are held, at times, by Indian Forest Service officers. The highest-ranking Forest Service official in each state is the Head of Forest Forces.
Get comprehensive details on Indian Forest Service Salary, Ranks, Levels, Allowances, Perks, Benefits and Promotions
Reporting Structure of the Forest Department in India
Tabulated below is the reporting structure of the Forest Department in India, arranged by seniority, designation, and reporting hierarchy:
Seniority Level | Designation | Reporting To | Role Description |
1 (Top) | Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change / State Forest Minister | Head of the entire forest department in the state or central cadre |
2 | Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) | PCCF | Assists PCCF in policy, coordination, and state-wide supervision |
3 | Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) | APCCF / PCCF | Heads a forest circle (group of divisions); ensures policy execution |
4 | Conservator of Forests (CF) | CCF | Supervises multiple forest divisions in a circle; monitoring and administration |
5 | Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) /Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) | CF | In-charge of a forest division; implements schemes, manages forest land and staff |
6 | Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) | DFO / DCF | Assists DFO in field inspections, reports, and execution of forest plans |
7 | Range Forest Officer (RFO) | ACF / DFO | Supervises a forest range; monitors beat officers and ground-level forest work |
8 | Deputy Range Officer (DyRO) /Forester | RFO | Assists RFO in monitoring and patrolling, small team leadership |
9 (Base Level) | Forest Guard / Beat Officer | DyRO / RFO | Patrolling, forest protection, wildlife monitoring, ground-level implementation |
Important Note: The Forest Department usually fills positions, from Forest Guard to Range Forest Officer, and sometimes even Assistant Conservator of Forests via State Public Service Commissions. These jobs are state-level positions.
Higher roles, such as Divisional Forest Officer, Deputy Conservator of Forests, and ranks like Conservator of Forests, Chief Conservator of Forests, and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, are generally staffed by Indian Forest Service officers. The UPSC recruits for this All India Service.
Before moving on to more details, compare salary with Forest Beat Officer Salary 2025 | Pay Scale, In-Hand Salary & Perks and Forester Salary in India 2025, Pay Scale, In-Hand Salary, Perks & Career Growth
Who is the Highest-ranking Officer of the Indian Forest Service?
The Director General of Forests in India is the top officer in the Indian Forest Service. Chosen from the senior-most Principal Chief Conservators of Forests from various states, this director is assigned to the Indian Government. There is only one Director General of Forests position. The person in this role also serves as a Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Typically, officers at this level have around 35 years on the job.
Who is the Highest-ranking Officer of the Indian State Forest Service?
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests is the top Indian Forest Service officer in charge of managing a state's forests, environment, and wildlife matters. It is the highest rank for an Indian Forest Service officer in a state. The Head of Forest Forces has the rank of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)
Sometimes, a state might have multiple PCCF positions. In this case, one of them is named the Head of Forest Force. The HOFF/PCCF gets support from APCCFs, Chief Conservators of Forests, Conservators of Forests, and field staff like DFOs and Range Forest Officers.
Check: Forest Range Officer Salary Per Month in India 2025
Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Hierarchy in States
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forestsis the highest official in forest department of the state.
This hierarchy is followed in most Indian states and in the Indian Forest Service (IFS), with slight variations based on state policies.
Seniority Rank | Designation (English) | Designation (Hindi) | Role / Responsibilities |
1 (Highest) | CCF – Chief Conservator of Forests | मुख्य वन संरक्षक | Supervises multiple forest circles; policy planning, inter-department coordination |
2 | DCF – Deputy Conservator of Forests | उप वन संरक्षक | Heads forest circles/divisions; administrative control, forest law enforcement |
3 | DFO – Divisional Forest Officer | वन प्रभागीय अधिकारी | In charge of forest division; supervises forest ranges, planning, budget, and operations |
4 (Entry-level) | ACF – Assistant Conservator of Forests | सहायक वन संरक्षक | Assists DFO; manages forest range/subdivision, enforcement of forest and wildlife laws |
Explore: Forest Section Officer Salary 2025(APPSC), Group, In-hand Salary, Job Profile and Promotions
Career Progression of Officers in Indian Forest Service
Advancement and promotion is based on experience, job performance, open positions, and government regulations. Some officers might be assigned to organizations such as the MoEFCC, the Wildlife Institute of India, or UN groups. Officers can also hold positions such as Director General of Forests. This system guarantees career growth with added responsibility in conservation, protection, and policy.
Years of Service | Designation | Typical Role / Responsibilities |
0 – 2 years | Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) | Field training, assists DFO, manages smaller administrative duties. |
3 – 8 years | Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) / DFO | In charge of forest divisions; handles operations & staff. |
9 – 16 years | Conservator of Forests (CF) | Supervises multiple divisions; plans and implements forest policy. |
17 – 25 years | Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) | In charge of an entire forest circle or zone; policy & planning. |
26 – 30+ years | Additional Principal Chief Conservator (Addl. PCCF) | Strategic leadership, coordination with state/national authorities. |
30+ years | Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) | Head of the Forest Department in a state; topmost IFoS officer. |
Indian Forest Service Salary and Ranks
The table below details a comprehensive guide to the ranks and their salary structure:
| Grade | Designation(State Government) | Designation (Government of India) | Monthly Salary |
| Junior Time Scale | Assistant Conservator of Forests/Assistant Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | Rs 56,100 |
| Senior Time Scale | Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector General of Forests | Rs 67,700 |
| Junior Administrative Grade | Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant General of Forests | Rs 78,800 |
| Selection Grade | Deputy Conservator of Forests | Assistant Inspector of Forests | Rs 1,18,500 |
| Super Time Scale | Chief Wildlife Warden | Deputy Inspector General of Forests | Rs 1,50,000 |
| Senior Administrative Grade | Chief Conservator of Office | Inspector General of Forests | Rs 1,75,000 |
| HAG Scale | Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests | - | Rs 2,00,000 |
| HAG+ Scale | Principal Conservator of Forests | Additional Director General of Forests | Rs 2,05,400 |
| Apex Scale | Head of Forest Force | Director-General of Forests | Rs 2,25,000 |
Also know the full forms of the following in the forest department with salary, position and job profile:
- FSO Full form in Forest Department
- FBO Full form in Forest Department
- FRO Full Form in Forest Department
DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) Vs. CCF (Chief Conservator of Forests)
Below is the comparative table highlighting the key differences between DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) and CCF (Chief Conservator of Forests) based on responsibility, jurisdiction, and administrative power:
Criteria | DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) | CCF (Chief Conservator of Forests) |
Full Form | Divisional Forest Officer | Chief Conservator of Forests |
Level | Mid-level (Equivalent to Deputy Conservator of Forests) | Senior-level Officer (HOD level in the department) |
Cadre Source | Indian Forest Service (IFS) / State Forest Service | Indian Forest Service (IFS) |
Jurisdiction | Forest Division (District Level) | Multiple Forest Circles or an entire region |
Responsibility | Day-to-day management, protection, and conservation at division level | Supervises several divisions, policy implementation, and planning |
Reporting To | Conservator of Forests (CF) | Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) |
Administrative Powers | Field-level decision-making and staff supervision | Departmental planning, administrative sanctioning, high-level decisions |
Recruitment | UPSC/State PSC | UPSC (IFS Officers) |
Common Posting Area | Districts | State/Regional Headquarters |
Typical Years of Experience | 4–10 years (IFS) | 20+ years (IFS) |
Forest guards are real ground level workers who look after forests and take care of them. Know salary of forest guards across states in India:
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