Raipur, January 14, 2026 | Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai met the trainee officers of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) 2024 batch at the Ministry (Mahanadi Bhavan). Congratulating them on their selection into the prestigious Indian Forest Service, the Chief Minister said that the service is not merely a position, but a profound responsibility toward nature, society, and future generations.
The Chief Minister highlighted that nearly 44 percent of Chhattisgarh’s geographical area is covered with forests, which are rich in biodiversity and closely linked to the livelihoods and social life of a large section of the population. In such a scenario, he said, the role of Indian Forest Service officers in the state becomes extremely significant. He urged the trainee officers to make the most of this opportunity by undergoing their training with dedication, commitment, and sensitivity.
The Chief Minister was informed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Shri V. Srinivasa Rao, that six IFS trainee officers, who have undergone their foundational training at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun, have been deputed to Chhattisgarh for 16 weeks of on-the-job training.
This training programme will be conducted from January 5 to April 25, 2026, during which the officers will be posted in the forest divisions of Bastar, Raigarh, Dhamtari, Rajnandgaon, Katghora, and Jashpur. The trainees will gain first-hand field experience in forest management, wildlife conservation, challenges in tribal regions, and grassroots-level forest administration.
The group of trainee officers also includes two officers from Durg and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh, which is expected to further strengthen the state’s forest administration with locally experienced professionals in the future.
Present on the occasion were Forest and Climate Change Minister Kedar Kashyap, MLA Bhaiyalal Rajwade, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ms. Shalini Raina, Chief Conservator of Forests, Raipur Mani Vasagan S, along with trainee officers Akshay Jain, Kunal Mishra, M. Jalinder Yadav, Parakh Sarda, Preeti Yadav, and Yashasvi Maurya.
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