Kumar Bahukhandi
Probationary officers of the 2024 batch of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) paid courtesy call on Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at Mantralaya (Mahanadi Bhavan), on Wednesday January 14, 2026-Photo Credit-CG/PR.
Raipur: Probationary officers of the 2024 batch of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) paid courtesy call on Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at Mantralaya (Mahanadi Bhavan), on Wednesday January 14, 2026 .
Chief Minister Sai congratulated the officers on their appointment to the prestigious Indian Forest Service and extended his best wishes for their future responsibilities. Among the probationary officers were two officers hailing from Durg and Dantewada districts of Chhattisgarh.
Interacting with the officers, Chief Minister Sai said that 44 per cent of Chhattisgarh’s geographical area is covered by forests, which not only homes the rich wildlife but also supports the livelihood and social life of a large section of its population through forest resources.
In this context, he emphasised that the role of Indian Forest Service officers in Chhattisgarh is of immense importance. He encouraged the officers to make the most of this golden opportunity by undergoing their training with complete dedication and sincerity.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force V. Srinivas Rao informed Chief Minister that six Indian Forest Service officers have been deputed to Chhattisgarh from the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun, for a 16-week on-the-job training programme.
These officers have been posted in forest divisions under Bastar, Raigarh, Dhamtari, Rajnandgaon, Katghora and Jashpur districts. The training programme will be conducted from January 05 to April 25, 2026, during which the officers will gain first-hand, field-level exposure to various aspects of forest administration and management.
On the occasion, Minister for Forest and Climate Change Kedar Kashyap, MLA Bhaiyalal Rajwade, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shalini Raina, Chief Conservator of Forests, Raipur, Mani Vasagan S, and probationary officers Akshay Jain, Kunal Mishra, M. Jalinder Yadav, Parakh Sarda, Preeti Yadav and Yashasvi Maurya were also present.
