Walking Test : Indian Forest Service Examination

Indian Forest Service (IFS) is an All India Service (AIS). One among the total three AIS, the other two being Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS). The prelims exam of both civil services and IFS is the same after the changed pattern in 2013. It's just that the cutoff marks of prelims for IFS is around 15-20 marks more than the cutoff for the civil services. So that's the major hurdle for this exam.

The exam is allowed to be taken by only science and engineering graduates and since percentage of engineering graduates is increasing in the civil services mix and registration process for prelims is same, almost everyone ticks the option to be considered for IFS too, and since number of seat is only 110 for IFS thus number of people qualify for mains is also much smaller i,e around 1200 and thus cutoff marks is very high.

After taking on the chance to appear in this exam compromising on the very crucial time for civils mains (IFS mains was just 10 days before civil mains) and fighting it through midst the initial days of demonetization and reading one extra optional forestry only for 4 days I was only little hopeful for the interview call. When UPSC delayed the result by almost a month that added to the anxiety but when result came I had made it to the interview.

The thrill of appearing before the interview board for the first time and getting judged on personality made the days past very fast. However after the interview the wait of 5 days for the result was unending.  Finally the good news came. UPSC had recommended me for the appointment in Indian Forest Service.

Now starts the preparation of the walking test.

Earlier medical and walking test use to be along with interview and after that recommended list was published by UPSC but since last year they declare the list first and made only selected people go for medical and walking test.

Below I will be describing my preparation for the test in detail and how walking test is conducted and what strategy can be adopted  to easily sail through this arduous test.

We were three friends who were selected, so the practicing long walk was not as monotonous. By constantly motivating and pushing one another we managed to go for practice for 10-12 days before the final test and I guess that is sufficient.

We practiced usually for 10 Km walk daily and in the middle we pushed ourselves for 15 Km on every alternate days. One day we decided to go for the kill and walked for close to 25 Km. That was painful. Thankfully we had done it 10 days ahead of test and thus we had time to heal. But that maximum push brought couple of important issues to the fore.

1. Good shoe is very important. 
2. If you will tire yourself unnecessarily early in the walk rest of the journey is going to be painful.
3. Walking after 15 Km takes more time.
4. Adequate hydration at periodic interval is very important.

Buy a good shoe that is specially designed for walking or running. These shoes have extra foam in their sole and it will protect the feet from developing blisters which is a common phenomena if your shoe is not right. These are designed to let your feet breath. There are specially designed socks as well with extra padding around heel and toe area and they tightly cusp the feet which minimize the pain. Investment in good shoe and socks is every penny worth.

The test is conducted in National Zoological Park, Delhi popularly known as Delhi Zoo. It has been the venue for the test since generation so it will be so for coming generation too. This year it is almost heat wave condition in Delhi but still they did not change the venue. 

The walk test usually starts 30-45 min after the reporting time as they have some paper work to do. They make identity card which all participants hang around their neck during walk. Thus don't forget to bring 4-5 recent photographs. A number is assigned to everyone which is written on the identity card along with photograph.

This is a 2.5 Km stretch in the zoo which has to be repeated 10 times for the compete 25 Km (for female 5 and half round for 14 Km). The duration for test is of 4 hour which is same for male and female candidate. 

As it can be seen from the google map, for normal walk it will take 30 min to cover 2.5 Km but according to time duration given to us we must complete one round in 24 min. Thus brisk walk is required and that too we must sustain it for 4 straight hours. 

Along with physical capability and stamina, mental strength is also required with the conviction that Yes! it can be done and I will do it. 

Couple of very important points 

• Have a good strategy.
• Test it beforehand
• Have absolute faith on it.
• Don't abandon it midway.

This was my strategy to complete 6 rounds in 2 hours i,e  20 min per round. Now this can be done with brisk walking and slight jogging for 200-300 m . The zoo road have slopes at 2-3 places so jogging spots can be chosen at these slopes as this will be less strenuous. Since at the start we have energy so this can be achieved without much effort. Now after completing 6 rounds in 2 hour I am left with 2 hour to complete 4 rounds i,e 30 min per round, which can be done by normal walk enjoying the weather and sight of peacock on the roads. After 1 hour i,e 3 rounds, start drinking glucose in the middle of every round that will not let muscle form lactic acid and thus pain can be avoided. Use volini (pain spray) around the calf muscle area and thigh at the end of 7-8th round that will be enough for last 2 rounds.

Have faith on the strategy and don't abandon it midway seeing someone getting ahead of you. Keep watch on your watch and stick to your time.

We started the test at 5:45 AM. The weather was cool. slight breeze was penetrating through extra porous sports t-shirt. Around 36 people started the race but within 5 min the crowd spread out according to their own strategy. I had a friend with me with whom I had practiced and we had the same plan so we stuck together. 1-2 more people decided to go along with us.  We completed first round in 21 min. I was feeling little pain in my shin area. But I managed to recover the lost 1 min in second round and by the end of 60 min I was done with third round. Second and third round were easier than the first one. I guess leg muscles were conditioned.

Sun had risen spreading its red hue all over. Most of the animals were still sleeping except some birds and peacocks (They were in plenty). Suddenly the clam atmosphere of zoo got reverberated by loud noise. The king of jungle had woken from the slumber. The loud roar was majestic and thrilling. There was huge wall along the enclosure so Lion was not visible to us from our walking path but its sound sent turmoil among the pack of beautiful dears and antelopes. The view was nice and refreshing. Enjoying everything we kept moving on.

We had to collect token form the middle of the round and submit it after completion of the round. People at those counters were active. They use to read our number printed on our identity card around our neck from a distance and were ready with the token. Token was a steel round big coin like object with our number printed on it and number of the round which we were doing. Refreshment counter was at both places (where we were receiving and submitting token ). The items in refreshments were water, glucose, lemon, banana, Tiger biscuit.

One man was standing there who was continuously mixing glucose with water and the glass was ready for us to drink. But the amount of glucose he was mixing was very little. So one tip, pore more glucose in the glass and make your own drink. That was very helpful. It never let me feel tired. One thing that was missing was electrolyte. As after 2-3 hour it became warm and we were loosing sweat. I could feel the need of electrolyte. So 1-2 pack of electral can be carried in the pocket and just mix it with water and take after 6-7 rounds.

I completed 6 rounds in precise 2 hour. That was my first milestone. After completing that I ate one big banana. and took some biscuits in the pocket for munching and there after I only walked chatting with people.  After two more rounds i,e after 20 Km I could feel my muscles were at their limit. Then I sprayed volini on my both legs. I had taken 50 min for completing these two rounds. After that I was left with 70 min to complete two more round. That I comfortably did it 15 min remaining.

It was a happy feeling at the end. Everyone congratulated each other for clearing the last hurdle for this exam and becoming the officer. Good thing was no one was left and at the end everyone completed the test successfully.

I did a little bit of cooling down exercise. This is very important if you want to save yourself from the pain afterwards. This includes leg stretching, bending, back stretching. Then I washed my face with cool water , oh! the sweet feeling it gives. then sat for 15-20 min under fan in the zoo director's office. Then booked cab and returned.