In a letter addressed to the J&K Chief Secretary, the MoEF&CC confirmed 28 vacancies under the promotion quota of the AGMUT cadre’s J&K segment. The induction of local officers into the IFS had remained stalled for the past 13 years due to the absence of a valid “State Forest Service.” The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change examined the matter and found that only the J&K Forest (Gazetted) Service (Territorial) satisfies the recruitment, training, and other criteria for promotion into the IFS. Recruitment into the Indian Forest Service is governed by two methods: direct recruitment through UPSC examinations and induction via the promotion quota. While 66% of posts are filled through the UPSC Civil Services Examination, the remaining 33% are reserved for promotion of eligible State Forest Service (SFS) officers.