Karnataka Forest Department Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 675 Forest Observer Posts

Karnataka Forest Department Recruitment 2026 notification is out to fill 675 vacancies across Karnataka. Candidates with 10TH Can Apply Online. The online application opens on 01-08-2026 and closes on 31-08-2026. The candidate shall apply online through the Karnataka Forest Department website, aranya.gov.in.

Details for Karnataka Forest Department Recruitment 2026:

Vacancy Details

A total of 675 Forest Observer (Group ‘D’) vacancies are notified for the Shimoga Circle, Bangalore Circle, Chamarajanagar Circle, Bellary Circle, Mysore Circle, Belgaum Circle, Kalaburgi Circle, Chikkamagaluru Circle, Hassan Circle, Mangalore Circle, and Dharwad Circle.

Eligibility Criteria

• The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
• A male candidate with more than one living wife, or a woman who has married a man who already has a wife, is not eligible for appointment without prior permission of the Government.
• The candidate must be mentally and physically fit, and free from any physical defect that could hinder the efficient discharge of duties.
• The Selection Authority reserves full discretion to reject a candidate found medically unfit, based on a Medical Board’s report.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must have passed the SSLC examination conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board, or an equivalent Class 10 qualification, as on the last date fixed for submission of application. The following qualifications are recognised as equivalent to SSLC:

• Class 10 examination conducted by CBSE or ICSE boards
• Class 10 examination conducted by the education boards of other State Governments
• Secondary-level course conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
• Secondary-level course (KOS) conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board

Candidates who do not hold the prescribed qualification, or who applied and appeared in the recruitment process while awaiting SSLC (or equivalent) results, are not eligible; no qualification other than the ones listed above will be considered.

Age Limit

Minimum age: candidates must have completed 18 years as on the date of the notification. As a one-time measure, a 5-year relaxation in the above maximum age limits has been granted vide Government Order No. CiAsuI 262 SoNeNi 2025 dated 29.01.2026, applicable to all category candidates participating in the selection process for notifications issued up to 31.12.2027.

Age relaxation for ex-servicemen: the maximum age limit applicable to their category, plus the number of years of service rendered in the armed forces plus 3 years.

Age limit for existing Forest Observers: Forest Observers who have completed a minimum of 5 years of continuous service in the Forest Department and are currently serving on honorarium are eligible under a separate, higher age limit – General: 40 years; Category 2A/2B/3A/3B: 42 years; SC/ST/Category-I: 43 years.

Salary

Selected candidates will be placed in the following pay scale (Karnataka Civil Services pay scale):

Rs. 29,600-725-32,500-800-35,700-900-39,300-1,000-43,300-1,125-47,800-1,250-52,800

The take-home in-hand salary, grade pay/level, and probation period are not specified in the notification.

Application Fee

Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) are exempted from the application fee as per Government Circular No. CiAsuI 431 SanNi 2016 dated 28.12.2016.

Mode of fee payment: Application fee can be paid online through UPI, NEFT, Credit Card, Debit Card, or Internet Banking. Candidates who wish to pay by cash can select the cash option during the online application, download the generated challan, and pay in cash at any branch of State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, or Central Bank of India. No other payment mode (DD, cheque, postal order, etc.) will be accepted, and no offline, postal, courier, or email applications will be considered.

Selection Process

There is no written examination for the Forest Observer post. The selection process consists of the following stages:

1. Merit List: Prepared category-wise based on the marks obtained by candidates in SSLC or an equivalent qualifying examination, in the ratio of 1:20 (posts to candidates).
2. Physical Standard Test (PST): Candidates shortlisted in the merit list are checked against the prescribed height, chest measurement/expansion (for men), and height/weight (for women) standards.
3. Physical Endurance Test (PET) and Physical Efficiency Test: Candidates who clear the Physical Standard Test undergo endurance and efficiency tests as notified by the Department from time to time.
4. Final Selection List: Prepared category-wise in the ratio of 1:1 (post to candidate) based on performance in the above stages.

Physical Standards for Forest Observer (Male Candidates)

Physical Standards for Forest Observer (Female Candidates)

Note: the male physical standards above apply to third-gender candidates who identify as male, and the female physical standards apply to third-gender candidates who identify as female.

Candidates with the following physical defects are disqualified from selection: knock-knees, bow legs, flat feet, varicose veins, impediment in speech and hearing, hydrocele (for male candidates), and defective vision/colour blindness/night blindness.

How to Apply:

1. Visit the official Karnataka Forest Department website: https://aranya.gov.in.
2. Go to the “Recruitment” section at the bottom of the homepage.
3. Read the Karnataka Forest Department Services (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules, 2019 carefully before filling the online application.
4. Register and fill in the online application form with accurate personal, educational, and category details.
5. Upload the required certificates/documents as prompted in the online form.
6. Pay the applicable application fee online (or generate a cash challan for payment at the specified banks).
7. Review all entered details carefully – corrections or additions are not allowed once the application is submitted.
8. Submit the application and save/print a copy of the completed form for your records.

Applications must be submitted online only; applications sent by post, courier, speed post, ordinary mail, email, or in person will not be considered.

Important Dates

Important Links

FAQs – Karnataka Forest Department Recruitment 2026: