Last updated: September 17, 2026 at 9:55 PM
The Karnataka Forest Department has invited online applications for 774 Forest Watcher (Aranya Vikshaka) Group ‘D’ posts advertised circle-wise across all 13 forest circles of the state for the year 2026-27. The recruitment is open to candidates who have passed SSLC (Class 10) or an equivalent examination, and selection is made on qualifying-exam marks followed by physical standard, endurance and efficiency tests. Following Addendum-II (Serpade-II) issued in early September 2026, the application window has reopened on 08.09.2026 and now closes on 30.09.2026.
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Recruitment Overview
| Post Name | Forest Watcher (Aranya Vikshaka), Group ‘D’ |
| Organization | Karnataka Forest Department, Government of Karnataka |
| Notification / Advertisement No. | Circle-wise notifications dated 20.07.2026 (Kanara and Kodagu published 21.07.2026) — e.g. Hassan Circle A3/Sibbandi/AVE/NE/VIVA-10/2026-27. Addendum-II (Serpade-II) issued 05.09.2026 to 08.09.2026. |
| Location | Karnataka — all 13 forest circles (Bengaluru, Belagavi, Ballari, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Dharwad, Hassan, Kalaburagi, Kanara, Kodagu, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga) |
| Total Vacancies | 774 posts across 13 circles (750 government-sanctioned posts plus circle-wise backlog vacancies) |
| Qualification | SSLC (Class 10) from the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board, or an equivalent qualification, held by the last date for applying |
| Age Limit | Minimum 18 years; maximum 30 years (General), 32 years (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B), 33 years (SC, ST, Category-1), as on the notification date Check your age eligibility → |
| Selection Process | Shortlisting on SSLC marks (1:20 ratio) → Physical Standard Test → Physical Endurance Test → Physical Efficiency Test → Medical Examination |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 29,600 – 52,800 per month (Karnataka Group ‘D’ time scale) |
| How to Apply | Apply online only at the KFD Recruitment Portal — one registration and one circle per candidate |
| Official Notification | Karnataka Forest Department – Recruitment page (circle-wise PDFs listed below) |
| Official Website / Apply Online | recruitment.aranya.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification date | 20.07.2026 |
| Original application window | 01.08.2026 to 31.08.2026 |
| Addendum-II (date extension) issued | 05.09.2026 to 08.09.2026 |
| Extended application start date | 08.09.2026 |
| Extended last date to apply | 30.09.2026 (up to 23:59:59) |
| Extended last date for fee payment | 03.10.2026 |
| Application correction window | 04.10.2026 to 08.10.2026 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General, Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B — Male | Rs. 200 |
| General, Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B — Female / Third gender | Rs. 100 |
| SC, ST, Category-1 — Male | Rs. 100 |
| SC, ST, Category-1 — Female / Third gender | Rs. 50 |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability (all categories) | Exempt from fee |
Fee can be paid by UPI, NEFT, credit card, debit card or internet banking. The fee is not refundable.
Vacancy Details — Circle-wise
Each forest circle issued its own notification and conducts its own selection. A candidate may apply to one circle only. Download the notification for the circle you intend to apply to.
| Forest Circle | Posts | Break-up | Official Notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamarajanagar | 159 | — | Download PDF |
| Mysuru | 121 | 120 + 1 backlog | Download PDF |
| Bengaluru | 82 | 80 + 2 backlog | Download PDF |
| Kanara (Sirsi) | 67 | 60 + 7 backlog | Download PDF |
| Ballari | 64 | — | Download PDF |
| Chikkamagaluru | 60 | 56 + 4 backlog | Download PDF |
| Mangaluru | 54 | — | Download PDF |
| Shivamogga | 44 | 38 + 6 backlog | Download PDF |
| Belagavi | 42 | — | Download PDF |
| Kodagu | 32 | — | Download PDF |
| Hassan | 31 | 30 + 1 backlog | Download PDF |
| Dharwad | 12 | — | Download PDF |
| Kalaburagi | 6 | 4 + 2 backlog | Download PDF |
| Total | 774 | — | — |
Category-wise and division-wise reservation break-ups are given inside each circle’s own notification.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | SSLC (Class 10) passed from the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board, or an equivalent qualification, held by the last date for applying. Recognised equivalents include CBSE and ICSE Class 10, Class 10 of other state boards, and the National Institute of Open Schooling. |
| Age Limit | Minimum 18 years as on the date the notification was issued. Maximum age limits are listed in the table below. Check your age eligibility → |
| Nationality / Domicile | As prescribed under the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules 1977 and the Karnataka Forest Department Services (Recruitment) Rules. |
| Application Restriction | One registration per candidate, and applications to one circle and one region only (Kalyana Karnataka or non-Kalyana Karnataka). |
Maximum Age Limit by Category
The notification records a one-time three-year relaxation in the maximum age limit granted by Government Order No. DPAR 262 SRR 2025 dated 29.01.2026, applicable to direct-recruitment notifications issued up to 31.12.2027, and then fixes the maximum age limits as follows.
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General Merit | 30 years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B (Other Backward Classes) | 32 years |
| Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Category-1 | 33 years |
| Serving Aranya Prerakas (Forest Motivators) with 5 years continuous service — General Merit | 40 years |
| Serving Aranya Prerakas — Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B | 42 years |
| Serving Aranya Prerakas — SC, ST and Category-1 | 43 years |
| Ex-servicemen | As prescribed in clause 5.2 of the notification, based on the period of military service rendered |
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 — Shortlisting on qualifying-exam marks | Candidates are shortlisted purely on the marks obtained in SSLC or the equivalent qualifying examination. Shortlisted candidates are called for the physical tests in a 1:20 ratio (one post to twenty candidates). No written examination is prescribed. |
| Stage 2 — Physical Standard Test (PST) | Height, chest and weight are measured against the standards in the table below. Purely qualifying; candidates who do not meet the standard are eliminated. |
| Stage 3 — Physical Endurance Test (PET) | Men: 1600 metre run to be completed within 07 minutes. Women and ex-servicemen: 1000 metre run within 06 minutes. Qualifying in nature; only candidates who clear it proceed to the efficiency test. |
| Stage 4 — Physical Efficiency Test | Six events covering sprint, jumps and shot put, listed in full below. Candidates must meet the qualifying time or distance for each event. |
| Stage 5 — Medical Examination | Screening for disqualifying physical defects (knock-knees, bow legs, flat feet, varicose veins, impediment of speech and hearing, hydrocele in men, and vision or colour blindness), an eye-vision test and a hearing test (Rinner’s test, Webber’s test and tests for vertigo). |
| Result publication | Lists and results at each stage are published on the Karnataka Forest Department website, aranya.gov.in. |
Physical Standards
| Standard | All other categories | Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes |
|---|---|---|
| Men — Height | Minimum 163 cm | Minimum 152 cm |
| Men — Chest (normal) | Minimum 79 cm | Minimum 74 cm |
| Men — Minimum chest expansion | 5 cm | 5 cm |
| Women — Height | Minimum 150 cm | Minimum 145 cm |
| Women — Minimum weight | 40 kg | 38 kg |
Physical Efficiency Test — Qualifying Time and Distance
| Event | Men | Women and ex-servicemen |
|---|---|---|
| 100 metre run | 15 seconds | 18.5 seconds |
| High jump | 1.20 metre | 0.90 metre |
| Long jump | 3.80 metre | 2.50 metre |
| Shot put (men 16 lb, women 8 lb) | 5.60 metre | 3.76 metre |
| 800 metre run | 2 minutes 50 seconds | — |
| 200 metre run | — | 40 seconds |
Salary and Benefits
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Scale | Rs. 29600-725-32500-800-35700-900-39300-1000-43300-1125-47800-1250-52800 |
| Starting Basic Pay | Rs. 29,600 per month |
| Maximum of the scale | Rs. 52,800 per month |
| Post classification | Group ‘D’, Karnataka Forest Department |
| Allowances and benefits | Dearness allowance, house rent allowance and other allowances as admissible to Karnataka State Government employees. The notification itself does not itemise allowance rates. |
How to Apply
- Go to the KFD Recruitment Portal at recruitment.aranya.gov.in and choose Register Here.
- Register with your full name exactly as printed on your SSLC marks card, your date of birth, gender and mobile number, and verify the mobile number with the OTP sent to it.
- Log in with the Registration ID and date of birth, then fill the application, choosing the single forest circle and region you wish to apply for.
- Upload the scanned certificates required for your claims — date of birth, educational qualification, caste or category, rural candidate, Kannada medium study, ex-servicemen, third gender, disability, or Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribe, as applicable.
- Pay the application fee by UPI, NEFT, credit card, debit card or internet banking, then complete the e-Sign to submit. Take a printout for your records.
Note: Applications are accepted online only. The date of birth can be corrected once before e-Sign, and no change of any kind is permitted after the application is e-Signed. Only the certificates uploaded with the application are considered at every later stage of the selection.
Documents Required
| Document | Format / Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport-size photograph | Scanned and uploaded in the format and file size specified on the portal upload screen. Resize your photo and signature → |
| Signature | Scanned and uploaded in the format and file size specified on the portal upload screen. |
| Date of birth certificate | SSLC marks card or an equivalent certificate proving date of birth. |
| Educational qualification certificate | SSLC or equivalent marks card, since selection is based on these marks. |
| Caste and category certificate | For SC, ST, Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B claims, in the prescribed form. |
| Rural candidate certificate | For candidates claiming the rural candidate reservation. |
| Kannada medium study certificate | For candidates claiming the Kannada medium reservation. |
| Project-displaced family certificate | For candidates from families displaced by a project. |
| Ex-servicemen discharge certificate | For ex-servicemen claiming age relaxation or reservation. |
| Third gender certificate | For candidates applying under the third gender category. |
| Disability certificate | For persons with benchmark disability, who are also exempt from the application fee. |
| Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribe certificate | For candidates claiming the relaxed physical standards. |
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online — KFD Recruitment Portal | Apply Online |
| Official Notification — Karnataka Forest Department | Recruitment Page |
| Official Website | aranya.gov.in |
| Join Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Creating more than one registration — a candidate must hold exactly one Registration ID, and duplicates can invalidate the application.
- Applying to more than one forest circle or to both the Kalyana Karnataka and non-Kalyana Karnataka regions, which is not permitted.
- Entering the date of birth carelessly at registration — it can be corrected only once, and never after the application is e-Signed.
- Entering a name that does not match the SSLC marks card exactly.
- Forgetting to upload a certificate for a claim — only documents uploaded with the application are considered at every later stage, and a claim without its certificate is lost.
- Paying the fee but not completing the e-Sign, which leaves the application incomplete and liable to rejection.
- Furnishing false information, which attracts debarment from Karnataka Forest Department recruitment for 10 years.
- Assuming the fee window extends the application deadline — the application itself must be submitted by 30.09.2026, even though fee payment stays open until 03.10.2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for Karnataka Forest Watcher Recruitment 2026?
The extended last date to submit the online application is 30.09.2026 up to 23:59:59, with the fee payment window open until 03.10.2026.
How many Forest Watcher posts are being filled?
774 posts in total across the 13 forest circles of Karnataka, ranging from 159 in Chamarajanagar Circle to 6 in Kalaburagi Circle.
What qualification is required for Karnataka Forest Watcher?
A pass in SSLC (Class 10) from the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board or an equivalent examination such as CBSE, ICSE, another state board or NIOS, held by the last date for applying.
What is the age limit for Forest Watcher 2026?
Minimum 18 years, with a maximum of 30 years for General Merit, 32 years for Categories 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, and 33 years for SC, ST and Category-1 candidates.
What is the application fee?
Rs. 200 for General and 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B male candidates and Rs. 100 for women and third gender candidates of those categories; Rs. 100 for SC, ST and Category-1 male candidates and Rs. 50 for women and third gender candidates of those categories; persons with benchmark disability are exempt.
Is there a written exam for Forest Watcher?
No — candidates are shortlisted on their SSLC marks in a 1:20 ratio and then take the Physical Standard, Physical Endurance and Physical Efficiency Tests, followed by a medical examination.
What is the salary of a Karnataka Forest Watcher?
The pay scale is Rs. 29,600 to Rs. 52,800 per month, starting at a basic pay of Rs. 29,600 plus allowances admissible to Karnataka State Government employees.
Can I apply for more than one forest circle?
No — a candidate may hold only one registration and may apply to a single circle and a single region, either Kalyana Karnataka or non-Kalyana Karnataka.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
