Karnataka Forest Department Recruitment 2026: The Karnataka Forest Department has released a recruitment notification for 750 Forest Watcher vacancies in various Forest Circles across Karnataka. Eligible candidates who have passed SSLC or an equivalent qualification can apply online through the official Karnataka Forest Department recruitment portal.
| Karnataka Forest Department Jobs 2026 Notification | |
| Job Location: Karnataka | |
| Organization Name | Karnataka Forest Department |
| Post Name | Forest Watcher |
| No. of Vacancies | 750 Posts |
| Qualification | 10th |
| Official Website | https://aranya.gov.in/ |
| Mode | Online |
The online application process started on 1st August 2026. The last date to apply has been extended from 31st August 2026 to 7th September 2026.
Post Details
Post Name: Forest Observer
Total Vacancies: 750 Posts
- Bengaluru: 70 Posts
- Belagavi: 42 Posts
- Ballari: 62 Posts
- Chamarajanagar: 169 Posts
- Chikkaballapur: 56 Posts
- Dharwad: 12 Posts
- Hassan: 30 Posts
- Kenara: 60 Posts
- Kodagu: 32 Posts
- Kalaburagi: 4 Posts
- Mangalore: 54 Posts
- Mysuru: 120 Posts
- Shivamogga: 38 Posts
Qualification
Applicants must possess SSLC qualification or an equivalent qualification as prescribed in the notification.
- Must have passed SSLC conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board.
- Equivalent Class 10 qualifications recognized by the Government may also be considered.
- Class 10 conducted by CBSE or ICSE is considered equivalent.
- Class 10 conducted by other State Government Examination Boards is also recognized.
- Secondary-level courses conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) are also mentioned as equivalent qualifications.
Candidates who are awaiting their SSLC/equivalent examination results on the prescribed last date are not eligible to apply.
Salary Details
Pay Scale: Rs. 27,500 – 46,675
The pay scale mentioned in the notification is:
Rs. 27,500-650-29,600-725-32,500-800-35,700-900-39,300-1,000-43,300-1,125-46,675
Age Limit
Candidates must have completed 18 years of age as required by the notification.
The maximum age limit, including the one-time 5-year relaxation provided by the Government for direct recruitment notifications issued up to 31st December 2027, is as follows:
- General Candidates: Maximum 30 years
- Backward Classes: Maximum 32 years
- SC / ST / Category-I: Maximum 33 years
Eligible Forest Motivators who have completed at least five years of continuous service and are currently working as Forest Motivators are subject to separate maximum age limits specified in the notification.
Application Fee
- General / Category IIA, IIB, IIIA & IIIB Male Candidates: Rs. 200/-
- General / Category IIA, IIB, IIIA & IIIB Female & Transgender Candidates: Rs. 100/-
- SC / ST / Category-I Male Candidates: Rs. 100/-
- SC / ST / Category-I Female & Transgender Candidates: Rs. 50/-
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): Exempted from application fee
The application fee can be paid online. Candidates choosing cash payment can download the generated challan after submitting the online application and pay the fee through the specified bank branches.
Selection Process
The selection process for Forest Watcher posts will be conducted through multiple stages.
- SSLC / Equivalent Marks Based Shortlisting
- Physical Standard Test (PST)
- Physical Endurance Test (PET)
- Physical Efficiency Test (Physical Efficiency Test)
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
- Final Merit List
Candidates will initially be shortlisted based on the marks obtained in SSLC or equivalent qualification. Eligible candidates will then be called for the physical tests in the prescribed ratio.
The final merit list will be prepared based on SSLC/equivalent marks among candidates who qualify in the required physical tests and subsequent verification stages.
Physical Standard Test
Candidates must satisfy the prescribed physical standards for the Forest Watcher post.
- Male Candidates – Other Categories: Minimum height 163 cm
- Male Candidates – Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes: Minimum height 152 cm
- Male Candidates – Other Categories: Minimum chest measurement 79 cm with minimum expansion of 5 cm
- Male Candidates – Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes: Minimum chest measurement 74 cm with minimum expansion of 5 cm
- Female Candidates – Other Categories: Minimum height 150 cm and minimum weight 40 kg
- Female Candidates – Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes: Minimum height 145 cm and minimum weight 38 kg
Physical Endurance Test
- Male Candidates: 1600 metre run to be completed within 7 minutes
- Female Candidates: 1000 metre run to be completed within 6 minutes
Candidates who fail the Physical Endurance Test will not be considered for the subsequent selection process.
Physical Efficiency Test
Candidates are required to participate in the prescribed physical efficiency tests. The notification specifies the following events and qualifying standards:
- 100 Metre Run: Male – 15 seconds; Female – 18.5 seconds
- High Jump: Male – 1.20 metres; Female – 0.90 metres
- Long Jump: Male – 3.80 metres; Female – 2.50 metres
- Shot Put: Male – 16 lbs; Female – 8 lbs
- 800 Metre Run: Applicable standard as prescribed in the notification
Candidates must qualify in the minimum number of physical efficiency events prescribed by the department to proceed to the next stage of selection.
Medical & Physical Fitness Requirements
Candidates must satisfy the prescribed medical and physical requirements for the Forest Watcher post.
- Knock-knees
- Bow legs
- Flat feet
- Varicose veins
- Impediment in speech and hearing
- Hydrocele in men
- Vision, colour blindness or night blindness issues as specified in the notification
The notification also prescribes eye-vision and hearing tests for eligible candidates.
Merit List
Candidates who qualify in the Physical Endurance Test and Physical Efficiency Test will be considered for preparation of the circle-level merit list based on their marks in SSLC or equivalent qualification.
If two or more candidates obtain equal marks, the older candidate will be placed above the younger candidate for determining inter-se merit.
How to Apply
Eligible candidates must submit their applications online only through the official Karnataka Forest Department recruitment portal.
- Step 1: Visit the official Karnataka Forest Department website.
- Step 2: Go to the “Recruitment” section.
- Step 3: Select the Forest Watcher recruitment notification.
- Step 4: Complete the online application form with the required details.
- Step 5: Upload the required documents and certificates in the prescribed format.
- Step 6: Pay the applicable application fee through the available payment method.
- Step 7: Submit the application before the last date.
- Step 8: Download and keep a copy of the submitted application for future reference.
Applications submitted through post, courier, registered post, ordinary post, email or any other offline method will not be accepted.
Important Dates
- Notification Date: 30th June 2026
- Online Application Start Date: 1st August 2026
- Online Application Last Date: 7th September 2026
- Last Date for Application Fee Payment: 2nd September 2026
Important Links
| Notification Link | Click Here |
| Application Link | Apply Now |
| Official Website | Click Here |