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Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), Government of Karnataka Forest Observer – 750 Posts Recruitment 2026
Introduction
The Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) has notified direct recruitment for 750 Forest Observer posts (officially Forest Watcher – Group D, known in Kannada as Aranya Veekshaka) across 13 forest circles of Karnataka. The posts are split into 700 posts in the original cadre (Non-HK) and 50 posts in the Kalyana Karnataka (HK) region. The recruitment notification was issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), Government of Karnataka, vide No. KFD/HOFF/B9(RCT)/5/2026-PnR. Candidates who have passed SSLC (Class 10) or an equivalent examination can apply online only at the official Karnataka Forest Department website, aranya.gov.in. Applications opened on 01.08.2026, and as per the latest extension letter dated 29.09.2026, the last date to apply online is now 30.10.2026.
Recruitment Overview
| The table below answers the main questions about this recruitment | who is recruiting, which post, how many vacancies, who can apply, the dates, the application mode and the job location. |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organization | Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), Government of Karnataka |
| Notification Issued By | Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), Aranya Bhavan, 18th Cross, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru – 03 |
| Notification Reference | No. KFD/HOFF/B9(RCT)/5/2026-PnR, dated 30.06.2026 |
| Post Name | Forest Observer (Forest Watcher – Group D / Aranya Veekshaka) |
| Total Vacancies | 750 (700 Non-HK + 50 HK) |
| Who Can Apply | Indian citizens who have passed SSLC or an equivalent examination and meet the age, physical and other conditions of the notification |
| Application Start Date | 01.08.2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 30.10.2026 (extended) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Job Location | Karnataka (vacancies are notified across 13 forest circles) |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 27,500 – 46,675 (scale given below) |
| Selection Process | Physical tests, merit list based on SSLC marks, document verification and medical tests |
| Official Website | https://aranya.gov.in/ |
Important Dates
The application period for KFD Forest Observer Recruitment 2026 has been extended more than once. The latest extension letter, dated 29.09.2026, extends the online application deadline to 30.10.2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Recruitment letter issued by the PCCF (Head of Forest Force) | 30.06.2026 |
| Date on which circle-level notifications were to be issued, as instructed in the letter | 20.07.2026 (e-Gazette publication on 21.07.2026) |
| Online application start date | 01.08.2026 (from 00:00:01) |
| Original last date to apply online | 31.08.2026 (till 23:59:59) |
| First extension (technical reasons) | 01.09.2026 to 07.09.2026 |
| Second extension (direction in the meeting held on 04.09.2026) | Up to 30.09.2026 |
| Latest last date to apply online (letter dated 29.09.2026) | 30.10.2026 |
| Original last date to pay the application fee | 02.09.2026 |
The first extension (01.09.2026 to 07.09.2026) was made for technical reasons, and the extension up to 30.09.2026 was directed in a meeting held on 04.09.2026 under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment. The latest extension to 30.10.2026 follows Government notification No. FEE 242 FNG 2026 dated 23.09.2026, which proposes to include some Scheduled Tribe sub-castes under the Scheduled Tribe – Local Forest Dwelling Tribes reservation. A draft notification amending the Forest Guard and Forest Watcher cadre and recruitment rules was published in the Karnataka Gazette (Extraordinary), inviting objections and suggestions.
KFD Forest Observer Vacancy 2026
KFD Forest Observer Vacancy 2026 stands at 750 posts. Of these, 700 are in the original cadre (Non-HK) and 50 are in the Kalyana Karnataka (HK) region. The posts are spread across 13 circles, and the circle-wise numbers are given below.
| S. No. | Circle: No. of Posts |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bengaluru: 70 (Non-HK) |
| 2 | Belagavi: 42 (Non-HK) |
| 3 | Ballari: 63 (17 Non-HK + 46 HK) |
| 4 | Chamarajanagar: 169 (Non-HK) |
| 5 | Chikkamagaluru: 56 (Non-HK) |
| 6 | Dharwad: 12 (Non-HK) |
| 7 | Hassan: 30 (Non-HK) |
| 8 | Kanara: 60 (Non-HK) |
| 9 | Kodagu: 32 (Non-HK) |
| 10 | Kalaburagi: 4 (HK) |
| 11 | Mangaluru: 54 (Non-HK) |
| 12 | Mysuru: 120 (Non-HK) |
| 13 | Shivamogga: 38 (Non-HK) |
| Total | 750 (700 Non-HK + 50 HK) |
Age Limit
| The minimum age is 18 years on the date the notification is issued. The maximum age limits are given below as on the notification start date. As per Government order No. CASUE 262 SENENI 2025 dated 29.01.12.2027. | |
|---|---|
| Category | Maximum Age |
| General candidates | 30 years |
| Category IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB (backward classes) | 32 years |
| Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Category-I | 33 years |
| Age Relaxation | |
| Candidate Type | Relaxation or Maximum Age |
| Ex-servicemen who served in the armed forces and were released as per rules (demobilisation or retrenchment) | Upper age limit of their category is relaxed by the number of years served in the armed forces plus 3 years |
| General | 40 years |
| Category IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB | 42 years |
| Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Category-I | 43 years |
| The exact calendar date used to calculate age is not stated in the provided PDFs, as the circle-level notification format leaves the notification date blank. |
Age Relaxation
Show age relaxation
2026, a one-time relaxation of 5 years has been added to these limits for recruitment notifications issued up to 31.
Vacancy & Eligibility
To be eligible for KFD Forest Observer Recruitment 2026, candidates must meet all the conditions below, along with the qualification and age limit given in the next sections. - The candidate must be a citizen of India. - A male candidate with more than one living wife, or a female candidate married to 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 healthy and free from any physical defect likely to interfere with efficient performance of duties. - The candidate must meet the physical standards and pass the physical endurance and physical efficiency tests described below. The recruiting authority may reject a candidate as physically unfit on the advice of a medical board, and the Government's discretion is not limited by these rules. - Applying online does not by itself make a candidate eligible for appointment. A candidate is considered to have accepted all the Acts, rules and regulations of the Government on applying. KFD Forest Observer Qualification The educational qualification for KFD Forest Observer is SSLC. The candidate must hold the SSLC examination conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board, or an equivalent qualification, on the last date to apply. As per Government circular No. CASUE 81 SENENI 2017 dated 27.02.2018, the following are treated as equivalent to SSLC: - Class 10 examination conducted by CBSE and ICSE boards, or - Class 10 examination conducted by other State Government examination boards, or - Secondary-level course conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), or - Secondary-level course conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KOS). Candidates who have not received the result of the prescribed qualification, or who do not hold the marks card, as on the last date to apply are not eligible. No other qualification is considered in place of the above. If a candidate is found to lack the prescribed qualification at any stage, the candidature is cancelled, and the decision of the recruiting authority is final.
Experience
Check out the Official Notification or Overview on this page.
Salary / Pay Scale
Rs. 27,500 – 46,675 (scale given below)
How to Apply
Candidates can apply online for KFD Forest Observer Recruitment 2026 through the official Karnataka Forest Department website. The steps below are based on the application instructions in the notification.
- Visit the official website of the Karnataka Forest Department: https://aranya.gov.in/.
- Open the "Nemakati" (Recruitment) section at the bottom of the home page, where the notification is published.
- Read the notification, the instructions and the Karnataka Forest Department Services (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules 2019 carefully, and confirm that you meet the eligibility conditions.
- Fill in the online application with the required details, using your own Aadhaar (UID) number.
- Scan and upload the required certificates, such as the SSLC marks card, the caste certificate and the reservation certificates, as applicable.
- Submit the application and pay the application fee online (UPI, NEFT, credit card, debit card or internet banking) or by cash challan at the notified bank branches.
- Take a printout of the submitted online application and the fee receipt and keep them for future reference. Do not send a hard copy to the department.
The last date to apply online is 30.10.2026. Candidates should apply well before the deadline.
KFD Forest Observer Apply Online
Applications for KFD Forest Observer Recruitment 2026 are accepted only through the online system on aranya.gov.in. The application window opened on 01.08.2026 and, as per the latest extension, closes on 30.10.2026. A separate direct application link is not given in the provided documents, so candidates should use the Recruitment ("Nemakati") section on the official website.
Important Links
FAQ
What is the organization conducting the recruitment?
The recruitment is conducted by the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) to fill vacant posts across multiple locations in the state of Karnataka.
What is the name of the post advertised?
The official notification has been released for the recruitment of Forest Watcher posts under the Karnataka Forest Department.
What is the total number of vacancies available?
There are a total of 750 vacancies available for the Forest Watcher position in this recruitment drive.
Tags
Karnataka10thVerify all details from the official notification before applying.
Last date: 30 Oct
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