Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale

Circle-wise Vacancy Breakdown: Bengaluru: 70 | Belagavi: 42 | Ballari: 63 (17 Non-HK + 46 HK) | Chamarajanagar: 169 | Chikkamagaluru: 56 | Dharwad: 12 | Hassan: 30 | Kanara: 60 | Kodagu: 32 | Kalaburagi: 4 (HK) | Mangaluru: 54 | Mysuru: 120 | Shivamogga: 38 | Total: 750

Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualification

• Educational Qualification (Both posts): Candidate must hold the SSLC examination conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board or an equivalent qualification on the last date to apply (30.10.2026). Equivalent qualifications include Class 10 from CBSE/ICSE, Class 10 from other State Government boards, Secondary-level course from NIOS, or Secondary-level course from KOS (per Government circular No. CASUE 81 SENENI 2017 dated 27.02.2018).
• Age Limit (Minimum): 18 years on the date the notification is issued.
• Age Limit (Maximum): General: 30 years | Category IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB: 32 years | Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Category-I: 33 years. A one-time relaxation of 5 years has been added per Government order No. CASUE 262 SENENI 2025 dated 29.01.2026 for notifications issued up to 31.12.2027.
• Forest Prerak Age Relaxation: Serving Forest Preraks with at least 5 years service: General up to 40 years; IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB up to 42 years; SC/ST/Category-I up to 43 years.
• Ex-Servicemen Relaxation: Upper age limit relaxed by years served in armed forces plus 3 years.
• Physical Standards: Male: Minimum 163 cm height (152 cm for Forest Dwelling ST), 79 cm chest (74 cm for Forest Dwelling ST) with 5 cm expansion; Female: Minimum 150 cm height (145 cm for Forest Dwelling ST), 40 kg weight (38 kg for Forest Dwelling ST).
• Nationality: Citizen of India.

Selection Process & Screening Clause

1. Screening of Online Applications: Applications with incorrect, incomplete or unclear information are rejected at the initial stage.
2. Provisional List for Physical Tests: Candidates shortlisted in the ratio of 1:20 (post:candidate) based on SSLC marks. Published on aranya.gov.in under "Nemakati" (Recruitment).
3. Physical Standard Test (PST): Height, chest, weight, eyesight, hearing and physical defects are checked. Candidate with more than 12 weeks pregnancy or delivered less than 6 weeks ago may submit medical certificate for one re-scheduled attempt.
4. Physical Endurance Test (PET): Male: 1600 m run in 7 minutes; Female & Ex-Servicemen: 1000 m run in 6 minutes.
5. Physical Efficiency Test (PEfT): Five events (100 m run, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, 800 m/200 m run) – candidate must qualify in at least 3 out of 5 events.
6. Circle-wise Merit List: Prepared from SSLC marks of candidates who qualified in PET and PEfT. Ties broken by higher age (older candidate ranked above younger).
7. Provisional Selection List (1:1): Category-wise list as per reservation rules, published on official website.
8. Original Document Verification & Medical Examination: Candidates in provisional list appear with original documents on notified dates.
9. Kannada Language Test: Candidates who did not study Kannada as first or second language in Class 10 must pass under Karnataka Civil Services (Kannada Language Test) Rules, 1984. Failure results in elimination.
10. Final Selection List (1:1): Based on SSLC marks and reservation rules, published on aranya.gov.in.

Important: No written examination is conducted. No TA/DA will be paid – candidates must appear at their own cost and make their own arrangements for travel and stay. Physical tests may continue for more than one day. A candidate who fails, is injured or does not complete a test is not given a second chance.

Required Documents & Instructions for Candidates

• SSLC (Class 10) Marks Card from KSEEB, CBSE, ICSE or equivalent as Proof of Date of Birth
• All Educational Qualification Marks Cards as Specified in the Application
• Caste / Category Certificate in Prescribed Format (Form D for SC/ST, Form E for Category-I, Form F for Category IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB) from Tahsildar, valid on last date to apply (Backward class certificates valid for 5 years)
• Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (Form-1) and Rural Area Certificate (Form-2) for Rural Reservation Claimants
• Ex-Servicemen Discharge Certificate and No-Objection Documents (if applicable) – BSF, CRPF, CISF personnel not treated as ex-servicemen
• Person with Disability Certificate showing at least 40% disability – only LC (Leprosy Cured), AAV (Acid Attack Victims), MI (Mental Illness) eligible (if applicable)
• Project Displacement Family Certificate (Form-3) from Tahsildar (if applicable)
• Kannada Medium Study Certificate from Class 1 to Class 10 (if applicable)
• ST-LFDT Reservation Documents: Form-2 countersigned by Block Education Officer and Tahsildar Residence Certificate (if applicable)
• Third Gender Certificate from District Magistrate under Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules 2020 (if applicable)
• Aadhaar (UID) Number of the Candidate
• Two Recent Passport-Size Photographs and Valid Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar / Voter ID / PAN)

Key Instructions: All documents must be uploaded online at the time of application; documents cannot be changed later. Only online applications are accepted – no post, courier, email, or manual submissions. Carry hall ticket, photocopy of online application, and original photo ID to physical tests. Keep mobile number and email ID active until recruitment process is completed. Use only your own Aadhaar number – using another person's Aadhaar leads to 10-year debarment.

How to Apply for KFD Forest Observer Recruitment 2026

1. Visit the official Karnataka Forest Department website: https://aranya.gov.in/
2. Open the "Nemakati" (Recruitment) section at the bottom of the home page where the notification is published.
3. Read the notification, instructions and Karnataka Forest Department Services (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules 2019 carefully and confirm eligibility.
4. Fill in the online application using your own Aadhaar (UID) number.
5. Scan and upload required certificates (SSLC marks card, caste certificate, reservation certificates as applicable).
6. Submit the application and pay the fee online (UPI, NEFT, credit card, debit card, internet banking) or by cash challan at SBI, Canara Bank, Union Bank or Central Bank of India branches.
7. Take a printout of the submitted online application and fee receipt for future reference. Do not send a hard copy to the department.

Last date to apply online: 30 October 2026. Download Karnataka Forest Department Forest Observer Official Notification PDF

Frequently Asked Questions