Karnataka Forest Department Forest Watcher Recruitment 2026 – 2403+ Group D Posts

Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), Government of Karnataka, invites online applications for Forest Watcher (Group D) posts across 13 forest circles in the state. Applications are submitted through the official portal aranya.gov.in. This is a rolling, circle-by-circle recruitment drive with notifications released on 20-21 July 2026.

Circle-wise Vacancy Details

Note: Vacancies are provisional and rolling; more circles may publish additional notifications. Total may increase.

Eligibility Criteria

• Educational Qualification: SSLC / 10th pass from a recognised board. Candidates with higher qualifications may also apply.
• Age Limit: 18–40 years (General). SC/ST/Category-1: +5 years relaxation. OBC (2A/2B/3A/3B): +3 years relaxation. Ex-servicemen: as per Karnataka Govt rules.
• Nationality: Indian citizen. Preference for Kannada-medium/ rural background candidates.

Application Fee

Important Dates

Selection Process

1. Merit List – Based on SSLC marks (no written exam for Forest Watcher 2026 cycle)
2. Physical Endurance Test (PET) – Male: 1600m run in 7 min. Female: 1000m run in 6 min. (Qualifying)
3. Physical Standard Test (PST) – Height, chest measurement and 5 physical tasks (qualify at least 3)
4. Document Verification
5. Medical Fitness Test

Salary

₹29,600 – ₹52,800 per month (Pay Level 2, Group D) plus DA, HRA, and other allowances as per Karnataka Government norms.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official portal: aranya.gov.in
2. Go to Recruitment section and select your forest circle
3. Read the respective circle notification PDF carefully
4. Register with mobile/email and fill the application form
5. Upload scanned documents (photo, signature, SSLC certificate, caste/category certificate, Aadhaar, Kannada medium certificate if applicable)
6. Pay application fee online (Debit/Credit card, Net Banking, UPI)
7. Submit and save your application ID for future reference

Important Links