Karnataka Forest Watcher Recruitment 2026 — 82 Vacancies

The Karnataka Forest Department is hiring 82 Forest Watcher (Group D) employees for its Bengaluru Circle. If you have passed SSLC (10th), you can apply online between 1 and 31 August 2026. There is no written exam — selection is based on your SSLC marks and physical tests. Salary starts from Rs. 29,600 per month and goes up to Rs. 52,800 as you move up the pay scale.

Karnataka Forest Department Forest Watcher Recruitment 2026 - 82 Posts

The Karnataka Forest Department has released notification KFD-BNGC0A5(EST)/12/2026-CCFBC dated 20 July 2026 for direct recruitment to 80 regular and 2 backlog Forest Watcher (Group D) posts across seven forest divisions under Bengaluru Circle. This is part of a larger statewide Forest Watcher recruitment drive, with this specific notification covering only the Bengaluru Circle vacancies. No written examination is required — candidates are shortlisted purely on SSLC marks and then judged on physical standards and fitness tests, which makes this a strong opportunity for physically fit 10th-pass candidates.

Vacancy Breakdown by Division

• Bannerughatta National Park Division: 18 posts
• Ramanagara Territorial Division: 15 posts
• Kolar Territorial Division: 13 posts
• Bengaluru Urban Territorial Division: 12 posts
• Kanakapura Wildlife Division: 10 posts
• Bengaluru Rural Territorial Division: 8 posts
• Chikkaballapur Territorial Division: 4 posts

In addition to the 80 regular posts above, 2 backlog posts are reserved for Local Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribe candidates at Bannerughatta National Park Division, taking the total to 82 posts.

Who Can Apply?

• Qualification: You must have passed SSLC (10th) from the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board, an equivalent board recognized by another state government, NIOS, or a Karnataka Pre-University pre-vocational course.
• Citizenship: You must be an Indian citizen.
• Marital status: A married man with more than one living spouse, or a woman who has married such a man, is not eligible for recruitment without prior government permission.
• Fitness: You must be mentally and physically healthy, free from any physical defect that could affect your ability to perform Forest Watcher duties.

Age Limit

• You should be at least 18 years old as on the notification date (20 July 2026).
• General candidates: maximum age 30 years.
• Category 2A/2B/3A/3B (Backward Classes): maximum age 32 years.
• SC/ST/Category-I: maximum age 33 years.
• Ex-servicemen: get additional age relaxation equal to their years of military service plus 3 years, over and above their category's maximum age limit.
• Forest Volunteers with at least 5 years of continuous service get a special higher age limit: General 40 years, Backward Classes 42 years, SC/ST/Category-I 43 years.

Salary

• Selected candidates will get a salary in the range of Rs. 29,600 to Rs. 52,800 per month under the applicable Karnataka state pay scale for Forest Watcher (Group D).
• You will also get Dearness Allowance, HRA and other allowances as per Karnataka Government rules.

Physical Standards

For Male Candidates:

• General category: Height minimum 163 cm; Chest minimum 79 cm (normal), expansion at least 5 cm.
• Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribe candidates: Height minimum 152 cm; Chest minimum 74 cm (normal), expansion at least 5 cm.

For Female Candidates:

• General category: Height minimum 150 cm; Weight minimum 40 kg.
• Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribe candidates: Height minimum 145 cm; Weight minimum 38 kg.

Candidates with knock-knees, bow legs, flat feet, varicose veins, speech/hearing impediment, hydrocele (men), colour blindness or night blindness are not eligible. Your eyesight must be at least 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the worse eye (distant vision), with hearing and vertigo tests also conducted.

Application Fee

• General / Category 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B - Male: Rs. 200
• General / Category 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B - Female / Third Gender: Rs. 100
• SC / ST / Category-I - Male: Rs. 100
• SC / ST / Category-I - Female / Third Gender: Rs. 50
• Persons with Disability (PwD): No fee

Payment mode: Online only, via UPI/NEFT/Credit Card/Debit Card/Internet Banking, or cash at select bank branches (SBI, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India) using the system-generated challan. Last date for fee payment is 2 September 2026.

Selection Process (No Written Exam)

There is no written test. Selection happens in these stages:

1. Shortlisting: Candidates are shortlisted for physical tests at a ratio of 1:20 (post to candidate) based on SSLC marks.
2. Physical Standard Test (PST): Height, chest/weight and other physical measurements are checked against the eligibility standards.
3. Physical Endurance Test (PET): Male candidates run 1600 metres in 7 minutes; female and ex-servicemen candidates run 1000 metres in 6 minutes.
4. Physical Efficiency Test: You must qualify in at least 3 out of 5 events — 100m run, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, and an 800m (male) or 200m (female) run.
5. Merit List: Candidates who clear the physical tests are ranked using their Physical Endurance and Efficiency Test scores, with SSLC marks used to break ties.
6. Document Verification: Original certificates are checked before final selection at a 1:1 ratio against available posts.

How to Apply

1. Go to the Karnataka Forest Department portal at aranya.gov.in.
2. Click on the "Nemakati" (Recruitment) link on the homepage.
3. Register using your Aadhaar (UID) number — you can use only one Aadhaar number to apply, even across multiple notifications.
4. Fill in the online application form with your personal, educational and category details.
5. Upload your photograph, SSLC marks card and other required certificates.
6. Pay the application fee online or via bank challan before the due date.
7. Submit the form and keep the printout/receipt for your records — only the online application is accepted, no offline or courier submissions.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 20 July 2026
• Online Application Start: 1 August 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 31 August 2026
• Last Date for Fee Payment: 2 September 2026

• Patrol assigned forest beats to prevent illegal felling, poaching and encroachment
• Watch over forest boundaries, plantations and wildlife habitats
• Report fire incidents, illegal activity and boundary violations to senior forest staff
• Assist forest guards and range officers during patrolling, surveys and anti-poaching operations
• Help maintain forest check-posts, nurseries and plantation sites
• Support fire-fighting and disaster response duties during forest fire season
• Keep records of daily patrol activity and report to the range office
• Follow department safety guidelines while working in forest and wildlife areas