The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has come out with four brief notifications for the Forest Department, covering a total of 73 vacancies across Forest Range Officer, Forest Section Officer, Forest Beat Officer and Draughtsman Grade-II (Technical Assistant) posts. All four brief notifications were released on 15 September 2026. Interested candidates can check vacancy details, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus and other details from the article.
Applications are invited online only through the Commission’s website https://psc.ap.gov.in from 16 October 2026 to 5 November 2026 (up to 11:59 PM). The detailed notifications, with the breakup of vacancies, age, community and educational qualifications, will be available on or before 16 October 2026 — and the date of the Detailed Notification will be reckoned as the crucial date in all aspects.
APPSC Forest Recruitment 2026 – Highlights
The vacancies have been released under four separate notifications for the A.P. Forest Service and A.P. Forest Subordinate Service. Check complete details in the article.
Summary
| Organization | Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), Vijayawada |
| Posts | Forest Range Officer, Forest Section Officer, Forest Beat Officer, Draughtsman Grade-II (Technical Assistant) |
| Notification Nos. | 15/2026, 16/2026, 17/2026, 18/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 73 |
| Category | State Government (General Recruitment) |
| Mode of Application | Online only |
| Apply Online Dates | 16 October to 5 November 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Mode of Exam | Online — Computer Based Recruitment Test (CBRT) |
| Selection Process | Single-level Written Examination → Walking Test & Medical Examination → Computer Proficiency Test (where applicable) |
| Job Location | Andhra Pradesh |
| Official Website | https://psc.ap.gov.in |
APPSC Forest Vacancy 2026 Out
APPSC aims to fill a total of 73 vacancies across the four forest notifications. Check post-wise vacancy and pay scale details from the table below.
| Notification No. | Name of the Post | Service | No. of Vacancies | Scale of Pay (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/2026 | Draughtsman Grade-II (Technical Assistant) | A.P. Forest Subordinate Service | 20 | 34,580 – 1,07,210 |
| 16/2026 | Forest Range Officer | A.P. Forest Service | 04 | 48,440 – 1,37,220 |
| 17/2026 | Forest Section Officer | A.P. Forest Subordinate Service | 26 | 32,670 – 1,01,970 |
| 18/2026 | Forest Beat Officer | A.P. Forest Subordinate Service | 23 | 25,220 – 80,910 |
| Total | 73 |
Important Dates
The complete schedule has been updated in the table below. The dates are common to all four notifications.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Brief Notification Released | 15 September 2026 |
| Detailed Notification | On or before 16 October 2026 |
| Apply Online Begins | 16 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 5 November 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Exam Date | To be announced |
Eligibility Criteria for APPSC Forest Vacancy 2026
Applicants must possess the requisite educational qualification as on the date of the Detailed Notification. The post-wise requirements are given below.
Forest Range Officer (Notification 16/2026)
A Bachelor’s Degree of a University in India established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, State Act or Provincial Act, or an institution recognized by the UGC, or any equivalent qualification, in any of the following subjects:
Agriculture; Botany; Chemistry; Computer Applications / Computer Science; Engineering (Agriculture / Chemical / Civil / Computer / Electrical / Electronics / Mechanical); Environmental Science; Forestry; Geology; Horticulture; Mathematics; Physics; Statistics; Veterinary Science; Zoology.
Forest Section Officer (Notification 17/2026)
A Bachelor’s degree with Botany, Forestry, Horticulture, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Geology or Agriculture as a subject, OR a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with Chemical, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, from any University of India established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, State Act or Provincial Act, or an institution recognized by the UGC, or an equivalent qualification.
Forest Beat Officer (Notification 18/2026)
Must have passed the Intermediate Examination or its equivalent.
Draughtsman Grade-II / Technical Assistant (Notification 15/2026)
Must possess a trade certificate of Draughtsman (Civil) Trade, i.e., ITI in the State, or its equivalent examination.
Physical Requirements
For the Forest Range Officer, Forest Section Officer and Forest Beat Officer posts, candidates must check the physical requirements specified in the online Detailed Notification. Candidates for these three posts are also required to undergo a walking test and a Medical Examination conducted by a Medical Board, both arranged by the Forest Department with the concurrence of APPSC.
APPSC Forest Notification 2026 PDF Out
The brief notifications — No. 15/2026, 16/2026, 17/2026 and 18/2026, all dated 15 September 2026 — have been released along with the complete Scheme and Syllabus annexed to each. These forest posts form part of the larger APPSC recruitment drive announced for 2026. Candidates must refer to the detailed notification before applying.
- Forest Range Officers
- Forest Beat Officer
- Draughtsman Grade-II (Technical Assistant)
- Forest Section Office
How to Apply for APPSC Forest Recruitment 2026?
Here are the steps to apply for the APPSC Forest Recruitment 2026:
- Visit the official website of the Commission, psc.ap.gov.in.
- Read the Detailed Notification and other instructions carefully before applying, and satisfy yourself with regard to all the terms and conditions of the recruitment.
- Complete the OTPR (One Time Profile Registration) if not already done, and note your OTPR ID.
- Open the online application link for the relevant notification — 15/2026, 16/2026, 17/2026 or 18/2026.
- Enter your personal, educational and community particulars properly in the online application form.
- Upload the documents/photograph and signature as prescribed.
- Pay the applicable fee online and submit the application.
- Download and keep a copy of the submitted application for future reference.
Important: Applications must be submitted only through online mode. Any application sent through any mode other than the prescribed online mode will not be entertained under any circumstances. Candidates are advised to apply well in advance to avoid the last-minute rush.
What is the APPSC Forest Selection Process 2026?
For all four notifications, the Commission has stated that:
- The examination shall consist of a single-level examination only, and no Screening Test shall be conducted, irrespective of the number of applications received.
- The examination shall be conducted in online (CBRT) mode.
- If the single-level examination is conducted in multiple sessions, the Commission will adopt a process of normalisation of marks wherever considered necessary and applicable, as per the methodology decided by the Commission. Details of normalisation, if applicable, will be notified in due course.
- Negative marking: As per G.O.Ms. No.235, Finance (HR-I, Plg & Policy) Dept., dated 06/12/2016, 1/3rd of the marks prescribed for a question will be deducted for each wrong answer.
Additionally, for the Forest Range Officer post, candidates will be picked up in the ratio of 1:3 with reference to the total number of vacancies for the walking test, medical examination and the Computer Proficiency Test. For Forest Section Officer and Forest Beat Officer, the ratio for the walking test and medical examination is 1:2 as per General Rule 22 & 22A.
APPSC Forest Exam Pattern 2026
The scheme of examination differs for each post. Have a look at the detailed patterns shared below.
Forest Range Officer Exam Pattern (Notification 16/2026) – Degree Standard
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Duration (Min) | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Test | General English (50) & General Telugu (50) — to be qualified individually (SSC Standard) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Paper-I | General Studies & Mental Ability | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Paper-II | Mathematics (SSC Standard) | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Paper-III | General Forestry – I | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Paper-IV | General Forestry – II | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Total | 600 |
Forest Section Officer Exam Pattern (Notification 17/2026) – Degree Standard
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Duration (Min) | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Test | General English (50) & General Telugu (50) — to be qualified individually (SSC Standard) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Paper-I | General Studies & Mental Ability | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Paper-II | Mathematics (SSC Standard) | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Paper-III | General Forestry | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Total | 450 |
Forest Beat Officer Exam Pattern (Notification 18/2026)
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Duration (Min) | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Test | Writing an essay in English or Telugu or Urdu (Descriptive Type) — theme related to Forests and Environment | 1 | 45 | 50 |
| Paper-I | General Studies & Mental Ability (Objective) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Paper-II | General Science and General Mathematics (SSC Standard, Objective) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 200 |
Draughtsman Grade-II Exam Pattern (Notification 15/2026)
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Duration (Min) | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies & Mental Ability (SSC Standard) | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Paper-II | ITI (Civil Draughtsman) | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Total | 300 |
Also Read: CSIR-NEERI Technical Officer and Technical Assistant Recruitment 2026
APPSC Forest Syllabus 2026
General Studies & Mental Ability (common across posts)
Major current events and issues of international, national and Andhra Pradesh importance; General Science and its day-to-day applications, including contemporary developments in science, technology and IT; History of India with a focus on AP and the Indian National Movement in its social, economic, cultural and political aspects; Geography of India with a focus on Andhra Pradesh; Indian polity, governance and economy; sustainable development and environmental protection; disaster management, including the application of remote sensing and GIS; logical reasoning and analytical ability; and data analysis and interpretation.
Mathematics / General Mathematics (SSC Standard)
Arithmetic (number system, fundamental operations, unitary method, elementary number theory, HCF/LCM, logarithms), Algebra (polynomials, quadratic equations, simultaneous linear equations, set language, laws of indices), Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration and Statistics.
General Forestry (Forest Section Officer / Forest Range Officer)
Plant science; forests and ecology, including biodiversity and its conservation; horticulture; soil science and geology; management of water resources and watersheds; general silviculture, agro-forestry, social forestry and community forest management; animal health and nutrition; economic zoology; forest economics, legislation and administration (AP Forest Act-1967, Wildlife Protection Act-1972, Forest Conservation Act-1980, Forest Rights Act-2006); forest mensuration, remote sensing and forest working plans; and environmental science.
For the Forest Range Officer post, General Forestry is split into two papers — Paper-III covers renewable and non-renewable natural resources, plant sciences, biodiversity, soil science and geology, water resource and watershed management, and silviculture/agro-forestry/social forestry; while Paper-IV covers ecosystems and wildlife, forest protection and wildlife biology, forest utilization, animal management, economic zoology, forest economics and legislation, forest inventory, forest mensuration and remote sensing, environmental sciences, forest survey and engineering, and first aid.
General Science (Forest Beat Officer)
Sources of energy; the living world (life processes, nutrition, respiration); transportation and excretion; reproduction, growth, heredity and evolution; natural resources including metals and non-metals; carbon compounds; environment and environmental problems; ethnobotany, including the botanical names and medicinal uses of seasonal and perennial plants; and the universe, solar system and space exploration.
ITI Civil Draughtsman (Draughtsman Grade-II)
Drawing (B.I.S. code of practice, layout, lines, lettering, dimensioning, scales and projection); Surveying; Levelling and contouring; Theodolite Survey; Total Station; GPS and remote sensing; and units, arithmetic, algebra, geometry and mensuration, including computation of areas and volumes by the trapezoidal and Simpson’s rules.
Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
As per G.O.Ms.No.26, General Administration (Ser.B) Department, dated 24.02.2023, the Computer Proficiency Test is a practical, qualifying test.
| Test | Duration | Max. Marks | SC/ST/PH | B.C.’s | O.C.’s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proficiency in Office Automation with usage of Computers and Associated Software | 60 minutes | 100 | 30 | 35 | 40 |
Part-A (20% of total marks) is MCQ-based and covers introduction to computers, software types, operating systems, Windows, basics of Linux/Mac OS, internet concepts, electronic mail and the World Wide Web.
Part-B is a computer-based practical assessment: preparing and formatting a model document (with typing speed carrying 25% and organizing/inserting objects 15%), preparing and formatting an Excel sheet with formulae, conditional formatting and graphs (20%), and preparing a PowerPoint presentation with formatted text, images, tables, transitions and animation (20%). Typing speed may be made mandatory for qualifying, based on existing norms.
APPSC Forest Salary 2026
The pay scales notified for the four posts are given below.
| Post Name | Scale of Pay (Rs.) |
|---|---|
| Forest Range Officer | 48,440 – 1,37,220 |
| Draughtsman Grade-II (Technical Assistant) | 34,580 – 1,07,210 |
| Forest Section Officer | 32,670 – 1,01,970 |
| Forest Beat Officer | 25,220 – 80,910 |
Allowances such as DA, HRA and other benefits will be payable as per the rules of the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
FAQs
What is the total number of vacancies in APPSC Forest Recruitment 2026?
A total of 73 vacancies have been notified — 20 Draughtsman Grade-II, 4 Forest Range Officer, 26 Forest Section Officer and 23 Forest Beat Officer posts.
When can I apply for the APPSC Forest Recruitment 2026?
The online application window is open from 16 October 2026 to 5 November 2026 up to 11:59 PM on psc.ap.gov.in.
Is there a screening test for these posts?
No. The Commission has stated that the examination shall consist of a single-level examination only, and no screening test will be conducted irrespective of the number of applications received.
Is there negative marking in the APPSC Forest exam?
Yes. One-third of the marks prescribed for a question will be deducted for each wrong answer.
What is the crucial date for eligibility?
The date of the Detailed Notification, which will be published on or before 16 October 2026, will be reckoned as the crucial date in all aspects.
What qualification is needed for the Forest Beat Officer post?
Candidates must have passed the Intermediate Examination or its equivalent, in addition to meeting the physical requirements given in the detailed notification.