The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has released the APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 notification (No. 19/2026) for 37 vacancies in the A.P. Horticulture Service.
Candidates with a four-year B.Sc. Horticulture degree, aged 18 to 44 years, can apply online at psc.ap.gov.in from 6 October to 27 October 2026. Selection is through an online Computer Based Recruitment Test (CBRT) and a Computer Proficiency Test. Read on for the APPSC Horticulture Officer vacancy, eligibility, fee, exam pattern, syllabus and salary.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 Overview
APPSC will select Horticulture Officers on the basis of a written CBRT, subject to qualifying the Computer Proficiency Test. There is no interview. Selected candidates get a pay scale of Rs 54,060 – Rs 1,40,540.
| APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 – Overview | |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) |
| Notification No. | 19/2026 |
| Post Name | Horticulture Officer, A.P. Horticulture Service |
| Total Vacancies | 37 (Zonal post) |
| Application Mode | Online (through OTPR) |
| Apply Online Dates | 6 October to 27 October 2026 |
| Qualification | 4-year B.Sc. / B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture |
| Age Limit | 18 to 44 years (as on 1 July 2026) |
| Application Fee | Rs 250 processing + Rs 120 exam fee |
| Selection Process | Computer Based Recruitment Test + Computer Proficiency Test |
| Exam Date | To be announced |
| Salary | Rs 54,060 – Rs 1,40,540 |
| Job Location | Andhra Pradesh |
| Official Website | psc.ap.gov.in |
Also Read: APPSC Group 1 Recruitment 2026 Notification and Online Form
APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
The APPSC Horticulture Officer online application is open from 6 October to 27 October 2026 (11:59 PM). The CBRT exam date will be announced later on the APPSC website.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| APPSC Horticulture Officer Notification 2026 | 6 October 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 6 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 27 October 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Correction Window | 7 days after the last date (Rs 100 per correction) |
| Written Exam (CBRT) Date | To be announced |
| Hall Ticket | Before the exam, on psc.ap.gov.in |
APPSC Horticulture Officer Vacancy 2026
APPSC has notified 37 Horticulture Officer vacancies, spread across six zones. 95% of posts in each zone are for local candidates, and the rest are open to all.
Zone-Wise Vacancy
| Zone | Districts | Open | Local | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone-I | Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone-II | Alluri Sita Rama Raju, East Godavari, Kakinada, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Zone-III | West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone-IV | Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam, SPSR Nellore | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone-V | Tirupati, Chittoor, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Zone-VI | Nandyal, Ananthapuramu, Kurnool, Sri Sathya Sai | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Total | 6 | 31 | 37 |
Category-Wise Vacancy
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| OC | 21 |
| EWS | 3 |
| BC-A | 3 |
| BC-B | 2 |
| BC-C | 1 |
| BC-D / BC-E | 0 |
| SC (Group I) | 2 |
| SC (Group II) | 1 |
| SC (Group III) | 2 |
| ST | 2 |
| Total | 37 |
Horizontal Reservation
- Women (OC): 6 posts – 1 each in Zones I, II, IV and V, and 2 in Zone III.
- Meritorious Sports Persons: 2 posts – 1 each in Zones III and VI.
- Women get 33⅓% horizontal reservation, MSP 3%, and PBD as per rules.
SC, ST, BC and EWS candidates from other states are not eligible for reservation. Local status is based on study (or residence) for 4 years up to Class 7.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Notification 2026 Out
The APPSC Horticulture Officer Notification 2026 (Notification No. 19/2026, dated 6 October 2026) has been published at psc.ap.gov.in. It is a general recruitment for a zonal post, and covers zone-wise vacancies, eligibility, reservation, exam scheme and syllabus. A free mock test for the computer-based exam is also available on the APPSC website.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Notification 2026 PDF
APPSC Horticulture Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must be Indian citizens of sound health and good character, and must hold the required degree as on the notification date (6 October 2026).
APPSC Horticulture Officer Educational Qualification
Candidates must have a four-year B.Sc. Degree or B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Horticulture from a recognised university in the state or any other university accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Age Limit
The age limit is 18 to 44 years as on 1 July 2026.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / BC / EWS | 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen / NCC Instructors | 3 years + length of service (within the max age) |
| Regular A.P. State Govt. employees | Length of service, up to 5 years |
| Retrenched Census Dept. employees (6+ months) | 3 years |
BC candidates need a Non-Creamy Layer certificate and EWS candidates an EWS certificate (income below Rs 8 lakh), both issued on or after 1 April 2026 and before the last date.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Online Form 2026
The APPSC Horticulture Officer Online Form 2026 can be filled only at psc.ap.gov.in with your One Time Profile Registration (OTPR) ID. First-time applicants must register through OTPR before applying.
Steps to Apply Online
- Visit psc.ap.gov.in. New users complete the One Time Profile Registration (OTPR); the User ID is sent to your mobile and email.
- Log in with your OTPR ID and password, and click Online Application Submission.
- Click Fill Application against Notification No. 19/2026.
- Verify OTPR details and fill in Local/Non-Local status, White Card details, qualification and three exam centre preferences.
- Click Save & Submit to go to the payment gateway.
- Pay the fee by net banking, credit card or debit card.
- Download the filled application PDF for future reference.
Correction window: after the last date, corrections are allowed for 7 days at Rs 100 per correction. Name, fee, age-relaxation and community fields cannot be changed, so check them carefully in your OTPR before applying.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Application Fee 2026
All candidates pay the Rs 250 processing fee. The Rs 120 exam fee is waived for reserved categories, white card families and unemployed youth of Andhra Pradesh.
| Category | Processing Fee | Exam Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / OC candidates | Rs 250 | Rs 120 | Rs 370 |
| SC / ST / BC / PBD / Ex-Servicemen (AP) | Rs 250 | Nil | Rs 250 |
| White Card families (AP residents) | Rs 250 | Nil | Rs 250 |
| Unemployed youth (AP, with declaration) | Rs 250 | Nil | Rs 250 |
| Candidates from other states | Rs 250 | Rs 120 | Rs 370 |
PBD and Ex-Servicemen from other states also get the exam fee waiver. The fee is paid online only and is not refundable.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Selection Process 2026
Selection for APPSC Horticulture Officer is based only on merit in the written exam. There is no interview.
- Stage 1: Written Exam (CBRT) – online computer-based test with a qualifying language paper and three merit papers (450 marks).
- Stage 2: Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) – provisionally shortlisted candidates must qualify this practical test; its marks do not count in the merit.
- Stage 3: Certificate Verification, followed by medical fitness.
If the CBRT is held in more than one session, scores will be normalised and results announced on a percentile basis.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum Aggregate Marks |
|---|---|
| OC / Sportspersons / Ex-Servicemen / EWS | 40% |
| BC | 35% |
| SC / ST / PBD | 30% |
If candidates have equal marks, the older candidate ranks higher, and then the one who earned the degree earlier.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Exam Pattern 2026
The APPSC Horticulture Officer written exam is an objective, degree-standard CBRT with 1/3rd negative marking for each wrong answer. It will be held at four centres: Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Ananthapuramu (choose three preferences).
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Test | General English (50) & General Telugu (50) – SSC standard | 100 | 100 minutes | 100 |
| Paper-I | General Studies & Mental Ability | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper-II | Horticulture-I | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper-III | Horticulture-II | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Total (for merit) | 450 |
Candidates must qualify English and Telugu individually in the qualifying test.
Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
| Test | Duration | Max Marks | Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proficiency in Office Automation with usage of Computers | 60 minutes | 100 | OC 40, BC 35, SC/ST/PBD 30 |
APPSC Horticulture Officer Syllabus (Key Topics)
| Paper | Main Topics |
|---|---|
| Paper-I: General Studies & Mental Ability | Current events, general science, Indian history with AP focus, geography of India and AP, polity & governance, Indian economy, sustainable development, disaster management, logical reasoning, data analysis |
| Paper-II: Horticulture-I | Fruit crops, vegetable crops, commercial floriculture & landscape architecture, medicinal, aromatic, spice & plantation crops, dryland horticulture & watershed management, preservation of fruits & vegetables, farm power & machinery, greenhouse management |
| Paper-III: Horticulture-II | Fundamentals of horticulture, plant propagation & nursery management, plant physiology, entomology, pathology, soil science, agroforestry, extension education, organic farming |
APPSC Horticulture Officer Salary 2026
APPSC Horticulture Officers get a pay scale of Rs 54,060 – Rs 1,40,540 per month, plus allowances as per Andhra Pradesh Government rules.
| Post Name | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| Horticulture Officer, A.P. Horticulture Service | Rs 54,060 – Rs 1,40,540 |
Latest Govt Job Updates
- SSB Odisha Lab Assistant Recruitment 2026 Notification Out for 435 Laboratory Assistant-cum-Storekeeper Posts
- WBPSC Clerkship Recruitment 2026 Notification Released, Check Details Here
- ISRO ICRB Scientist Engineer Exam Date 2026 Postponed for 175 Vacancies
- Nashik Kotwal Bharti 2026 Notification Out for 156 Vacancies
- AIIMS Rewari Recruitment 2026 for DEO, MTS, Personal Assistant & More Vacancies
- CDAC Recruitment 2026 Notification Out for 951 Technical and Non-Technical Vacancies
APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
Q1. How many vacancies are there in APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026?
There are 37 Horticulture Officer vacancies across six zones of Andhra Pradesh.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for APPSC Horticulture Officer 2026?
The last date to apply online at psc.ap.gov.in is 27 October 2026, up to 11:59 PM.
Q3. What is the qualification for APPSC Horticulture Officer?
A four-year B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons) in Horticulture from a recognised or ICAR-accredited university.
Q4. What is the age limit for APPSC Horticulture Officer?
The age limit is 18 to 44 years as on 1 July 2026, with relaxation for reserved categories.
Q5. What is the application fee for APPSC Horticulture Officer?
Rs 250 processing fee plus Rs 120 exam fee. SC, ST, BC, PBD, Ex-Servicemen, white card holders and unemployed youth of AP pay only Rs 250.
Q6. Is there an interview for APPSC Horticulture Officer?
No. Selection is based on the written CBRT merit, subject to qualifying the Computer Proficiency Test.
Q7. Is there negative marking in the APPSC Horticulture Officer exam?
Yes, 1/3rd of the marks are deducted for each wrong answer.
Q8. What is the salary of APPSC Horticulture Officer?
The pay scale is Rs 54,060 – Rs 1,40,540 per month plus allowances.