Karnataka Forest Department – Forest Observer Recruitment 2026

Position: Forest Observer (Forest Watcher – Group D, Aranya Veekshaka)

Total Vacancies: 750 posts (700 in the original cadre – Non‑HK, 50 in Kalyana Karnataka – HK)

Circles Covered: 13 forest circles across Karnataka

Eligibility

Requirement	Details
Minimum Qualification	Passed SSLC (Class 10) or equivalent examination
Age Limit	Not specified in the provided text – refer to the official notification
Other Conditions	Must meet all conditions mentioned in the official notification (including reservation rules)

Application

• Mode: Online only
• Portal: aranya.gov.in
• Application Period: 01 Aug 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 (latest extension)
• Application Fee: Not mentioned – check the portal for details

Important Dates

• Notification Issue: 22 Oct 2026 (updated)
• First Extension: 01 Sep 2026 – 07 Sep 2026 (technical reasons)
• Second Extension: 08 Sep 2026 – 30 Sep 2026 (meeting on 04 Sep 2026)
• Latest Extension: 01 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 (Government notification No. FEE 242 FNG 2026, 23 Sep 2026)

Reservation

• Scheduled Caste reservation temporarily limited from 17 % to 15 % due to an interim High Court order.
• 50 % of posts in certain circles (Bengaluru, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Kanara, Kodagu, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga) in wildlife divisions and tiger reserves are reserved for Local Forest Dwelling Tribes.
• Additional reservation for Scheduled Tribe – Local Forest Dwelling Tribes as per the latest notification.

Selection Process

The selection process follows the Karnataka Forest Department Services (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules 2019 and the reservation rules in force. Detailed steps (e.g., written test, interview, physical test) are outlined in the official notification.

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For the complete application form, detailed eligibility criteria, and selection procedure, visit the official Karnataka Forest Department website.