APPSC Forest Range Officer Recruitment 2026
The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has released Brief Notification No. 16/2026 for the direct recruitment of Forest Range Officers in the A.P. Forest Service. The recruitment is being conducted through general recruitment, and eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the official APPSC website.
As per the notification, a total of 4 Forest Range Officer vacancies have been announced. The online application process will begin on 16 October 2026 and the last date to submit the application is 5 November 2026 up to 11:59 PM.
Candidates interested in the APPSC Forest Range Officer Recruitment 2026 should carefully check the educational qualification, physical requirements, examination scheme and syllabus before applying.
APPSC Forest Range Officer Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organization | Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) |
| Notification Number | 16/2026 |
| Notification Date | 15 September 2026 |
| Department/Service | A.P. Forest Service |
| Post Name | Forest Range Officer |
| Number of Vacancies | 4 |
| Pay Scale | ₹48,440 – ₹1,37,220 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 16 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 5 November 2026 |
| Examination Mode | Computer Based Recruitment Test (CBRT) |
| Official Website | psc.ap.gov.in |
The vacancy and pay-scale details are given in the brief notification, while the Commission has stated that the detailed notification will contain the complete vacancy breakup and other eligibility conditions.
APPSC Forest Range Officer Vacancy 2026
APPSC has announced 4 provisional vacancies for the post of Forest Range Officer in the A.P. Forest Service.
The Commission has also clarified that the number of vacancies is subject to variation based on confirmation received from the concerned department.
The pay scale for the Forest Range Officer post is:
₹48,440 – ₹1,37,220
The detailed notification is expected to provide the category-wise vacancy breakup and other recruitment-related details.
APPSC Forest Range Officer Educational Qualification
Candidates applying for the Forest Range Officer post must possess a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university/institution.
The notification specifies that candidates must have a degree with any one of the following subjects or an equivalent qualification:
- Agriculture
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Computer Applications / Computer Science
- Engineering – Agriculture, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Electronics or Mechanical
- Environmental Science
- Forestry
- Geology
- Horticulture
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Statistics
- Veterinary Science
- Zoology
The educational qualification must be possessed as on the date of the Detailed Notification.
Physical Requirements
The brief notification specifically directs candidates to check the physical requirements in the online Detailed Notification. Therefore, candidates should not rely only on the brief notification when checking physical eligibility.
APPSC Forest Range Officer Application Dates
The online application process will be conducted through the APPSC website.
Application Start Date: 16 October 2026
Last Date: 5 November 2026 up to 11:59 PM
Candidates are advised to submit their applications well before the closing date rather than waiting until the final day.
APPSC has clearly stated that applications must be submitted only through the prescribed online mode. Applications sent through any other mode will not be accepted.
APPSC Forest Range Officer Exam Pattern 2026
One important feature of this recruitment is that APPSC will conduct a single-level examination, and no Screening Test will be conducted, irrespective of the number of applications received.
The examination will be conducted in Computer Based Recruitment Test (CBRT) mode. If the examination is conducted in multiple sessions, APPSC may adopt a normalization process wherever necessary.
The written examination consists of a qualifying test and four main papers.
Qualifying Test
The qualifying test consists of:
- General English – 50 marks
- General Telugu – 50 marks
Total: 100 marks
The candidate must qualify in English and Telugu individually. The standard of the qualifying test is SSC level.
Main Written Examination
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies & Mental Ability | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper-II | Mathematics – SSC Standard | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper-III | General Forestry-I | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper-IV | General Forestry-II | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Total | 600 | 600 |
The examination carries 1/3 negative marking for every wrong answer, as specified in the notification.
APPSC Forest Range Officer Syllabus 2026
The syllabus covers General Studies, Mathematics and extensive Forestry-related subjects.
Paper-I – General Studies & Mental Ability
The 150-mark paper includes topics such as:
- Current affairs and issues relating to international, national and Andhra Pradesh affairs
- General Science
- Science & Technology
- Information Technology
- Indian History
- Andhra Pradesh and Indian National Movement
- Geography of India with focus on Andhra Pradesh
- Indian Polity and Governance
- Indian Economy and Planning
- Sustainable Development
- Environmental Protection
- Disaster Management
- Remote Sensing and GIS
- Logical Reasoning
- Analytical Ability
- Data Analysis
These topics are specifically listed in the examination syllabus attached to the notification.
Paper-II – Mathematics
Mathematics is at SSC standard and includes:
- Arithmetic
- Number System
- Percentages
- Time and Distance
- Time and Work
- Profit and Loss
- Ratio and Proportion
- Algebra
- Quadratic Equations
- Trigonometry
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Statistics
The detailed syllabus also includes topics such as logarithms, simultaneous equations, circles, surface area and volume, statistical data and graphical representation.
Paper-III – General Forestry-I
General Forestry-I covers a wide range of forestry and environmental subjects, including:
- Renewable and Non-Renewable Natural Resources
- Forest Resources
- Water Resources
- Mineral Resources
- Food and Energy Resources
- Land Resources
- Plant Sciences
- Biodiversity and Conservation
- Soil Science and Geology
- Water Resource Management
- Watershed Management
- Silviculture
- Agroforestry
- Social Forestry
- Community Forest Management
The syllabus also includes silviculture of several economically important species grown in Andhra Pradesh.
Paper-IV – General Forestry-II
General Forestry-II covers:
- Ecosystems and Wildlife
- Forest Protection
- Wildlife Biology
- Forest Utilization
- Animal Management
- Economic Zoology
- Forest Economics
- Forest Legislation
- Forest Administration
- Forest Inventory
- Forest Mensuration
- Remote Sensing
- Environmental Sciences
- Forest Survey and Engineering
- First Aid
The syllabus includes important forest and environmental laws, including the A.P. Forest Act, Forest Conservation Act and Wildlife Protection Act.
Walking Test and Medical Examination
Candidates should note that the recruitment process also includes a walking test and medical examination.
According to the notification, these tests will be arranged by the Forest Department with the concurrence of APPSC. The Commission will pick eligible candidates in the ratio of 1:3 with reference to the total number of vacancies, in accordance with the applicable General Rules.
Since the brief notification does not provide the complete physical standards, candidates should check the detailed notification before applying.
Computer Proficiency Test
Eligible candidates will also have to appear for a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT).
The CPT is a practical examination with:
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Maximum Marks: 100
- SC/ST/PwBD qualifying marks: 30
- BC qualifying marks: 35
- OC qualifying marks: 40
The test assesses proficiency in office automation, computers, and associated software.
The CPT syllabus includes basic computer concepts, operating systems, Windows, internet and email concepts, office applications, word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software.
How to Apply for APPSC Forest Range Officer Recruitment 2026
Eligible candidates can apply online through the official APPSC website.
Step 1
Visit the official APPSC website.
Step 2
Look for the APPSC Forest Range Officer Recruitment Notification No. 16/2026.
Step 3
Read the detailed notification carefully, particularly the eligibility conditions and physical requirements.
Step 4
Complete the online application form with the required details.
Step 5
Upload the required documents and complete the application process as instructed by APPSC.
Step 6
Submit the application before 5 November 2026 at 11:59 PM and keep a copy of the submitted application for future reference.
APPSC has advised candidates to read the detailed notification and instructions carefully before submitting the application.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 15 September 2026 |
| Detailed Notification | On or before 16 October 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 16 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 5 November 2026 |
| Last Time for Application | 11:59 PM |
The Commission has stated that the date of the Detailed Notification will be treated as the crucial date for all aspects of the recruitment.
Important Links
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Notification | APPSC Forest Range Officer Recruitment Notification No. 16/2026 |
| Apply Online | APPSC Online Application Portal |
| Official Website | APPSC Official Website |
| Detailed Notification | To be made available by APPSC on or before 16 October 2026 |
Note: The vacancy, eligibility, and other details in this article are based on the APPSC Brief Notification No. 16/2026 dated 15 September 2026. Candidates should refer to the detailed notification issued by APPSC before submitting their application.