Forest Jobs 2026

Forest Department Jobs 2026: Forest Guard and Forest Range Officer Recruitment

State Forest departments recruit a hierarchy of posts responsible for forest conservation, wildlife protection, and enforcement — Forest Guard (entry-level field post, ground patrolling), Forester (supervises a group of Forest Guards, maintains records), Deputy Ranger, and Range Forest Officer (RFO, a gazetted supervisory post). At the all-India level, the Indian Forest Service (IFS) is recruited by UPSC through the Combined Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination followed by the IFS Main Examination, placing officers in senior state and central forestry administration.

Eligibility for Forest Guard is typically Class 10 or 12 pass with defined height, chest, and physical fitness standards; Forester generally requires Class 12 pass; Range Forest Officer requires a bachelor's degree, often with a preference for a science background. Selection for Guard and Forester posts is conducted by the state's forest recruitment board and includes a written test plus a mandatory Physical Efficiency Test (long-distance walking/running is common, reflecting the field nature of the job).

Forest department field posts (Guard, Forester) carry standard state Group C/D pay scales with a forest/field allowance in many states; RFO is a Group B gazetted post with higher pay and administrative authority over a forest range. IFS officers, recruited via UPSC, follow the All India Services pay matrix on par with IAS/IPS.

Bookmark this page for the latest Forest Guard, Forester, Range Forest Officer, and IFS recruitment notifications.