UPSSSC Forest Guard Recruitment 2026 — Complete Information
Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) has released Advertisement No. 12-Exam/2026 for 708 Forest Guard (Van Rakshak) and Wildlife Guard posts in the UP Forest Department. Application window opens 30 June 2026 and closes 20 July 2026. UP PET 2025 scorecard is mandatory. Fee: ₹25 for all categories.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Advertisement No. | 12-Exam/2026 |
| Organisation | UPSSSC — Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission |
| Department | Uttar Pradesh Forest Department (Van Vibhag) |
| Post Names | Forest Guard (Van Rakshak), Wildlife Guard |
| Total Vacancies | 708 |
| Pay Scale | Level-2 — ₹19,900–₹63,200/month |
| Apply Start Date | 30 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 20 July 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹25 for all categories |
| Age Limit | 18–40 years (as on 01 July 2026) |
| Qualification | 12th Pass + UP PET 2025 Scorecard mandatory |
| Apply Mode | Online — upsssc.gov.in |
About the Forest Guard Post
Forest Guards are field-level employees of the UP Forest Department. Day-to-day work involves patrolling forest areas, protecting wildlife and forest resources from illegal felling and poaching, assisting in plantation drives, and supporting senior forest officers during surveys and inspections. It's an outdoor, active-duty role — not a desk job.
The Wildlife Guard variant is specifically posted in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, where the work additionally covers monitoring of animal movement, maintaining water sources, and anti-poaching operations. Both posts carry the same Level-2 pay.
Salary — What You'll Take Home
| Component | Amount (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay (Level-2 starting) | ₹19,900/month |
| Dearness Allowance (DA ~55%) | ~₹10,945/month (revised biannually) |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | 8–24% of basic (by posting location) |
| Forest Duty Allowance | Additional field allowance for forest postings |
| Approximate In-Hand (Start) | ₹32,000–₹38,000/month |
| Maximum Basic (Level-2) | ₹63,200/month |
Government accommodation (forest chowki/quarter) is provided at most posting locations — saving ₹5,000–₹15,000/month in rent.
Eligibility Criteria
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen, domicile of Uttar Pradesh |
| Educational Qualification | 12th Pass (Intermediate) from a recognised Board |
| PET Requirement | Valid UP PET 2025 Scorecard — mandatory |
| Minimum Age | 18 years (as on 01 July 2026) |
| Maximum Age | 40 years (as on 01 July 2026) |
| Age Relaxation — OBC (NCL) | 3 years (max 43) |
| Age Relaxation — SC/ST | 5 years (max 45) |
| Age Relaxation — PwD | 15 years |
Physical Standards (PST)
| Standard | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 168 cm (minimum) | 160 cm (minimum) |
| Chest (unexpanded) | 84 cm | 79 cm |
| Chest (expanded) | 89 cm (5 cm expansion) | 84 cm (5 cm expansion) |
| Running (PET) | 25 km in 4 hours (with 10 kg load) | 14 km in 4 hours |
Written Exam Pattern
| Part | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | Hindi Knowledge & Writing Ability | 25 |
| Part II | General Knowledge (UP focus) | 25 |
| Part III | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 |
| Part IV | Environment & Forestry Awareness | 25 |
| Total | Negative marking: 1/4 per wrong answer | 100 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹25 |
| SC / ST | ₹25 |
| PwD (Divyangjan) | ₹25 |
How to Apply — Step by Step
Before you start — keep these ready:
- UP PET 2025 Scorecard (downloaded from upsssc.gov.in)
- 12th Marksheet & Certificate
- Scanned Photo: JPEG, 20–50 KB, white background
- Scanned Signature: JPEG, 10–20 KB, on white paper
- Aadhaar number and mobile number linked to Aadhaar
- Debit/Credit Card or UPI for ₹25 fee payment
- Open the official portal — Go to upsssc.gov.in on your browser (use a laptop/desktop for best experience)
- Log in with OTR ID — Click "Candidate Login" and enter your One Time Registration (OTR) number and password. If you haven't registered yet, click "New Registration" and complete your OTR profile first — it takes about 10 minutes
- Find this recruitment — On your dashboard, look for "Advertisement No. 12-Exam/2026 — Forest Guard" and click "Apply"
- Fill the application form — Enter your personal details, UP PET 2025 scorecard number, 12th qualification details, and category. Double-check every field against your documents
- Upload photo & signature — Photo size: 20–50 KB (JPEG). Signature size: 10–20 KB (JPEG). Both should be clear and recent
- Pay ₹25 fee — Select payment mode (UPI/Debit/Credit/Net Banking) and complete the payment. Save the payment receipt
- Submit & save confirmation — Click final submit, then print or save the confirmation page with your application number. You will need this for admit card download later
⚠️ Last date: 20 July 2026. Don't wait for the last day — UPSSSC servers get slow on deadline day. Apply before 18 July to avoid technical issues.
All UPSSSC Recruitment 2026 — Active Notifications
UPSSSC has released 12 recruitment notifications in 2026 so far. Here is the complete list with application dates:
| Advt No. | Post Name | Total Posts | Apply Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Exam/2026 | Forest Guard (Van Rakshak) ← You are here | 708 | 30 Jun – 20 Jul 2026 |
| 11-Exam/2026 | Havaldar Instructor | 209 | 19 Jun – 09 Jul 2026 |
| 10-Exam/2026 | Platoon Commander / Block Organizer | 295 | 16 Jun – 06 Jul 2026 |
| 09-Exam/2026 | Vidhan Bhawan Rakshak, Fire Guard | 170 | 09 Jun – 29 Jun 2026 |
| 08-Exam/2026 | Excise Constable | 722 | 04 Jun – 24 Jun 2026 |
| 07-Exam/2026 | Lower PCS | 2,285 | 29 May – 18 Jun 2026 |
| 06-Exam/2026 | Technical Assistant Group C | 2,759 | 22 May – 11 Jun 2026 |
| 05-Exam/2026 | Assistant Statistical Officer (ASO) | 929 | 21 Apr – 11 May 2026 |
| 04-Exam/2026 | Assistant Boring Technician | 402 | 15 Apr – 05 May 2026 |
| 03-Exam/2026 | Teacher Cadre | 58 | 06 Apr – 27 Apr 2026 |
| 02-Exam/2026 | Various Posts | 115 | 02 Apr – 29 Apr 2026 |
| 01-Exam/2026 | Pharmacist | 560 | 09 Mar – 29 Mar 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is UP PET 2025 mandatory or can I apply without it?
UP PET 2025 scorecard is mandatory. UPSSSC requires a valid PET score as a prerequisite for all Level-3 and below state posts. No exception — you cannot apply for Forest Guard 2026 without it.
Q: The fee is ₹25 for all categories — is that correct?
Yes, confirmed from the official notification. ₹25 for everyone — General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD. One of the lowest fees for any state government job in India.
Q: I passed 12th from CBSE, not UP Board. Am I eligible?
Yes. Any recognised Board is valid — CBSE, ICSE, or UP Board. What matters is that you hold an Intermediate (12th) certificate and are a UP domicile holder.
Q: Can female candidates apply?
Yes. Physical standards are different for females: 160 cm height, 79–84 cm chest, and 14 km run in 4 hours. Age limits and fee are the same.
Q: Is there an interview?
No interview. Selection is written exam → PST → PET → document verification. Your rank on the written exam merit list determines posting preference.
Q: What is the promotion path for a Forest Guard?
Forest Guard → Forest Ranger (through departmental exam) → Range Officer and beyond. Candidates who clear UP PCS Forest exam can also move into Class-I gazetted officer roles.