The Rajasthan Staff Selection Board has officially announced the RSSB Forester Recruitment 2026, opening a significant opportunity for candidates aspiring to build a career in the Rajasthan Forest Department. This recruitment drive aims to fill 259 Forester (Vanpal) posts across Non-Scheduled and Scheduled Areas of Rajasthan. The position of Forester is a respected government role that combines administrative responsibility with fieldwork related to forest conservation and wildlife protection. With an attractive Level-8 pay scale under the 7th Pay Commission and a transparent selection process based on CET scores and physical efficiency tests, this recruitment is especially appealing for Senior Secondary (10+2) qualified candidates who meet the prescribed age and physical standards. The application process has begun in January 2026 and offers a clear pathway for eligible candidates to secure a stable and prestigious government job.
Important Dates
Candidates planning to apply for RSSB Forester Recruitment 2026 must carefully note the key dates associated with the application and selection process. Keeping track of these dates is crucial to avoid missing any important stage of recruitment.
- CET (Senior Secondary Level) 2024 Score Card Release: February 2025
- Online Application Start Date: 06 January 2026
- Online Application Last Date: 04 February 2026 (up to 23:59 hours)
- Correction Window: To be notified separately
- Application Withdrawal Window: To be notified separately
- Admit Card Release Date: To be announced
- Written Examination Date: To be announced
Applicants are advised to regularly check official notifications for updates regarding correction windows, admit cards, and examination schedules.
Application Fees
The application fee structure for RSSB Forester Recruitment 2026 has been designed to ensure inclusivity while following Rajasthan government norms. Candidates must pay the prescribed fee based on their category at the time of application.
- General Category and Creamy Layer OBC/MBC Candidates: ₹600
- Non-Creamy Layer OBC/MBC, Economically Weaker Section, SC, and ST Candidates of Rajasthan: ₹400
- Persons with Disabilities (Divyang) Candidates: ₹400
- Application Correction Fee (if applicable): ₹300
Candidates belonging to reserved categories from states other than Rajasthan will be treated as General category applicants and must pay the General category fee. Those who have already completed the One Time Registration process are not required to pay the registration fee again. The application fee is non-refundable under all circumstances.
Vacancy Details
A total of 259 Forester (Vanpal) posts have been announced under RSSB Forester Recruitment 2026. These vacancies are distributed between Non-Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Areas of Rajasthan, along with category-wise and horizontal reservations.
Area-wise Vacancy Distribution
- Non-Scheduled Area (General Area): 213 Posts
- Scheduled Area: 46 Posts
- Total Vacancies: 259 Posts
Non-Scheduled Area – Category-wise Distribution (213 Posts)
Vacancies are distributed among General, SC, ST, OBC, MBC, and EWS categories, including reservations for women such as General Female, Widow, and Divorced categories. Horizontal reservations are also applicable for Divyang candidates, Ex-Servicemen, Outstanding Sportspersons, and Acid Attack Victims as per government rules.
Scheduled Area – Category-wise Distribution (46 Posts)
Scheduled Area vacancies are allocated among General, SC, and ST categories with separate provisions for female candidates, widows, and horizontal reservations such as Divyang and Ex-Servicemen.
This structured vacancy distribution ensures fair representation across all social categories as per Rajasthan government reservation policies.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must fulfill all eligibility conditions related to education, nationality, and other essential requirements to be considered for the Forester post.
Educational Qualification
- Candidates must have passed the Senior Secondary (10+2) examination from the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, Central Board of Secondary Education, or any other equivalent board recognized by the government.
- Knowledge of working in Hindi written in Devnagri script is mandatory.
- Familiarity with Rajasthan’s culture is required.
- Candidates who are appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination are eligible to apply, provided they obtain the required qualification before the examination date.
Special Provisions
- Ex-servicemen with 15 years of military service holding an equivalent qualification certificate are eligible under specified conditions.
- Candidates must meet nationality requirements, including Indian citizens and certain other categories as per government rules, subject to eligibility certification.
Applicants are advised to ensure that all educational qualifications and documents are accurate, valid, and verifiable, as discrepancies can lead to rejection of candidature.
Age Limit
The age criteria for RSSB Forester Recruitment 2026 are calculated as per the specified reference date, with multiple relaxations applicable to eligible categories.
- Minimum Age: 18 years
- Maximum Age: 40 years
- Reference Date for Age Calculation: 01 January 2027
Special Relaxation
An additional relaxation of 3 years in the upper age limit is provided to all candidates since Forester recruitment was not conducted in the past three years.
Category-wise Age Relaxation
- SC/ST/OBC/MBC Male Candidates of Rajasthan: 5 years
- General Category Female Candidates: 5 years
- SC/ST/OBC/MBC Female Candidates of Rajasthan: 10 years
- Ex-Servicemen: Up to 15 years as per applicable rules, subject to maximum age limits
- Widows and Divorced Women: No upper age limit, subject to retirement age
- Other special categories: As per Rajasthan government norms
Age relaxations are non-cumulative, and candidates can claim benefit under only one applicable provision.
Salary Scale
The Forester (Vanpal) post offers an attractive salary structure under the Rajasthan government pay matrix.
- Pay Scale: Level-8 of the 7th Pay Commission
- Monthly Salary: ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500
Probation Period
- Duration: 2 years for direct recruitment candidates
- During probation, candidates will receive a fixed monthly remuneration as per government rules.
- No additional allowances such as DA, HRA, or special pay will be admissible during the probation period.
After successful completion of probation, training, and confirmation, candidates will be entitled to the regular pay scale along with applicable allowances and benefits, including leave and other service perks as per Rajasthan Service Rules.
Selection Process
The selection process for RSSB Forester Recruitment 2026 is systematic and merit-based, ensuring transparency and fairness.
- Written Examination
- Selection will primarily be based on marks obtained in the Common Eligibility Test (Senior Secondary Level) 2024.
- The examination will be conducted offline using OMR sheets.
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration: 2 hours
- Negative Marking: One-third mark deduction for each incorrect answer
- Physical Measurement Test
- Candidates shortlisted from the written examination will undergo physical measurement as per prescribed standards for height and chest.
- Physical Efficiency Test
- Male candidates must complete a 25 km walk within 4 hours.
- Female candidates must complete a 16 km walk within 4 hours.
- This test is qualifying in nature.
- Document Verification
- Final selection is subject to successful document verification.
The final merit list will be prepared based on written examination marks and qualifying physical tests.
How to Apply
Candidates must apply through the prescribed online process within the application window. The application process involves registration, form filling, document upload, and final submission.
- Candidates must complete the One Time Registration process, if not already done.
- After registration, applicants need to fill in personal, educational, and category details carefully.
- Required documents such as educational certificates, category certificates, photograph, signature, and thumb impression must be uploaded as per specifications.
- Applicants must verify all details before final submission, as changes are not allowed after submission except during the correction window.
- After successful submission, candidates should take a printout of the application form and note the application number for future reference.
No offline applications are accepted, and candidates are advised to apply well before the closing date to avoid technical issues.
