If you hold a Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Chemistry, Zoology, Forestry, Agriculture or any of the 16 specified subjects and are looking for a stable forest service career in Gujarat, this is a golden window. Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) has released the Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Class-II and Range Forest Officer (RFO) Class-II recruitment 2026 notification on 1 April 2026. Total 26 posts (1 ACF + 25 RFO) are to be filled under the Forest and Environment Department.
Selection is through a three-stage process: Preliminary Examination (screening), Main Written Examination and Personal Interview. Selected candidates will serve in Gujarat’s forest circles. The application is purely online on the GPSC-OJAS portal. The window is very short — only 15 days — so candidates must complete registration and consent deposit immediately.
Quick Overview – GPSC Assistant Conservator of Forest & Range Forest Officer Recruitment 2026
- Organization: Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC)
- Recruitment / Exam Name: Assistant Conservator of Forest and Range Forest Officer, Class-II
- Post / Trade / Exam Name(s): Assistant Conservator of Forest (Class-II), Range Forest Officer (Class-II)
- Total Vacancies: 26
- Job Location / Exam Centre: Gujarat (Forest and Environment Department postings)
- Job Type / Nature: Regular – Class-II Gazetted
- Approx. Pay Scale: ACF: Level-9 ₹53,100-1,67,800; RFO: Level-7 ₹39,900-1,26,600 (7th CPC)
- Apply / Register Between: 01 April 2026 (13:00 hrs) to 15 April 2026 (23:59 hrs)
- Apply Online: Apply Online on GPSC-OJAS
- Official Portal: https://gpsc-ojas.gujarat.gov.in/
⚠️ Important Update (02 April 2026): Consent form & deposit must be submitted latest by 16 April 2026 (10:00 hrs) otherwise your application will be cancelled.
ગુજરાતીમાં સરળ માહિતી – જીપીએસસી એસીએફ અને આરએફઓ ભરતી ૨૦૨૬
ગુજરાત જાહેર સેવા આયોગ (GPSC) દ્વારા વન અને પર્યાવરણ વિભાગમાં અસિસ્ટન્ટ કન્ઝર્વેટર ઓફ ફોરેસ્ટ (ACF) અને રેન્જ ફોરેસ્ટ ઓફિસર (RFO) વર્ગ-૨ની ૨૬ જગ્યાઓ માટે ભરતી જાહેર કરવામાં આવી છે. ૧ એપ્રિલ ૨૦૨૬થી ઓનલાઈન અરજી શરૂ થઈ છે અને છેલ્લી તારીખ ૧૫ એપ્રિલ ૨૦૨૬ છે.
આ પોસ્ટો પર્મેનન્ટ સરકારી નોકરી છે. પ્રિલિમિનરી, મેઈન્સ અને ઇન્ટરવ્યૂ પછી ફાઈનલ મેરિટ બનાવવામાં આવશે. ગુજરાતના મૂળ ઉમેદવારોને વયમાં છૂટ અને અનામતનો લાભ મળશે. શારીરિક માપદંડ પણ ચકાશે. જે ઉમેદવારોને વન વિભાગમાં કારકિર્દી બનાવવી છે તેઓ તરત અરજી કરી લે.
Important Dates – GPSC ACF & RFO Recruitment 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 01 April 2026 |
| Online Application Start | 01 April 2026 (13:00 hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 15 April 2026 (23:59 hrs) |
| Consent & Deposit Submission | 01–16 April 2026 (10:00 hrs) |
| Preliminary Exam (Tentative) | 07 June & 27 June 2026 |
| Main Written Exam (Tentative) | 13–16 December 2026 |
Exam Cities / Centres
Exact exam centres will be mentioned on the admit card. Preliminary and Main exams are normally conducted at major cities of Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, etc.). Candidates cannot request a change of centre.
About the Gujarat Public Service Commission & Role Importance
Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) conducts recruitment for Class-I and Class-II gazetted posts in the state government. The ACF and RFO posts under the Forest and Environment Department are highly respected field jobs involving forest conservation, wildlife protection, eco-tourism and enforcement of forest laws.
Why is this recruitment attractive?
- Permanent Class-II Gazetted status with good pay and allowances
- Opportunity to serve in Gujarat’s rich forest areas and national parks
- Additional 10% marks benefit for B.Sc. Forestry graduates in mains + interview
- Clear career progression in the state forest service
Analyst’s Take – Is This GPSC ACF / RFO for You?
This is a competitive yet rewarding opportunity for science and forestry graduates who love outdoor work. With only 26 vacancies and thousands of applicants, the prelims cut-off will be tough. If you are not ready for the descriptive mains and physical standards test, you should probably skip it. Practical tip: Submit the consent form and deposit immediately after online registration — many candidates lose their chance just because of this extra step.
Recruitment / Exam Snapshot – GPSC ACF & RFO Recruitment 2026
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment / Exam Name | Assistant Conservator of Forest and Range Forest Officer, Class-II |
| Conducting Organization | Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) |
| Category / Class | Class-II Gazetted |
| Type / Industry | Forest Service |
| Post / Trade / Exam Name(s) | Assistant Conservator of Forest (1), Range Forest Officer (25) |
| Total Vacancies | 26 |
| Location / Coverage | Gujarat |
| Advertisement / Notice No. | 03/2026-27 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | gpsc-ojas.gujarat.gov.in |
| Notification PDF | Available on the official GPSC-OJAS portal |
GPSC ACF & RFO – Post-wise Vacancy & Eligibility 2026
| Post Name | Vacancies | Essential Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Conservator of Forest (Class-II) | 01 | Bachelor’s degree with any one of the 16 subjects (Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Environmental Science, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Engineering/Technology) as principal subject |
| Range Forest Officer (Class-II) | 25 | Same as above |
Note: B.Sc. Forestry graduates get an additional 10% marks in the mains + interview.
Category-wise Vacancies (approximate break-up): UR 11, EWS 2, SEBC 6, SC 3, ST 3 (exact horizontal reservation for women, PwD and Ex-Servicemen as per rules).
GPSC Eligibility 2026 – Education, Age & Domicile
1. Nationality, Domicile & Basic Requirements
- Indian citizen
- Age relaxations and reservation benefits are available only to candidates of Gujarat origin
- Valid ID proof required
2. Educational Qualification
Bachelor’s degree in any one of the listed 16 subjects as the principal subject from a recognised university. Final-year students awaiting results can appear in prelims but must produce a passing certificate for mains.
3. Age Limit (as on 01 April 2026)
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 35 years |
| EWS / SEBC / SC / ST (Gujarat origin) | 45 years (with relaxation) |
| Female (General) | 40 years |
| PwD / Ex-Servicemen | Up to 45 years |
4. Physical Standards (PST)
| Category / Gender | Height (cm) | Chest (cm) Unexpanded–Expanded | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 165 | 79 / 84 | 50 |
| ST Male | 160 | 76 / 81 | 50 |
| Female | 158 | – | 45 |
| ST Female | 156 | – | 45 |
Physical Efficiency Test (Walking Test): Male 25 km in 4 hours, Female 14 km in 4 hours.
Pay Scale & Benefits – GPSC ACF & RFO 2026
Pay Scale
- Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF): Pay Matrix Level-9 ₹53,100 – 1,67,800 + allowances
- Range Forest Officer (RFO): Pay Matrix Level-7 ₹39,900 – 1,26,600 + allowances
Additional benefits include DA, HRA, medical facilities and pension under NPS as per the Gujarat government rules.
Selection Journey – GPSC ACF & RFO Recruitment 2026
- Preliminary Examination – Objective type, two GS papers (screening only, marks not counted for final merit)
- Main Written Examination – Descriptive: Gujarati (150), English (150), GS-I, GS-II, GS-III (150 each)
- Personal Interview – 100 marks
Final merit = Mains (750 marks) + Interview (100 marks).
Exam Pattern & Syllabus – GPSC ACF & RFO 2026
Preliminary and Mains follow standard GPSC pattern with Gujarati and English medium options. A detailed syllabus is given in the official advertisement.
Application Fee – GPSC ACF & RFO 2026
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / UR | ₹100 + bank charges |
| Reserved (Gujarat origin), PwD, Ex-Servicemen | Exempted |
Documents Required – GPSC ACF & RFO 2026
Online Application: Scanned photo, signature, and educational certificates. At Document Verification: Original degree, age proof, caste certificate (if applicable), physical fitness certificate, etc.
How to Apply – GPSC ACF & RFO Recruitment 2026 (Step-by-Step)
- Visit https://gpsc-ojas.gujarat.gov.in/
- Click on the advertisement GPSC/202627/3
- Register/log in with your details
- Fill the online form carefully
- Upload documents and pay the fee (if applicable)
- Submit the consent form and deposit by 16 April 2026 (mandatory)
- Take a printout of the application for future reference
Tip: Do not wait for the last day — the portal gets slow, and the consent deposit is a separate mandatory step.
Contact & Helpline – GPSC Recruitment
Helpline details are available on the official GPSC-OJAS portal. For any technical issue during the application, use the “Help” section on the website.
Important Links – GPSC ACF & RFO Recruitment 2026
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | gpsc-ojas.gujarat.gov.in |
| Notification PDF | Available on the GPSC-OJAS portal |
| Apply Online | Apply Online |
FAQs – GPSC ACF & RFO Recruitment 2026
Q1: What is the last date to apply?
15 April 2026 (23:59 hrs).
Q2: What is the age limit?
20–35 years for UR (relaxation up to 45 years for reserved categories of Gujarat origin).
Q3: Is there a written exam?
Yes – Preliminary (screening) + Mains (descriptive) + Interview.
Q4: What is the pay?
ACF Level-9 ₹53,100–1,67,800; RFO Level-7 ₹39,900–1,26,600.
Q5: Is a physical test required?
Yes – height, chest, weight and walking test.
Final Checklist – Is This the Right Job for You?
- You meet the educational qualification and age criteria
- You are comfortable with fieldwork and physical standards
- You can apply and submit a consent deposit before the deadline
- You are ready for the descriptive mains examination
Source of information: Official GPSC notification dated 01 April 2026. Always verify the latest updates on https://gpsc-ojas.gujarat.gov.in/ before applying.
