708 Forest Guard and Wildlife Guard Posts Now Open—But Only If You Cleared PET-2025
The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) has released Advertisement No. 12-Exam/2026 for the Main Examination of Forest Guard and Wildlife Guard positions. This is a major recruitment drive for the UP Forest Department, and the single most important thing you need to know upfront: you can only apply if you already have a PET-2025 score card. If you didn't take or pass the Preliminary Eligibility Test in 2025, you're not eligible for this Main Exam—period.
The recruitment covers a total of 708 permanent positions spread across four categories: 318 Forest Guard (General), 10 Wildlife Guard (General), 329 Forest Guard (Special Selection), and 51 Wildlife Guard (Special Selection). Applications open on 30 June 2026 and close on 20 July 2026, with a final correction window until 27 July. The application fee is refreshingly low at just ₹25 for everyone, regardless of category.
Who Can Apply? Breaking Down the Eligibility Rules
Let's start with the non-negotiable requirement: you must have already appeared in PET-2025 and received your score card. The Commission will shortlist candidates for the Main Exam strictly on the basis of your normalized PET score, category-wise, up to 15 times the number of advertised vacancies. If your PET score is zero or negative, you won't be shortlisted at all. If your result is still marked as under investigation (UI) or provisional, you can apply provisionally, but your final eligibility will depend on the outcome of that inquiry.
On education, the mandatory requirement is straightforward: you must have passed the Intermediate examination from the UP Board of High School and Intermediate Education, or an equivalent government-recognized qualification.
Age-wise, you must be at least 18 years old and not more than 40 years old as of 1 July of the year in which vacancies are advertised. Standard age relaxations for reserved categories apply as per government orders.
The Commission also recognizes preferential/weightage qualifications, which can strengthen your candidature:
- Minimum two years of service in the Territorial Army
- NCC "B" certificate
- Computer application certificate from a government-recognized institution
- Representation of the state in any sport
Reservation and horizontal benefits
Posts are reserved category-wise for Unreserved, SC, ST, OBC, and EWS candidates. Horizontal reservation is provided for women, persons with disabilities (Divyangjan), ex-servicemen, dependents of freedom fighters, and outstanding sportspersons. One critical rule: if you're eligible for more than one reserved category benefit, you'll receive only the single most advantageous relaxation—not a combination of multiple benefits.
Non-domiciles of Uttar Pradesh do not qualify for any reservation benefits. For women candidates, only caste certificates issued on the paternal side are valid.
Application Timeline and Key Deadlines
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application and fee deposit opens | 30 June 2026 |
| Online application and fee deposit closes | 20 July 2026 |
| Fee reconciliation and application correction window closes | 27 July 2026 |
| After 27 July | No application, fee, or correction accepted under any circumstances |
This is not a soft deadline. Once 27 July passes, the system locks completely. No late submissions, no exceptions, no second chances. Mark these dates in your calendar now.
How to Apply Online: Step-by-Step Process
The entire application process happens on upsssc.gov.in. Here's what you do:
- Visit the official website and locate the "Live Advertisement Segment" on the homepage. Download or view Advertisement No. 12-Exam/2026.
- Log in using your PET-2025 registration number. The Commission will send an OTP to your registered mobile number or email for verification. Use this to access your application portal.
- Review auto-populated fields. Your personal details, category, EWS status, horizontal reservation details, date of birth, gender, marital status, and contact information will automatically pull from your PET-2025 record. Your photograph and signature are also auto-fetched and cannot be changed.
- Fill in educational qualification details manually. You must enter the board/university name, year of passing, and certificate number for your Intermediate qualification.
- Select post preferences among the advertised positions and respond to preferential qualification options (Territorial Army service, NCC certificate, etc.).
- Verify your address. Check the permanent and correspondence address auto-displayed from your PET record.
- Read and accept the declaration, enter the verification code, and proceed to payment.
- Pay the fee (₹25 only) via Credit Card, Debit Card, Internet Banking, UPI, or SBI e-Challan. No other payment method is accepted.
- Download and print your application form after successful fee reconciliation. The form auto-submits once payment clears.
What if your fee payment succeeds but reconciliation fails?
This happens occasionally due to banking delays. Don't panic. Log back into your applicant account on the UPSSSC homepage and use the "Update Your Transaction ID by Double Verification" option to complete reconciliation manually. Do this well before 27 July to avoid missing the deadline.
Application Fee Structure
| Category | Online Processing Fee |
|---|---|
| Unreserved | ₹25 |
| OBC | ₹25 |
| SC | ₹25 |
| ST | ₹25 |
Yes, everyone pays the same ₹25 processing fee. This is the application fee for the Main Exam notification process. The actual Main Exam fee will be charged separately only from candidates who get shortlisted for the Main Examination, and it must be paid before downloading your Main Exam admit card.
Important Web-Links
What You Can and Cannot Correct After Submission
After you submit your application, you have until 27 July 2026 to correct specific fields only. The Commission allows corrections in:
- Correspondence address
- EWS/horizontal reservation category
- Mandatory and preferential qualification details
- Marital status
You cannot change your name, date of birth, category, photograph, signature, or any other personal identifier. Plan carefully when filling these fields the first time.
The Four-Stage Selection Process Explained
Getting selected involves four sequential hurdles. Here's what each stage demands:
Stage 1: Written Examination
The written test is a single paper with 100 objective-type multiple-choice questions, each worth 1 mark, for a total of 100 marks. You get 2 hours (120 minutes) to complete it. Every wrong answer costs you ¼ mark (0.25 marks), so negative marking is real—don't guess wildly.
The paper is divided into four parts:
- Part 1: Subject-related Knowledge (50 questions, 50 marks) — National Parks and Bird Sanctuaries, Reserved and Protected Forests, Elephant and Tiger Reserves, environment and ecological balance, climate change, soil and moisture conservation, afforestation and agro-forestry, forest disasters, forest produce, human-wildlife conflict, forest ecology, and forests' contribution to the Indian economy.
- Part 2: Elementary Mathematics and Biology (15 questions, 15 marks) — Percentage, profit-loss, simple interest, averages, mensuration, biological processes, coordination, reproduction and heredity.
- Part 3: Computer and Information Technology (15 questions, 15 marks) — Hardware-software, internet, email, MS-Word/Excel, operating systems, digital financial tools, cyber security, AI, big data, and machine learning.
- Part 4: General Knowledge of Uttar Pradesh (20 questions, 20 marks) — History, culture, art, architecture, geography, economy, polity, administration, and current affairs of UP.
Stage 2: Physical Standard Test (PST)
This is a pass/fail hurdle based on physical measurements. Candidates must meet minimum height and chest requirements:
| Category | Male Height | Female Height | Chest (Unexpanded) | Chest Expansion (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/OBC/SC | 168 cm | 152 cm | 84 cm | 5 cm |
| ST | 160 cm | 147 cm | 84 cm | 5 cm |
Female candidates must also meet a weight requirement between 45 to 58 kg. If you don't meet these standards, you're eliminated at this stage—no exceptions.
Stage 3: Physical Efficiency Test (PET-run-test)
This is a purely qualifying test, meaning you just need to pass it; marks don't count toward final selection.
- Male candidates: Complete a 25 km run while carrying a 10 kg load, within 4 hours.
- Female candidates: Complete a 14 km run within 4 hours.
It's tough, but it's designed to test your physical endurance for the actual job demands.
Stage 4: Medical Examination
A Medical Board at designated Community Health Centres or District Hospitals conducts a final medical examination. You must be declared medically fit to receive your appointment letter.
Important Instructions and Rules You Must Follow
The Commission has laid out some strict rules. Violate them at your own peril:
- False information = rejection and debarment. If you furnish false or misleading information in your application, your candidature will be rejected outright, and you may be debarred from future UPSSSC examinations under the UP Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
- Certificates must be from competent authorities. All required certificates—caste, EWS, disability, freedom fighter dependent, etc.—must be obtained from the officially prescribed formats (see Appendices 1–9 of the advertisement). Keep these ready for submission whenever demanded.
- Only one reserved category benefit. If you're eligible for multiple reserved categories, you get only the single most advantageous one, not all of them.
- Domicile matters for reservation. If you're not an original domicile of Uttar Pradesh, you're ineligible for any reservation benefits.
- Paternal caste certificate for women. Women candidates must submit a caste certificate issued on the paternal side only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens if my PET result is marked "under investigation"?
A: You can apply provisionally. Your final eligibility will depend on the outcome of the investigation. If the result is confirmed after you've been selected, you'll be appointed. If it's cancelled, your candidature will be cancelled too.
Q: Can I pay the application fee after 20 July?
A: No. Both application submission and fee payment must be completed by 20 July 2026. The correction window closes on 27 July, but that's only for correcting specific fields in an already-submitted application—not for new applications.
Q: My fee payment went through, but my form shows "reconciliation pending." What do I do?
A: Log into your applicant account and use the "Update Your Transaction ID by Double Verification" option on the homepage to complete reconciliation manually. Do this before 27 July.
Q: Can I change my photograph or signature after submitting my application?
A: No. Photograph and signature are auto-fetched from your PET-2025 record and are locked. You cannot modify them.
Q: Do I get age relaxation if I'm from an SC/ST/OBC category?
A: Yes. Standard age relaxations as per government orders apply to reserved categories. Check the official notification for exact relaxation years applicable to your category.
Q: What's the minimum PET score needed to be shortlisted for the Main Exam?
A: The Commission shortlists up to 15 times the number of advertised vacancies, category-wise, based on normalized PET scores. There's no fixed minimum score announced; it depends on the performance of all candidates in your category. However, a zero or negative score will disqualify you.
Q: If I'm shortlisted for the Main Exam, do I need to pay the Main Exam fee?
A: Yes. The Main Exam fee will be charged only to shortlisted candidates and must be paid before downloading your Main Exam admit card. The ₹25 you're paying now is only the processing fee for this notification.
Q: Can I apply for both Forest Guard and Wildlife Guard posts?
A: You can indicate preferences among the selected posts during the application process. The exact rules on applying for multiple posts should be clarified in the detailed instructions on the official portal.
Final Reminders Before You Apply
Double-check that you have your PET-2025 registration number and score card handy—you'll need them to log in. Gather your educational documents (board certificate, passing year, certificate number) beforehand so you can fill them in quickly. If you're claiming any reserved category or preferential qualification, ensure you have the supporting certificates ready, even though you won't upload them during application—they'll be demanded later.
Mark 20 July as your hard deadline for application submission and fee payment. Mark 27 July as your final deadline for any corrections. After 27 July, the system closes, and no requests of any kind will be entertained.
Visit upsssc.gov.in regularly for updates, admit cards, results, and any clarifications the Commission may issue. This is your official source of truth—don't rely on rumors or third-party websites.
Disclaimer: This article is based on Advertisement No. 12-Exam/2026 issued by UPSSSC on 23 April 2026. For the most current and authoritative information, always refer to the official UPSSSC website (upsssc.gov.in) and the complete advertisement. In case of any discrepancy between this article and the official notification, the official notification shall prevail.
