Introduction
There is no single all-India Forest Guard Recruitment 2026 portal. Forest Guard hiring is being released state-wise through different official agencies. The latest verified official Forest Guard recruitment update available right now is the MPESB Van Rakshak Recruitment 2026 for 728 Forest Guard posts in Madhya Pradesh.
This is an important update for 10th-pass candidates looking for a government job in the forest department. However, candidates should be careful: MPESB official documents currently show a timeline conflict. The rulebook mentions the exam starting from 7 April 2026, while a later official notice dated 13 March 2026 extends the application and correction deadline to 30 April 2026. So applicants should rely only on the latest ESB notice page and portal status before acting.
Important Links
- Direct Apply Link: MPESB candidate portal / application dashboard.
- Official Website: Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board.
- Download Official Notification PDF: MPESB Van Rakshak & Kshetra Rakshak Combined Recruitment Test 2026 rulebook.
- Latest Date Change Notice: MPESB official notice dated 13 March 2026.
Key Highlights
- Recruitment authority: Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board
- Department: Forest Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh
- Post covered in this article: Forest Guard / Van Rakshak
- Total Forest Guard vacancies: 728
- Educational qualification: 10th pass / High School
- Age limit: 18 to 33 years, with relaxation for eligible categories
- Pay scale: ₹19,500 to ₹62,000
- Selection stages: Written test, physical measurement, walking test, document verification, merit
- Written exam pattern: 100 marks, 2 hours, one paper
- Latest official caution: application-date notice and exam-date mention are not fully aligned across MPESB documents.
Vacancy / Post Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment | MPESB Van Rakshak Recruitment 2026 |
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Authority | MP Employees Selection Board |
| Department | Forest Department |
| Controlling office mentioned in rulebook | Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Bhopal |
| Post | Forest Guard / Van Rakshak |
| Total vacancies | 728 |
| Pay scale | ₹19,500–₹62,000 |
Source: MPESB official rulebook.
Category-wise vacancy snapshot
| Category | Vacancies shown in notified Forest Guard table |
|---|---|
| UR | 310 |
| SC | 0 |
| ST | 143 |
| OBC | 198 |
| EWS | 77 |
| Total | 728 |
The detailed roster in the rulebook also includes horizontal allocations such as ex-servicemen, home guard / Nagar Sainik, and contractual staff, and the document says the vacancy count can change according to district roster requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
For the Forest Guard post, the rulebook shows High School / 10th pass qualification under the recognized board pattern.
Age Limit
As per the official rulebook, the age calculation is taken as on 1 January 2026. The standard age shown for male UR candidates is 18 to 33 years. For women candidates and MP candidates from SC, ST, OBC and certain other eligible categories, the upper age goes up to 38 years.
Experience
The notified Forest Guard eligibility is built around school qualification, age and physical standards. The official Forest Guard section does not separately list prior work experience as a mandatory requirement.
Nationality / Domicile
The combined recruitment rules require Indian citizenship. The rulebook also ties several relaxations and document benefits to Madhya Pradesh domicile and valid category certificates, and it mentions live registration in the MP employment office in the combined rules.
Application Process
- Go to the official MPESB portal.
- Open the Van Rakshak / Forest Guard recruitment section from the candidate dashboard or recruitment page.
- Register with your basic details.
- Fill in personal, educational and category details carefully.
- Upload photo, signature and required certificates.
- Pay the required fee and portal charges.
- Submit the form and save the confirmation copy.
- Track later updates on admit card, physical test and document verification through the official portal only.
Application Fees
| Category | Official exam fee |
|---|---|
| UR / General | ₹500 |
| SC / ST / OBC / PwD candidates of MP | ₹250 |
| Backlog recruitment posts, where applicable | No exam fee |
| MP Online portal charge via kiosk | ₹60 |
| Registered citizen user portal charge | ₹20 |
Source: official MPESB rulebook.
Selection Process
The Forest Guard selection process in the MPESB rulebook has these stages:
- Written examination
- Physical measurement test
- Walking test
- Document verification
- Final merit list
The rulebook also states minimum qualifying marks in the written test as 33% for UR and 23% for SC, ST and OBC candidates.
Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Official Written Exam Pattern
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Total marks | 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Number of papers | One |
| Level | High School level |
| Medium | Hindi / English |
Subject Areas
- General Knowledge
- General Hindi
- General English
- General Mathematics
- General Science
Physical Standards
| Standard | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 163 cm | 150 cm |
| Chest (normal) | 79 cm | Not applicable |
| Chest expansion | 5 cm | Not applicable |
For SC/ST candidates, the rulebook shows lower height standards in the physical measurement section.
Walking Test
| Candidate | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Male | 25 km in 4 hours |
| Female | 14 km in 4 hours |
The walking test is qualifying in nature and does not carry marks.
Salary / Pay Scale
The official pay scale for Forest Guard in this MP recruitment is ₹19,500 to ₹62,000.
Another important point many websites skip: the rulebook states that selected candidates may be kept on 3 years of probation, with payment at 70% of the minimum pay in the first year, 80% in the second year, and 90% in the third year as stipend, before regular pay starts as per rules.
Benefits
The official document also mentions travel reimbursement facility for eligible SC, ST and OBC candidates appearing in the examination, as per rules.
Important Dates & Event Timeline
| Event | Date / Status |
|---|---|
| Original application start date | 28 February 2026 |
| Original last date to apply | 14 March 2026 |
| Original last date for correction | 19 March 2026 |
| Revised last date to apply in later notice | 30 April 2026 |
| Revised last date for correction in later notice | 30 April 2026 |
| Rulebook mention for exam start | From 7 April 2026 |
Important note: the official MPESB documents currently show a mismatch between the earlier rulebook exam date and the later date-change notice. Candidates should verify the latest live portal status before relying on third-party summaries.
Similar Jobs / Related Recruitment Comparison
| Recruitment | Level | Qualification | Vacancies | Current verified status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPESB Forest Guard 2026 | State Forest Guard | 10th pass | 728 | MPESB official recruitment live in documents; timeline conflict across official notices |
| OSSSC Forest Guard under CRE-2025(II) | State Forest Guard | HSC / 10th pass | 896 | Odisha official site shows written-test and admission-letter updates in April 2026 |
| UPSC Indian Forest Service 2026 | Officer-level forest service exam, not Forest Guard | Graduate | Not a Forest Guard vacancy | Notification issued; prelim linked through Civil Services Preliminary Exam |
Sources: MPESB, OSSSC and UPSC official sources.
Admit Card / Exam Date / Result Update
For the MPESB Forest Guard 2026 cycle, the safest reading is this:
- The rulebook mentions the exam starting from 7 April 2026.
- A later MPESB notice extends the application timeline to 30 April 2026, which creates an official schedule conflict.
- The currently visible official ESB results page in search results still shows older 2023 Forest Guard result entries, not a clearly listed 2026 final result release.
- So candidates should keep checking the ESB candidate portal, admit-card page and latest notice section before trusting any claimed exam-date or admit-card timeline.
Required Documents
Based on the official verification list, candidates should keep these ready:
- High School certificate with date of birth
- Educational qualification certificate
- Caste certificate, if applicable
- EWS certificate, if applicable
- MP domicile certificate
- Employment office live registration proof, where applicable
- Ex-serviceman certificate, if applicable
- Home Guard / Nagar Sainik certificate, if applicable
- Contract employee certificate, if applicable
- Identity proof and later admit card for test stages
- Medical fitness certificate before appointment, as required by rules
How to Prepare
- First, finish the High School level basics of GK, Hindi, English, Maths and Science because the written paper follows that level.
- Second, start walking practice early. Many candidates prepare only for the written exam and ignore the 25 km / 14 km walking requirement.
- Third, arrange your certificates in advance because document checking happens after the written stage and physical tests.
- Fourth, check the official portal regularly because this recruitment already shows date confusion across official documents.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Good opportunity for 10th-pass candidates.
- Clear official pay scale of ₹19,500–₹62,000.
- Straightforward written paper pattern with school-level subjects.
Cons
- The recruitment currently has an official date mismatch between documents.
- The physical stage is demanding because of the walking test.
- Probation-stage pay structure matters, so candidates should not assume full regular pay from day one.
Who Should Apply?
This recruitment suits candidates who:
- want a state government forest department job,
- meet the 10th-pass eligibility,
- are physically fit for measurement and walking standards,
- can manage school-level written exam preparation,
- and are comfortable following official notice updates closely because the timeline is not fully clean right now.
Final Verdict
For readers searching for Forest Guard Recruitment 2026, the most reliable official update available right now is the MPESB Van Rakshak Recruitment 2026 for 728 posts. It is a strong opportunity for 10th-pass job seekers, and the pay scale is decent for an entry-level state post. But the biggest caution is the official schedule mismatch between the rulebook and the later date-change notice. That is exactly why candidates should depend on official MPESB notices only, not copied job portals.
5 SEO FAQs
1) What is the latest official update on Forest Guard Recruitment 2026?
The latest verified official state-level update I found is the MPESB Forest Guard / Van Rakshak Recruitment 2026 for 728 posts in Madhya Pradesh.
2) What is the qualification for Forest Guard Recruitment 2026?
For the MPESB Forest Guard post covered here, the qualification shown is High School / 10th pass.
3) What is the salary of Forest Guard Recruitment 2026?
The official pay scale is ₹19,500 to ₹62,000. The rulebook also mentions a probation-stage stipend structure before full regular pay.
4) What is the syllabus for Forest Guard Recruitment 2026?
The written exam includes General Knowledge, General Hindi, General English, General Mathematics and General Science at High School level, for 100 marks in 2 hours.
5) What are the important dates for Forest Guard Recruitment 2026?
The original MPESB rulebook showed application dates from 28 February to 14 March 2026 and exam from 7 April 2026, but a later official notice revised the application and correction deadline to 30 April 2026. Because of this conflict, candidates should verify the current portal notice before relying on any single date.
Final Summary for Quick Readers
Forest Guard Recruitment 2026 is not one central India-wide notification right now. The latest verified official update is MPESB Forest Guard 2026 with 728 vacancies, 10th-pass eligibility, ₹19,500–₹62,000 pay scale, a 100-mark written exam, and a physical measurement + walking test. The main caution is that MPESB official documents currently show conflicting dates, so candidates should follow only the latest official portal notice.