UP Forest Guard Vacancy 2026: 708 Posts Up for Grabs — Here's Everything You Need to Know

If you've been eyeing a stable government job in Uttar Pradesh's forest department, this is the recruitment drive you've been waiting for. The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), Lucknow, has rolled out its official notification for Forest Guard and Wildlife Guard posts, and the numbers are worth paying attention to.

What's on Offer

Under Advertisement No. 12-Pariksha/2026, UPSSSC is looking to fill a total of 708 vacancies across two categories:

• 647 posts for Forest Guard (Van Rakshak)
• 61 posts for Wildlife Guard (Vanya Jeev Rakshak)

Both roles fall under the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Department, Uttar Pradesh, and offer the kind of job security and structured pay scale that make government postings so attractive — especially for candidates drawn to outdoor, field-based work rather than a desk job.

Who Can Apply

The eligibility bar here is refreshingly accessible for a government post:

• Educational qualification: Candidates need to have passed Intermediate (10+2) or an equivalent qualification from a recognised board or university.
• Age limit: Applicants must be between 18 and 40 years old (as reckoned from 1 July 2026), with age relaxation applicable for reserved categories as per standard government norms.
• PET clearance: This is the non-negotiable part — only candidates who have already cleared the UPSSSC Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) 2025 are eligible to apply. If you sat for PET 2025, this notification is your next step; if you didn't, this particular window isn't open to you.

Key Dates to Mark

Event	Date
Notification released	23 April 2026
Online applications open	30 June 2026
Online applications close	20 July 2026
Correction window closes	27 July 2026

Here's the part that matters most right now: the application window closes on 20 July 2026, which means candidates who haven't yet submitted their forms are down to the wire. If you're eligible and haven't applied, this is genuinely last-call territory — don't let procrastination cost you a shot at a government post.

How to Apply

The process runs entirely through the official UPSSSC portal, upsssc.gov.in:

1. Visit the official website and locate the Forest Guard & Wildlife Guard Recruitment 2026 link.
2. Register or log in using your PET 2025 credentials.
3. Fill out the application form carefully, upload the required documents, and pay the applicable fee.
4. Review every field before hitting submit — once the deadline passes, no late entries are entertained under any circumstances.
5. Use the correction window (open until 27 July 2026) if you spot an error after submission, since edits aren't possible once that window shuts too.

Why This Recruitment Matters

Forest Guard and Wildlife Guard roles aren't just about a paycheck — they come with a Pay Level-2 salary structure and genuine long-term security, while also offering something a lot of desk-bound government jobs don't: meaningful, hands-on work protecting India's forests and wildlife. For candidates who value fieldwork over files, this is about as good as sarkari naukri gets.

Final Word

With 708 posts on the line and the clock winding down on applications, this is a recruitment cycle worth acting on rather than just bookmarking. Double-check your eligibility, keep your PET 2025 details handy, and get your application in before the window closes. For the full notification PDF, category-wise vacancy breakup, and official application link, head straight to the UPSSSC website — and always cross-verify details there before applying, since official sources are the final word on any government recruitment.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes. Candidates are advised to check the official UPSSSC notification and website for the most accurate and updated details before applying.