Karnataka Forest Elephant Kavadi (Group-D) Recruitment 2026

The Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), Aranya Ilakhe, has released circle-wise recruitment notifications for the direct recruitment of Elephant Kavadi (Group-D) posts for the year 2026-27. The notifications have been issued by the Chief Conservator of Forests and the appointing authority for the Shivamogga, Kanara (Sirsi), Kodagu (Madikeri), Mysuru, and Chamarajanagara circles. Candidates with experience in elephant handling and who meet the eligibility conditions should apply through the offline process within the notified dates.

Across the notified circles, a total of 57 vacancies (approximately, circle-wise) have been reported. The application window starts on 2026-08-05 at 10:00 AM and closes on 2026-09-03 at 5:30 PM. Applications must be submitted offline (by post/courier/hand delivery) to the respective circle office. Selection will be based on document verification followed by an interview and a practical test focused on the candidate’s ability and experience in handling elephants; there is no written examination mentioned in the notification.

Important Dates

Vacancy Details

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

The notification does not specify a formal educational qualification. Instead, eligibility is primarily linked to experience in handling elephants. Candidates are required to declare their years of experience in the application form, and this declared experience is treated as an important criterion during selection. In addition, candidates must be able to speak and understand Kannada, as Kannada is required for handling duties and for the interview process.

Age Limit

The maximum age limits vary by category as follows: General/Unreserved candidates can apply up to 35 years. Candidates belonging to Category IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB and other backward classes can apply up to 38 years. SC, ST, and Category-I candidates can apply up to 40 years. Ex-servicemen are eligible as per the applicable relaxation rules mentioned in the recruitment notification. The notification also indicates an additional one-time 5-year relaxation applicable up to 2027-12-31 (as stated in the provided FAQ text).

Application Fee

There is no application fee for this recruitment. The notification also states that no documents need to be enclosed with the application form at the time of submission; original certificates are verified later during the interview stage.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official website: www.aranya.gov.in.
2. Open the “Nemakati” (Recruitment) section on the homepage.
3. Download the prescribed application form for the relevant circle (Shivamogga, Kanara/Sirsi, Kodagu/Madikeri, Mysuru, or Chamarajanagara). Read the circle-specific notification carefully because addresses, vacancy numbers, and other details may differ by circle.
4. Fill the application form legibly in English (capitals) or Kannada only.
5. Affix a recent passport-size photograph in the space provided.
6. Submit the filled application form offline by post, courier, or in person to the respective Chief Conservator of Forests office for that circle.
7. Ensure the application reaches the office within the notified window: 2026-08-05 to 2026-09-03 (5:30 PM).

Salary & Pay Scale

Selected candidates will be placed in the pay scale applicable to Group-D employees of the Karnataka Forest Department. The pay scale is: 29600-725-32500-800-35700-900-39300-1000-43300-1125-47800-1250-52800 (as applicable).

Selection Process

The recruitment does not include a written examination. Selection is based on a sequence of steps: first, document verification is conducted by checking original certificates and documents before the interview panel. Next, candidates appear for an Interview & Practical Test that is conducted in Kannada and assesses the candidate’s ability to handle elephants and their relevant experience. The total marks for the combined interview and practical assessment are 100. A provisional merit list is prepared based on marks obtained along with category-wise reservation, and a final merit list is published after resolving objections to the provisional list. Candidates must also be medically fit, mentally sound, and physically fit, with no disability that could compromise elephant-handling duties.

Eligible candidates should download the circle-specific notification and application form from aranya.gov.in and submit their offline application before 2026-09-03 (5:30 PM) to avoid rejection due to late receipt.