Kerala PSC Forest Boat Driver Recruitment 2026

Kerala Public Service Commission (Kerala PSC) has issued Category No. 153/2026 for Forest Boat Driver posts in the Forest & Wildlife Department of the Kerala Government Service. Indian citizens who meet the age, licence, experience, swimming and physical requirements may apply, subject to the notification’s restriction that women and differently abled candidates are not eligible for this post.

The recruitment offers three district-wise vacancies: two in Thrissur and one in Kozhikkode. Applications are online only, following One Time Registration, and the application period begins in September 2026 and closes on 4 November 2026 at midnight. The selection process may include an OMR or written test, physical measurement and efficiency tests, a swimming test, practical assessment, medical examination and certificate verification.

Important Dates

The notification is available from the official notice PDF. Applications and One Time Registration are handled through the Kerala PSC website.

Vacancy Details

Kerala PSC has notified three Forest Boat Driver posts in the Forest & Wildlife Department. Vacancies are allocated by district, so candidates should check the relevant district details in the notification before applying.

The notification also states that appointment is by district-wise direct recruitment, with a 70% direct recruitment quota and a 30% by-transfer recruitment quota.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Applicants must have passed SSLC or an equivalent examination recognised by the Government of India or the Government of Kerala. They must also hold a valid motor boat driving licence issued by a competent authority and have at least three years of experience as a Boat Driver. The licence must remain valid throughout the selection stages, including the application deadline, OMR test, Physical Efficiency Test, swimming test and practical test.

Candidates must have basic knowledge of motor boat engine mechanisms and be able to carry out minor repairs. Kerala PSC will assess this proficiency through a practical test. Applicants must also be able to swim and pass the Commission’s swimming test: a 50-metre trial within two minutes and two minutes of floating in the deeper part of the pool. Candidates must pass both swimming events.

Age Limit

The prescribed age range is 25 to 40 years. Candidates born from 2 January 1986 through 1 January 2001, with both dates included, are eligible under the stated age criteria. Other Backward Communities and SC/ST candidates may receive age relaxation under Paragraph 2(i) of Part II, General Conditions. The maximum age after any relaxation cannot exceed 50 years.

Physical Standards and Other Conditions

The minimum height is 168 cm. The minimum chest measurement is 81 cm, with at least 5 cm of expansion. For Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates, the minimum height is 160 cm; the 5 cm chest-expansion requirement is not relaxed. The notification specifies the National Physical Efficiency one-star standard test for men, and candidates must qualify in any five of its eight events.

Applicants must also meet the prescribed medical standards: hearing must be perfect; each eye must have distant vision of 6/6 Snellen and near vision of 0.5 Snellen; colour vision must be normal; and there must be no night blindness. Candidates must have no paralysis, free movement in all joints, and a perfectly normal nervous system free from infectious diseases. Women candidates and differently abled candidates are not eligible to apply for this post.

Application Fee

No application fee is specified for this recruitment. Candidates must apply online through the Kerala PSC website after completing One Time Registration; applications by any other mode will not be accepted.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official Kerala PSC website at keralapsc.gov.in.
2. Complete One Time Registration if you do not already have a Kerala PSC profile. Registered candidates can sign in with their User-ID and password.
3. Open the notification for Forest Boat Driver, Category No. 153/2026, and select the relevant “Apply Now” option.
4. Enter the required information in the online application and check that your personal details are accurate before submission.
5. Upload a photograph taken within the preceding six months. The candidate’s name and the date the photograph was taken must be legibly printed at its bottom.
6. Submit the form by 4 November 2026, before midnight, and retain a printout or soft copy for future reference.

The submitted application is provisional and cannot be deleted or altered after submission. Candidates are responsible for the accuracy of their personal information and for keeping their password confidential. Applications that do not comply with the notification conditions may be rejected.

Salary & Pay Scale

Selection Process

Selection may involve an OMR or written test, if conducted, followed by physical measurement before the Physical Efficiency Test. Candidates must qualify in any five of the eight specified efficiency events. The remaining assessments include the swimming test, a practical test of boat-driving proficiency and engine-mechanism knowledge, a medical examination against the stated standards, and certificate verification. Kerala PSC will publish the schedule for physical measurement and the Physical Efficiency Test on its website.

Eligible candidates should review the official notice carefully, confirm that they meet every licence, experience and physical requirement, and submit the online application before 4 November 2026 at midnight.