KFD Elephant Kavadiga 2026: 57 Offline Group D Posts Recruitment
Recruitment Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) |
| Post Name | Elephant Kavadiga (Ane Kavadiga), Group 'D' |
| Total Vacancies | 57 (51 Fresh + 6 Backlog) |
| Application Mode | Offline (Post or In-Person) |
| Job Location | Kanara (Shirsi), Kodagu (Madikeri), Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Shivamoga |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 27 July 2026 (all five circles) |
| Application Start Date | 05 August 2026, from 10:00 AM |
| Last Date for Submission of Application | 03 September 2026, up to 5:30 PM |
| Exam Date | Check Official Notification |
| Interview Date | Check Official Notification |
| Counselling Date | Check Official Notification |
| Result Date | Check Official Notification |
Application / Registration Fee
No Application Fee. The application form itself states that no fee is payable and no supporting documents need to be enclosed at the time of initial application submission.
Eligibility Criteria & Vacancy / Seat Details
Circle-Wise Vacancy Breakdown
| S. No. | Circle / Division | No. of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kanara Circle (Shirsi) - Kali Hulu Sanrakshit Pradesha, Dandeli Wildlife Division | 1 (Backlog: SC-Others-1) |
| 2 | Kodagu Circle (Madikeri) - Madikeri Regional Division | 11 (Fresh-10: General-5, SC-1, Category-I-1, Category-IIA-2, Category-IIB-1; Backlog-1: Category-3B (Others)-1) |
| 3 | Mysuru Circle - Rajiv Gandhi National Park Division, Hunsur | 27 (Fresh-26: General-13, SC-4, Category-I-1, Category-IIA-5, Category-IIB-1, Category-IIIA-1, Category-IIIB-1; Backlog-1: Category-I (Others)-1) |
| 4 | Chamarajanagar Circle - Bandipur Tiger Reserve Division, Bandipur | 9 (Fresh-6: General-3, SC-1, Category-I-1, Category-IIA-1; Backlog-3: Category-I (Others)-1, SC (Others)-1, General/Women-1) |
| 5 | Shivamoga Circle - Shivamoga Wildlife Division | 9 (General-4, SC-1, Category-I-1, Category-IIA-2, Category-IIB-1) |
| Total | 57 |
General Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizenship (or specific categories of persons of Indian origin as defined in the notification) |
| Domicile | Residing within a notified forest area under KFD jurisdiction, Karnataka |
| Language | Must speak and understand Kannada |
| Experience | Mandatory experience in elephant management/handling |
| Educational Qualification | No specific minimum qualification prescribed; only years of elephant-handling experience declared |
| Marital Status | Male candidates with a living spouse cannot marry again without prior government permission |
| Medical Standards | Must be mentally and physically fit for duties |
| Character Standards | No pending criminal inquiry or conviction |
Age Limit
| Category | Maximum Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General Candidates | 35 years |
| Category-IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, and other Backward Classes | 38 years |
| Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Category-I | 40 years |
| Minimum Age (all categories) | 18 years (as on 03 September 2026) |
Note: A one-time additional relaxation of 5 years in the maximum age limit has been extended to candidates of all categories participating in backlog recruitment notified up to 31 December 2027, per Government Order No. CiaSau 262 Senani 2025, dated 29 January 2026. Ex-servicemen are entitled to age relaxation equal to years of armed forces service rendered plus 3 years.
Reservation Details
- Vertical Reservation: Category-wise (General / SC / ST / Category-I / Category-IIA / Category-IIB / Category-IIIA / Category-IIIB) as per circle-wise allocation.
- Horizontal Reservation: Ex-servicemen, Women, Persons with Disability, Project-Displaced persons, Kannada-medium candidates, Rural candidates, and Third Gender candidates.
- PwD Reservation: Not extended for this post (per Government Notification No. DPAR/52/SRR/99, dated 08.12.2002); the PwD reservation point is adjusted into the General (Others) category under horizontal reservation.
- One vacancy in the Mysuru circle's SC category is subject to a pending court order on reservation percentages, dated 25 May 2026.
Pay Scale
| Post | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| Elephant Kavadiga (Group D) | โน29,600-725-32,500-800-35,700-900-39,300-1,000-43,300-1,125-47,800-1,250-52,800 |
Selection / Admission / Evaluation Process
- Selection is purely through Interview and Performance Assessment โ no written examination.
- Candidates are assessed on Kannada speaking/comprehension ability and practical experience in elephant handling.
- Maximum Marks: 100 (Interview + Performance Assessment combined).
- A provisional select list is published on the official website, followed by a final select list after considering objections.
- Candidates not present on the specified date and time will not be permitted to appear later; the date will not be changed.
- The process may be video-recorded or CCTV-covered for transparency.
- Probation Period: Minimum 2 years from the date of joining under the Conservator of Forests of the concerned circle.
How to Apply / Register / Check Status
- Visit the Official Website and go to the "Nemakati" (Recruitment) section on the homepage.
- Download the prescribed application form for the Elephant Kavadiga post.
- Fill the application legibly in English (capital letters) or Kannada only, and affix a recent passport-size photograph.
- Superscribe the envelope as "Application for Elephant Kavadiga Post" ("เฒเฒจเณ เฒเฒตเฒพเฒกเฒฟเฒ เฒนเณเฒฆเณเฒฆเณเฒเณ เฒ เฒฐเณเฒเฒฟ").
- Send the application by post or submit in person to the office of the Conservator of Forests for the chosen circle, between 05 August 2026 and 03 September 2026, up to 5:30 PM.
Key Notes:
- Applications submitted by any method other than the prescribed one will not be accepted.
- No changes, corrections, or additions are permitted once submitted.
- Applications received by post after the closing date/time will not be considered, regardless of postal dispatch date.
Required Documents (for Interview / Document Verification)
- Proof of experience in elephant management (issued by Range Forest Officer or senior officer)
- Proof of residence within the notified forest area (issued by Tehsildar)
- Proof of date of birth (birth certificate / school leaving certificate / Aadhaar card)
- Caste certificate in the prescribed format (for category reservation claims)
- Non-Creamy Layer certificate (valid for 5 years, for Category-I/IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB)
- One valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar / Passport / Driving Licence / PAN Card / Govt Service ID / Bank passbook with photo / Property documents with photo / Community certificate with photo / Ex-servicemen's pension book / Vikasit Bharat job card with photo)
- Domicile/nativity certificate confirming Karnataka residence, where applicable
Circle-Wise Application Submission Addresses
| Circle | Address |
|---|---|
| Kanara (Shirsi) | Office of the Chief Conservator of Forests, Kanara Circle, Shirsi - 581402 |
| Kodagu (Madikeri) | Office of the Conservator of Forests, Kodagu Circle, Madikeri |
| Mysuru | Office of the Conservator of Forests, Mysuru Circle, Mysuru, Aranya Bhavan, Ashokapuram, Mysuru - 570008 |
| Chamarajanagar | Office of the Chief Conservator of Forests, Chamarajanagar Circle, Chamarajanagar |
| Shivamoga | Office of the Chief Conservator of Forests, Shivamoga Circle, Shivamoga |
Important Instructions
- Candidates must attend every stage at their own expense; no travel allowance is admissible.
- Only candidates with all original and self-attested documents will be considered further.
- Candidates found submitting forged documents or engaging in impersonation will be debarred for 10 years.
- Government servants already drawing a salary from Central/State Government or PSU are not eligible.
- All disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is KFD Elephant Kavadiga 2026? It is a direct recruitment drive by the Karnataka Forest Department to fill 57 Group 'D' Elephant Kavadiga posts across five forest circles for 2026-27.
Q2. How many vacancies are there in Elephant Kavadiga 2026? There are 57 vacancies in total: 1 in Kanara circle, 11 in Kodagu circle, 27 in Mysuru circle, 9 in Chamarajanagar circle, and 9 in Shivamoga circle.
Q3. What is the last date to apply for Elephant Kavadiga 2026? The last date to submit the application is 03 September 2026, up to 5:30 PM.
Q4. What is the qualification required for Elephant Kavadiga 2026? No specific educational qualification is prescribed; mandatory experience in elephant management/handling is required, along with residence in a notified forest area within Karnataka and working knowledge of Kannada.
Q5. What is the salary for the Elephant Kavadiga post? Selected candidates are placed in the Group 'D' pay scale of โน29,600-52,800 (with intermediate increments), common across all five circles.
| Link Name | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Coming Soon |
| Official Notification / Advertisement | Coming Soon |
| Official Website | Click Here |