KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026 Notification Out - Apply Offline for 57 Posts

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• Updated August 06, 2026 12:10 PM
• by Sivasankari Sekar Officially Verified
• Applications closed on 03 September 2026. The original recruitment details are preserved below.
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• The Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) has released separate notifications for KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026, inviting applications for Group 'D' Elephant Kavadiga (Ane Kavadiga) posts across five forest circles: Kanara (Shirsi), Kodagu (Madikeri), Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and Shivamoga. All five notifications share the same application window and pay scale, and are being treated here as one combined recruitment drive. Below is a quick summary, followed by full details on vacancies, eligibility, salary, and how to apply.
• Recruiting Organization: Karnataka Forest Department (KFD)
• Post: Elephant Kavadiga (Ane Kavadiga), Group 'D'
• Circles Covered: Kanara (Shirsi), Kodagu (Madikeri), Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Shivamoga
• Total Vacancies: 57 (51 fresh vacancies + 6 backlog vacancies, across all five circles)
• Who Can Apply: Candidates with experience in elephant handling/management, residing in forest areas within Karnataka, with working knowledge of Kannada
• Application Mode: Offline - application form downloaded from the official website and submitted by post or in person to the respective Circle office
• Application Start Date: 05 August 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 03 September 2026, up to 5:30 PM
• Official Website: https://aranya.gov.in/ (under the "Nemakati" section)

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KFD Recruitment 2026 Overview

• Also Read: Karnataka Anganwadi Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 232 Anganwadi Worker & Helper Posts in Yadgir District

KFD Elephant Kavadiga Important Dates

• If the last date happens to be declared a public holiday, the notifications state that the next working day at the same office will be treated as the new closing date. Applications received by post after the closing date/time will not be considered, regardless of the postal dispatch date.

KFD Elephant Kavadiga Vacancy Details 2026 (Circle-Wise)

• A combined total of 57 Elephant Kavadiga posts are available across the five circles - 51 posts approved as fresh vacancies and 6 posts carried forward as backlog vacancies from an earlier 2022-23 recruitment cycle. The circle-wise and division-wise break-up is given below.
• Note: Within each circle's General/reserved-category allocation, horizontal reservation also applies for Ex-servicemen, Women, Persons with Disability, Project-Displaced persons, candidates who studied in Kannada medium, Rural candidates, and Third Gender candidates, as detailed in each circle's individual notification. One vacancy in the Mysuru circle's SC category (marked with an asterisk in the source notification) is subject to a pending court order on reservation percentages, dated 25 May 2026.
• Also Read: District Urban Development Cell Bidar Pourakarmika Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline for 264 Posts

Experience (Qualification)

• Experience in elephant management/handling is mandatory for this post. The notifications do not specify a separate minimum educational qualification; the application form itself only asks candidates to declare their number of years of experience in handling elephants - it does not require submission of educational certificates.

KFD Elephant Kavadiga Age Limit

• Candidates must have completed a minimum of 18 years of age as on the last date for submission of applications. Age is reckoned as on the last date of application, i.e., 03 September 2026. 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 the number of years of armed forces service actually rendered, plus 3 years, subject to their overall eligibility for the post under their category.

KFD Elephant Kavadiga Salary 2026

• Selected candidates will be placed in the Group 'D' pay scale of ₹29,600-725-32,500-800-35,700-900-39,300-1,000-43,300-1,125-47,800-1,250-52,800, common across all five circles.

KFD Elephant Kavadiga Application Fee

• There is no application fee for this recruitment. The application form itself states that no fee is payable and that no supporting documents need to be enclosed at the time of initial application submission.

KFD Elephant Kavadiga Selection Process

• Selection is made purely through an interview and a performance assessment - there is no written examination for this post.
• Candidates are assessed on their ability to speak and comprehend Kannada, and on their practical experience and performance capability in elephant handling.
• The interview and performance assessment together carry a maximum of 100 marks.
• Based on the marks obtained and the category-wise vacancy position, a provisional select list is prepared and published on the official website, followed by a final select list after considering any objections.
• Candidates not present on the specified date and time for the interview/performance test will not be permitted to appear later, and the scheduled date will not be changed for any candidate.
• The interview/performance assessment process may be video-recorded or covered by CCTV, with the footage retained as backup for transparency.

Documents Required for KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026

• No documents need to be attached with the initial application form. However, candidates called for interview/document verification must carry original documents along with self-attested photocopies, including:
• Proof of experience in elephant management, issued by the concerned Range Forest Officer or an officer senior to that rank
• Proof of residence within the notified forest area, issued by the concerned Tehsildar (for candidates residing within a forest area notified across Karnataka state)
• Proof of date of birth (birth certificate/school leaving certificate/Aadhaar card)
• Caste certificate in the prescribed format, for candidates claiming category reservation
• Non-Creamy Layer certificate (valid for 5 years from issue), for candidates belonging to Category-I/IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB claiming reservation
• One valid photo ID proof - any one of Aadhaar Card, Passport, Driving Licence, PAN Card, a government/PSU photo Service ID Card, a bank passbook with photograph, registered property documents with photograph, a community certificate with photograph, an Ex-servicemen's pension book/pension payment order, or a Vikasit Bharat - Employment and Livelihood Guarantee Mission (Gramin) job card with photograph
• Domicile/nativity certificate confirming residence within Karnataka state, where applicable
• Also read: Karnataka Forest Department Group D Recruitment 2026 Notification Out - Apply Online for 675 Forest Observer Posts

How to Apply for KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026

• Visit the official Karnataka Forest Department website: https://aranya.gov.in/.
• 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" ("ಆನೆ ಕವಾಡಿಗ ಹುದ್ದೆಗೆ ಅರ್ಜಿ").
• Send the application by post or submit it in person to the office of the Conservator of Forests for the circle you are applying to (addresses below), between 05 August 2026 and 03 September 2026, up to 5:30 PM.
• Note: Applications submitted by any method other than the one prescribed in the notification will not be accepted. Once submitted, no changes, corrections, or additions to the application are permitted under any circumstances.

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KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026: Important Instructions

• Candidates must attend every stage of the recruitment process (interview/performance test) at their own expense; no travel allowance is admissible.
• Only candidates possessing all original and self-attested documents relevant to their claimed category/reservation, along with the required proof, will be considered further; incomplete, illegible, or incorrect information will result in the application being treated as unfit at the preliminary stage itself.
• The applicant is solely and fully responsible for the accuracy of all information and documents furnished with the application.
• Male candidates are considered for the physical/performance test for elephant handling; female and third-gender candidates are considered per the same standard applied to male candidates for the performance test, as stated in the notification.
• Candidates found submitting forged documents, false information, or engaging in impersonation will have their candidature/selection cancelled, and may be debarred from Karnataka Forest Department recruitment for a period of 10 years.
• The selection process for all circles will be conducted within the same overall time frame.
• Government/other government servants already drawing a salary from Central/State Government or PSU service are not eligible to apply.
• Candidates found to be members of, or in close contact with, an organisation declared unlawful will not be eligible for appointment.
• Selected candidates must serve a minimum probation period of 2 years from the date of joining under the Conservator of Forests of the concerned circle.
• The appointing/selection authority reserves full and final rights to make any changes to the reservation, vacancy numbers, or process, and such information will be updated on the official website when required.
• All disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal.
• Candidates with experience in animal care and forest-based work can also explore more Karnataka Government Jobs and Forest Department Jobs across India. Applicants interested in wildlife and conservation-related roles can also browse the latest Karnataka Group D Jobs and Wildlife Department Recruitment notifications. Those looking for opportunities closer to Mysuru, Kodagu, or the Malnad region can also check Mysuru Government Jobs and Shivamoga Government Jobs matching their experience.
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Q2. How many vacancies are there in KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 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.

Q4. What is the qualification required for KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026?

• The notifications do not prescribe a specific educational qualification; experience in elephant management/handling is mandatory, and candidates must reside in a notified forest area within Karnataka and know Kannada.

Q5. What is the age limit for KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026?

• The maximum age is 35 years for General candidates, 38 years for Category-IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB and other backward categories, and 40 years for SC/ST/Category-I candidates, with a one-time 5-year relaxation applicable for this backlog recruitment cycle. The minimum age is 18 years.

Q6. Is there an application fee for KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026?

• No. There is no application fee for this recruitment.

Q8. What is the selection process for KFD Elephant Kavadiga Recruitment 2026?

• Selection is based solely on an interview and a performance assessment of experience in elephant handling and Kannada language ability, carrying a maximum of 100 marks; there is no written examination.

Q9. What is the salary for the KFD Elephant Kavadiga post?

• Selected candidates are placed in the Group 'D' pay scale of ₹29,600-52,800 (with intermediate increments), common across all five circles.