Table Of Contents
Print two A4 colour copies. Carry one + a government photo ID + 2 passport photos to the exam centre.
RSSB Forester (Vanpal) Recruitment 2026 — Exam Date — Highlights
| Recruiting Body | Rajasthan Staff Selection Board |
|---|---|
| Total Vacancies | 259 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Important Dates | Exam on 28 Jun 2026 |
| Official Website | rssb.rajasthan.gov.in |
RSSB Forester (Vanpal) 2026 Written Exam on 28 June — Admit Card Mid-June at rssb.rajasthan.gov.in
Key Highlights
- Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB) announced the Forester (Vanpal) 2026 written examination date — 28 June 2026 (Sunday) in offline OMR mode.
- 259 Forester (Vanpal) posts under Advertisement No. 01/2026 (separate from the 483 Forest Guard posts in the same cycle).
- Examination pattern: 100 MCQs, 100 marks, 2 hours. Negative marking 1/3 per wrong answer. 5-option (A–E) format.
- Subject split: GK 50 + Reasoning 20 + Math 15 + Current Affairs 15.
- Admit card release: June 2026, approximately 7–10 days before the exam at rssb.rajasthan.gov.in.
- Login: SSO ID + Date of Birth + CAPTCHA (Rajasthan uses unified SSO Rajasthan login).
- Selection pipeline: Written → PST → PET (25 km / 16 km walk in 4 hours) → DV → Medical.
- Pay: Pay Matrix Level 8 — fixed remuneration during 2-year probation, full pay + allowances post-probation.
The Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB), Jaipur — the body that replaced the older RSMSSB — announced the Forester (Vanpal) 2026 written examination date as 28 June 2026 (Sunday) for 259 Forester posts under Advertisement No. 01/2026. The exam will be conducted in offline OMR mode. The application window (6 January – 11 February 2026) is closed; this is the pre-exam admit-card and preparation phase.
Quick decision check — how to prepare for admit card release
- Admit card releases approximately 7–10 days before the exam (mid-late June 2026) at rssb.rajasthan.gov.in → Candidate Corner → Admit Card.
- Login with your SSO ID (Rajasthan State Single Sign-On) + Date of Birth + CAPTCHA. If you've forgotten your SSO password, recover it via SSO Rajasthan's password-reset module — not the RSSB portal.
- Download the admit card PDF and take 3 A4 printouts — one mandatory at the exam centre, two for your records.
- Verify the printout against your photo ID: name spelling, photograph, exam date, shift, centre address, reporting time.
- Reporting time: typically 90 minutes before exam start. Late arrivals beyond 30 minutes are typically not allowed entry.
If admit card or SSO login isn't accessible:
- Confirm your application status from the RSSB candidate dashboard (login → check Application Status + Fee Payment Status)
- For SSO Rajasthan login issues, contact the State SSO helpline — RSSB cannot reset SSO credentials directly
- Clear browser cache and try Chrome / Edge in incognito mode
Examination pattern
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Offline OMR (paper-based) |
| Total questions | 100 multiple-choice |
| Total marks | 100 (1 mark per question) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Answer options | 5 options per question (A, B, C, D, E) |
| Negative marking | 1/3 mark per wrong answer |
| Language | Hindi (with select English support) |
Subject-wise question distribution:
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge (Rajasthan + India) | 50 | 50 |
| Reasoning | 20 | 20 |
| Mathematics | 15 | 15 |
| Current Affairs | 15 | 15 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
The General Knowledge section is heavily weighted toward Rajasthan state GK (state history, geography, forestry, polity, current affairs, schemes). This is the highest-yield section per hour of revision for Rajasthan-domicile candidates.
The 5-option format and negative marking — strategic implication
RSSB exams use a 5-option (A–E) format where the fifth option is "Not Attempted" — choosing it explicitly indicates you're skipping the question. The marking scheme:
- Correct answer: +1
- Wrong answer (A through D): –1/3 (≈ −0.33)
- Marked as "Not Attempted" (option E): 0
- Left completely blank (no option marked): also penalised at –1/3 in some RSSB cycles — verify the 2026 instruction sheet
This makes the explicit "Not Attempted" option the safe skip when you genuinely don't know the answer. Don't leave the row blank if you're unsure; mark option E. For questions where you can eliminate 2 of 4 options, the educated guess has positive expected value (+1 × 0.5 = +0.5 versus −1/3 × 0.5 = −0.17, net +0.33).
Selection pipeline — 5 sequential stages
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Written CBT / OMR Examination | 28 June 2026 — 100 marks, 2 hours, OMR mode |
| 2. Physical Standard Test (PST) | Height + chest measurement |
| 3. Physical Efficiency Test (PET) | Long-distance walking test (25 km male / 16 km female in 4 hours) |
| 4. Document Verification (DV) | At RSSB regional office; originals required |
| 5. Medical Examination | At designated government hospital |
Only candidates clearing all 5 stages are placed on the final merit list and allotted Rajasthan Forest Department postings.
Physical Standard + Efficiency Test details
| Standard | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 163 cm | 150 cm |
| Chest (unexpanded) | 84 cm | 79 cm |
| Chest expansion | +5 cm minimum (to 89 cm) | +5 cm minimum (to 84 cm) |
| PET walking distance | 25 km in 4 hours | 16 km in 4 hours |
| ST community relaxation (Height) | 152 cm | 145 cm |
The 25 km walk in 4 hours for male candidates is the single most physically demanding component — averages out to a sustained 6.25 km/h pace for 4 hours. Most candidates who fail the PET fail here, not at the PST measurement stage. Start walking practice immediately — the 28 June written exam is followed by PST + PET within 30–60 days for shortlisted candidates.
Eligibility — who can appear in this exam
The 28 June 2026 written exam is restricted to candidates who:
- Completed Class 10+2 from a recognised board with minimum 50% aggregate
- Qualified the Rajasthan CET (Senior Secondary Level) 2024 — the state's common eligibility test for SSC-level recruitments. Without CET 2024 qualification, your application would have been rejected at the screening stage.
- Demonstrate Hindi knowledge — the question paper is primarily in Hindi
- Are aged 18 – 40 years as on 1 January 2027 (with category relaxations per Rajasthan recruitment rules)
- Submitted the ₹600 (General / Creamy OBC) or ₹400 (SC / ST / EWS / Non-Creamy OBC / PwBD) application fee during the 6 January – 11 February 2026 window
- Rajasthan domicile preferred — the recruitment is heavily Rajasthan-focused but not strictly domicile-restricted at the application stage
Pay scale and Rajasthan Forest Department service
The Rajasthan Forester (Vanpal) position sits at Pay Matrix Level 8 under the 7th Pay Commission Rajasthan structure:
| Component | Amount / Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Level 8 |
| Probation period | 2 years |
| Fixed remuneration during probation | As per Rajasthan probation rules — typically fixed pay without HRA / DA / CCA |
| Post-probation basic pay | Per Level 8 scale (verify exact 2026 cycle figure against the official notification) |
| Allowances post-probation | DA + HRA + CCA + uniform allowance + forest-area special allowance (for posting in protected forests / sanctuaries) |
Duty role: Foresters (Vanpal) are the field-level officers of the Rajasthan Forest Department. Their responsibilities include:
- Routine forest area patrols and demarcation
- Wildlife protection and anti-poaching surveillance
- Plantation drive supervision (state forest restoration programme)
- Forest fire prevention and response
- Coordination with Forest Guards (junior cadre) and Range Officers (senior cadre)
- Tourist coordination at protected forest areas (Ranthambore, Sariska, Mount Abu, Kumbhalgarh, etc.)
Career progression:
- Forester (Vanpal) — Pay Level 8, entry position
- Senior Forester — promotion via departmental promotion committee, typically after 8–12 years
- Acting Range Officer / Range Officer — Pay Level 11
- Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) — Pay Level 12
- Deputy Conservator of Forests / Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) — Pay Level 13
The promotion ladder also includes lateral mobility into the Rajasthan State Forest Service via departmental examination.
Related Rajasthan Forest Department recruitments
Three parallel forest-department recruitment tracks operate in Rajasthan:
| Track | Conducting Body | Rank | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan Forest Guard (Vanrakshak) | RSSB | Junior to Forester | Same 2026 cycle as Forester — 483 posts |
| Rajasthan Forester (Vanpal) | RSSB | This recruitment | 259 posts, 2026 cycle |
| Rajasthan Range Officer | RPSC (Rajasthan Public Service Commission) | Senior to Forester | Separate notification cycle |
For Forest Guard / Vanrakshak applicants in the same 2026 cycle, the exam dates and selection pipeline are similar but distinct from the Forester track. Check the RSSB portal for your specific role's schedule.
RSSB Forester (Vanpal) 2026 Exam Date: हिंदी सारांश
Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB), जयपुर ने Forester (Vanpal) 2026 के लिखित परीक्षा की तिथि घोषित कर दी है — 28 जून 2026 (रविवार) offline OMR mode में।
मुख्य तथ्य:
- 259 Forester (Vanpal) पद — Advertisement No. 01/2026।
- Application window: 6 जनवरी – 11 फरवरी 2026 (बंद हो चुकी)।
- पात्रता: Class 10+2 with 50% + Rajasthan CET (Senior Secondary Level) 2024 qualification अनिवार्य + Hindi knowledge + Rajasthan domicile preferred।
- आयु: 18-40 साल (1 जनवरी 2027 के अनुसार)।
- Application fee: ₹600 (General / Creamy OBC); ₹400 (SC / ST / EWS / Non-Creamy OBC / PwBD)।
परीक्षा pattern:
- 100 MCQs, 100 marks, 2 घंटे, offline OMR mode।
- 5-option format (A–E; E = "Not Attempted")।
- Negative marking 1/3 प्रति गलत answer।
- Subjects: General Knowledge 50 (Rajasthan + India) + Reasoning 20 + Mathematics 15 + Current Affairs 15।
Admit card कैसे download करें:
- परीक्षा से 7-10 दिन पहले (जून मध्य-अंत 2026) rssb.rajasthan.gov.in पर जाएँ।
- SSO ID + Date of Birth + CAPTCHA डालें (Rajasthan unified SSO Rajasthan login का उपयोग करता है — RSSB-specific Application Number नहीं)।
- Admit card PDF download करें और A4 paper पर 3 printouts लें (एक exam centre पर submit करनी होगी)।
- नाम, photo, exam date, centre address verify करें।
चयन प्रक्रिया (5 sequential stages):
- लिखित परीक्षा (28 जून 2026) — 100 marks, 2 घंटे, OMR
- Physical Standard Test (PST) — height + chest measurement
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — Male: 25 km / 4 घंटे walking; Female: 16 km / 4 घंटे walking
- Document Verification — RSSB regional office पर
- Medical Examination — designated government hospital में
Physical Standards:
- पुरुष: Height 163 cm; Chest 84-89 cm (5 cm expansion); 25 km walking in 4 hours
- महिला: Height 150 cm; Chest 79-84 cm; 16 km walking in 4 hours
- ST relaxation: 152 cm (पुरुष) / 145 cm (महिला)
वेतन: Pay Matrix Level 8 — 2-year probation में fixed remuneration (HRA / DA / CCA नहीं); probation के बाद full Level 8 scale + DA + HRA + uniform allowance + forest-area special allowance (protected forest / sanctuary postings के लिए)।
Career progression: Forester (L-8) → Senior Forester → Range Officer (L-11) → ACF (L-12) → DFO (L-13)।
ड्यूटी role: Routine forest area patrols + wildlife protection + anti-poaching + plantation drives + forest fire prevention + Ranthambore / Sariska / Mount Abu / Kumbhalgarh जैसे protected forest areas पर tourist coordination।
Critical: 25 km walking in 4 hours (पुरुष) सबसे चुनौतीपूर्ण component है — 6.25 km/h sustained pace। आज से walking practice शुरू करें — written exam (28 जून) के बाद 30-60 दिनों में shortlisted candidates के लिए PST + PET schedule होगा।
Related Rajasthan Forest recruitments: Forest Guard / Vanrakshak (483 पद, same 2026 cycle, junior rank); Range Officer (RPSC द्वारा अलग notification, senior rank)।
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | |
| Application Window | |
| Written Examination |
How to Download Your Admit Card
- Visit the official portal of RSSB.
- Click on the admit card / e-admission certificate link for RSSB Forester (Vanpal) Recruitment 2026 — Exam Date.
- Enter your Registration Number / Roll Number + Date of Birth + the displayed CAPTCHA.
- Download the PDF and print on A4 — keep at least 3 copies.
- Verify all details (name, photo, exam centre, shift). Report any discrepancy to the recruiter immediately.
- Carry the printed admit card + a valid photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN / Driving Licence) to the centre.
Print two A4 colour copies. Carry one + a government photo ID + 2 passport photos to the exam centre.
Important Links
- RSSB Forester 2026 Admit Card — Primary Portal
- Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB)
- SSO Rajasthan (Login Portal)
- Rajasthan Forest Department
- RSSB REET Mains Upper Primary Result 2026 (Sibling RSSB Recruitment)
- RSSB REET Mains Primary Result 2026 (Sibling RSSB Recruitment)
- RPSC RAS Final Result 2026 (Sibling Rajasthan Recruitment)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the RSSB Forester (Vanpal) 2026 written exam?
How do I download the RSSB Forester admit card?
What is the RSSB Forester 2026 exam pattern?
What is the eligibility for RSSB Forester 2026?
What are the Physical Standards and Efficiency Test requirements?
What is the salary of a Rajasthan Forester (Vanpal)?
What is the difference between Forest Guard, Forester and Range Officer?
RSSB Forester (Vanpal) Recruitment 2026 — Exam Date — Analysis & Trends
Resultpedia analysis: Why the 25 km walking test is the real selection filter, not the written exam
The 259 Forester posts will be filled in a 5-stage pipeline, but two of those stages do most of the actual elimination. Three observations worth acting on:
1. The written exam is qualifying-leaning, not heavily competitive
A 100-mark, 100-question, 2-hour offline OMR paper with 1/3 negative marking is a moderate-difficulty filter by Indian competitive exam standards. The cut-off historically sits around 55-65% accuracy for General-category candidates — meaning roughly 35-45 of 100 candidates who appear are eliminated at the written stage. The remaining 55-65 then proceed to PST + PET.
Strategy implication: Don't over-invest in written-exam preparation at the cost of physical fitness. A candidate who clears the written at the 75-mark level but fails the 25 km walk at the PET stage is eliminated; a candidate who scores 60 but completes the walk in 3:50 hours moves forward.
2. The 25 km walk in 4 hours is the real make-or-break test
Among the 5 selection stages, the PET (25 km walk in 4 hours for male candidates; 16 km in 4 hours for female candidates) is the single largest elimination point. Historical Rajasthan Forester cycles have seen 25-35% PET failure rates among candidates who cleared the written stage.
The pace requirement:
- 25 km in 4 hours = 6.25 km/h sustained
- This is significantly faster than a casual walking pace (4-5 km/h) and requires sustained aerobic fitness over a long duration
- Most candidates underestimate this; they assume "walking is easy" without realising the sustained pace + duration + Rajasthan summer heat combine into a serious physical challenge
Action: Start walking practice today (29 days before the 28 June written exam, and approximately 60-90 days before the PET stage). Build up to a 25 km walk in 4 hours over 6-8 weeks of progressive training. Combine with hydration practice and footwear that's broken in (new shoes on PET day cause blisters that compound the difficulty).
3. The 5-option "Not Attempted" rule is more useful than candidates realise
RSSB exams use a 5-option format where Option E is explicitly "Not Attempted" — and choosing it scores 0, while a wrong A-D answer costs 1/3 mark. The decision tree:
| Your confidence | Expected value of attempt | Expected value of "Not Attempted" |
|---|---|---|
| High (≥75% sure) | +0.75 (heavily positive) | 0 — leave on table |
| Medium (50-75%) | +0.33 to +0.5 (positive) | 0 — still attempt |
| Low (25-50%) | -0.17 to +0.17 (close to zero) | 0 — toss-up; prefer Option E |
| No clue (<25%) | -0.17 to -0.33 (negative) | 0 — definitely Option E |
For the 100-question paper, the right baseline is to attempt every question where you can eliminate at least 2 of 4 options (raising your confidence above 50%), and mark Option E for questions where you're truly guessing.
Pathway forward — what to do this week
For candidates who applied during 6 Jan – 11 Feb 2026:
- Set up SSO Rajasthan password recovery today if you can't recall your credentials — admit card download requires SSO login, not RSSB-specific credentials
- Walking practice from 28 May 2026 — 31 days to written exam, 90 days to likely PET — minimum 5-6 walking sessions per week, progressively building distance
- Written exam prep: Rajasthan GK + Current Affairs is the highest-yield section (65 of 100 marks combined); invest disproportionate revision time here
- Mock OMR practice: the 5-option format requires explicit decision on "Not Attempted" — practise the decision under timed conditions
For candidates considering the parallel Rajasthan Forest Guard (Vanrakshak) cycle:
- 483 posts in the same 2026 cycle — slightly easier physical standards but the same selection pipeline
- See the RSSB official site for the Forest Guard / Vanrakshak admit card timeline
Sibling result trackings: RSSB REET Mains Upper Primary (Level 2) Result 2026, RSSB REET Mains Primary (Level 1) Result 2026, RPSC RAS Final Result 2026, RBSE Class 10 Result 2026.
Resultpedia recommendation
The 28 June 2026 written exam is 31 days away — close enough that walking practice cannot wait. Start a 5-6 day per week walking routine today, building toward 20-25 km long walks within 6-8 weeks. For the written exam itself, prioritise Rajasthan GK + Current Affairs (65 of 100 marks combined) and master the 5-option "Not Attempted" decision rule. The candidates who clear this recruitment in 2026 will be those who balance written-exam preparation with physical fitness training — not those who maximise one at the expense of the other.