APPSC Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 85 Horticulture Officer, AEE and Assistant Director Posts
APPSC Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Assistant Environmental Engineer | Horticulture Officer | Assistant Director (FSL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notification No. | 08/2026 | 19/2026 | 11/2026 |
| Notification Date | 15 September 2026 | 15 September 2026 | 15 September 2026 |
| Recruiting Department | A.P. Pollution Control Board | A.P. Horticulture Service | A.P. State Forensic Science Laboratory Service |
| Recruitment Type | General Recruitment | General Recruitment | General Recruitment |
| Total Posts | 40 | 37 | 8 (7 + 1 CF) |
| Application Mode | Online only, via psc.ap.gov.in (common to all three) | ||
APPSC Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date & Time (all 3 posts) |
|---|---|
| Brief Notification Date | 15 September 2026 |
| Detailed Notification (expected) | On or before 6 October 2026 |
| Online Application Start | 6 October 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 27 October 2026, up to 11:59 PM |
| Crucial Date for Eligibility | Date of the respective Detailed Notification (reckoned as the crucial date in all aspects) |
APPSC Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details
1. Assistant Environmental Engineer (Notification No. 08/2026)
| Name of the Post | No. of Vacancies | Scale of Pay (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Environmental Engineer in A.P. Pollution Control Board | 40 | 57,100 – 1,47,760 |
2. Horticulture Officer (Notification No. 19/2026)
| Name of the Post | No. of Vacancies | Scale of Pay (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Horticulture Officer in A.P. Horticulture Service | 37 | 54,060 – 1,40,540 |
3. Assistant Director, Forensic Science Laboratory (Notification No. 11/2026)
| PC No. | Name of the Post | No. of Vacancies | Scale of Pay (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Assistant Director in Forensic Engineering | 01 (Carried Forward) | 57,100 – 1,47,760 |
| 02 | Assistant Director in Physics | 02 | |
| 03 | Assistant Director in Chemistry | 02 | |
| 04 | Assistant Director in Biology | 03 | |
| Sub-total | 08 (07 + 01 CF) | - | |
APPSC Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria
1. Assistant Environmental Engineer
2. Horticulture Officer
Applicants must possess a Four-year B.Sc. Degree / B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Horticulture of a recognized University in the State, or of any other University accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi. Applicants must possess the requisite qualification as on the date of the Detailed Notification.
3. Assistant Director, Forensic Science Laboratory
| Post | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Forensic Engineering | B.E. in Mechanical or Structural Engineering, or its equivalent, i.e., B.E./B.Tech in Civil or Production Engineering |
| Physics | M.Sc. Degree in First or Second Class in Physics, or its equivalent, i.e., Tech. Physics or Material Science or Nuclear Physics or Electronics or Electronics & Instrumentation or Applied Physics or Instrumentation or Five Integrated M.Sc. Physics or Geo Physics or Nano Science or Nano Technology or Electronic Communications |
| Chemistry | M.Sc. Degree in First or Second Class in Chemistry, or its equivalent qualification, OR B.Sc. Degree with A.I.C. by examination in Forensic Sciences |
| Biology | M.Sc. Degree in 1st or 2nd Class in either Botany/Zoology/Microbiology/Biochemistry, or its equivalent, i.e., Bio-Technology or Genetics or Forensic Science, OR a Degree in Medicine with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Physics) |
Additional conditions for Assistant Director (FSL) posts: candidates must have exceptionally good eyesight (colour blindness will be a disqualification); must have at least 5 years’ practical experience in a Forensic Science, Chemistry, Analytical, or Police Laboratory; further relevant experience is desirable.
APPSC Recruitment 2026 Age Limit
APPSC Recruitment 2026 Pay Scale
| Post | Scale of Pay (Rs.) |
|---|---|
| Assistant Environmental Engineer | 57,100 – 1,47,760 |
| Horticulture Officer | 54,060 – 1,40,540 |
| Assistant Director (Forensic Engineering / Physics / Chemistry / Biology) | 57,100 – 1,47,760 |
APPSC Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
For all three posts, the examination consists of a single-level examination only; no Screening Test is conducted irrespective of the number of applications received. The examination is held in online (CBRT) mode, and if conducted in multiple sessions, the Commission will apply normalisation of marks wherever necessary, per its own methodology (to be notified in due course).
1. Assistant Environmental Engineer – Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Duration | Max. Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies & Mental Ability | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper II | Common Subject (Environmental Engineering) | 150 | 150 minutes | 300 |
| Total | 450 | |||
Syllabus highlights (Paper II – Common Subject): Ecosystems; Natural Resources; Biodiversity and Biotic Resources; Engineering Materials; Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics; Process Calculations and Thermodynamics; Air, Water, Soil and Noise Pollution and Control Technologies; Solid and Industrial Waste Management; Global Environmental Problems, Policies and Legislations; Environmental Impact Assessment towards Sustainable Future.
Negative marking: As per G.O. Ms. No. 235, Finance (HR-I, Plg & Policy) Dept., dt. 06/12/2016, each wrong answer is penalized with 1/3rd of the marks prescribed for that question.
2. Horticulture Officer – Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Duration | Max. Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Test | General English (50) & General Telugu (50), SSC standard – must qualify in each individually | 100 | 100 minutes | 100 (qualifying only) |
| Paper I | General Studies & Mental Ability | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper II | Horticulture-I | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper III | Horticulture-II | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Total (Papers I–III; Qualifying Test marks not counted in merit) | 450 | |||
Syllabus highlights: Horticulture-I covers Fruit Crops – area, production, botany, classification, rootstocks, high-density planting, climate, soils, planting, training and pruning, nutrition, irrigation scheduling, harvesting and post-harvest handling for crops such as mango, banana, citrus, grape, pineapple, guava and papaya (and related fruit-crop topics per the annexure). Full topic lists for Horticulture-I and Horticulture-II are in the official annexure.
Negative marking: As per G.O. Ms. No. 235, Finance (HR-I, Plg & Policy) Dept., dt. 06/12/2016, each wrong answer is penalized with 1/3rd of the marks prescribed for that question.
3. Assistant Director (FSL) – Exam Pattern
| Post | Paper I | Paper II | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forensic Engineering | General Studies & Mental Ability – 150 Qs, 150 min, 150 marks | Mechanical/Structural/Civil/Production Engineering – 150 Qs, 150 min, 300 marks | 450 |
| Physics | General Studies & Mental Ability – 150 Qs, 150 min, 150 marks | Physics/Material Science/Nuclear Physics/Electronics/Electronics & Instrumentation/Applied Physics/Instrumentation/Five Integrated M.Sc. Physics/Geo Physics/Nano Science/Nano Technology/Electronic Communications – 150 Qs, 150 min, 300 marks | 450 |
| Chemistry | General Studies & Mental Ability – 150 Qs, 150 min, 150 marks | Chemistry or Forensic Science – 150 Qs, 150 min, 300 marks | 450 |
| Biology | General Studies & Mental Ability – 150 Qs, 150 min, 150 marks | Botany/Zoology/Microbiology/Biochemistry/Bio-Technology/Genetics/Forensic Science, or a Degree in Medicine with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Physics) – 150 Qs, 150 min, 300 marks | 450 |
Syllabus highlights: Paper I (common) covers Current Events, General Science, History and Geography of India, Indian Polity & Governance, Indian Economy, Sustainable Development & Environmental Protection, Disaster Management, and Logical Reasoning/Data Analysis. Forensic Engineering’s Paper II covers Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, and Steam Generators & Turbines among other Mechanical/Structural/Civil/Production Engineering topics; Physics, Chemistry and Biology Paper II follow their respective postgraduate-level syllabus, including forensic-specific applications for Chemistry/Biology.
How to Apply for APPSC Recruitment 2026
- Visit the Commission’s official website psc.ap.gov.in.
- Read the respective Detailed Notification (expected on or before 6 October 2026) and other instructions carefully before applying for the post you are interested in.
- Apply online only, separately for each post you wish to apply for, between 6 October 2026 and 27 October 2026 up to 11:59 PM.
- Enter all particulars accurately in the Online Application Form.
- Submit well in advance of the last date to avoid last-minute rush.
Documents Required
- Assistant Environmental Engineer: relevant degree certificate and mark sheets (qualification itself is pending confirmation in the Detailed Notification)
- Horticulture Officer: Four-year B.Sc./B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture degree certificate and mark sheets, with proof that the awarding University is recognized in the State or ICAR-accredited
- Assistant Director (FSL): relevant postgraduate/degree certificate and mark sheets (B.E./B.Tech or M.Sc., as applicable to the chosen discipline), proof of at least 5 years’ practical laboratory experience, and an eyesight/medical fitness certificate confirming no colour blindness
- Category/community certificate, where applicable, for all three posts
- Photo identity proof, for all three posts
Important Conditions
- All vacancy numbers are provisional and subject to variation upon confirmation from the concerned Departments.
- Each post’s Detailed Notification – with vacancy breakup, Scale of Pay, Age, Community and Educational Qualifications (where not already stated) and other instructions – will be published on psc.ap.gov.in on or before 6 October 2026, and its date will be reckoned as the crucial date in all aspects for that post.
- Only online applications are accepted for all three posts; applications through any other mode will not be entertained under any circumstances.
- The examination for each post is a single-level examination in CBRT mode with no Screening Test, regardless of the number of applications received.
- Assistant Director (FSL) applicants must have exceptionally good eyesight (colour blindness is a disqualification) and at least 5 years’ practical experience in a Forensic Science, Chemistry, Analytical, or Police Laboratory.
- Horticulture Officer applicants must hold their qualifying degree from a University recognized in the State or accredited by ICAR.
APPSC Recruitment 2026 Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total posts has APPSC advertised across these three notifications?
85 posts in total – 40 Assistant Environmental Engineer, 37 Horticulture Officer, and 8 Assistant Director (Forensic Science Laboratory).
Do all three posts share the same application window?
Yes. Online applications for all three open on 6 October 2026 and close on 27 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.
What is the qualification for Horticulture Officer?
A Four-year B.Sc. Degree / B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Horticulture from a University recognized in Andhra Pradesh or accredited by ICAR.
What is the qualification for Assistant Director (FSL)?
It varies by discipline – B.E. in Mechanical/Structural Engineering for Forensic Engineering, an M.Sc. in Physics (or allied subjects) for Physics, an M.Sc. in Chemistry (or B.Sc. with A.I.C. in Forensic Sciences) for Chemistry, and an M.Sc. in Botany/Zoology/Microbiology/Biochemistry (or allied subjects, or a Medicine degree with a Science Bachelor’s) for Biology.
What is the selection process for these posts?
All three use a single-level online (CBRT) written examination with no interview or screening test. Assistant Environmental Engineer and Assistant Director (FSL) have a Paper I + Paper II structure totalling 450 marks; Horticulture Officer additionally has a qualifying English & Telugu test plus three papers (I, II, III) totalling 450 marks.
Can I apply for more than one of these posts?
The notifications reviewed do not state a restriction against applying for more than one post, but each requires its own separate online application through psc.ap.gov.in.
Where do I apply?
Applications for all three posts must be submitted online only through psc.ap.gov.in; applications through any other mode will not be entertained.