Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has released Detailed Notification No. 19/2026 dated 6 October 2026 for direct recruitment to 37 Horticulture Officer posts in the A.P. Horticulture Service. Online applications are open from 6 October to 27 October 2026 up to 11:59 PM.
Candidates need a four-year B.Sc. / B.Sc. (Hons.) Degree in Horticulture from a recognised university in Andhra Pradesh or another university accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The notified pay scale is ₹54,060–₹1,40,540.
Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting authority | Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission |
| Post | Horticulture Officer |
| Service | A.P. Horticulture Service |
| Notification | 19/2026 |
| Notification date | 6 October 2026 |
| Total vacancies | 37 |
| Recruitment | General Recruitment |
| Employment | Full-time |
| Application mode | Online through APPSC OTPR |
| Application start | 6 October 2026 |
| Last date | 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Age | 18–44 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Pay scale | ₹54,060–₹1,40,540 |
| Location | Andhra Pradesh |
| Official portal | APPSC official portal |
Zone-Wise Vacancies
| Zone | Open | Local | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone I | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone II | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Zone III | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone IV | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone V | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Zone VI | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Total | 6 | 31 | 37 |
Category-Wise Vacancies
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| OC | 21 |
| EWS | 3 |
| BC-A | 3 |
| BC-B | 2 |
| BC-C | 1 |
| BC-D / BC-E | 0 |
| SC Group-I | 2 |
| SC Group-II | 1 |
| SC Group-III | 2 |
| ST | 2 |
| Total | 37 |
Horizontal reservation includes six OC posts for women and two posts for Meritorious Sports Persons, subject to the detailed notification.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Detailed notification | 6 October 2026 |
| Online application starts | 6 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Correction window | Seven days after closing date; ₹100 per permitted correction |
| CBRT exam | To be announced |
| Hall ticket | To be announced |
Educational Qualification
Applicants must possess a four-year B.Sc. Degree / B.Sc. (Hons.) Degree in Horticulture from a recognised university in Andhra Pradesh or any other university accredited by ICAR.
Age Limit
Candidates must be 18 to 44 years as on 1 July 2026.
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / BC / EWS | 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen / NCC Instructors | 3 years plus qualifying service, subject to rules |
| Regular A.P. State Government employees | Length of regular service, up to 5 years |
| Eligible retrenched Census Department employees | 3 years |
Pay Scale
₹54,060–₹1,40,540 plus admissible allowances under Andhra Pradesh Government rules.
Application Fee
| Candidate type | Processing fee | Exam fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / OC | ₹250 | ₹120 | ₹370 |
| SC / ST / BC / PBD / eligible Ex-Servicemen | ₹250 | Nil | ₹250 |
| Eligible White Card families | ₹250 | Nil | ₹250 |
| Eligible unemployed youth of Andhra Pradesh | ₹250 | Nil | ₹250 |
| Other-state candidates, except notified exemptions | ₹250 | ₹120 | ₹370 |
Local Status and Reservation
This is a zonal recruitment. Local reservation follows the applicable Presidential Order and Article 371-D provisions. Candidates claiming local status should keep the required study or residence documents ready according to the notification.
BC candidates claiming reservation need the prescribed Non-Creamy Layer certificate. EWS candidates must satisfy the notified income and certificate conditions.
Selection Process
Selection is through a Computer Based Recruitment Test (CBRT) followed by a qualifying Computer Proficiency Test (CPT). There is no interview.
| Stage | Nature |
|---|---|
| Qualifying language test | General English + General Telugu |
| Paper I | General Studies and Mental Ability |
| Paper II | Horticulture-I |
| Paper III | Horticulture-II |
| CPT | Qualifying |
| Certificate verification | For shortlisted candidates |
| Medical fitness | As applicable |
Written Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Test | General English 50 + General Telugu 50 | 100 | 100 | 100 minutes |
| Paper I | General Studies & Mental Ability | 150 | 150 | 150 minutes |
| Paper II | Horticulture-I | 150 | 150 | 150 minutes |
| Paper III | Horticulture-II | 150 | 150 | 150 minutes |
| Merit total | Papers I–III | 450 | 450 |
Candidates must qualify English and Telugu separately. In merit papers, one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Category | Written exam minimum |
|---|---|
| OC / EWS / Sports Persons / Ex-Servicemen | 40% |
| BC | 35% |
| SC / ST / PBD | 30% |
Computer Proficiency Test
| Test | Duration | Max marks |
|---|---|---|
| Proficiency in Office Automation | 60 minutes | 100 |
Qualifying marks: OC 40, BC 35, SC/ST/PBD 30.
Examination Centres
The CBRT is proposed at:
- Visakhapatnam
- Vijayawada
- Tirupati
- Ananthapuramu
Syllabus Highlights
Paper I: current affairs, general science, history, geography, polity, economy, sustainable development, disaster management, reasoning and data analysis.
Paper II: fruit crops, vegetable crops, floriculture, medicinal and aromatic crops, spices, plantation crops, dryland horticulture, post-harvest management, farm machinery and greenhouse management.
Paper III: horticulture fundamentals, propagation and nursery management, plant physiology, entomology, pathology, soil science, agroforestry, extension education and organic farming.
How to Apply
- Open the APPSC official portal.
- Complete or update One Time Profile Registration (OTPR).
- Log in with the OTPR user ID and password.
- Choose Notification No. 19/2026 – Horticulture Officer under Online Application Submission.
- Verify personal, local-status, community and qualification details.
- Choose examination-centre preferences.
- Click Save & Submit and complete the payment step.
- Download the final submitted application PDF.
OTPR registration alone does not count as a submitted application.
Documents to Keep Ready
- Class 10 / date-of-birth proof
- B.Sc. / B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture degree and marksheets
- local-status study certificates
- community / caste certificate
- BC Non-Creamy Layer certificate where applicable
- EWS certificate where applicable
- PBD / Ex-Servicemen / NCC documents where applicable
- White Card or unemployment declaration where claiming exam-fee exemption
- sports documents where applicable
- OTPR and fee-payment records
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| APPSC official portal | Open APPSC |
| Recruitment notifications | APPSC Recruitment Notifications |
| Detailed notification | Notification 19/2026 PDF |
| Online application route | APPSC Online Application Submission |
FAQs
How many vacancies are there?
There are 37 provisional Horticulture Officer vacancies.
What is the last date?
27 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.
What qualification is required?
A four-year B.Sc. / B.Sc. (Hons.) in Horticulture from a recognised or ICAR-accredited university.
What is the age limit?
18–44 years as on 1 July 2026, with applicable relaxations.
What is the pay scale?
₹54,060–₹1,40,540.
Is there an interview?
No. Selection is based on the CBRT merit, subject to qualifying the CPT and verification.
Is there negative marking?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer in the merit papers.