APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 37 Posts
Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has invited online applications for direct recruitment to Horticulture Officer posts in the A.P. Horticulture Service under Notification No.19/2026.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Notification 2026 - Overview
| Recruiting Commission | Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) |
|---|---|
| Notification | No.19/2026, dated 06-10-2026 |
| Post | Horticulture Officer in A.P. Horticulture Service |
| Recruitment Type | General Direct Recruitment |
| Cadre | Zonal post |
| Total Vacancies | 37 |
| Pay Scale | Rs.54,060-Rs.1,40,540 |
| Selection | Online Computer Based Recruitment Test followed by qualifying Computer Proficiency Test |
| Official Website | psc.ap.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification date | 6 October 2026 |
| Online application starts | 6 October 2026 |
| Last date and time | 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Age reckoning date | 1 July 2026 |
| Written examination date | To be announced later by APPSC |
Zone-wise Vacancy Details
| 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 |
The post carries 95% local reservation in each zone under the applicable Presidential Order and State rules.
Category-wise Vacancy Summary
| OC | SC-I | SC-II | SC-III | ST | BC-A | BC-B | BC-C | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 37 |
Horizontal reservations include six vacancies for women and two vacancies for Meritorious Sports Persons, as detailed in the official notification.
Districts Covered by Each Zone
| Zone | Districts |
|---|---|
| Zone-I | Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli |
| Zone-II | Alluri Sitarama Raju, East Godavari, Kakinada and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema |
| Zone-III | West Godavari, Eluru, NTR and Krishna |
| Zone-IV | Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam and Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore |
| Zone-V | Tirupati, Chittoor, Annamayya and YSR Kadapa |
| Zone-VI | Nandyal, Ananthapuramu, Kurnool and Sri Sathya Sai |
Educational Qualification
The prescribed academic qualification must be possessed as on the date of the detailed notification, 6 October 2026.
Age Limit and Relaxation
18 years as on 1 July 2026.
44 years as on 1 July 2026.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC, ST, BC and EWS | 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years |
| Ex-servicemen | Length of armed-forces service plus 3 years, subject to applicable rules |
| NCC instructors | Length of NCC service plus 3 years, subject to applicable rules |
| Regular A.P. State Government employees | Length of regular State service, up to 5 years |
| Eligible retrenched temporary Census employees | 3 years |
Application and Examination Fee
| Candidate Category | Processing Fee | Exam Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-exempt candidates | Rs.250 | Rs.120 | Rs.370 |
| SC/ST/BC/PBD/Ex-servicemen, eligible A.P. white-card families and eligible unemployed youth | Rs.250 | Exempted | Rs.250 |
| Applicants from other states | Rs.250 | Rs.120 | Rs.370 |
The fee must be paid online through net banking, credit card or debit card. Fees once paid will not be refunded or adjusted.
Written Examination Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Test | General English - 50 marks and General Telugu - 50 marks, to be qualified separately | 100 | 100 minutes | 100 (qualifying) |
| Paper-I | General Studies and Mental Ability | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper-II | Horticulture-I | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Paper-III | Horticulture-II | 150 | 150 minutes | 150 |
| Merit Total | 450 | |||
The General Studies and Mental Ability paper is in English with Telugu translation. The Horticulture subject papers are in English medium only.
Computer Proficiency Test
| Test | Duration | Maximum Marks | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Automation, computer use and associated software - practical test | 60 minutes | 100 | SC/ST/PBD: 30; BC: 35; OC: 40 |
The CPT is qualifying in nature and is conducted for candidates provisionally shortlisted after the written examination.
Examination Centres
Applicants may provide three centre preferences. APPSC may create or allot other centres based on resource availability.
Download Notification and Apply Online
On the APPSC website, open Notification No.19/2026 for Horticulture Officer. New applicants must first complete One Time Profile Registration (OTPR).
How to Apply Online
- Visit the APPSC website and create or update the OTPR profile.
- Log in using the OTPR ID and password.
- Choose Online Application Submission and select Notification No.19/2026.
- Fill in qualification, local status, zone preferences and examination-centre preferences.
- Verify the displayed OTPR and application information carefully.
- Click Save & Submit; saving alone does not submit the application.
- Pay the applicable fee online and note the payment reference ID.
- Download the completed application PDF for future reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many APPSC Horticulture Officer vacancies are announced?
APPSC Notification No.19/2026 announces 37 zonal Horticulture Officer vacancies in the A.P. Horticulture Service.
What are the application dates?
Online applications may be submitted from 6 October 2026 to 27 October 2026 up to 11:59 PM.
What qualification is required?
A four-year B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons.) Degree in Horticulture from an eligible recognized or ICAR-accredited university is required.
What is the age limit?
The age limit is 18 to 44 years as on 1 July 2026, with relaxation for eligible categories according to the notification.
What is the pay scale?
The notified pay scale for Horticulture Officer is Rs.54,060 to Rs.1,40,540.
Is there negative marking?
Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every incorrect answer.
Is the Computer Proficiency Test compulsory?
Yes. Candidates shortlisted after the written examination must qualify the practical Computer Proficiency Test to be eligible for selection.