Forest Guard Salary in 2026
Forest Guard salary in India starts at a basic pay of about ₹18,200 to ₹21,700 per month in most states. After dearness allowance and house rent allowance are added and deductions are made, the estimated in-hand amount at joining is usually about ₹28,000 to ₹40,000. The exact figure depends on the state, pay level, allowance rates, posting and whether the first years are paid at a fixed rate.
- Delhi (DSSSB) and Uttarakhand: Pay Level 3, entry basic pay ₹21,700.
- Uttar Pradesh: Pay Level 2, entry basic pay ₹19,900.
- Odisha: Pay Matrix Level 4, entry basic pay ₹19,900.
- Tamil Nadu: entry basic pay ₹18,200.
- Rajasthan: Level 4 of the state matrix, with entry basic pay of about ₹19,200 according to job portals.
Karnataka revised its state pay scales from August 2024, so older figures quoted for that state are outdated.
Forest Guard Salary Quick Stats
| Detail | Snapshot |
|---|---|
| Post | Forest Guard, also called Van Rakshak or Vanrakshak |
| Service group | Group C uniformed post, mostly a state cadre |
| Usual qualification | Class 10 or Class 12, depending on the state |
| Entry basic pay | ₹18,200 to ₹21,700 in most states |
| Estimated in-hand pay at joining | ₹28,000 to ₹40,000 |
| Central DA rate | 60% of basic pay from 1 January 2026 |
| Annual increment | Usually 3% under the 7th Pay Commission pattern |
| Next pay revision | 8th Pay Commission report expected around May 2027, nothing decided yet |
The in-hand range is a calculated estimate and not an official figure. It can be lower during probation in states that pay a fixed amount at first.
About the Forest Guard Position
A Forest Guard is the frontline officer of a state forest department. The work involves patrolling a beat, checking illegal felling and poaching, reporting forest offences, helping control forest fires, maintaining boundaries and keeping field records. The post is the entry rung of the uniformed forest cadre, and it sits below the Forester and the Forest Ranger.
Recruitment is run by state bodies such as DSSSB in Delhi, UPSSSC in Uttar Pradesh, RSSB in Rajasthan and OSSSC in Odisha. Selection generally combines a written test, physical standards and an endurance test, then document checks and a training course.
What Is Forest Guard Salary? Basic Pay, Gross and In-Hand Explained
People often use one word for several different figures, so it helps to separate them.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Basic pay | The starting cell of the pay level in the government pay matrix |
| Allowances | Extra payments such as DA, HRA and transport allowance |
| Gross salary | Basic pay plus allowances |
| Deductions | Amounts cut from gross pay, such as the NPS contribution and professional tax where it applies |
| In-hand salary | Gross salary minus deductions |
Government posts do not usually quote a CTC or annual package. Any annual figure is simply the monthly amount multiplied by twelve.
Forest Guard Salary In India: State-Wise Pay Scale 2026
| State and recruiting body | Pay level or scale | Entry basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi, DSSSB | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
| Uttarakhand | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
| Uttar Pradesh, UPSSSC | Level 2 | ₹19,900 |
| Odisha, OSSSC | Level 4, Cell 1 | ₹19,900 |
| Rajasthan, RSSB | Level 4 of the state matrix | About ₹19,200 |
| Assam, SLPRB | Pay Band 2 with Grade Pay ₹5,600 | ₹19,600 |
| Madhya Pradesh | State scale ₹19,500 to ₹62,000 | ₹19,500 |
| Tamil Nadu | Level 5, scale ₹18,200 to ₹57,900 | ₹18,200 |
| Karnataka | State scale revised in August 2024 | Check the latest notification |
| Himachal Pradesh | Contract basis | Check the latest notification |
The Delhi figures come from DSSSB Advertisement 02/2025. For the other states I relied on recruitment notifications as reproduced by job and education portals, since I could not open every original document. The Rajasthan entry pay differs between websites, and the Assam entry pay is calculated by adding band pay of ₹14,000 and Grade Pay of ₹5,600. Always confirm the figure in the notification of the exam you are applying for.
Delhi Forest Guard Salary and DSSSB Forest Guard Salary
DSSSB Advertisement 02/2025 (post code 41/25) invited applications for 52 Forest Guard posts in the Department of Forests and Wildlife. The pay is Level 3 of the 7th CPC matrix, ₹21,700 to ₹69,100, in a Group C non-gazetted post. The essential qualification is Class 12. This makes the salary of a Delhi Forest Guard one of the higher entry figures among the states covered here.
UP Forest Guard Salary and UPSSSC Forest Guard Salary
UPSSSC Advertisement 12-Pariksha/2026 covers 708 posts of Van Rakshak and Vanya Jeev Rakshak, with applications open from 30 June to 20 July 2026. The pay is Level 2, ₹19,900 to ₹63,200. Some older pages still quote ₹21,700 for the UP Forest Guard salary, but the 2026 advertisement figure is ₹19,900. UP allowance rates follow state government orders and may differ from central rates.
Uttarakhand Forest Guard Salary
The Uttarakhand Van Arakshi recruitment for 894 posts listed Level 3, ₹21,700 to ₹69,100. That notice dates from 2022, so check the current advertisement for any change. Allowances for hill or difficult postings may apply on top of basic pay.
Odisha Forest Guard Salary and OSSSC Forest Guard Salary
The OSSSC Combined Recruitment Examination 2023 placed the Forest Guard at Pay Matrix Level 4, Cell 1, ₹19,900 under the ORSP Rules 2017, while the Forester is at Level 7, ₹25,500. Some exam portals report a fixed monthly remuneration of ₹8,880 in the initial period before the full scale applies. I could not confirm that in the original advertisement, so treat it with caution. Odisha Forest Guard salary per month therefore depends on whether you are in the initial fixed period or on the regular scale.
Forest Guard Salary In Rajasthan
The RSSB notification of January 2026 lists 483 Forest Guard (Vanrakshak) posts at Level 4 of the Rajasthan pay matrix, with the Forester at Level 8. Job portals give the entry basic as about ₹19,200 and mention a fixed-pay probation of two years, but some sites quote different levels and amounts. The Rajasthan Forest Guard salary is best read from the notification itself.
Forest Guard Salary In Karnataka
Before the revision, the Forest Guard scale was quoted as ₹23,500 to ₹47,650, and older notices show ₹21,400 to ₹42,000. Karnataka implemented its 7th State Pay Commission from 1 August 2024, and the Chief Minister said the minimum basic pay across government would rise from ₹17,000 to ₹27,000. I could not verify the revised Forest Guard cell, so treat the older scales as outdated.
Forest Guard Salary In Tamilnadu
Tamil Nadu Forest Uniformed Services Recruitment Committee notices place the Forest Guard at Level 5 of the state pay matrix, ₹18,200 to ₹57,900. The Forest Guard with driving licence category carries the same scale.
Assam Forest Guard Salary
Assam Forest Guard salary is set in Pay Band 2 with a Grade Pay of ₹5,600, which gives an entry figure of ₹19,600. The band ceiling is quoted as ₹60,500 in older notices and ₹70,000 in the January 2026 SLPRB advertisement, so check which applies to your recruitment.
Forest Guard Salary In HP
Himachal Pradesh has recruited contractual Forest Guards, and department notices have quoted ₹5,910 to ₹20,200 with Grade Pay ₹2,000. That is an older pre-revised scale, so current pay should be checked in the latest notification. Some websites quote regular-scale figures for the state, but I could not find an official document supporting them.
MP Forest Guard Salary
Coverage of the MPESB Van Rakshak notification quotes a pay scale of ₹19,500 to ₹62,000. The same recruitment included other posts, so confirm the figure for the Van Rakshak post in the official advertisement.
Forest Guard Salary Per Month: Sample In-Hand Calculation
This Delhi example is illustrative. It assumes central DA of 60% and HRA of 30%, and Delhi government orders should be checked for the rates actually applied. Transport allowance and other items are left out.
| Component | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Basic pay, Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
| DA at 60% | ₹13,020 |
| HRA at 30% | ₹6,510 |
| Gross before transport allowance | ₹41,230 |
| NPS at 10% of basic plus DA | ₹3,472 |
| Estimated in-hand pay | ₹37,758 |
The Union Cabinet approved DA of 60% from 1 January 2026, and the July 2026 instalment had not been announced at the time of writing. In states with lower DA or HRA rates, the same basic pay gives a lower in-hand figure.
Forest Guard Salary After 5 Years
With yearly increments of about 3%, a Level 3 basic of ₹21,700 rises to roughly ₹25,300 after five increments. Using the same assumptions as above, the illustrative figures are:
| Component | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Basic pay | ₹25,300 |
| DA at 60% | ₹15,180 |
| HRA at 30% | ₹7,590 |
| Gross before transport allowance | ₹48,070 |
| NPS at 10% of basic plus DA | ₹4,048 |
| Estimated in-hand pay | ₹44,022 |
Forest Guard salary after 5 years can be higher if a promotion comes earlier, or lower where DA and HRA rates are lower. Financial upgradation schemes such as MACP may apply after longer service, depending on the employer’s rules.
Allowances, Benefits and Deductions
- Dearness allowance, revised twice a year for central employees and separately by each state.
- House rent allowance, which depends on the city category.
- Transport allowance and, in some states, allowances for hill, remote or forest postings.
- Uniform or dress allowance where the department provides one.
- Medical facilities, leave and pension benefits as per state rules. Most recent recruits are covered by the National Pension System.
- Deductions such as the NPS contribution, professional tax where the state levies it, and group insurance.
Income tax depends on annual income and the regime chosen. Under the new regime rules announced in Budget 2025, income up to ₹12 lakh has qualified for a rebate, so an entry-level forest guard may not owe tax. Check the current rules before relying on this.
Career Growth and Promotion
- Forest Guard is the entry post, and the usual next rung is Forester, followed by Deputy Ranger or Forest Range Officer, depending on the state.
- Promotion depends on seniority, vacancies and departmental tests, and timing differs across states.
- In Odisha the Forester starts at Level 7, ₹25,500. In Delhi the Forest Ranger post has been advertised at Level 6, ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400.
Forest Guard Salary Compared With Similar Government Jobs
| Post | Pay level | Entry basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Assistant, DSSSB | Level 2 | ₹19,900 |
| Forest Guard, Delhi | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
| Delhi Police Constable | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
| Forester, Odisha | Level 7 | ₹25,500 |
| Forest Ranger, Delhi | Level 6 | ₹35,400 |
A Delhi Forest Guard earns the same entry basic pay as a Delhi Police Constable and more than a Junior Assistant. The Junior Assistant level comes from DSSSB pay listings, the Forester level from the OSSSC notice and the Forest Ranger level from the Delhi Forest Department notice. Levels differ by employer, so this is a guide and not a like-for-like ranking across states.
Will the 8th Pay Commission Change Forest Guard Salary?
The 8th Central Pay Commission was set up on 3 November 2025 and has 18 months to report, which points to around May 2027. No fitment factor or new pay matrix has been decided. Demands such as a ₹69,000 minimum pay and a fitment factor of 3.833 come from employee organisations and are proposals only. State forest guards would see changes only after their state government adopts any revision.
Conclusion
Forest Guard salary is decided by the state, so the entry basic pay ranges from about ₹18,200 to ₹21,700, and monthly in-hand pay at joining commonly lands between ₹28,000 and ₹40,000. The stable parts are the pay level, yearly increments and government benefits. Allowance rates, fixed initial pay and revised state scales change the final figure, so read the current notification of your state before you apply.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Forest Guard Salary
What Is The Salary Of A Forest Guard?
Basic pay is roughly ₹18,200 to ₹21,700 per month in most states, and the estimated in-hand pay at joining is about ₹28,000 to ₹40,000.
What Is The Salary Of Forest Guard In India?
There is no single national figure because the post is mostly a state cadre. The salary of a forest guard in India ranges from about ₹18,200 in Tamil Nadu to ₹21,700 in Delhi and Uttarakhand at entry level, with Karnataka revised separately.
What Is The Salary Of Delhi Forest Guard?
The salary of a Delhi Forest Guard is Level 3, ₹21,700 to ₹69,100, as advertised by DSSSB, plus allowances.
What Is The Salary Of A Forest Guard In Odisha?
The entry basic pay is ₹19,900 at Level 4, Cell 1. What is the salary of forest guard in Odisha in the first period may differ if a fixed remuneration applies.
What Is The Salary Of Forest Guard In Karnataka?
It follows Karnataka’s revised state scales from August 2024. The older ₹23,500 to ₹47,650 scale is outdated, and the revised figure should be read from the latest notification.
What Is The Salary Of Forest Guard In Rajasthan?
It is Level 4 of the Rajasthan pay matrix, with entry basic pay reported at about ₹19,200.
What Is The Starting Salary Of Forest Guard?
The starting salary of a forest guard is the entry basic pay of the state scale, from ₹18,200 to ₹21,700 in most states, before allowances.
How Much Is Forest Guard Salary Per Year?
Multiply the monthly in-hand amount by twelve. On the Delhi illustration above, ₹37,758 gives about ₹4.53 lakh a year. How many salary of forest guard is paid annually depends on the state and allowance rates.
How Much Salary For Forest Guard After Deductions?
It is gross pay minus deductions such as the NPS contribution. How much salary of forest guard reaches the bank account is roughly 85% to 92% of gross in the example above.
Forest Guard Ki Salary Kitni Hai?
Shuruaati basic pay lagbhag ₹18,200 se ₹21,700 hai, aur bhatte jodne ke baad in-hand salary lagbhag ₹28,000 se ₹40,000 mahine ho sakti hai. This depends on the state.
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