APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026
The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has released Brief Notification No. 19/2026 dated 15 September 2026 for direct recruitment to the post of Horticulture Officer in A.P. Horticulture Service under General Recruitment.
A total of 37 provisional Horticulture Officer vacancies have been announced. The online application process will begin on 6 October 2026, and eligible candidates can apply until 27 October 2026 at 11:59 PM through the official APPSC website, psc.ap.gov.in.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission |
| Post Name | Horticulture Officer |
| Service | A.P. Horticulture Service |
| Notification Number | 19/2026 |
| Notification Date | 15 September 2026 |
| Recruitment Type | General Recruitment |
| Total Vacancies | 37 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 6 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Educational Qualification | Four-year B.Sc./B.Sc. (Hons) in Horticulture |
| Examination Mode | Online CBRT |
| Screening Test | No |
| Written Examination Marks | 450 Marks |
| Pay Scale | ₹54,060 – ₹1,40,540 |
| Official Website | psc.ap.gov.in |
APPSC Horticulture Officer Vacancy Details 2026
APPSC has announced 37 vacancies for the post of Horticulture Officer in the Andhra Pradesh Horticulture Service.
| Post | Vacancies | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Horticulture Officer | 37 | ₹54,060 – ₹1,40,540 |
| Total | 37 | — |
The Commission has clarified that the notified vacancies are provisional and may change after confirmation is received from the concerned department.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Important Dates 2026
Candidates interested in the recruitment should note the following dates:
| Recruitment Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Brief Notification Released | 15 September 2026 |
| Online Applications Begin | 6 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 October 2026 |
| Closing Time | 11:59 PM |
| Detailed Notification | On or before 6 October 2026 |
Candidates are advised to complete their applications well before the closing date to avoid last-minute technical problems or heavy website traffic.
Educational Qualification for APPSC Horticulture Officer 2026
Candidates must possess the prescribed educational qualification as on the date of the Detailed Notification.
Applicants must have a:
Four-year B.Sc. Degree or B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Horticulture
from:
- A recognised university in Andhra Pradesh, or
- Any other university accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
Candidates should ensure that their degree satisfies the recognition requirements prescribed by APPSC before applying.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Age Limit 2026
The Brief Notification does not specify the minimum and maximum age limits for the Horticulture Officer recruitment.
Details regarding:
- Minimum and maximum age
- SC/ST/BC age relaxation
- PwBD eligibility
- Ex-servicemen relaxation
- Other applicable concessions
will be provided in the Detailed Notification scheduled to be released on or before 6 October 2026.
APPSC has stated that the date of the Detailed Notification will be treated as the crucial date in all aspects of the recruitment.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the recruitment, candidates must satisfy the educational qualification and other eligibility conditions prescribed by APPSC.
The brief notification confirms the Horticulture degree requirement. However, detailed information regarding age, community, reservation, category-wise vacancies and other service conditions will be included in the Detailed Notification.
Candidates should therefore verify all eligibility provisions before submitting the application.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Selection Process 2026
The recruitment will consist of a single-level examination.
APPSC has specifically stated that no Screening Test will be conducted, irrespective of the number of applications received.
The examination will be conducted through online Computer Based Recruitment Test (CBRT) mode.
If the examination is conducted in multiple sessions, APPSC may apply normalisation of marks wherever necessary according to the methodology decided by the Commission.
The notification also includes the scheme and syllabus for a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT). Candidates should check the Detailed Notification for confirmation regarding how the CPT will operate within the final recruitment procedure.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Exam Pattern 2026
The recruitment examination is an objective-type examination at Degree Standard.
It includes a qualifying language test followed by three main papers.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Test | General English & General Telugu | 100 | 100 Minutes | 100 |
| 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 |
| Main Written Examination Total | — | 450 | 450 Minutes | 450 |
The General English and General Telugu paper is qualifying in nature, and candidates must qualify in English and Telugu individually. It is prescribed at SSC Standard.
The three merit papers together carry 450 marks.
Negative Marking in APPSC Horticulture Officer Exam
There is negative marking in the objective examination.
For every incorrect answer, one-third of the marks prescribed for that question will be deducted.
Candidates should therefore focus on accuracy rather than attempting uncertain questions indiscriminately.
Qualifying Test – General English and Telugu
The qualifying language examination carries 100 marks, divided between General English and General Telugu.
General English
The syllabus includes:
- Comprehension
- Usage and idiom
- Vocabulary and punctuation
- Logical rearrangement of sentences
General Telugu
Topics include:
- Synonyms and vocabulary
- Grammar
- Telugu-to-English meanings
- English-to-Telugu meanings
Candidates must qualify in English and Telugu separately.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Paper I Syllabus
Paper I – General Studies & Mental Ability carries 150 marks.
Major topics include:
- Current events at international, national and Andhra Pradesh levels
- General Science
- Science and Technology
- Information Technology
- Indian History with emphasis on Andhra Pradesh
- Indian National Movement
- Indian and Andhra Pradesh Geography
- Indian Polity and Governance
- Public Policy and e-Governance
- Indian Economy and Planning
- Sustainable Development
- Environmental Protection
- Disaster Management
- Remote Sensing and GIS
- Logical Reasoning
- Analytical Ability
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
APPSC Horticulture Officer Paper II – Horticulture-I Syllabus
Paper II carries 150 marks and focuses on applied horticultural production and management.
| Unit | Major Area |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fruit Crops |
| 2 | Vegetable Crops |
| 3 | Commercial Floriculture, Ornamental Gardening & Landscape Architecture |
| 4 | Medicinal, Aromatic, Spices, Condiment & Plantation Crops |
| 5 | Dryland Horticulture & Watershed Management |
| 6 | Post-Harvest Management of Horticultural Crops |
| 7 | Preservation of Fruits & Vegetables |
| 8 | Farm Power & Machinery |
| 9 | Greenhouse Management of Horticultural Crops |
APPSC Horticulture Officer Paper III – Horticulture-II Syllabus
Paper III also carries 150 marks.
| Unit | Subject |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fundamentals of Horticulture |
| 2 | Plant Propagation & Nursery Management |
| 3 | Plant Physiology |
| 4 | Entomology |
| 5 | Plant Pathology |
| 6 | Soil Science |
| 7 | Introductory Agroforestry |
| 8 | Extension Education |
| 9 | Organic Farming in Horticultural Crops |
Computer Proficiency Test
The notification also provides a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) scheme.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Test | Office Automation using Computers and Associated Software |
| Duration | 60 Minutes |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| SC/ST Minimum Qualifying Marks | 30 |
| BC Minimum Qualifying Marks | 35 |
| OC Minimum Qualifying Marks | 40 |
The CPT covers computer fundamentals, operating systems, internet and email concepts, office applications, MS Word or equivalent software, spreadsheets and presentation software.
The practical assessment includes document preparation, typing, inserting objects, Excel operations and PowerPoint presentation creation.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Application Fee 2026
The Brief Notification does not specify the application processing fee or examination fee.
Details regarding:
- Application fee
- Examination fee
- Category-wise exemptions
- Payment method
are expected to be provided in the Detailed Notification.
How to Apply for APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026
Online applications will be accepted from 6 October 2026.
Candidates can apply by visiting the official APPSC portal at psc.ap.gov.in and accessing the Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 section.
Applicants should:
- Read the Detailed Notification carefully.
- Verify educational and age eligibility.
- Fill in personal and academic information correctly.
- Upload the documents prescribed by APPSC.
- Pay the applicable fee, if required.
- Review all information before final submission.
- Submit the application by 27 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.
APPSC has clearly stated that applications submitted through any mode other than online mode will not be entertained.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 – Key Points
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Notification | 19/2026 |
| Notification Date | 15 September 2026 |
| Post | Horticulture Officer |
| Department | A.P. Horticulture Service |
| Vacancies | 37 |
| Qualification | 4-year B.Sc./B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture |
| Applications Begin | 6 October 2026 |
| Last Date | 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Salary | ₹54,060 – ₹1,40,540 |
| Examination Mode | Online CBRT |
| Screening Test | No |
| Merit Written Exam | 450 Marks |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd for each wrong answer |
| Detailed Notification | On or before 6 October 2026 |
| Official Website | psc.ap.gov.in |
Conclusion
The APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 has announced 37 provisional vacancies for Horticulture Officer posts in the Andhra Pradesh Horticulture Service.
Online applications will be accepted from 6 October to 27 October 2026, while eligible candidates must possess a four-year B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Horticulture from a recognised or ICAR-accredited university.
The recruitment features a single-level CBRT examination without a Screening Test, with General Studies, Horticulture-I and Horticulture-II carrying a combined 450 marks. Candidates should also account for the qualifying English-Telugu test and the one-third negative marking rule.
With the official syllabus already available, aspirants should begin focused preparation while waiting for the Detailed Notification for information regarding age limits, reservations, fees and other recruitment conditions.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment-FAQs Answered
How many vacancies are announced in APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026?
APPSC has announced 37 provisional vacancies for the post of Horticulture Officer in A.P. Horticulture Service.
What are the application dates for APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026?
The online application process will begin on 6 October 2026 and close on 27 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.
What is the educational qualification for APPSC Horticulture Officer?
Candidates must possess a four-year B.Sc. Degree or B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Horticulture from a recognised university in Andhra Pradesh or another university accredited by ICAR.
What is the salary of an APPSC Horticulture Officer?
The notified pay scale is ₹54,060 to ₹1,40,540.
What is the selection process for APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026?
The recruitment will have a single-level examination, and no Screening Test will be conducted. The examination will be held in online CBRT mode.
