Category No. 03/2006

KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

No.GRIC(1) 10057/06/GW. Thiruvananthapuram,

Dated: 06.04.2006.

NOTIFICATION

FOREST RANGERS COURSE – 2006-2008

Applications are invited from qualified candidates for selection to undergo Forest Rangers Course in Forestry during 2006-2008 in the Various State Forest Service Colleges under the Directorate of Forest Education, Dehradun. The selection will be subject to the decisions of Director of Forest Education, Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests in regard to the conduct of the Course.

1.	Department	:	Kerala Forest Department
2.	Name of Post	:	Forest Rangers Course (Trainee) 2006-2008
3.	Scale of Pay	:	Rs.6675/- per mensum during the period of Training as Stipend. (on absorption scale of pay will be Rs.6675-10550+applicable allowances
4.	Number of vacancies	:	25 Numbers (Likely to vary).

(The above vacancies are provisional subject to change according to the allotment of seats by the Director of Forest Education, Ministry of Forests and Enviornment, Government of India, Dehradun).

Note:- The Ranked List of candidates published by the Kerala Public Commission in pursuance of this notification shall cease to be in force after one month from the date of commencement of training or 3 months from the date of coming into force of the ranked list whichever is later.

5.	Method of recruitment		:	Direct Recruitment from Open Market
6.	Age limit		:	Candidates must have completed 19 (Nineteen) years and must not have exceeded 30 (Thirty) years as on 01.01.2006 (The upper age limit will be relaxed by 5 years in the case of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates and 3 years in the case of Backward Classes). In the case of Ex-service men the maximum age limit will be 37 (Thirty Seven) years irrespective of caste.
*Note:*		Preference will be given to Ex-servicemen within the frame work of G.O.MS No.70/73/PD dated 02.03.1973

7.		Educational Qualifications.	:
1.	Candidates must possess Bachelors Degree (or equivalent) in Science or Engineering of any recognized University with atleast one of the following subject:- Agriculture, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Applications/Computer Science, Engineering (Agriculture/Chemical/Civil/Computer/Electrical/Electronics/Mechanical), Environmental Science, Forestry, Geology, Horticulture, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Veterinary Science, Zoology.
2.	Physical Standard Minimum Physical Standards as prescribed below:-
For men Chest – 79 cms. (Normal) (Chest expansion 5 cms) Height – 163 cms. (For ST candidates Height 152 cm.)				For Women Chest – 74cms (Normal) (Chest expansion 5 cms) Height 150 cms. (For ST candidates Height 145 cm.)

(Physical measurement will be taken by the Commission prior to walking Test. Candidates are well advised to ensure their Physical Measurements before they apply).

Competitive Examination

Candidates will have to appear for a Competitive Examination to be conducted by Kerala Public Service Commission on the following subjects

COMPULSORY SUBJECT

1.	General Knowledge	: 100 marks
2.	English (Essays and Precis writing etc).	: 100 marks

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

Any two subjects of the following

: 200 marks each

Agriculture, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Applications/Computer Science, Engineering (Agriculture/Chemical/Civil/Computer/Electrical/Electronics/Mechanical), Environmental Science, Forestry, Geology, Horticulture, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Veterinary Science, Zoology. (The standards of these subjects shall be that of a Bachelors Degree)

Note:- No candidates shall be allowed to take more than one subject of the following groups:-

(i)	Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Veterinary Science
(ii)	Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
(iii)	Computer Application/Computer Science and Computer Engineering
(iv)	Electrical Engineering and Electronics Engineering
(v)	Mathematics and Statistics

Note:- Optional subjects selected for examination should be specifically noted on the top of the application side ‘B’., if not, the application will be summarily rejected.

9. Walking Test:- Male candidates who come out successful in the competitive examination must pass Physical test covering a distance of 25 (Twenty five) Kilometers within four hours on foot and women candidates, 16 kms within 4 hours. This test will be arranged by the Kerala Public Service Commission.

Interview:- Those candidates who are qualified in the competitive examination and physical test will be required to present themselves for an interview at the time and place fixed by the Commission.

10. Health Certificate:- A Health Certificate (in original signed by a Civil Surgeon) testifying the candidates sound hearing and General Physical fitness for strenuous outdoor work in the Forest Department and two Identification body marks, should also be produced at the time of interview. The Height and Chest (both normal and expanded) should also be distinctly recorded in the Certificate.

*Note:-1.*		Physically Handicapped candidates are not eligible to apply for this training post.
*Note*:-2.		The selected candidates will be sent by the department before a Medical Board to issue a health certificate and to certify that the candidate is fit to take strenuous, outdoor work in the Forest Department, for onward transmission to the Director of Forest Education, Government of India, Dehradun.
11.	Last date for the receipt of applications		:	29.04.2006 Saturday upto 5 PM

12. Application form:-

The cost of application form is Rs.10/- Cost of application form for SC/ST candidates is Rs.5/- only. Application forms can be obtained from all post offices in the State and from the Offices of the Kerala Public Service Commission. Candidates should fill up both sides of the application form. Candidates must furnish their optional subject for the competitive test at the top of the ‘B’ side of the application form. Candidates are also directed to submit their applications along with the self-attested copies of documents to prove Date of Birth, Community, Educational Qualifications etc. No further time will be granted to produce the same. Applications unaccompanied by documents will summarily be rejected.

13.

Address to which applications are to be sent

The Under Secretary – I

Government Wing (Recruitment)

Office of the Kerala Public Service Commission

Pattom Palace P O

Thiruvananthapuram-695 004.

14. Candidates are required to be present for the Written Test, Walking Test and Interview at their own cost.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

1.	Examination	:	July 2006
2.	Physical Measurement and Walking Test	:	September 2006
3.	Interview	:	September 2006

15. Ranked List of qualified candidates will be published and selection will be made from the list. Candidates thus selected by the Kerala Public Service Commission on the basis of the Competitive Examination, Walking Test and Interview shall be able to join the Forest Rangers Course at the Various State Forest Service Colleges under Director of Forest Education, Dehradun.

16. The cost of training for the course will be met by the State Government. Caution money and mess deposit (as decided by the Director of Forest Education) have to be deposited by the candidate on joining the college. The candidates deputed are eligible for Travelling Allowance for the journeys to the Colleges and back at the rates admissible to Rangers in Forest Department under the rules.

17. The course will commence from November 2006 and the duration will be 18 months.

18. The candidates finally selected for the course will be required to execute an agreement on stamp paper worth Rs.50/-+Rs.100/- binding themselves to serve the Government after completion of the course for a minimum period of 5 years. The selected candidates will have to furnish two solvent sureties, solvent to the extent of Rs.2,00,000/- or permanent Government servants of the Gazetted rank. In the event of failure in the examination and causing any loss to Government thereby or otherwise, they should refund the amount spent on their behalf by Government for their studies together with an amount to cover liquidated damages at the rate of interest of 6% per annum on the amount spent on their behalf by Government. On successful completion of the training course the candidates will have to undergo a practical training in the department for a period of one year after completion of the practical training they will be appointed as Probationary Rangers strictly as per the norms and conditions of the existing rules in the scale of Rs.6675-10550/- against the vacancies reserved for Forest Apprentice. The period of probation for them shall be two years duty within a continuous period of 3 years service. The period of Practical Training in the Department shall not count for probation, leave, increments, pension etc. During the period of practical training the trainees shall be given the consolidated allowance of Rs.6675/- per mensum.

19. The books containing the rules for Rangers course (Entrance and Training Rules Revised 2004) and draft forms of agreement and bond to be executed are available for perusal by the selected candidates at the office of the Chief Conservator of Forest (Administration), Thiruvananthapuram during office hours. The candidates must refer to the General conditions attached to any of the notifications published by the Kerala Public Service Commission in the Gazette. Sub items (x) of para 2 and paragraph 5 of the General Conditions are not applicable to this selection.

P.SIVAJADAS

SECRETARY

KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.