APPSC Horticulture Officer 2026
Can I apply for APPSC Horticulture Officer 2026 with my horticulture degree, and how does the exam work?
APPSC Notification No. 19/2026, dated 6 October 2026, fills 37 posts of Horticulture Officer in the A.P. Horticulture Service. They are zonal posts, and 95% of each zone's posts go to local candidates. You apply online at psc.ap.gov.in until 9 November 2026, 11:59 pm; the notice gave 27 October, and an APPSC web note of 27 October extended it and ruled out any further extension. Only a four-year B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons) in Horticulture qualifies. The age limit is 18 to 44 on 1 July 2026, with 5 more years for SC, ST, BC and EWS and 10 for persons with benchmark disabilities. Selection rests on a qualifying English and Telugu test, a 450-mark computer-based test in three papers (two of them on horticulture), and a qualifying computer proficiency test.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 30 June 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Applications are open until 9 November 2026. The written test date will be announced on psc.ap.gov.in.
Exam at a glance
- Notification
- APPSC Notification No. 19/2026, dated 06/10/2026 (Horticulture Officer in A.P. Horticulture Service, general recruitment)[1]
- Posts
- 37 zonal posts (95% of each zone's posts go to local candidates)[1]
- Apply
- Online at psc.ap.gov.in, 6 October to 9 November 2026, until 11:59 pm, after One Time Profile Registration (OTPR)[2]
- Qualification
- A four-year B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons) in Horticulture from a recognised university in the state or one accredited by ICAR, held on 6 October 2026[1]
- Age on 1 July 2026
- 18 to 44 years; SC, ST, BC and EWS get 5 more years, PBD 10[1]
- Scale of pay
- Rs 54,060-1,40,540 (as printed)[1]
- Written test
- Computer based (CBRT): a qualifying English and Telugu test, then three papers of 150 questions, 150 minutes and 150 marks each, 450 in all[1]
- Wrong answers
- Minus 1/3 of the question's marks[1]
- Exam centres
- Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupathi, Ananthapuramu (three preferences)[1]
- Exam date
- Not announced; APPSC says it will tell candidates later[1]
Where the 37 seats are
| Zone | Open | Local | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone I (Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli) | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone II (Alluri Sitarama Raju, East Godavari, Kakinada, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema) | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Zone III (West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna) | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone IV (Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore) | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone V (Tirupathi, Chittoor, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa) | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Zone VI (Nandyal, Ananthapuramu, Kurnool, Sri Sathya Sai) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
By community: OC 21, SC Group-I 2, SC Group-II 1, SC Group-III 2, ST 2, BC-A 3, BC-B 2, BC-C 1, EWS 3; none for BC-D or BC-E. Six OC posts are for women (Zones I 1, II 1, III 2, IV 1, V 1) and two for meritorious sportspersons (Zones III and VI). A local seat goes to a candidate who studied (or, without schooling, lived) in that zone for four consecutive years up to class 7.[1]
| Who | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC, ST, BC and EWS | 5 years |
| Persons with benchmark disabilities (PBD) | 10 years |
| Ex-servicemen | Deduct 3 years plus your armed forces service from your age |
| NCC instructors | Deduct 3 years plus your service as an NCC instructor from your age |
| Regular A.P. State Government employees | Deduct your regular State Government service, up to 5 years |
| Retrenched temporary employees of the State Census Department (6 months' service or more) | 3 years |
For ex-servicemen and NCC instructors, the age left after the deduction must still be 44 or under. Employees of corporations, municipalities and similar bodies don't get the State Government relaxation. SC, ST, BC and EWS candidates from other states get no reservation.[1]
| Paper | Questions | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying test: General English (50) and General Telugu (50), SSC standard | 100 questions | 100 minutes | 100 marks, qualifying only |
| Paper I: General Studies and Mental Ability | 150 questions | 150 minutes | 150 marks |
| Paper II: Horticulture-I | 150 questions | 150 minutes | 150 marks |
| Paper III: Horticulture-II | 150 questions | 150 minutes | 150 marks |
| Computer Proficiency Test (practical, after the written test) | Practical tasks | 60 minutes | 100 marks, qualifying only |
You must pass the English and Telugu parts of the qualifying test separately. Papers I to III are objective, set at degree standard, and make up the 450 merit marks. A wrong answer costs 1/3 of the question's marks. Paper I is set in English and translated into Telugu, with the English version counting; the subject papers are in English only. To be shortlisted you need an aggregate of 40% (OC, sportspersons, ex-servicemen, EWS), 35% (BC) or 30% (SC, ST, PBD). The computer test needs 40 marks (OC), 35 (BC) or 30 (SC, ST, PBD) out of 100.[1]
Horticulture Officer is a post in the A.P. Horticulture Service. The notification does not describe the duties; the syllabus shows what the department expects you to know: fruit, vegetable, flower, plantation, spice and medicinal crops, dryland horticulture and watershed management, post-harvest handling and processing, and the plant science behind them.
The post is organised by zone, so you are allotted to a zone according to your merit, your local status and the zone preferences you give.[1]
- It suits a four-year B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture graduate who wants a state government post in the horticulture department. There is no experience rule and no physical test, and the age limit of 44 leaves room for people already working.
- The rule names only the horticulture degree, so check your degree's title and length before you apply. It must be complete on 6 October 2026, the notification date.
- Two of the three papers are horticulture, in English only. If you studied in Telugu medium, practise the technical terms in English early.
- There are 37 seats over six zones, with only 4 in Zone VI and none for BC-D or BC-E. Check the seats table for your zone before you commit months to preparation.
Source[1]
Everyone sits the qualifying English and Telugu test and all three papers of the computer-based test; missing a paper ends your candidature. Merit is the total out of 450, after normalisation if the test runs in several sessions. Candidates shortlisted from that merit list then take a 60-minute practical Computer Proficiency Test on office software, which you only need to pass.
There is no interview. Appointment depends on certificate verification and a medical fitness check. Equal marks are broken by age, with the older candidate ranked first.[1]
Paper I, General Studies and Mental Ability: current events, general science, history of India with a focus on Andhra Pradesh, geography, polity and governance, the Indian economy, sustainable development, disaster management, logical reasoning and basic data analysis.
Paper II, Horticulture-I: fruit crops such as mango, banana, citrus, grape, guava and papaya; vegetable crops; commercial floriculture, ornamental gardening and landscaping; medicinal and aromatic plants, spices and plantation crops; dryland horticulture and watershed management; post-harvest management; and preservation of fruits and vegetables.
Paper III, Horticulture-II: fundamentals of horticulture, plant propagation and nursery management, plant physiology and growth regulators, entomology and pathology with integrated pest and disease management, soil science and nutrient management, introductory agroforestry, extension education, and organic farming in horticultural crops.[1]
Tips and tricks
- Check your OTPR before you pay. The details used for the fee and age relaxation come from it and can't be changed in the correction window.[1]
- Papers II and III carry 300 of the 450 marks. Their units follow the crops first, then post-harvest handling, pests and diseases, and soil science, so plan your revision in that order.[1]
- Don't skip the English and Telugu test. It adds no marks, but failing either half ends your chance.[1]
- Practise office software early. The computer test comes after the written result and has its own pass mark.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the last date to apply for APPSC Horticulture Officer 2026?
9 November 2026, until 11:59 pm. The notice gave 27 October; APPSC's web note of 27 October extended it and says there will be no further extension.[2]
What qualification do I need for APPSC Horticulture Officer?
A four-year B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons) in Horticulture from a recognised university in the state or one accredited by ICAR, held on 6 October 2026.[1]
What is the age limit for APPSC Horticulture Officer?
18 to 44 on 1 July 2026. SC, ST, BC and EWS candidates get 5 more years and persons with benchmark disabilities 10. Ex-servicemen and NCC instructors deduct 3 years plus their service, and the result must be 44 or under.[1]
How many vacancies are there?
37 zonal posts: OC 21, SC Group-I 2, SC Group-II 1, SC Group-III 2, ST 2, BC-A 3, BC-B 2, BC-C 1 and EWS 3. Six OC posts are for women and two for sportspersons.[1]
What is the exam pattern?
A qualifying test in General English and General Telugu, then three objective papers of 150 marks each: General Studies and Mental Ability, Horticulture-I and Horticulture-II. A qualifying computer proficiency test follows.[1]
What is the salary of APPSC Horticulture Officer?
The notification prints the scale of pay as Rs 54,060-1,40,540.[1]
Connected pages
- Related · DegreeB.Sc (Bachelor of Science)How long a B.Sc takes, the honours and research year, the CUET tests that get you in, and M.Sc at IITs through JAM. From UGC and NTA.
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Official and partner links
Sources
- Notification No. 19/2026 dated 06/10/2026: Direct Recruitment to the post of Horticulture Officer in A.P. Horticulture Service (General Recruitment), 59 pages, Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. para 1 p. 1; paras 2-3 p. 2; para 4 pp. 2-4; para 5 pp. 4-5; para 6 pp. 5-6; para 7 pp. 6-8; paras 8-11 pp. 8-9; para 14 pp. 11-12; Annexure-I pp. 13-14; Annexure-II pp. 15-23. Accessed 30 October 2026.
- Web note: extension of last date for the submission of online applications for various recruitment notifications (Nos. 07, 08, 19, 25 and 26/2026 to 09.11.2026), Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. p. 1. Accessed 30 October 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 30 October 2026.