TNPSC Forest Apprentice: Eligibility Criteria and Selection Process

The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) conducts the Forest Apprentice exam to recruit eligible candidates for the post of Forest Apprentice in the Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service. The TNPSC Forest Apprentice exam is conducted annually, and candidates need to fulfill certain eligibility criteria to be eligible to appear for the exam. In this article, we will discuss the eligibility criteria and selection process for the TNPSC Forest Apprentice exam.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Age Limit: The candidate should be between 18 and 30 years of age as of July 1 of the year in which the notification is issued. Age relaxation is provided for certain categories as per the government norms.
2. Educational Qualification: The candidate should have a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry or Agriculture or in any of the following subjects: Botany, Chemistry, Computer Applications, Computer Science, Engineering (Agriculture / Chemical / Civil / Computer / Electrical / Electronics / Mechanical), Environmental Science, Geology, Horticulture, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Veterinary Science, Zoology.
3. Physical Standards: The candidate should satisfy certain physical standards as prescribed by the TNPSC.

Selection Process:

The selection process for the TNPSC Forest Apprentice exam consists of the following stages:

1. Written Exam: The first stage of the selection process is a written exam, which is conducted in two parts – Part A and Part B. Part A consists of questions from General Studies and Aptitude and Part B consists of questions from Forestry subjects. The duration of the exam is three hours for each part.
2. Physical Standards Verification: Candidates who qualify in the written exam are called for the physical standards verification process. The candidate’s height, weight, chest measurement, and other physical attributes are verified during this stage.
3. Walking Test: Candidates who clear the physical standards verification process are required to undergo a walking test. The walking test comprises a distance of 25 km to be covered in four hours for male candidates and 16 km in four hours for female candidates.
4. Interview and Record Verification: Candidates who clear the walking test are called for an interview. The interview is conducted to assess the candidate’s personality traits, leadership qualities, communication skills, etc. After the interview, the candidate’s records are verified, and the final selection list is prepared based on the candidate’s performance in the written exam, walking test, and interview.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Nationality: The candidate should be a citizen of India or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan or Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India.
2. Language Proficiency: The candidate should have a good knowledge of the Tamil language.
3. Physical Standards: The candidate should have a minimum height of 163 cm for men and 150 cm for women. Chest measurement should be a minimum of 79 cm on full expiration and a minimum of 84 cm on full inspiration for men. For women, chest measurement does not apply.
4. Medical Fitness: The candidate should be medically fit for the job.

Selection Process:

1. Written Exam: The written exam is conducted in offline mode and comprises two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 consists of questions from General Studies and Paper 2 consists of questions from Forestry subjects. Each paper carries a maximum of 300 marks, and the duration of the exam is three hours for each paper.
2. Physical Standards Verification: Candidates who qualify in the written exam are called for physical standards verification. The candidate’s height, weight, chest measurement, and other physical attributes are verified during this stage.
3. Walking Test: Candidates who clear the physical standards verification process are required to undergo a walking test. The walking test comprises a distance of 25 km to be covered in four hours for male candidates and 16 km in four hours for female candidates.
4. Interview and Record Verification: Candidates who clear the walking test are called for an interview. The interview is conducted to assess the candidate’s personality traits, leadership qualities, communication skills, etc. After the interview, the candidate’s records are verified, and the final selection list is prepared based on the candidate’s performance in the written exam, walking test, and interview.
5. Training: Candidates who get selected for the post of Forest Apprentice will have to undergo a two-year training program. The training program consists of both theoretical and practical sessions.

Conclusion:

The TNPSC Forest Apprentice exam is a highly competitive exam, and candidates need to fulfill the eligibility criteria and clear all the stages of the selection process to get selected for the post of Forest Apprentice in the Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service. Candidates who aspire to become a Forest Apprentice in Tamil Nadu should prepare well and stay updated with the latest exam pattern and syllabus to crack the exam.