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TNPSC Forest Guard with Driving Licence: Level 5 salary

By the PrepMatic team · Updated 9 Oct 2026 · 3 min read

Forest Guard with Driving Licence (post code 3318) in the Tamil Nadu Forest Subordinate Service is at Level 5 of the pay matrix in the 2026 TNPSC Group 4 notification (No. 11/2026). Level 5 runs from ₹18,200 to ₹57,900 a month in basic pay, and a direct recruit starts at ₹18,200. The notification lists a single vacancy in this category, so treat it as a rare opening in this notification.

Pay level and basic pay

The notification prints "Level 5" only. The range comes from Schedule-I of G.O. Ms. No. 303 (11 October 2017), summarised on the salary hub. It is two levels above the Forest Watcher post (Level 3) and three below Level 8, the level of VAO and Junior Assistant: Level 5 tops out at ₹57,900 against ₹62,000 for Level 8.

What is added to basic pay

Dearness allowance is added on basic pay, and house rent allowance depends on the place of posting. Deductions include professional tax, income tax and the retirement-scheme contribution your post carries. The annual increment moves pay one cell down Level 5 on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October, depending on your date of joining. The Forest Department's orders govern any allowance specific to field duty.

What the post involves

The notification does not describe duties. Forest guards generally work at the beat level: patrolling forest blocks, checking illegal felling, poaching and encroachment, maintaining boundaries and records, and helping with plantations and fire protection. For the "with Driving Licence" category, a licence and driving experience are conditions of eligibility, as the list below shows.

Requirements that set this post apart

This is a demanding post to qualify for. As printed in the notification:

1. A pass in Higher Secondary with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology or Botany as one of the subjects.
2. A valid driving licence from the competent Transport Authority.
3. A certificate from a reputed firm or company showing at least three years of experience driving light or heavy motor vehicles after getting the licence.
4. Basic knowledge of how automobiles work, and a first aid certificate from a recognised organisation in Tamil Nadu.
5. Vision of 6/6 in each eye for distance and 0.5 (Snellen) for near, without glasses. Colour blindness, squint, or Lasik or laser eye surgery in either eye disqualifies.
6. The same minimum height and chest standards as the Forest Watcher post, followed by the Physical Standards Test and Endurance Test at Chennai (a 25 km walk for men and 16 km for women and third gender candidates, in four hours).

Preference goes to those discharged from the Army (Land Force). Persons with benchmark disabilities are not eligible. Age as on 1 July 2026 is 21 to 30 for Others.

Promotion

Forest guards progress to forester and higher posts under the department's service rules, on seniority and conditions of service, with each step moving to a higher level. See the Forester salary, a Group 2 post at Level 16.

How to get the post

Through the Group 4 exam: one paper of 200 questions for 300 marks, with the physical stages after on-screen certificate verification. Read the Group 4 notification guide and the eligibility guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the salary of a Forest Guard in TNPSC Group 4?

Basic pay starts at ₹18,200 a month at Level 5. Allowances are added and deductions taken off.

Why does the post ask for a driving licence?

It is a condition of eligibility for this category. You need a valid licence and a certificate of at least three years of driving experience. The notification does not describe the work any further.

Can I apply with Arts subjects in Class 12?

No. The qualification printed for post code 3318 is Higher Secondary with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology or Botany as one of the subjects.

Official sources

• TNPSC Group 4 Notification No. 11/2026: paras 3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3.2 and 5.5 for the post, qualification, physical and vision standards and endurance test.
• G.O. Ms. No. 303, Finance (Pay Cell), 11 October 2017: the pay matrix.

Confirm the details in the latest notification.

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