APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026: Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) has issued a recruitment notification for the post of Horticulture Officer in A.P. Horticulture Service under General Recruitment.
According to the notification, eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the official APPSC website from 6 October 2026 to 27 October 2026, up to 11:59 PM.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 Overview
The recruitment currently lists 37 provisional vacancies for Horticulture Officer posts. The notified pay scale is ₹54,060 to ₹1,40,540. The vacancy count may change after confirmation from the concerned department.
Important Details
- Post: Horticulture Officer
- Department: A.P. Horticulture Service
- Vacancies: 37
- Pay Scale: ₹54,060 – ₹1,40,540
- Application Start Date: 6 October 2026
- Last Date: 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM
- Application Mode: Online
- Official Website: Visit the APPSC Official Website
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess the required educational qualification as on the date of the detailed notification.
The notification states that applicants should have a four-year B.Sc. Degree or B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Horticulture from a recognized university in Andhra Pradesh or another university accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Candidates should read the detailed notification carefully before applying, particularly for information related to age limits, community-wise vacancies, qualifications, and other eligibility conditions.
How to Apply for APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment
Applications must be submitted only through online mode.
Candidates should:
- Visit the APPSC official website.
- Read the detailed recruitment notification carefully.
- Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements.
- Enter the required information correctly in the online application.
- Submit the application before the closing date.
APPSC has advised candidates not to wait until the final day, as it will not accept applications submitted through any mode other than the prescribed online process.
APPSC Horticulture Officer Exam Pattern
The recruitment examination will be conducted as a single-level examination, with no separate screening test irrespective of the number of applications received.
The examination will be held in Computer Based Recruitment Test (CBRT) mode. If the examination is conducted across multiple sessions, APPSC may apply normalization of marks where required.
Examination Structure
| 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 |
The three main papers together carry 450 marks. The English and Telugu qualifying test is at SSC standard, and candidates must qualify in both languages individually.
Negative Marking
For every incorrect answer, one-third of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted.
General Studies and Mental Ability Syllabus
Paper I covers a broad range of topics, including:
- Current events at international, national and Andhra Pradesh levels
- General Science and developments in Science, Technology and IT
- Indian history with emphasis on Andhra Pradesh
- Indian and Andhra Pradesh geography
- Indian polity and governance
- Indian economy and planning
- Sustainable development and environmental protection
- Disaster management
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Data analysis and interpretation
Horticulture-I Syllabus
Paper II focuses on major horticulture subjects.
Fruit and Vegetable Crops
Candidates need to study fruit crops such as mango, banana, citrus, grape, pineapple, guava, papaya and sapota, including production practices, irrigation, nutrition, harvesting, storage and physiological disorders.
Vegetable crop preparation includes tomato, brinjal, chillies, potato, okra, cucurbits, legumes, cole crops, root crops, bulb crops, tuber crops and leafy vegetables.
Floriculture and Landscape Architecture
This section covers commercial flower crops, ornamental gardening, landscape planning, garden design, indoor plants, flower arrangement and bonsai.
Other Important Horticulture-I Topics
Paper II also includes:
- Medicinal and aromatic crops
- Spices and condiments
- Plantation crops
- Dryland horticulture
- Watershed management
- Post-harvest management
- Preservation of fruits and vegetables
- Farm power and machinery
- Greenhouse management
Horticulture-II Syllabus
Paper III covers deeper horticulture fundamentals and supporting agricultural sciences.
Major areas include:
Fundamentals of Horticulture
Candidates should prepare topics such as horticultural zones, orchard planning, soil and climate requirements, irrigation, nutrient management, pruning, training, pollination, fruit set, growth regulators and cropping systems.
Plant Propagation and Nursery Management
This section covers sexual and vegetative propagation, seed germination, budding, grafting, layering, rootstocks, nursery management and micropropagation.
Plant Physiology and Crop Protection
The syllabus includes photosynthesis, respiration, plant growth regulators, flowering, fruit development, entomology, plant diseases and integrated pest and disease management.
Other important areas include:
- Soil Science
- Agro Forestry
- Extension Education
- Organic Farming in Horticultural Crops
Computer Proficiency Test
The notification also contains a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) syllabus covering computer fundamentals, software types, operating systems, internet and email concepts, office applications, word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software.
The CPT is listed for 60 minutes and 100 marks, with qualifying marks of 30 for SC/ST candidates, 35 for BC candidates and 40 for OC candidates.
Practical assessment areas include document preparation, typing, working with objects, spreadsheet calculations and charts, and creating PowerPoint presentations.
Preparation Tips
Candidates should begin by understanding the complete exam pattern and dividing preparation time between General Studies and the two Horticulture papers.
Give additional attention to core horticulture subjects, regularly revise technical concepts, practice objective questions, and remember that wrong answers carry negative marks.
For the Computer Proficiency Test topics included in the notification, practical practice with documents, spreadsheets and presentations can also be useful.
Conclusion
The APPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 offers 37 provisional vacancies with a notified pay scale of ₹54,060 to ₹1,40,540.
Eligible horticulture graduates can apply online between 6 October and 27 October 2026 through the APPSC website. Candidates should carefully review the detailed notification, exam scheme, and syllabus before submitting their applications.
Click Here to Visit the APPSC Official Website