UP Forest Guard Salary
Last updated: August | Based on UP 7th Pay Commission (GO 65/2016), DA 60%, and UPSSSC Forest Department recruitment rules.
The UP Forest Guard salary (Van Rakshak / वन रक्षक) is a highly searched uniform service topic in Uttar Pradesh. This page covers pay scale, in-hand salary, salary slip, UPSSSC recruitment, PET/PST, wildlife duties, promotion, and career growth — and is not about Forest Ranger, IFS, or Wildlife Officer posts.
UP Forest Guard Salary at a Glance
Pay Level 3 · Van Rakshak · Basic ₹21,700 · DA 60% · HRA 8–24% · Est. In-Hand ₹37,000–₹40,500/month · Pension: NPS · Route: UPSSSC
Forest Guard (Van Rakshak) and Wildlife Guard posts under the UP Forest Department generally share similar Pay Level 3 scales and recruitment through UPSSSC. Duties overlap in wildlife reserves — always check the specific notification for post-wise eligibility.
Salary Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Department | Uttar Pradesh Forest Department |
| Post | Forest Guard (Van Rakshak) |
| Pay Level | Level 3 |
| Basic Pay | ₹21,700/month (entry) |
| Gross Salary (Lucknow) | ₹43,528 |
| In-Hand Salary (Est.) | ₹40,056 |
| Recruitment | UPSSSC (Forest Guard exam) |
| Pension | NPS (post-Apr 2005) |
Monthly Salary Breakdown (Forest Guard — Lucknow)
| Component | Calculation | Monthly (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Pay | Pay Level 3 entry | 21,700 |
| Dearness Allowance | 60% × Basic | 13,020 |
| House Rent Allowance | 24% × Basic | 5,208 |
| Transport Allowance | Fixed | 3,600 |
| Gross Salary | Sum of above | 43,528 |
| NPS Deduction | 10% × (Basic + DA) | −3,472 |
| Est. In-Hand | Gross − NPS | 40,056 |
Salary Slip Example
* Illustrative sample slip for reference. Actual figures vary by posting, city, and service length.
Pay Matrix Level 3
UP Forest Guard is placed in Pay Level 3 of the UP pay matrix — same level as UP Police Constable.
| Cell | Basic Pay (₹) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21,700 | ★ Entry (New Forest Guard) |
| 2 | 22,400 | After 1st increment |
| … | … | 3% annual increment |
| 40 | 69,100 | Maximum of Level 3 |
Forest Guard vs Related Posts
| Post | Department | Pay Level | Entry Basic (₹) | Est. In-Hand (Lucknow) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Guard | Forest Dept | 3 | 21,700 | ~40,056 |
| Police Constable | UP Police | 3 | 21,700 | ~36,456* |
| Forester | Forest Dept | 4–5 | 25,500+ | ~46,000+ |
| Forest Ranger | Forest Dept | 10+ | Gazetted | ~97,000+ |
*Police Constable in-hand excludes TA on the UP Police Constable Salary page; with TA included, both Level 3 posts are ~₹40,056 in Lucknow.
Allowances & Deductions
DA, HRA & Transport
DA: 60% of basic · HRA: 24% (X) / 16% (Y) / 8% (Z) · TA: ₹3,600/month · Uniform Allowance: annual kit maintenance
NPS & Other Deductions
NPS: 10% of (Basic+DA) · GIS: ~₹30 · Professional Tax: ₹200/month
Job Profile & Forest Duties
UP Forest Guards handle:
- Forest protection — patrolling beats, preventing illegal logging
- Wildlife conservation — monitoring tigers, elephants, deer in reserves
- Anti-poaching — trap detection, informer networks, night patrols
- Fire prevention — forest fire control during summer season
- Assisting senior officers — Forester, Ranger, DFO field operations
- Visitor management — eco-tourism support in national parks
- Boundary demarcation — fence maintenance, encroachment reporting
Major posting areas include Dudhwa National Park, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary, and territorial forest divisions across UP.
Physical Standards & Recruitment
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualification | 10+2 (Intermediate) pass from recognized board |
| Age | As per UPSSSC notification (typically 18–40 years) |
| Recruitment Body | UPSSSC on behalf of UP Forest Department |
| Written Exam | General knowledge, Hindi, reasoning, forest awareness |
| PST | Height, chest expansion, weight (gender-specific norms) |
| PET | Running, long jump, shot put (qualifying standards) |
| Document Verification | Certificates, category, domicile |
| Medical | General fitness for field duty |
| Joining | Pay Level 3, Basic ₹21,700 |
Physical standards change with each UPSSSC notification. Always refer to the official advertisement for exact height, chest, and PET benchmarks for male and female candidates.
Career Progression
Career Progression Ladder
Uttar Pradesh Police · Estimated pay at each rank (7th CPC)
* In-hand figures are estimates (DA 60%, HRA 24%, NPS 10%). Actual promotion timelines depend on vacancies, departmental exams, and seniority.
MACP grants financial upgradation at 10, 20, and 30 years without change in designation.
8th Pay Commission Impact
8th Pay Commission Impact
UP Forest Guard · Current vs projected salary
* 8th Pay Commission projections use an illustrative 2x fitment factor and assume DA resets to ~50% post-implementation. Actual fitment will be determined by the Pay Commission and state government notification. Not official.
All 8th Pay figures are estimated and subject to final notification.
Useful Calculators
Calculator Inputs
* Estimates based on current Uttar Pradesh Govt rules. Gross = Basic + DA + HRA + TA(₹3600). Actuals may vary based on exact location and professional tax.
Related Pages
Official Sources & Disclaimer
- UP Forest Department — Recruitment and service rules
- UPSSSC — Forest Guard examination notifications
- UP 7th Pay Commission GO 65/2016 — Pay matrix
- UP Finance Department — shasanadesh.up.gov.in — DA orders
Salary figures are estimates based on official UP pay rules. Actual pay depends on posting, pay cell, and field allowances. 8th Pay projections are illustrative only. This page covers Forest Guard (Van Rakshak) only — not Forest Ranger, IFS, or Wildlife Officer posts.