The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has officially published Advertisement Notice No. 05 of 2026 for the massive recruitment of 518 Horticulture Technician-IV posts under the Department of Horticulture, Agriculture Production & Farmer Welfare Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Candidates who have passed 10+2 with a recognized one-year Basic Horticulture Training Course (BHT) can submit their district cadre applications online at jkssb.nic.in before the prescribed closing date. Appointees are inducted in Pay Level-4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100) under J&K Civil Services rules.
JKSSB Horticulture Technician-IV 2026: Fast Overview Table
A comprehensive summary of the essential district cadre openings, educational credentials, and examination parameters is tabulated below:
| Recruiting Commission Body | Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) |
|---|---|
| Official Employment Notification | Advertisement Notice No. 05 of 2026 |
| Total Cadre Vacancies | 518 Horticulture Technician-IV Posts |
| Pay Scale Matrix | Pay Level-4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100) |
| Age Eligibility Standards | 18 to 40 years for Open Merit; up to 43 years for Reserved |
| Application Processing Fee | ₹500/- for OM/RBA; ₹400/- for SC/ST/EWS |
| Cadre Allocation | District Cadres across Kashmir and Jammu Divisions |
| Official Government Portal | https://jkssb.nic.in/ |
District Cadre Vacancy Breakup across Kashmir & Jammu Horticultural Belts
The 518 vacancies are apportioned across apple-producing and subtropical horticulture zones of Jammu and Kashmir to support high-density plantation projects:
- Kashmir Division High-Density Zones: Baramulla, Shopian, Pulwama, Budgam, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, and Srinagar districts (specialized in commercial apple cultivars, pear, cherry, walnut, and almond orchards).
- Jammu Division Subtropical & Temperate Belts: Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, and Poonch districts (focused on mango, citrus, guava, olive, and temperate stone fruits).
Category reservations strictly conform to the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules: Open Merit (OM), Resident of Backward Area (RBA), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Social Castes (OSC), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Pahari Ethnic Group (PAG), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualifications, Training & Domicile Rules
Academic Qualifications & Horticulture Training Certification
Aspirants must satisfy the mandatory minimum qualification on or before the application cutoff date: Passed 10+2 (Higher Secondary Part II) from a recognized Board of School Education with Science or Agriculture subjects, AND successfully completed the recognized One-Year Basic Horticulture Training Course (BHT) from the Department of Horticulture, SKUAST-Kashmir, SKUAST-Jammu, or any government-recognized agricultural institution.
Domicile Certification & Territorial Eligibility
Candidates must be bona fide Domiciles of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of the Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020. Domicile certificates issued by the competent Tehsildar must be produced at the time of document verification.
Age Limits and Category Concessions
The candidate's age as of January 1, 2026 must not exceed: 40 years for Open Merit (OM) candidates; 43 years for SC, ST, RBA, OSC, EWS, and PAG candidates; 42 years for PwBD applicants; 48 years for Ex-Servicemen; and 40 years for candidates in Government Service or contractual employment in the department.
Technicians-IV are stationed at departmental fruit plant nurseries and orchard development units, executing grafting, budding, pruning, spray schedules for Integrated Pest Management (IPM), soil testing sample collection, drip irrigation maintenance, and nursery record registers.
7th CPC Pay Scale Matrix & Technician Benefits
Successful recruits are inducted in J&K Pay Level-4 with a starting basic salary of ₹25,500/- per month (Pay Matrix ₹25,500 – ₹81,100). In addition to basic salary, personnel receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Medical Allowance (₹300 per month), field travel allowances for rural extension duties, and coverage under the National Pension System (NPS).
Selection Methodology: OMR/CBT Examination & Document Verification
The recruitment is finalized strictly on the basis of written examination performance without any oral interview:
- Written Examination (120 Marks): A 120-minute multiple-choice objective test conducted either via OMR or Computer Based Test (CBT). Each correct answer carries 1 mark, with a penalty of 0.25 negative marks for each incorrect response.
- Syllabus Blueprint & Marks Distribution:
- Pomology & Fruit Science (30 Marks): Orchard establishment, high-density planting in apple, rootstock selection, propagation techniques (budding, grafting, layering), canopy management, and post-harvest fruit handling.
- Olericulture & Floriculture (25 Marks): Commercial vegetable production, polyhouse cultivation, nursery raising of seasonal flowers, landscaping, and ornamental gardening.
- Plant Protection & Entomology (25 Marks): Major insect pests of temperate and subtropical fruits (San Jose scale, woolly aphid, mites), diseases (apple scab, powdery mildew), fungicides, and bio-control strategies.
- Soil Science & Irrigation (20 Marks): Soil sampling, organic manures, bio-fertilizers, macro and micro-nutrient deficiencies, and micro-irrigation systems.
- General Science & Basic Mental Ability (20 Marks): General science concepts, elementary arithmetic, and reasoning logic.
- Document Verification (DV): Candidates achieving the cutoff score are summoned for physical verification of 10+2 marks cards, BHT certificate, Domicile certificate, and category documents.
How to Apply for JKSSB Horticulture Technician Step-by-Step
Candidates must submit their applications through the JKSSB online application portal:
- Access the official JKSSB application portal: https://jkssb.nic.in/.
- Register on the portal by entering active mobile number and email ID to create candidate profile credentials.
- Select "Advertisement Notice No. 05 of 2026: Horticulture Technician-IV".
- Choose your eligible District Cadre based on domicile regulations and vacancy roster.
- Fill in personal details, educational qualifications (10th, 12th), and details of the 1-year Basic Horticulture Training Course.
- Upload scanned recent passport photograph (less than 50 KB) and signature (less than 30 KB) in JPG/JPEG format.
- Pay the application fee of ₹500/- (₹400/- for SC/ST/EWS) via Net Banking, Credit/Debit card, or UPI.
- Submit the form and take a printout of the application form for record and verification.
Important Dates & Application Timeline
The scheduled dates for JKSSB Advertisement Notice No. 05 of 2026 are highlighted below:
| Official Advertisement Notification Date | Published by JKSSB |
|---|---|
| Commencement of Online Form Submission | Active on Portal |
| Final Closing Date for Registration | As per Official JKSSB Notice |
| Last Date for Application Fee Payment | Simultaneous with Application Closing |
| Written Exam Admit Card Release | 7 days prior to OMR/CBT exam |
| Written Examination Date | To be notified separately by JKSSB |
| Merit List & Selection Allocation | Published at jkssb.nic.in |
Official Notification Downloads & Portal Links
Frequently Asked Questions (JKSSB Horticulture Technician)
Is the one-year Basic Horticulture Training (BHT) course mandatory for all applicants?
Yes. The statutory recruitment rules framed by the Department of Horticulture strictly mandate the 1-year BHT certificate along with 10+2. Applications lacking this certificate will be rejected.
Can candidates apply for multiple district cadres in this notification?
Candidates can apply for their home district cadre as well as other districts subject to J&K Domicile Cadre Rules, but separate application fees must be remitted for each cadre option selected.
What is the negative marking penalty in the JKSSB written exam?
Each incorrect answer attracts a deduction of 0.25 marks. Unanswered questions do not attract any negative penalty.
Is there any practical physical skill test or viva-voce for Technician-IV?
No. In accordance with UT administration policy for Non-Gazetted Group C/Level-4 posts, selection is based purely on the 120-mark written examination merit, without any interview or viva-voce.
Can candidates with B.Sc. in Horticulture apply directly without the 1-year BHT course?
Degree holders in Horticulture are considered eligible under equivalent qualifications provided the statutory university transcript explicitly satisfies the course requirements prescribed by the board.
What documents must be carried for physical verification?
Shortlisted candidates must present original 10th marks card, 12th marks card, BHT certificate, valid Domicile Certificate issued by Tehsildar, category certificate, and two passport photos.
What are the promotional prospects for Horticulture Technician-IV?
Technicians-IV are eligible for departmental promotion to Horticulture Technician Grade-III, Technician Grade-II, and subsequently to Horticulture Development Officer (HDO) cadres through departmental promotional committees.
Anti-Fraud Advisory & Examination Transparency
The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board conducts recruitments with complete transparency, deploying biometric verification, CCTV surveillance, and automated OMR evaluation. Merit obtained in the written exam is the sole criterion for selection. Candidates are warned against fraudulent touts, broker networks, or unauthorized coaching academies claiming to guarantee appointments. Any malpractice or bribery attempts should be reported immediately to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) J&K or JKSSB helpline numbers.