50% of frontline staff posts lying vacant in Karnataka Forest Department
Threatening conservation efforts: Report
Bengaluru: A significant staffing shortfall in the Karnataka Forest Department has raised alarms over the state's ability to manage and conserve its protected areas.
According to a report by Deccan Herald published on Friday, at least 50% of the sanctioned posts for frontline staff in the department are currently vacant, creating serious challenges in safeguarding forests and wildlife.
Forest watchers and guards, responsible for regular beat patrols, afforestation activities, fire control, and anti-poaching operations, are vital to the success of conservation efforts. However, in the past decade, recruitment to fill these vacant posts has slowed substantially, exacerbating the strain on existing personnel.
The situation worsened following the Covid-19 pandemic, which further delayed the hiring process. In the year 2023-24, the government approved the recruitment of 540 forest guards. However, sources reportedly suggest this number is insufficient to bridge the significant staffing gap.
“At least 60% of the 1,892 posts of forest watchers are lying vacant. The vacancy among guards is about 45% of sanctioned strength. Some posts were filled recently, thanks to the ongoing recruitment of 540 personnel. Even among the range forest officers, 26% of the 202 positions are lying vacant. As a result, we have given additional charge of RFO posts to the deputy RFOs. In some cases, it is near impossible to handle the workload. However, the promotion works as motivation for the employees to do better,” DH quoted a senior officer as saying.
The staffing shortage is most acutely felt during the forest fire season, which runs from December to May, when the demand for personnel peaks. Areas prone to human-elephant conflict also face difficulties due to the lack of personnel.
“Within the available resources, the department has set up task forces to tackle elephant and tiger conflicts. However, this is not sustainable in the long run. To address the challenges posed by climate change, we need to shift from damage control to ecological restoration works. That requires more people and resources,” DH quoted an official as saying.
Meenakshi Negi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, acknowledged the staff shortages, noting that the department has recently filled 270 watcher positions. She also confirmed that the recruitment process for the remaining 540 personnel is in its final stages.
However, sources within the government quoted by the news outlet have pointed to internal reservation issues as an additional hurdle in filling vacancies. “The minister’s recent advice to manage the situation with outsourced labourers shows that filling vacancies will take time,” the source said.
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Xi, Trump reach series of new common understandings: China's foreign ministry
Beijing (PTI): Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump had an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning the two countries and the world, and reached a series of new common understandings, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.
Xi and Trump, who is on a three-day visit to China, met twice on Thursday and discussed a range of bilateral and global issues.
Trump is due to leave on Friday after a luncheon meeting with Xi.
Summing up the outcomes of Trump’s visit to Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the two presidents had an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning the two countries and the world and reached a series of new common understandings.
They agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability to provide strategic guidance for bilateral relations over the next three years and beyond.
The two presidents also agreed to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-US relations, and bring more peace, prosperity and progress to the world, said a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson.
Trump visited China at the invitation of Xi.
The two presidents are meeting in person again for the first time since their Busan meeting last October, and it is the first visit to China by a US president in nine years, the statement said.
On Thursday, President Xi held a welcome ceremony and a banquet for Trump, held talks and visited the Temple of Heaven with him.
VIDEO | Beijing: On second day of bilateral talks, US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) thanks Chinese President Xi Jinping for 'incredible' China trip.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 15, 2026
Trump says, "Thank you very much. This has been an incredible visit. I think a lot of good has come of it. We've made some… pic.twitter.com/7A7lbEzLdC
