The State Level Police Recruitment Board, Andhra Pradesh (SLPRB AP), has announced 147 Driver Operator (Men) vacancies in the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department. The recruitment includes 144 Direct Recruitment vacancies and 3 Limited Recruitment/Backlog vacancies across 26 districts. The latest corrigendum dated 18 September 2026 has clarified that candidates must have passed Intermediate or an equivalent examination and must hold a valid Heavy Transport Vehicle driving licence for at least two years.
SLPRB AP Driver Operator Recruitment 2026: What Applicants Need to Know
Before applying, three conditions deserve particular attention:
- This recruitment is for Driver Operator (Men) only.
- The required qualification is Intermediate or equivalent, as clarified by the 18 September 2026 corrigendum.
- A Heavy Transport Vehicle driving licence held for at least two years is mandatory as on the notification date.
- The application dates have not yet been announced. SLPRB AP will publish them separately through a Press Release.
- Final merit is based on the 100-mark written examination. The Driving Test is qualifying only.
Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Board | State Level Police Recruitment Board, Andhra Pradesh |
| Department | AP State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department |
| Post | Driver Operator (Men) |
| Post Code | 43 |
| Total Vacancies | 147 |
| Direct Recruitment | 144 |
| Limited Recruitment/Backlog | 3 |
| Qualification | Intermediate or equivalent |
| Driving Licence | Heavy Transport Vehicle licence, held for at least 2 years |
| Age Limit | 18 to 30 years |
| Home Guard Age Limit | Up to 32 years, subject to conditions |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Dates | To be announced |
| Selection | PMT, PET, Driving Test and Written Examination |
| Pay Scale | ₹32,670 to ₹1,01,970 + ₹650 Special Pay |
| Notification | Rc.No.94/SLPRB/Rect.2/2026 |
147 Driver Operator Vacancies Across 26 Districts
The 147 vacancies are distributed among 26 districts of Andhra Pradesh. The recruitment has separate Direct Recruitment and Limited Recruitment/Backlog components.
| District | Limited Recruitment / Backlog | Direct Recruitment |
|---|---|---|
| Srikakulam | 1 | 8 |
| Vizianagaram | 0 | 7 |
| Parvathipuram Manyam | 0 | 3 |
| Visakhapatnam City | 1 | 7 |
| Anakapalli | 0 | 2 |
| Alluri Sitharama Raju | 0 | 1 |
| East Godavari | 0 | 8 |
| Kakinada | 0 | 6 |
| Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema | 0 | 3 |
| West Godavari | 0 | 2 |
| Eluru | 0 | 2 |
| NTR City | 0 | 9 |
| Krishna | 0 | 13 |
| Guntur | 0 | 5 |
| Palnadu | 0 | 6 |
| Bapatla | 0 | 4 |
| Prakasam | 0 | 8 |
| Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore | 0 | 10 |
| Tirupati | 0 | 10 |
| Chittoor | 0 | 5 |
| Annamayya | 0 | 1 |
| YSR Kadapa | 1 | 4 |
| Nandyal | 0 | 7 |
| Ananthapuramu | 0 | 5 |
| Kurnool | 0 | 3 |
| Sri Sathya Sai | 0 | 8 |
| Total | 3 | 144 |
The three backlog vacancies are reserved in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam City and YSR Kadapa. The Limited Recruitment vacancies are intended for eligible local candidates of the concerned revenue district.
Vacancy figures are provisional and may be changed by SLPRB AP during the recruitment process.
Who Is Eligible for the Driver Operator Post?
Educational Qualification
As clarified through the corrigendum dated 18 September 2026, candidates must:
- Have passed Intermediate or an equivalent examination recognised by the State Government as on 1 July 2026.
- Possess a valid and correct Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV) Driving Licence.
- Have held the HTV licence for a minimum of two years as on 17 September 2026, the date of notification.
Candidates with a higher educational qualification are also considered eligible, provided they satisfy the other prescribed conditions.
Driving Licence Requirement Is Critical
This is not a recruitment where simply having a driving licence is enough. The notification specifically requires a Heavy Transport Vehicle licence, and the required two-year holding period must be completed by the date of notification.
Applicants should therefore check their licence details and issue/validity history before applying.
Age Limit and Relaxation
Age is calculated as on 1 July 2026.
| Category | Age Requirement |
|---|---|
| General candidates | 18 to 30 years |
| Eligible serving AP Police Home Guards | 18 to 32 years |
Additional upper-age relaxation is available to certain categories under the recruitment rules, including:
- EWS candidates: up to 5 years
- BC, SC and ST candidates: up to 5 years
- Eligible AP State Government employees: period of regular service, subject to the prescribed maximum
- Ex-Servicemen: 3 years plus the length of military service
- Eligible NCC Cadet Corps Instructors: 3 years plus service
- Certain retrenched temporary employees: up to 3 years
The exact conditions for relaxation must be checked against the notification because not every employee or service category automatically receives the benefit.
The date of birth recorded in the SSC/Matriculation certificate is accepted for age verification. Candidates should not rely on affidavits or other alternative documents for this purpose.
Medical and Physical Standards
Applicants should not wait until the physical stage to discover that they do not meet the prescribed medical requirements.
The notification specifies standards relating to eyesight, field of vision and general physical fitness. Colour blindness, squint and certain specified physical or medical conditions can result in disqualification.
Candidates are therefore advised to review the medical standards carefully and, where necessary, undergo an examination by a Civil Surgeon before applying.
Selection Process: Four Stages You Need to Clear
The Driver Operator recruitment does not begin with a preliminary written examination. Candidates who are called for the physical stage will have to clear the prescribed tests before reaching the final written examination.
1. Physical Measurement Test
The minimum measurements are:
| Standard | General Candidates | Aboriginal ST Candidates in Applicable Agency Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 167.6 cm | 164 cm |
| Chest | 86.3 cm | 83.8 cm |
| Minimum chest expansion | 5 cm | 5 cm |
The special measurement provisions apply to eligible Aboriginal Scheduled Tribe candidates in the specified Agency areas.
2. Physical Efficiency Test
Candidates qualifying in the measurement test must complete a 1600-metre run.
- Distance: 1600 metres
- Maximum qualifying time: 10 minutes
- Nature: Qualifying
- Timing: Electronic timing system
- Spike shoes: Not permitted
The PET result is final once the event has been conducted, and candidates should prepare specifically for completing the required distance within the prescribed time.
3. Driving Test
The Driving Test carries 100 marks, but these marks are not added to the final merit list.
Candidates must score at least 50 marks out of 100 to qualify.
| Driving Skill | Marks |
|---|---|
| Starting an HTV on level, up-gradient and down-gradient | 10 |
| Gear changing | 10 |
| Road sense, vehicle control, steering, anticipation and judgment | 20 |
| Braking, stopping, parking and reversing | 10 |
| Road and traffic signal compliance | 10 |
| Minor repairs and breakdown handling | 15 |
| Motor vehicle mechanism | 15 |
| Preventive maintenance | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
The test therefore checks more than basic vehicle handling. Candidates should also revise vehicle mechanism, preventive maintenance and minor breakdown-related procedures.
4. Final Written Examination
Candidates who clear the physical tests and Driving Test can appear for the final technical written examination.
| Exam Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Objective |
| Questions | 100 |
| Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Paper | Technical Paper |
| Role in final merit | Decisive |
The written examination is the stage that determines final merit after the qualifying requirements have been cleared.
Written Exam Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|
| OC, including EWS | 40% |
| BC | 35% |
| SC/ST | 30% |
Ex-Servicemen candidates must obtain the minimum qualifying percentage applicable to their communal category.
Application Fee
| Candidate Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| OC, including EWS and BC, local to AP | ₹300 |
| SC/ST, local to AP | ₹150 |
| Non-local candidates | ₹300 |
The fee covers the applicable recruitment processing and stages including PMT/PET, Driving Test and Written Examination.
Payment is made online through the modes provided on the SLPRB AP website.
One important point is that fee payment alone does not complete the application. Candidates must return to the application process and press the final Submit option. An application that is not submitted can be rejected even when the fee has already been paid, and the notification states that the fee will not be refunded in such a case.
When Can You Apply?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 17 September 2026 |
| Educational Qualification Corrigendum | 18 September 2026 |
| Age calculation date | 1 July 2026 |
| Online application start | To be announced |
| Online application last date | To be announced |
| PMT/PET and Driving Test | To be announced |
| Written Examination | To be announced |
The application window is not included in the notification at present. Candidates should wait for the separate Press Release from SLPRB AP rather than relying on dates circulated by third-party websites.
How to Apply Online
Once the application window opens, applicants can follow these steps:
- Visit the official SLPRB AP website.
- Read the Driver Operator notification and corrigendum carefully.
- Complete the prescribed fee payment using the available online payment facility.
- Enter your name, date of birth, mobile number, community details and SSC Hall Ticket Number or equivalent information.
- Return to the application section and complete the online form.
- Upload the required photograph, signature and supporting certificates in the prescribed format.
- Review personal, educational, licence and category details carefully.
- Submit the completed application.
- Save or print the submitted application and payment details for future reference.
Do not stop after making the payment. The final online submission is an essential part of the application process.
Documents to Keep Ready
Depending on the stage and category, candidates should keep the following documents available:
- SSC/Matriculation certificate for date of birth
- Intermediate certificate or equivalent qualification
- Heavy Transport Vehicle driving licence
- Community certificate, where applicable
- Valid Non-Creamy Layer certificate for eligible BC candidates
- EWS certificate, where applicable
- Ex-Servicemen documents, where applicable
- NCC or other service-related certificates, where applicable
- Recent photograph and signature
- Any other certificate specifically required by SLPRB AP
For BC candidates, the notification specifies a valid NCL certificate issued on or after 1 April 2026. EWS candidates must also meet the specified local and income conditions and produce the prescribed certificate.
Important Points Candidates May Miss
- Intermediate is the current educational requirement. The 18 September 2026 corrigendum clarified the qualification, so candidates should follow the corrigendum rather than older information.
- The HTV licence must have been held for two years. Merely possessing an HTV licence is not sufficient.
- Driving Test marks do not increase final merit. The test is qualifying, with 50/100 required.
- The 1600-metre run is compulsory. Candidates must complete it within 10 minutes.
- There is no preliminary written test for this Driver Operator recruitment.
- Application dates are still pending. SLPRB AP will announce them separately through a Press Release.
- Non-local candidates are treated under the prescribed fee/category conditions and should carefully check the local-candidate requirements for the vacancy they intend to apply for.
- Hall ticket issuance does not mean final eligibility has been accepted. Original documents are verified during the recruitment process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without completing the required two-year HTV licence condition.
- Treating any ordinary driving licence as equivalent to the specified HTV licence.
- Assuming that paying the application fee automatically submits the form.
- Ignoring the medical and physical standards until the last stage.
- Preparing only for general knowledge instead of the technical written paper.
- Forgetting the specific certificate requirements for BC, SC/ST or EWS claims.
- Relying on unofficial application dates before SLPRB AP issues its Press Release.
CareerAlert24 Insight
This recruitment needs to be approached differently from a regular police written-exam recruitment. The licence history, physical standards and Driving Test are early filters, while the final written examination determines merit after those qualifying stages are cleared.
For a prospective applicant, the first practical check should therefore be the HTV licence requirement and its two-year holding period. The next should be the 1600-metre run and the prescribed medical standards. Candidates who clear those conditions can then focus heavily on the technical syllabus because the Driving Test itself does not contribute marks to the final merit.
Another important point is the application timeline. Since SLPRB AP has not yet announced the online application dates, applicants should monitor the official recruitment board rather than assuming a deadline from another recruitment notice.
Important Links
For the latest application dates, notification, corrigendum and recruitment updates, always rely on the official SLPRB AP website and documents.
- Official Website: SLPRB AP Official Website
- Driver Operator Notification PDF: Official Notification PDF
- Educational Qualification Corrigendum: Official Corrigendum PDF
- CareerAlert24 WhatsApp Channel: Join CareerAlert24 on WhatsApp
- CareerAlert24 Telegram Channel: Join CareerAlert24 on Telegram
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Intermediate qualification enough for SLPRB AP Driver Operator Recruitment 2026?
Intermediate or an equivalent examination recognised by the State Government is the prescribed educational qualification, as clarified by the 18 September 2026 corrigendum. The HTV licence requirement must also be satisfied.
How many Driver Operator vacancies are available?
There are 147 vacancies, consisting of 144 Direct Recruitment vacancies and 3 Limited Recruitment/Backlog vacancies.
Can women apply for this post?
No. The notified post is Driver Operator (Men).
What type of driving licence is required?
Candidates must possess a valid Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV) Driving Licence and must have held it for at least two years as on the notification date.
Is the Driving Test counted for final merit?
No. The Driving Test carries 100 marks, but candidates only need to qualify with at least 50 marks. Its marks are not added to final merit.
What is the PET requirement?
Candidates must complete a 1600-metre run within 10 minutes. The PET is qualifying in nature.
Has the application last date been announced?
No. SLPRB AP has stated that the online application dates will be announced separately through a Press Release.
What is the pay scale?
The Driver Operator post carries a pay scale of ₹32,670 to ₹1,01,970 under RPS 2022, along with Special Pay of ₹650.
Final Words
SLPRB AP Driver Operator Recruitment 2026 is aimed at candidates who meet both the educational and professional driving requirements. Before waiting for the application window, applicants can use this time to verify their HTV licence history, physical standards and medical eligibility and begin preparation for the technical examination. Once applications open, candidates should submit the form only after checking the latest official instructions and corrigendum.
Always verify the final application dates and any subsequent changes on the official SLPRB AP website before applying.
