Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) Recruitment 2026: Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, has released four recruitment notifications dated 29 October 2026 for filling 5,431 Group-C vacancies in various departments, boards, corporations and institutions of the Karnataka Government.
Department: Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), Bengaluru
Posts: Various Group-C Posts in Different Karnataka Government Departments
Total Posts: 5431
Eligibility: Graduate / Second PUC / Other Prescribed Qualifications (as per post)
Age Limit: 18 to 45 Years (as per category)
Apply Date: 30 October 2026
Apply Fee: Rs. 250 to Rs. 750/-
Salary: Rs. 34,100 to Rs. 1,12,900 (as per post)
Job Location: Karnataka
Apply Mode: Online
Note: – If you have any query regarding selection process then you must see the notification and read carefully.
KEA Vacancy Details:
Total Vacancy: 5431
Name of Post:
The recruitment includes the following posts in various departments:
– Accounts Assistant
– Warden (Male)
– Warden (Female)
– First Division Assistant (FDA)
– Second Division Assistant (SDA)
– Commercial Tax Inspector
– Commercial Tax Assistant
– Hostel Superintendent
– Hostel Warden
– Village Panchayat Secretary
– Rural Development Assistant Grade-1
– Rural Development Assistant Grade-2
– Junior Accounts Assistant
– Junior Assistant
– Assistant
– Cooperative Societies Auditor
– First Division Computer Operator
– Second Division Assistant Computer Record Sorter
– Tourism Promotion Officer
– Senior Tourist Promoter
– Sub-Registrar
– Assistant in various departments
– Other Group-C posts mentioned in the four notifications
Department-wise Vacancy Details:
The vacancies are distributed among the following departments and organizations:
1. Karnataka State Audit and Accounts Department
2. Social Welfare Department
3. Judicial Department
4. Backward Classes Welfare Department
5. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department
6. Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society
7. Commercial Taxes Department
8. Agriculture Department
9. Forest Department
10. Cooperation Department
11. Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board
12. Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
13. Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department
14. Registration and Stamps Department
15. Karnataka Public Service Commission
16. Karnataka Lokayukta
17. Employees State Insurance Scheme Medical Services Department
18. Electrical Inspectorate Department
19. Labour Department
20. Industries and Commerce Department
21. Tourism Department
22. Karnataka Housing Board
23. Groundwater Directorate
24. Karnataka Slum Development Board
25. Karnataka Examination Authority
26. Transport Department
27. Directorate of Economics and Statistics
28. Department of Mines and Geology
29. Silk Department
30. Fisheries Department
31. Kannada and Culture Department
32. Youth Empowerment and Sports Department
33. Other departments and organizations mentioned in the notifications
Note: The complete post-wise, department-wise, district-wise and category-wise vacancy details are given separately in the four official notifications. Some vacancies are backlog and in-service vacancies. The vacancy details are provisional and may be revised by the concerned departments.
KEA Eligibility Criteria:
Educational Criteria:
The educational qualification differs according to the post and notification.
1. Graduate Level Posts:
– Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university.
– Some posts require B.Com, BBM, BBA or an equivalent qualification.
– Some posts require a Master’s Degree along with a one-year Computer Course certificate and knowledge of computer operations.
– Certain posts require B.Ed, Law Degree, Engineering / Computer Science qualifications or other subject-specific qualifications.
– Accounts-related posts require the prescribed Commerce qualification.
– Tourism-related posts require the prescribed degree or diploma in Tourism / Hotel Management.
2. Second PUC Level Posts:
– Candidates must possess Second PUC or an equivalent qualification from a recognized board.
– Certain posts require specific subject qualifications or additional certificates as prescribed in the notification.
3. Other Group-C Posts:
– Candidates must possess the educational qualification prescribed for the respective post.
– The required qualification may include SSLC, PUC, Degree, Diploma or other specified qualifications, depending on the post.
Note: Candidates must possess the required educational qualification and certificates on or before the last date of application. Candidates awaiting examination results are not eligible if they do not possess the prescribed qualification by the last date.
KEA Age Limit:
Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age:
General Category: 40 Years
Category 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B: 43 Years
SC / ST / Category-1: 45 Years
The above maximum age limits include the one-time 5-year age relaxation provided by the Karnataka Government.
KEA Age Relaxation:
Government Employees: Service period or 10 years, whichever is less
Ex-Servicemen: Service period plus 3 years
NCC Full-Time Cadet Instructors: As per applicable rules
Specially Abled Candidates: 10 Years
Census Employees: As per prescribed service period
Widows: 5 Years
Bonded Labourers: 10 Years
Other age relaxations will be applicable according to the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977 and the relevant Government orders.
KEA Application Fee:
General Merit and Other Categories: Rs. 750/-
Category 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B: Rs. 750/-
SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Third Gender Candidates: Rs. 500/-
Persons with Disabilities: Rs. 250/-
KEA Salary:
The pay scale differs according to the post
Pay Scale 1: Rs. 34,100 – 67,600
Pay Scale 2: Rs. 44,425 – 83,700
Pay Scale 3: Rs. 49,050 – 92,500
Pay Scale 4: Rs. 54,175 – 99,400
Pay Scale 5: Rs. 61,300 – 1,12,900
Salary will be paid according to the post and department.
Probation Period: Selected candidates through direct recruitment will be on probation for two years.
Pension: National Pension Scheme (NPS) will be applicable to the departments mentioned in the notification. NPS will not be applicable to certain organizations, including Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board and Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited, as specified in the notification.
KEA Selection Process:
1. Candidates must appear for the competitive examination conducted by KEA.
2. The examination will be conducted in offline OMR mode.
3. Merit will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the competitive examination.
4. Candidates must secure a minimum of 35% marks in the competitive examination to qualify for the selection process.
5. Candidates will be considered for posts according to merit, eligibility, reservation rules and the preferences submitted by them.
6. Online counselling will be conducted after the declaration of examination results.
7. Candidates must submit their post preferences through their online login.
8. Document verification will be conducted by the concerned appointing authority.
9. Final selection will be made according to merit, eligibility, reservation and post preference.
KEA Exam Pattern:
Competitive Examination (Offline OMR Type)
Paper-1:
Subject: General Knowledge
Questions: 100
Marks: 100
Duration: 2 Hours
Paper-2:
Subject: General Kannada, General English and Computer Knowledge
Questions: 100
Marks: 100
Duration: 2 Hours
Total Questions: 200
Total Marks: 200
Total Duration: 4 Hours
Minimum Qualifying Marks: 35%
Negative Marking:
– Each question will have four alternative answers.
– 0.25 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer.
– An additional fifth option is provided in the OMR answer sheet for unanswered questions.
– Candidates will receive an additional five minutes after the final bell to shade the fifth option for unanswered questions.
– If no option is shaded for a question, 0.25 marks will be deducted.
KEA Kannada Language Test:
Date: 08 January 2027
Time: 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM
Maximum Marks: 150
Minimum Qualifying Marks: 50
Candidates who have studied Kannada as their first or second language in SSLC or a higher examination, passed an equivalent examination in Kannada medium, or previously passed a compulsory Kannada language examination conducted by a selection authority will be exempted as specified in the notification.
Candidates who are not exempted must appear for the compulsory Kannada language test. Candidates must secure at least 50 marks out of 150. The marks obtained in this test will not be considered for merit or post selection.
KEA Syllabus:
Paper-1: General Knowledge
1. General knowledge related to current events.
2. Everyday observation and general awareness.
3. Basic knowledge of the Constitution of India.
4. Indian History, especially with reference to Karnataka.
5. Geography of India with special reference to Karnataka.
6. State and Regional Administration.
7. Development of Karnataka’s Economy.
8. Rural Development.
9. Panchayat Raj Institutions.
10. Rural Cooperative Institutions.
11. Environmental Issues and Development of Karnataka.
Paper-2: General Kannada, General English and Computer Knowledge
1. General Kannada
2. General English
3. Computer Knowledge
The detailed syllabus and subject requirements are as prescribed in the respective notifications.
How to Apply: Online
KEA Recruitment 2026 Important Dates:
Notification Date: 29 October 2026
Starting Date for Online Application: 30 October 2026
Last Date for Online Application : 25 November 2026
Last Date for Payment of Fee: 26 November 2026
KEA Examination Dates:
Notification No. 14/2026:
Paper-1 – 10 January 2027 (10:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
Paper-2 – 10 January 2027 (02:30 PM to 04:30 PM)
Kannada Language Test – 08 January 2027 (03:00 PM to 05:00 PM)
Notification No. 15/2026:
Paper-1 – 09 January 2027 (10:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
Paper-2 – 09 January 2027 (02:30 PM to 04:30 PM)
Kannada Language Test – 08 January 2027 (03:00 PM to 05:00 PM)
Notification No. 16/2026:
Paper-1 – 17 January 2027 (10:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
Paper-2 – 17 January 2027 (02:30 PM to 04:30 PM)
Kannada Language Test – 08 January 2027 (03:00 PM to 05:00 PM)
Notification No. 17/2026:
Paper-1 – 16 January 2027 (10:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
Paper-2 – 16 January 2027 (02:30 PM to 04:30 PM)
Kannada Language Test – 08 January 2027 (03:00 PM to 05:00 PM)
Click Here For Graduate-level (FDA) Notification
Click Here For Graduate-level (FDA) Notification
Click Here For PUC-level (SDA) Notification
Click Here For PUC-level (SDA) Notification
About: Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, is responsible for conducting various entrance examinations and recruitment examinations for different departments and organizations of the Government of Karnataka.