Karnataka KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026 notification has been officially released by Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for 630+ Agricultural Officer and Assistant Agricultural Officer vacancies under the Department of Agriculture, Karnataka Government. Eligible candidates can apply online from 19 April 2026 to 10 May 2026 through the official website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026 Overview – Karnataka Agricultural Officer Vacancy
| Particular | Details |
| Organization | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Department | Department of Agriculture, Karnataka Government |
| Post Names | Agricultural Officer (Gr-B) & Assistant Agricultural Officer (Gr-B) |
| Total Vacancies | 630 + 02 (HK) = 632 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Apply Start Date | 19 April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 10 May 2026 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 12 May 2026 |
| Exam Date (Paper-1) | 07 June 2026 |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
This is a direct recruitment (Nera Niyukati) for Group-B posts through competitive examination conducted by Karnataka Examinations Authority. It is a wonderful opportunity for agriculture graduates looking for stable Karnataka State Government Jobs 2026.
KEA Agriculture Vacancy 2026 – Post-Wise Details
| Sl. No. | Post Name | Pay Scale (Rs.) | Vacancies |
| 1 | Agricultural Officer (Shr. 85 – Gr-B) | 69,250 – 1,34,200 | 67 + 02 (HK) |
| 2 | Agricultural Officer (Shr. 15 – Gr-B) | 69,250 – 1,34,200 | 12 |
| 3 | Assistant Agricultural Officer (Shr. 85 – Gr-B) | 65,950 – 1,24,900 | 468 |
| 4 | Assistant Agricultural Officer (Shr. 15 – Gr-B) | 65,950 – 1,24,900 | 83 |
| Total Vacancies | 630 + 02 (HK) | ||
Note: “HK” refers to Hyderabad-Karnataka region reserved posts. Shr. 85 and Shr. 15 refer to the percentage-based quota distribution as per Karnataka recruitment rules. Candidates must check their applicable category before applying.
Eligibility Criteria for KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026 – Educational Qualification
For Agricultural Officer Posts:
- Shr. 85 Posts: BSc (Agriculture) OR BSc (Honours) Agriculture from a recognized university recognized by ICAR / AICTE. Candidates must hold a degree from an institution recognized under UGC / ICAR frameworks.
- Shr. 15 Posts: BTech (Food Science & Technology) / BTech (Food Technology) / BSc (Agriculture Marketing & Cooperation) / BSc (Agriculture) Honours / BSc (Agri Business Management) / BSc (Agricultural Biotechnology) / BTech (Biotechnology) / BSc (Agricultural Engineering) / BTech (Agricultural Engineering)
For Assistant Agricultural Officer Posts:
- Shr. 85 Posts: BSc (Agriculture) OR BSc (Honours) Agriculture
- Shr. 15 Posts: Same extended list as Shr. 15 Agricultural Officer posts mentioned above
Important Note: Candidates who have pursued their qualifying degree through distance education / correspondence from institutions not recognized by ICAR / AICTE will not be considered eligible. Candidates awaiting final year results at the time of application are NOT eligible to apply.
Age Limit – KEA Agriculture Jobs 2026
Age will be calculated as on the last date of application submission (10 May 2026).
| Category | Maximum Age Limit |
| General Merit (GM) | 40 Years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | 43 Years |
| SC / ST / Cat-1 / PwD / Ex-Servicemen | 45 Years |
Minimum age is 18 years as on the last date of application. Additional age relaxation is provided as per Karnataka Government service rules for eligible categories. Candidates who have already received age relaxation once will not be eligible for a second relaxation.
Salary Details – Karnataka Agricultural Officer Pay Scale 2026
Selected candidates will be placed under the Revised State Pay Matrix 2024:
- Agricultural Officer: ₹69,250 – 1,650 – 74,200 – 1,900 – 85,600 – 2,300 – 99,400 – 2,700 – 1,15,600 – 3,100 – 1,34,200 per month
- Assistant Agricultural Officer: ₹65,950 – 1,650 – 74,200 – 1,900 – 85,600 – 2,300 – 99,400 – 2,700 – 1,15,600 – 3,100 – 1,24,900 per month
In addition to the basic pay, candidates will be eligible for Pension benefits under the State Government Pension Scheme as per Government Order No. FD(SPIL)04 PIT 2005 dated 31.03.2006.
Application Fee – KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026
| Category | Fee Amount |
| General / OBC (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) | ₹750/- (₹500 Registration + ₹250 Processing) |
| SC / ST / Cat-1 / Ex-Servicemen / PwD / Female | ₹500/- (₹250 Registration + ₹250 Processing) |
| Persons with Disability (PwD – Special Chaitanya) | ₹250/- (Processing fee only) |
Fee must be paid online only. Once paid, the fee will not be refunded under any circumstances. Candidates applying for both Agricultural Officer (Shr. 85) and Assistant Agricultural Officer (Shr. 85) posts can do so in a single application, but must pay ₹100 extra per additional post applied.
Selection Process – KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026
The selection for Karnataka Agriculture Recruitment 2026 will be done through a competitive written examination conducted by Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). The process is as follows:
- Kannada Language Test: 06 June 2026 (3:00 PM to 5:00 PM)
- Paper-1 (General Paper): 07 June 2026 (10:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
- Paper-2 (Subject Specific): 07 June 2026 (2:30 PM to 4:30 PM)
The exam will be conducted in Offline-OMR (Bubble Sheet) format. Candidates must compulsorily appear for the Kannada Language Test unless they are exempted as per Karnataka Government rules (having passed SSLC/PUC with Kannada as first or second language, or studied in Kannada medium).
Exam Pattern – KEA Agriculture Written Examination 2026
For Agricultural Officer & Assistant Agricultural Officer – Shr. 85 Posts:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
| Paper-1 | General Paper – Current Affairs, General Science, Karnataka & Indian History, Geography, Social Science, General Mental Ability, Indian Constitution, Governance, Rural Development, Economics, International Relations, Environment Science, Logical Reasoning, Consumer Awareness, etc. | 300 | 2 Hours |
| Paper-2 | Subject-Specific (Syllabus will be separately notified) | 300 | 2 Hours |
Negative Marking: 0.75 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer. For OMR sheets, if a candidate shades a 5th option (skip/leave option), they will get extra time of 6 minutes at the end to shade their final answer. If they still do not shade, 0.75 marks will be deducted per question.
Minimum Qualifying Marks: Candidates must score a minimum of ₹35 marks out of 300 in the competitive exam. Candidates failing to secure minimum marks will not be considered for merit list preparation.
Probationary Period – Karnataka Agriculture Jobs 2026
Candidates selected through direct recruitment will be on a probation period of two years from the date of joining. During this period, their performance will be monitored as per Karnataka Government service rules.
Important Dates – Apply Online Schedule for KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026
| Event | Date |
| Notification Date | 18 April 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 19 April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 10 May 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 12 May 2026 |
| Kannada Language Test | 06 June 2026 |
| Written Exam (Paper-1 & Paper-2) | 07 June 2026 |
How to Apply Online for KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026 – Step by Step
- Visit the official KEA website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Find the link for “Agriculture Department Recruitment 2026” on the homepage and click on it
- Register yourself by filling in your basic details – name, mobile number, email ID
- Log in using your registered credentials and fill the application form carefully
- Upload your recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, 50KB–200KB) and signature (JPEG, 50KB–70KB)
- Select your post preference and fill in all educational qualification details accurately
- Pay the application fee online before 12 May 2026
- Download and print the final submitted application form and keep it safely for future reference
- Do NOT send any hard copy or documents to KEA by post – no correspondence will be entertained
Important: Once submitted, no changes can be made to the application form. Candidates are advised to double-check all information before final submission. Any wrong or false information provided may result in cancellation of candidature.
Documents Required for KEA Agriculture 2026 Application & Verification
- Aadhaar Card
- All academic mark sheets and certificates (10th, 12th, Degree)
- Birth date proof (SSLC certificate or School leaving certificate)
- Caste / Category certificate in the current prescribed format (for reserved category candidates)
- Rural candidate certificate (Form No. 1 & 2 from concerned Tahsildar)
- Kannada Medium Student certificate (if applicable)
- PwD certificate (from District Magistrate level or above, as applicable)
- Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate and pension/gratuity proof (if applicable)
- NOC / Service certificate (for candidates currently in Government service)
Exam Centre – KEA Agriculture Recruitment Written Exam 2026
The competitive written examination will be held at centres in Bengaluru and Dharwad. Candidates will be required to download their admit cards from the KEA official website before the exam. Candidates must carry their admit card along with one valid original photo ID proof (Aadhaar / Driving Licence / Passport / Voter ID / Government service ID) to the exam hall. Entry will not be permitted without the admit card. No request for change of exam centre will be entertained.
General Eligibility Conditions – Karnataka Agriculture Recruitment 2026
- Candidate must be a citizen of India.
- A male candidate having more than one wife, or a married female candidate whose husband already has a living spouse, is not eligible without prior government permission.
- Candidate must be physically and mentally fit to perform the duties of the post.
- Candidates debarred from appearing in any public service examination / recruitment are not eligible.
- Candidates convicted or involved in any criminal case / moral turpitude will be disqualified.
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Important Links – KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026 Notification & Apply Online
| Action | Link |
| Apply Online | Click Here to Apply |
| Official Notification PDF | Download Notification |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
FAQs – KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026
Q1. What is the last date to apply for KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 10 May 2026. The fee payment window closes on 12 May 2026. Candidates are advised to apply well before the deadline because last-minute technical issues are common and the authority will not grant any extension on individual requests. Once the portal closes, no application will be accepted under any circumstances.
Q2. How many vacancies are available in KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026?
A total of 632 vacancies (630 regular + 02 Hyderabad-Karnataka region) have been announced for Agricultural Officer and Assistant Agricultural Officer posts. Out of these, 67+02 are for Agricultural Officer (Shr. 85), 12 for Agricultural Officer (Shr. 15), 468 for Assistant Agricultural Officer (Shr. 85), and 83 for Assistant Agricultural Officer (Shr. 15).
Q3. What is the educational qualification required for KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026?
For the Shr. 85 category posts, candidates need a BSc (Agriculture) or BSc (Honours) Agriculture degree from a university recognized by ICAR or AICTE. For Shr. 15 posts, candidates with BTech Food Technology, BSc Agricultural Engineering, BSc Agri Business Management, and several other agriculture-allied degrees are also eligible. Candidates studying through distance or correspondence mode from non-ICAR/AICTE approved institutions are not eligible.
Q4. What is the selection process for KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026?
The selection will be done through a competitive written examination conducted by KEA in Offline-OMR format. There are two papers – Paper-1 is a General Knowledge paper of 300 marks and Paper-2 is a subject-specific paper of 300 marks. Additionally, candidates must appear for a mandatory Kannada Language Test. There is negative marking of 0.75 marks per wrong answer, so candidates should attempt questions carefully.
Q5. What is the salary for Agricultural Officer in Karnataka 2026?
Selected candidates for Agricultural Officer posts will receive a starting basic pay of ₹69,250 per month under the Revised State Pay Matrix 2024, with increments up to ₹1,34,200. For Assistant Agricultural Officer posts, the starting pay is ₹65,950 per month going up to ₹1,24,900. In addition to basic pay, government allowances like HRA, DA, and pension benefits will also be provided as per Karnataka Government rules.
Q6. Can I apply for both Agricultural Officer and Assistant Agricultural Officer posts?
Yes. Candidates applying for both Shr. 85 posts (Agricultural Officer and Assistant Agricultural Officer) in a single application process need to pay ₹100 extra per additional post. However, both posts fall under the same application cycle, and candidates must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria for both posts separately before selecting them.
Q7. Where will the KEA Agriculture exam be held in 2026?
The written examination will be conducted at centres in Bengaluru and Dharwad only. Candidates will be allotted exam centres based on the information provided in their application. No request for a change of exam centre will be considered. Candidates must download their admit cards from the KEA official website and carry them to the exam hall along with a valid original photo ID proof.
Q8. Is there any application fee for SC/ST candidates?
Yes, SC/ST and Category-1 candidates are required to pay a reduced fee of ₹500 (₹250 registration fee + ₹250 processing fee). PwD (Specially Abled) candidates have to pay only ₹250 as processing fee. The fee is to be paid online only and is non-refundable once submitted. General and OBC category candidates need to pay ₹750.
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