KEA Village Administrative Officer Recruitment 2026: 505 Posts (Karnataka)

The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has released Notification No. ADI/KEA/26/NEV/2026(RPC), dated 10 July 2026, inviting online applications for the recruitment of Grama Aadalitha Adhikari (Village Administrative Officer) — a Group ‘C’ post under the Revenue Department, for the general/state cadre across 21 districts of Karnataka. A total of 505 vacancies are available. Eligible candidates can apply online from 11 July 2026 to 30 July 2026.

KEA Village Administrative Officer (State Cadre) Recruitment 2026: Highlights

District-wise Vacancy Details

Note: Vacancy and reservation-category details are provisional and subject to revision by the Revenue Department/District Officers from time to time, as per Government orders. This notification covers general/state-cadre seats, including a small number of seats within Bidar and Raichur districts that are separate from the dedicated Kalyana-Karnataka local-cadre notification for those districts.

Who Can Apply

This notification is open to eligible candidates across Karnataka applying under the general state-cadre recruitment process. Candidates can apply for only ONE district — applications for more than one district are not permitted.

Educational Qualification

PUC (Pre-University Course) or an equivalent qualification, as prescribed by the Karnataka Pre-University Education Board or a recognized equivalent (CBSE/ICSE Class 12, NIOS senior secondary, NIOS vocational courses, or a diploma recognized as equivalent to PUC per applicable Government orders).

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Age Limit

Minimum age: 18 years as on the last date of application submission. Additional age relaxations apply for Government service candidates, Ex-Servicemen, NCC instructors, PwD candidates, widows, and other specified categories as per Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977.

Application Fee

Fee must be paid online only. Fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances.

Salary

Pay Scale: Rs.34,100 – 800 – 35,700 – 900 – 39,300 – 1,000 – 43,300 – 1,125 – 47,800 – 1,250 – 52,800 – 1,375 – 58,300 – 1,500 – 64,300 – 1,650 – 67,600. Probation period: 2 years. National Pension Scheme (NPS) benefits are applicable.

Selection Process

Selection is through an offline OMR-based Competitive Examination consisting of two papers, both conducted on 4 October 2026:

Candidates must secure a minimum of 35% marks in the competitive examination to be eligible for consideration in the merit list. Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for each wrong answer.

Documents Required

• Recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, 50-200KB) and signature (JPEG, 50-70KB)
• Aadhaar Card
• SSLC or equivalent certificate showing date of birth
• Qualifying examination mark card / PUC or equivalent certificate
• Caste/Category certificate (Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, as applicable)
• Ex-Servicemen certificate (if applicable)
• Kannada Medium student certificate (if applicable)
• Rural candidate certificate (if applicable, in prescribed format)
• Third Gender certificate (if applicable)
• Income and caste certificate for reservation category candidates

Important Dates

How to Apply

1. Visit the KEA official website: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
2. Click on the relevant recruitment link and register/log in to fill the online application form.
3. Select only ONE district for application — multiple district applications are not allowed.
4. Fill in all personal, educational, and category details accurately.
5. Upload photograph, signature, and required documents in the prescribed format.
6. Pay the applicable application fee online before 31 July 2026.
7. Download and print a copy of the submitted application for future reference.

Why You Should Apply

With 505 vacancies spread across 21 districts, this is one of the largest Group ‘C’ recruitment drives in Karnataka’s Revenue Department this year. It offers a stable government job with a respectable pay scale, NPS benefits, and long-term career stability, with wide geographic opportunity across the state.

Preparation Tips

• Focus on Karnataka-specific General Knowledge — state history, geography, Panchayat Raj institutions, and economic development, as these carry significant weight in Paper-1.
• Strengthen your General Kannada, General English, and basic Computer Knowledge for Paper-2, which includes an additional Computer Knowledge component compared to the Kalyana-Karnataka local-cadre paper.
• Practice OMR-based mock tests to get accustomed to the offline exam format and negative marking scheme.
• Keep all documents (photo, signature, certificates) ready in the exact file size/format specified before starting the online application.
• Apply only once you have selected the correct district, as changes are not permitted after submission.

Important Links

• Download Official Notification (PDF)
• Apply Online
• Download NaukriPatra App
• Join our WhatsApp Channel
• Join our Telegram Channel

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many vacancies are there in KEA Village Administrative Officer (State Cadre) Recruitment 2026?

505 vacancies across 21 districts of Karnataka, including Tumakuru (50), Mandya (50), Mysuru (45), and Belagavi (48).

What is the last date to apply online?

30 July 2026, with fee payment permitted until 31 July 2026.

What is the educational qualification required for this post?

PUC (Pre-University Course) or an equivalent qualification.

When is the competitive examination scheduled?

4 October 2026, with Paper-1 in the morning and Paper-2 in the afternoon.

What is the age limit for this recruitment?

18-40 years for General Merit, up to 43 years for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B, and up to 45 years for SC/ST/Category-1 candidates.

What is the pay scale for Village Administrative Officer?

Rs.34,100 – Rs.67,600 as per the Karnataka pay matrix.

How is this notification different from the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) VAO notification?

This is a separate, general state-cadre notification (No. ADI/KEA/26/NEV/2026(RPC)) covering 21 districts with 505 posts and an exam on 4 October 2026, whereas the Kalyana-Karnataka notification (No. ADI/KEA/27/NEV/2026(KK)) is a dedicated local-cadre recruitment for 67 posts in Kalaburagi, Bidar, and Raichur with an exam on 25 October 2026.

Can I apply for more than one district?

No, candidates can apply for only one district under this notification.

What is the minimum qualifying mark in the competitive examination?

Candidates must secure a minimum of 35% marks to be eligible for the merit list.

How can I apply for this recruitment?

Applications must be submitted online through the KEA official website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.