Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially announced the KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 for 927 Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer vacancies, along with 18 PwD reserved posts, under the Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka. The online application process commenced on 30 May 2026 and will remain open until 20 June 2026, while the fee payment deadline is 22 June 2026.
Eligible candidates with qualifications such as B.Sc. Agriculture, B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Food Technology, Biotechnology, and related agricultural disciplines can apply through the official KEA portal.
The recruitment offers an attractive salary package ranging from ₹65,950 to ₹1,34,200 per month, making it one of the major agriculture sector government job opportunities in Karnataka for 2026. Selection will be based on a written examination, Kannada language test, and document verification.
Official Notification PDF: KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 (Inland / KK Cadre)
Official Notification PDF: KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 (RPC Cadre)
KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Organization Name | Karnataka Government, Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru |
| Post Names | 1. Agriculture Officer (Krushi Adhikari) 2. Assistant Agriculture Officer (Sahayaka Krushi Adhikari) |
| Department | Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka |
| Total Vacancies | 257 + 16 (PwD) [KK Cadre] + 670 + 02 (PwD) [RPC Cadre] = 927 + 18 (PwD) |
| Pay Scale | Agriculture Officer: Rs. 69,250 – 1,34,200 Assistant Agriculture Officer: Rs. 65,950 – 1,24,900 (Revised State Pay Scale 2024) |
| Probation Period | 2 years (for direct recruitment candidates) |
| Application Mode | Online only via https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
| Selection Mode | Competitive Written Examination (Offline OMR) + Kannada Language Test |
| Exam Date | KK Cadre: 25 July 2026 | RPC Cadre: 26 July 2026 (Paper-1 & Paper-2) |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
| Apply Online | Click Here |
KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Date of Revised Notification | 30 May 2026 |
| Online Registration Start Date | 30 May 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Registration | 20 June 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 22 June 2026 |
| Written Exam - KK Cadre (Paper-1 & Paper-2) | 25 July 2026 (10:30 AM to 12:30 PM & 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM) |
| Written Exam - RPC Cadre (Paper-1 & Paper-2) | 26 July 2026 (10:30 AM to 12:30 PM & 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM) |
| Kannada Language Exam Date | To be notified after written examination result |
KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details
A. Inland / KK Cadre Vacancies (Notification No. KE09/2026)
| Sl. No. | Post Name | Pay Scale (Rs.) | No. of Vacancies |
| 1 | Agriculture Officer (Krushi Adhikari) | 69,250 – 1,34,200 | 29 + 08 (PwD) |
| 2 | Agriculture Officer (Krushi Adhikari) | 69,250 – 1,34,200 | 05 |
| 3 | Assistant Agriculture Officer (Sahayaka Krushi Adhikari) | 65,950 – 1,24,900 | 189 + 08 (PwD) |
| 4 | Assistant Agriculture Officer (Sahayaka Krushi Adhikari) | 65,950 – 1,24,900 | 34 |
| Total (KK Cadre) | 257 + 16 (PwD) | ||
B. Rural Pay Commission (RPC) Cadre Vacancies (Notification No. KE08/2026)
| Sl. No. | Post Name | Pay Scale (Rs.) | No. of Vacancies |
| 1 | Agriculture Officer (Krushi Adhikari) | 69,250 – 1,34,200 | 71 + 02 (PwD) |
| 2 | Agriculture Officer (Krushi Adhikari) | 69,250 – 1,34,200 | 13 |
| 3 | Assistant Agriculture Officer (Sahayaka Krushi Adhikari) | 65,950 – 1,24,900 | 498 |
| 4 | Assistant Agriculture Officer (Sahayaka Krushi Adhikari) | 65,950 – 1,24,900 | 88 |
| Total (RPC Cadre) | 670 + 02 (PwD) | ||
Grand Total: 927 + 18 (PwD) vacancies across both cadres. PwD vacancies are horizontal reservations within overall vacancies. Backlog vacancies from previous recruitments are included.
KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria
1. Nationality
- Only Indian Citizens are eligible to apply.
2. Educational Qualification
| Post | Essential Educational Qualification |
| Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 85 posts) | B.Sc. (Agriculture) OR B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture from a recognized University |
| Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 15 posts) | B.Tech (Food Science and Technology) OR B.Tech (Food Technology) OR B.Sc. (Agri. Marketing and Cooperation) OR B.Sc. (Hons.) Agri. Marketing and Cooperation OR B.Sc. (Hons.) Agri Business Management OR B.Sc. (Agri. Biotech.) OR B.Tech (Biotech.) OR B.Sc. (Agricultural Engineering) OR B.Tech (Agricultural Engineering) |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 85 posts) | B.Sc. (Agriculture) OR B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture from a recognized University |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 15 posts) | Same as Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 15 posts) listed above |
Important Notes:
- The degree must be from a University/Institute recognized by ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) or AICTE.
- Degrees from institutions accredited by UGC / AICTE running distance education courses producing technical-level graduates will not be considered.
- All candidates must possess the degree/diploma by the last date of application.
- Candidates currently enrolled in a higher qualification must not submit applications.
KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Age Limit
| Category | Upper Age Limit (for Direct Recruitment posts) |
| General Merit (UR) Candidates | 40 years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B (OBC) Candidates | 43 years |
| SC (Cat-A, Cat-B, Cat-C) / ST / Category-1 Candidates | 45 years |
Age Relaxations:
- SC/ST/Category-1: 5 years relaxation
- OBC (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B): 3 years relaxation
- Persons with Disability (PwD): 10 years relaxation
- Ex-Servicemen: 3 years + period of military service
- Widows: 10 years relaxation
- Government employees: By number of years of service rendered OR 10 years, whichever is lower
KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
| General Merit (UR) and Other Categories (Cat-2A/2B/3A/3B) | Rs. 750/- (Rs. 500 Application Fee + Rs. 250 Processing Fee) - Non-Refundable |
| SC / ST / Cat-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Transgender Candidates | Rs. 500/- (Rs. 250 Application Fee + Rs. 250 Processing Fee) - Non-Refundable |
| Persons with Disability (PwD Candidates) | Rs. 250/- (Processing Fee only) - Non-Refundable |
Fee must be paid online only. Fee once paid will NOT be refunded.
KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
- Stage 1 - Competitive Written Examination (Offline OMR Type):
- Paper-1: General Paper (Current Affairs, General Science, Karnataka History & Geography, Indian History & Geography, Social Science, General Mental Ability, etc.) - 300 Marks, 2 Hours
- Paper-2: Specific Paper (syllabus to be announced separately) - 300 Marks, 2 Hours
- Minimum qualifying marks: 35 marks out of 300 in competitive examination
- Negative Marking: 0.75 marks deducted for every wrong answer
- Stage 2 - Kannada Language Test:
- Candidates must pass Kannada Language Test with minimum 50 marks (out of 150)
- Candidates who studied Kannada as first/second language up to SSLC level or from Kannada medium Class 1-10 are exempted
- Marks obtained in Kannada Test will NOT be considered for merit ranking
- Stage 3 - Document Verification: Final selection subject to document verification and eligibility confirmation
KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Salary & Probation
| Criteria | Details |
| Probation Period | 2 years for candidates selected through direct recruitment |
| Pay Scale - Agriculture Officer | Rs. 69,250 – 1,34,200 (Revised State Pay Scale 2024) |
| Pay Scale - Assistant Agriculture Officer | Rs. 65,950 – 1,24,900 (Revised State Pay Scale 2024) |
| National Pension | NPS benefits applicable as per Government Order No. FD(SPIL) 04 PIT 2005 |
How to Apply for KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
- Click the KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026 link available on the website.
- Register with valid mobile number and email ID.
- Fill the online application form carefully with all required details.
- Upload the following documents:
- Recent Passport-size Colour Photograph in JPEG format (50 KB to 200 KB)
- Signature in JPEG format (50 KB to 70 KB)
- Aadhaar Card
- Consolidated Marksheet/All subject-wise semester marksheets and Photo-certificate (PDF)
- SSLC or equivalent certificate/Birth certificate showing date of birth
- Caste reservation certificate (SC/ST/Cat-1/Cat-2A/2B/3A/3B) as applicable
- Rural Reservation certificate (Format-1 or Format-2) if applicable
- Other certificates as applicable (Ex-Servicemen, PwD, Kannada Medium, Transgender, etc.)
- Pay the application fee online.
- Submit the form and download a copy for future reference.
- Online registration last date: 20 June 2026. Fee payment last date: 22 June 2026.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card
- Consolidated Marksheet / All subject-wise semester marksheets and Photo-certificate (PDF) of highest qualifying degree
- SSLC or equivalent certificate / School leaving certificate / Birth certificate showing date of birth
- Discharge certificate and pension/gratuity certificate (for Ex-Servicemen)
- SC/ST/Cat-1/Cat-2A/2B/3A/3B caste reservation certificate in prescribed format
- Rural Reservation certificate - Format 1 and Format 2 (as applicable)
- Kannada Medium study certificate (if applicable)
- Third Gender certificate issued by District Magistrate (if applicable)
- Kalyana Karnataka region (Article 371(J)) reservation-related certificate (if applicable)
- NOC / Service permission certificate from employing authority (for candidates currently in service)
KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Important Instructions
- Candidates must carefully fill all information correctly while registering online. After submission, download a copy and preserve it until the recruitment process is complete.
- Changes or corrections to any information submitted through the online application will not be permitted under any circumstances.
- Candidates currently in service must submit a No Objection Certificate/Permission Certificate from the employing authority before the date of appointment.
- The mobile number and email address entered in the application are final. Changes cannot be entertained subsequently.
- Candidates whose results are pending for the qualifying degree at the time of applying and who have not yet received their results by the last date of application are not eligible to apply.
- Candidates must not engage in any malpractice during the examination or at any stage; those found doing so will be disqualified and may face criminal proceedings.
- All recruitment-related information is available on the official account '@KEA_KARNATAKA' on the authority's website.
