Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026 Notification on 18th April 2026 under two separate advertisement numbers — Advt. No. EDI/KEA/08/RPC/2026 for the RPC (General) region and Advt. No. EDI/KEA/09/KK/2026 for the Kalyana Karnataka region. Both notifications have been issued to fill Group-B vacancies in the Karnataka State Agriculture Department for the posts of Agriculture Officer (AO) and Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) through a direct competitive examination conducted by KEA. Apply dates are 30th May to 20th June 2026.
Read the full article below to know the eligibility criteria, vacancy details, application process, exam pattern, salary and all other important information about this KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026.
Karnataka KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026 Overview
The KEA AO AAO Exam 2026 is being conducted to recruit eligible candidates for the posts of Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer in the Karnataka Agriculture Department for both the general RPC region and the Kalyana Karnataka region. The selection process involves a competitive written examination in Offline-OMR mode followed by a Kannada Language Test. There is also negative marking of 0.75 marks for every wrong answer in the written exam. Candidates must score a minimum of 35 marks in the competitive examination to qualify for the selection list.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Name | KEA Agriculture Officer (AO) & Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) Recruitment 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Advertisement No. (RPC) | EDI/KEA/08/RPC/2026 |
| Advertisement No. (KK) | EDI/KEA/09/KK/2026 |
| Notification Date | 18th April 2026 |
| Post Names | Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer |
| Total Vacancies | 927 + 18 PwD (Grand Total: 945) |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 19th April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 10th May 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 12th May 2026 |
| Kannada Language Test | 6th June 2026 |
| Written Exam — RPC Region | 7th June 2026 |
| Written Exam — KK Region | 14th June 2026 |
| Selection Process | Competitive Written Exam + Kannada Language Test |
| Exam Mode | Offline OMR (Objective Type) |
| Age Limit | 18 to 40 Years (relaxation as per rules) |
| Salary — AO | ₹69,250 – ₹1,34,200 |
| Salary — AAO | ₹65,950 – ₹1,24,900 |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
KEA AO AAO Notification 2026
The KEA AO AAO Notification 2026 provides all the necessary details regarding educational qualifications, vacancies, age limits, selection process, exam pattern and important dates for both the RPC and Kalyana Karnataka regions. Both notifications have been published on the official KEA website and candidates are strongly advised to read the notification relevant to their region carefully before applying, since all eligibility conditions such as age limit, required degree, reservation rules and Kannada language test requirements are clearly specified in them.
KEA AO AAO Notification 2026 (RPC): Click Here to Download
KEA AO AAO Notification 2026 (Kalyana Karnataka): Click Here to Download
Karnataka KEA AO AAO Vacancy 2026
Karnataka Examinations Authority has announced a significant number of vacancies across two regions for the posts of Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer.
Vacancies are distributed across reservation categories as per Karnataka government rules, giving equal opportunity to candidates from General, SC, ST, OBC (Category 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B), Ex-Servicemen, PwD, Women, Rural, Kannada Medium, and Transgender categories.
For Inland / KK Cadre (Notification No. KE09/2026)
| Posts | Vacancies |
| Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 85) | 29 + 08 (PwD) |
| Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 15) | 05 |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 85) | 189 + 08 (PwD) |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 15) | 34 |
| KK Cadre Total | 257 + 16 (PwD) |
For Rural Pay Commission (RPC) Cadre (Notification No. KE08/2026)
| Post | Vacancies |
| Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 85) | 71 + 02 (PwD) |
| Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 15) | 13 |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 85) | 498 |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer (Pay Level Rs. 15) | 88 |
| RPC Cadre Total | 670 + 02 (PwD) |
How to Apply for KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026?
The KEA AO AAO application process is fully online. Candidates must apply through the official KEA portal and are advised to read all the instructions in the notification carefully before filling the form. No changes can be made after submission of the application.
- Visit the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
- Click on the available application link for AO/AAO Recruitment 2026
- Register and log in using your credentials
- Select the appropriate notification — RPC or Kalyana Karnataka
- Fill in all required personal, educational and category details carefully
- Upload a recent passport-size photograph in JPEG format (50KB to 200KB) and signature in JPEG format (50KB to 70KB)
- Pay the applicable application fee online
- Review the filled application form thoroughly before final submission
- Submit the form and download a printout for future reference
Important Dates
Both notifications were released on 18th April 2026. The online application window opens on 19th April 2026 and closes on 10th May 2026. Fee payment must be completed by 12th May 2026. The Kannada Language Test is scheduled for 6th June 2026. The written competitive exam for the RPC region will be held on 7th June 2026 and for the Kalyana Karnataka region on 14th June 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 18th April 2026 |
| Application Start | 19th April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 10th May 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 12th May 2026 |
| Kannada Language Test | 6th June 2026 |
| Written Exam Paper-1 & Paper-2 (RPC) | 7th June 2026 |
| Written Exam Paper-1 & Paper-2 (KK) | 14th June 2026 |
Application Fees
The application fee must be paid online only through the KEA portal. There is no offline fee payment option. The fee structure differs based on category.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General & Other Categories (Cat-2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) | ₹750/- (₹500 Application Fee + ₹250 Processing Fee) |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Transgender | ₹500/- (₹250 Application Fee + ₹250 Processing Fee) |
| PwD (Special Differently Abled) | ₹250/- (Processing Fee only) |
| Payment Mode | Online |
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KEA AO AAO Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must meet the following educational qualification and age requirements to apply for the AO and AAO posts under KEA Recruitment 2026.
Educational Qualification:
For Sre.85 posts (Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer): Candidates must hold a BSc (Agriculture) or BSc Hons (Agriculture) degree from a recognized university approved by ICAR or AICTE.
For Sre.15 posts: Candidates may hold any of the following degrees — BTech (Food Science & Technology), BTech (Food Technology), BSc (Sericulture & Cooperation), BSc (Agri Marketing & Cooperation), BSc (Agri Business Management), BSc (Agri Biotechnology), BTech (Biotechnology), BSc (Agricultural Engineering), or BTech (Agricultural Engineering).
Age Limit:
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General Merit Candidates | 40 Years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | 43 Years |
| SC / ST / Category-1 | 45 Years |
KEA AO AAO Selection Process 2026
The KEA Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer selection process has two main stages. First, candidates appear for a competitive written examination. Second, candidates who qualify in the written exam must pass the mandatory Kannada Language Test. Final selection and appointment are made based on merit in the written competitive examination, subject to clearing the Kannada Language Test.
- Competitive Written Examination (Offline-OMR Mode)
- Kannada Language Test
Karnataka KEA AO AAO Salary 2026
The KEA Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer salary is governed by the 2024 Revised State Pay Scale of Karnataka. The pay scales are attractive and come with additional government allowances and benefits including DA, HRA and pension under the NPS scheme. Candidates selected through direct recruitment will serve a probation period of two years before confirmation.
| Post | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Officer | ₹69,250 – ₹1,34,200 per month |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer | ₹65,950 – ₹1,24,900 per month |
FAQs
Q1. What is KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026?
It is a Karnataka government job recruitment conducted by KEA to fill Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer posts in the Department of Agriculture, Karnataka.
Q2. How many total vacancies are announced in KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026?
A total of 630 + 02 (HK) vacancies have been announced under the RPC region notification and 242 + 16 (HK) vacancies under the Kalyana Karnataka region notification.
Q3. What is the age limit for KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026?
The general age limit is 18 to 40 years. Reserved category candidates get relaxation as per Karnataka government rules up to 43 years for OBC categories and up to 45 years for SC/ST/Category-1.
Q4. What is the educational qualification required for KEA AO AAO 2026?
For Sre.85 posts, candidates must hold a BSc (Agriculture) or BSc Hons (Agriculture) degree. For Sre.15 posts, various other agriculture-related degrees in Food Technology, Sericulture, Agri Engineering, Biotechnology etc. are accepted.
Q5. What is the selection process for Karnataka KEA AO AAO 2026?
Selection is based on a competitive written examination (Offline-OMR) followed by a mandatory Kannada Language Test.
Q6. What is the salary for KEA Agriculture Officer 2026?
The salary for Agriculture Officer is ₹69,250 to ₹1,34,200 per month and for Assistant Agriculture Officer it is ₹65,950 to ₹1,24,900 per month as per the 2024 Revised State Pay Scale.