The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 Notification on 3rd September 2026 on the official website. A total of 247 vacancies have been announced for the post of Principal in Government Pre-University Colleges under the Department of Pre-University Education, filled through direct recruitment from serving Lecturers.
KEA Principal Recruitment 2026: Overview
The Principal posts will be filled on a regular basis in Government Pre-University Colleges across Karnataka. Key details of the recruitment can be found in the notification.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Recruitment Name | Principal Recruitment 2026 (Dept. of Pre-University Education) |
| Advertisement Number | ಇಡಿ/ಕೆಇಎ/28/ನೇ.ವಿ./2026(ಆರ್ಪಿಸಿ) & ಇಡಿ/ಕೆಇಎ/29/ನೇ.ವಿ./2026(ಕೆಕೆ) |
| Post Type | Principal (Group-A) |
| Nature of Engagement | Regular Basis, Direct Recruitment from Lecturers |
| Total Vacancies | 247 (216 RPC + 31 Kalyana-Karnataka) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 7th Sep 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 4th Oct 2026 |
| Eligibility | Serving Lecturers with prescribed minimum and probation service |
| Selection Process | Competitive Written Examination (3 Papers) |
| Official Portal | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
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KEA Principal Vacancy 2026
A total of 247 vacancies have been released through the two KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 notifications — 216 posts under the general (RPC) notification and 31 posts under the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) notification.
| Notification | Pay Scale | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Principal (RPC) | ₹90,200 – 1,59,200 | 216 |
| Principal (Kalyana-Karnataka) | ₹90,200 – 1,59,200 | 31 |
| Total | 247 |
KEA Principal Notification 2026 Out
The Karnataka Examinations Authority Principal notification 2026 has been released for 247 Principal vacancies under:
KEA Principal Category Wise Vacancy 2026
KEA has released the Principal vacancies category-wise separately for both notifications. Candidates are required to check the applicable category before submitting the online application.
RPC Notification
| Category | Others | Women | Rural | Ex-Servicemen | Kannada Medium | PwBD | Transgender | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC-A | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | – | 12 |
| SC-B | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | – | 11 |
| SC-C | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | – | 10 |
| ST | 2 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | 7 |
| Category-1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | – | – | 1 | – | 9 |
| Category-2A | 6 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 32 |
| Category-2B | 2 | 3 | 3 | – | – | 1 | – | 9 |
| Category-3A | 2 | 3 | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | 8 |
| Category-3B | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | – | 10 |
| General Merit | 24 | 36 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 108 |
| Total | 46 | 73 | 57 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 216 |
Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Notification
| Category | Others | Women | Rural | Ex-Servicemen | Kannada Medium | PwBD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC-A | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 |
| SC-B | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 |
| SC-C | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| ST | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| Category-1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 |
| Category-2A | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 5 |
| Category-2B | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| Category-3A | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| Category-3B | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| General Merit | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| Total | 11 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 31 |
KEA Principal Recruitment 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 03.09.2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 07.09.2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application Submission | 04.10.2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 05.10.2026 |
| Written Examination Date | To be announced |
| Exam Centre Details | To be notified on the official website |
KEA Principal Apply Online 2026
The KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 online application process starts on 7th September 2026. Eligible serving Lecturers can submit their applications through the official KEA website until 4th October 2026, with fee payment permitted until 5th October 2026. Once an application is submitted, no changes or corrections to any details can be made, so candidates are advised to fill the form carefully and completely in a single sitting.
KEA Principal 2026 Apply Online: Direct Link Active
How to Apply for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
Candidates can apply for the KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 through the official website. Follow the steps below to complete the application form correctly.
- Visit the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
- Click on the relevant link for Principal Recruitment 2026 (RPC or Kalyana-Karnataka, as applicable).
- Complete the online registration using the required details.
- Fill in personal, service, and educational details as a serving Lecturer.
- Upload photograph, signature, and all prescribed supporting documents.
- Upload caste/category and other reservation certificates, wherever applicable.
- Pay the required application fee online.
- Check all details carefully, since no correction is allowed after submission.
- Submit the application and download a copy along with the fee payment receipt for future reference.
KEA Principal Application Fee
Candidates have to pay the application fee based on their category. Reserved category, ex-servicemen, third-gender, and PwBD candidates get fee concessions.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General Merit & Other Categories (2A/2B/3A/3B) | ₹1,500/- |
| SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-Servicemen/Transgender candidates | ₹1,000/- |
| PwBD (Special Category) candidates | ₹500/- |
Note: Fee once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.
Documents Required for KEA Principal Application Form 2026
Candidates must upload the required documents while filling out the online application. Applications without the prescribed supporting documents may not be considered.
- Recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, 50KB–200KB)
- Scanned signature (JPEG, 50KB–70KB)
- Service certificate confirming required years of service as Lecturer and completion of probation
- Caste/category certificate, wherever applicable
- Rural candidate certificate, wherever applicable
- Kannada medium study certificate, wherever applicable
- Disability certificate, wherever applicable
- Ex-servicemen certificate, wherever applicable
- Third-gender certificate, wherever applicable
- Kalyana-Karnataka local candidate certificate (for the KK notification only)
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Who is Eligible for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
Candidates applying for the KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 must be serving Lecturers in Government Pre-University Colleges and fulfil the prescribed service eligibility conditions.
KEA Principal Educational/Service Qualification 2026
| Post | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Principal | Must be working as a Lecturer in the minimum cadre of the Department of Pre-University Education (Government Pre-University Colleges) and must have completed the minimum required years of service along with the full probation period satisfactorily. |
If a candidate does not possess the prescribed eligibility, their candidature is liable to be cancelled at any stage, even if they were allowed to participate in the recruitment process.
KEA Principal Age Limit 2026
Since this recruitment is meant only for serving Lecturers filling promotional/direct-recruitment quota posts within the same department, no separate maximum age limit has been prescribed for the KEA Principal Recruitment 2026.
KEA Principal 2026 Salary
The pay scale for the Principal post is uniform across both notifications.
| Post | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| Principal | ₹90,200 – 2,300 – 99,400 – 2,700 – 1,15,600 – 3,100 – 1,34,200 – 3,500 – 1,55,200 – 4,000 – 1,59,200 |
Pension benefits will be governed as per the rules applicable based on the candidate’s original date of appointment as Lecturer.
KEA Principal Selection Process 2026
The selection process for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 is based purely on a Competitive Written Examination, conducted either in Online (CBT) or Offline OMR mode.
- Written Examination – Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3
- Preparation of Merit List (based on Paper-2 and Paper-3 marks only)
- Document Verification
- Final Selection
KEA Principal Exam Pattern 2026
| Paper | Subject | Total Questions | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-1 | Kannada Language (qualifying paper) | 150 | 150 | 3 hours |
| Paper-2 | General Studies (History, Constitution, Science & Technology, Ethics, Aptitude, etc.) | 150 | 150 | 3 hours |
| Paper-3 | Karnataka Civil Service Rules, Classification & Control Rules, Treasury Code, Budget Manual, Education Rules 1983, and related administrative subjects | 150 | 150 | 3 hours |
Candidates must secure a minimum of 50 marks in Paper-1 (Kannada Language) to qualify; however, marks scored in Paper-1 are not counted for preparation of the merit list, which is based only on Paper-2 and Paper-3. There is negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer in Paper-2 and Paper-3.
FAQs
Ques: How many KEA Principal Vacancies 2026 have been announced?
Ans: A total of 247 Principal vacancies have been announced — 216 under the general (RPC) notification and 31 under the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) notification.
Ques: When does the KEA Principal application process start?
Ans: The KEA Principal online application process starts on 7th September 2026.
Ques: Will there be a written test for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
Ans: Yes. Selection is based entirely on a Competitive Written Examination comprising three papers — Kannada Language (qualifying), General Studies, and Service Rules/Administration.
Ques: When is the last date to apply for KEA Principal 2026?
Ans: The last date to apply online is 4th October 2026, and the last date for fee payment is 5th October 2026.
Ques: Who can apply for the KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
Ans: Only serving Lecturers of Government Pre-University Colleges in the Department of Pre-University Education who meet the prescribed minimum service and probation requirements are eligible to apply.