KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026 Notification Out – Apply Online for 890 Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Posts
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially announced the Agriculture Officer (AO) & Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) Recruitment 2026 with 872 + 18 (HK) vacancies. The detailed notification was released under reference numbers EDI/KEA/08/RPC/2026 & EDI/KEA/09/KK/2026 on the official website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Candidates who meet the age criteria of 40 to 45 years (category-wise relaxation applicable) and possess qualifications such as B.Sc (Agriculture) / B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture / relevant B.Tech or B.Sc degrees can submit their online applications from 19 April 2026 to 10 May 2026. Direct links to download the official notification PDF and apply online are provided below.
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF
Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released two notifications (EDI/KEA/08/RPC/2026 & EDI/KEA/09/KK/2026) for Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer posts in Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and Kalyana Karnataka (KK) regions. Candidates can download the official notifications from the KEA website and check region-wise vacancies, eligibility, fee and application process before applying online.
- Download KEA AO Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF (RPC)
- Download KEA AO & AAO Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF ( KK)
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Company Name | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Reference No. | EDI/KEA/08/RPC/2026 & EDI/KEA/09/KK/2026 |
| Post Name | Agriculture Officer (AO) & Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) |
| Total Vacancies | 872 + 18 (HK) Posts (RPC: 630+02, KK: 242+16) |
| Qualification | B.Sc (Agri/Hons) or specified B.Tech/B.Sc degrees (see Eligibility below) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Start Date for Apply Online | 19 April 2026 |
| Last Date for Apply Online | 10 May 2026 |
| Official Website | https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Commencement of Online Application | 19 April 2026 |
| Last Date of Online Application | 10 May 2026 |
| Last Date for Payment of Application Fee | 12 May 2026 |
| Kannada Language Test | 06 June 2026 |
| Written Exam (RPC) | 07 June 2026 |
| Written Exam (KK) | 14 June 2026 |
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Vacancy 2026
Region-wise & category-wise vacancies (combined RPC + KK). 85% posts for B.Sc (Agri) stream; 15% posts for specified B.Tech/B.Sc stream. Total 872 + 18 (HK) posts.
| Region / Post | 85% Posts | 15% Posts |
|---|---|---|
| RPC – Agriculture Officer | 67 + 02 (HK) | 12 |
| RPC – Assistant Agriculture Officer | 468 | 83 |
| KK – Agriculture Officer | 27 + 08 (HK) | 05 |
| KK – Assistant Agriculture Officer | 178 + 08 (HK) | 32 |
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must fulfil the essential educational qualification as on the last date of application.
Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer (85% posts)
- Essential Educational Qualification: B.Sc (Agriculture) or B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture from ICAR/AICTE recognised university.
Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer (15% posts)
- Essential Educational Qualification: B.Tech (Food Science & Technology) / B.Tech (Food Technology) / B.Sc (Sericulture & Cooperation) / B.Sc (Agri Marketing & Cooperation) / B.Sc (Agri Business Management) / B.Sc (Agri Biotechnology) / B.Tech (Biotechnology) / B.Sc (Agricultural Engineering) / B.Tech (Agricultural Engineering).
For All Posts
- Other Conditions: Must be registered on OTR portal. Kannada language proficiency required (exemption for certain candidates). Only Indian citizens / eligible categories.
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Age Limit 2026
The age limit to apply for KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 is 42 years. Age relaxation will be provided to reserved category candidates as per government rules.
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General Merit Candidates | 40 Years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | 43 Years |
| SC / ST / Category-1 | 45 Years |
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Application Fee 2026
| 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 |
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Selection Process 2026
- Kannada Language Test (qualifying) + Written Exam (Offline OMR Objective Type – 2 papers, 300 marks each).
- Negative marking: 0.75 marks per wrong answer.
- Minimum qualifying marks: 35% in written exam.
- Final selection on merit in written exam (after Kannada test clearance).
How to Apply for KEA Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official KEA website: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
- Click on the relevant recruitment notification link under Direct Recruitment section
- Complete the online registration using valid mobile number and email ID
- Fill the online application form with accurate personal, educational, and category details
- Upload scanned photograph (50–200 KB) and signature (50–70 KB) in JPEG format
- Upload required certificates such as education, caste, income, and other applicable documents
- Pay the prescribed application fee through online mode (Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI)
- Verify all entered details carefully before final submission of the application
- Submit the application form online within the specified last date
- Download and print the submitted application form and fee receipt for future reference
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Online Application Form
Eligible candidates who wish to apply for the KEA AO & AAO Recruitment 2026 can do so by submitting their application form online through the official KEA portal. The application process for the KEA Recruitment 2026 is completely online, and candidates must ensure that they complete all steps before the deadline.
- Click Here to Apply Online for KEA Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026
- Click Here to Apply Online for KEA Assistant Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Remuneration 2026
| Post | Pay Scale (2024 Revised) |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Officer | ₹69,250 – ₹1,34,200 |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer | ₹65,950 – ₹1,24,900 |
Plus DA, HRA and other allowances as per rules. 2-year probation period. NPS applicable.
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Only online applications will be accepted. No offline applications will be entertained.
- Candidates must register on OTR portal before filling application.
- Application fee once paid will not be refunded.
- Canvassing in any form will lead to disqualification.
- KEA reserves the right to cancel/modify the recruitment process at any stage.
KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Important Links
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
- Join Arattai Channel: Click Here
- Join Telegram Channel: Click Here
- Join WhatsApp Channel: Click Here
- Sarkari Result: Click Here
- Download Mobile App: Click Here
KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
Q1. How many vacancies are there in KEA AO & AAO Recruitment 2026 and how are they split between RPC and Kalyana Karnataka?
KEA has released notifications EDI/KEA/08/RPC/2026 and EDI/KEA/09/KK/2026 for a total of 872 + 18 HK posts, with 630 + 02 (HK) posts under Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and 242 + 16 (HK) posts under Kalyana Karnataka region for Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer in the Karnataka Agriculture Department.
Q2. What are the online application dates and exam dates for KEA AO & AAO 2026?
The online application starts on 19 April 2026 and the last date to apply is 10 May 2026, while the last date to pay the application fee is 12 May 2026; the Kannada Language Test is scheduled on 06 June 2026, followed by the RPC written exam on 07 June 2026 and the KK written exam on 14 June 2026 as notified by KEA.
Q3. How are the AO and AAO vacancies distributed between the 85% and 15% educational streams?
Out of the total posts, 85% are reserved for candidates with B.Sc (Agriculture) / B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture, and the remaining 15% are for candidates with specified B.Tech/B.Sc degrees such as Food Technology, Sericulture, Agri Marketing & Cooperation, Agri Business Management, Agri Biotechnology, Biotechnology, Agricultural Engineering, etc., with separate vacancy numbers for AO and AAO under RPC and KK as given in the notification tables.
Q4. What is the educational qualification required for KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer posts?
For 85% seats, candidates must have B.Sc (Agriculture) or B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture from an ICAR/AICTE recognised University. For 15% seats, acceptable degrees include B.Tech (Food Science & Technology/Food Technology/Biotechnology/Agricultural Engineering), B.Sc (Sericulture & Cooperation, Agri Marketing & Cooperation, Agri Business Management, Agri Biotechnology) or equivalent as specified in the advertisements.
Q5. What is the age limit and relaxation for KEA AO & AAO Recruitment 2026?
The general upper age limit is 40 years for General Merit candidates, 43 years for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B, and 45 years for SC/ST/Category‑1 candidates, with the minimum age being 18 years as per Karnataka government norms on the cut‑off date.
Q6. What is the application fee for KEA AO & AAO 2026?
The total fee is ₹750 for General, Cat‑2A, 2B, 3A, 3B candidates (₹500 application fee + ₹250 processing), ₹500 for SC/ST/Category‑1/Ex‑Servicemen/Transgender candidates (₹250 application fee + ₹250 processing), and ₹250 for PwD candidates (processing fee only), payable online via KEA portal.
Q7. What is the selection process and exam pattern for KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer?
The selection process comprises a Kannada Language Test (qualifying) followed by a competitive written exam in Offline OMR mode with two papers of 300 marks each, carrying objective‑type questions with 0.75 negative marking for each wrong answer, and candidates must secure at least 35% marks in the written exam to be considered for the merit list.
Q8. Is Kannada language test compulsory for all candidates in KEA AO & AAO recruitment?
Yes, Kannada Language Test is compulsory for candidates who have not studied Kannada as a medium/subject in prescribed qualifying examinations, and it is qualifying in nature; exemptions are provided to those who meet the language criteria as detailed in the notification.
Q9. What are the pay scales for KEA Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer posts?
As per the revised 2024 pay structure, Agriculture Officer posts carry a pay scale of ₹69,250 – ₹1,34,200, while Assistant Agriculture Officer posts carry ₹65,950 – ₹1,24,900, plus DA, HRA and other allowances as per Karnataka Government rules, with a 2‑year probation period and NPS (National Pension System) applicable.
Q10. How can I apply online for KEA AO & AAO Recruitment 2026?
Eligible candidates must visit the KEA official website (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea), register through the OTR (One Time Registration) system, select the relevant AO/AAO notification for RPC or Kalyana Karnataka, fill the online application with personal, educational and reservation details, upload required documents and photo/signature, pay the applicable fee online, and finally submit and download the application form for future reference before 10 May 2026.