The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released two recruitment notifications (Advt. No. EDI/KEA/08/RPC/2026 & EDI/KEA/09/KK/2026) for the posts of (Krushi Adhikari) and Assistant Agriculture Officer (Sahayaka Krushi Adhikari) under two cadres — Inland (KK) and Rural Pay Commission (RPC). Eligible candidates seeking a promising career in the Karnataka State Agriculture Department can apply online for a total of 945 vacancies at www.cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Organization Name | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Notification No. | ಇಡಿ/ಕೆಇಎ09/ನೇ.ವಿ./2026 (KK Cadre) & ಇಡಿ/ಕೆಇಎ08/ನೇ.ವಿ./2026 (RPC Cadre) dated 30/05/2026 |
| Post Name | Agriculture Officer (AO) & Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) |
| No. of Posts | 927 + 18 PwD (Grand Total: 945) |
| Job Category | State Government Jobs |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date | 10 May 2026 |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | 18 April 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 19 April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 10 May 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 12 May 2026 |
| Kannada Language Test | 06 June 2026 |
| Written Exam (RPC Region) | 07 June 2026 |
| Written Exam (KK Region) | 14 June 2026 |
Vacancy Details
The Karnataka Examinations Authority has notified a total of 945 vacancies for Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer posts. These are divided between the RPC (General) and Kalyana Karnataka (KK) regions to fill vital roles within the State Agriculture Department.
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) |
Education Details
Candidates must possess specific academic qualifications depending on the post category they apply for:
For 85% Seats (Sre. 85 Posts): Applicants must hold a B.Sc. (Agriculture) or B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture degree from a university recognized by ICAR or AICTE.
For 15% Seats (Sre. 15 Posts): Candidates with degrees such as B.Tech (Food Science & Technology / Agricultural Engineering / Biotechnology) or B.Sc. (Agri-Business Management / Sericulture & Cooperation) are eligible.
Salary
Selected candidates will receive a competitive salary package under the Karnataka state government pay scales:
Agriculture Officer (AO): ₹69,250 to ₹1,34,200 per month.
Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO): ₹65,950 to ₹1,24,900 per month.
Age Limit
The age criteria for applicants, calculated as per official norms, are as follows:
Minimum Age: 18 Years.
General Merit Candidates: Maximum 40 Years.
OBC (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B): Maximum 43 Years.
SC / ST / Category-1: Maximum 45 Years.
Selection Process
KEA will select eligible candidates through a comprehensive multi-stage process:
Written Competitive Examination: Conducted in Offline-OMR mode. There is a negative marking of 0.75 marks for every incorrect answer.
Kannada Language Test: Mandatory qualifying test for applicable candidates.
Document Verification: Final checking of academic and category credentials.
Application Fee
The application fee must be paid strictly online. The category-wise fee details are:
| Category | Application Fee |
| General / 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B | ₹750 |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen | ₹500 |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | ₹250 |
How to Apply
- Visit the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
- Navigate to the “Recruitment” section and click on the AO/AAO Recruitment 2026 link.
- Choose the appropriate notification region (RPC or Kalyana Karnataka).
- Register using your details or DigiLocker/Aadhaar credentials and log in.
- Fill out the personal, educational, and category details in the online application form.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and necessary certificates.
- Pay the required application fee online through the provided payment gateway.
- Review all entered information, submit the application, and save a printout for future reference.
Important Links
KEA AO AAO Notification 2026 (RPC): Click Here to Download
KEA AO AAO Notification 2026 (Kalyana Karnataka): Click Here to Download
