KSET 2026 Registration Open: Karnataka SET Application, Eligibility

KSET 2026: The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has started registrations for the Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) 2026. Conducted pursuant to the directives of the Government of Karnataka and the UGC-NET Bureau, New Delhi, KSET serves as the qualifying benchmark for individuals aspiring to secure Assistant Professor positions across universities, first-grade degree colleges, and higher education institutions (government, aided, and private) in Karnataka. Eligible candidates holding a Master’s degree or those currently enrolled in the final year of their postgraduate studies can register online via the official KEA web portal. 

Eligible candidates must Apply through Online mode only from August 10 to September 5, 2026. KSET 2026 Examination is set to be conducted on October 11, 2026 (Sunday).

KSET 2026 Notification Out: Check Exam Date, Eligibility, Pattern, and Application Process

KSET 2026: Important Dates

KSET 2026: Eligibility Criteria

1. Educational Qualification

• General (Unreserved) Category: Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent qualification from a UGC-recognized university with at least 55% aggregate marks (without rounding off).
• Reserved Categories: SC-A, SC-B, SC-C, ST, Category-I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and Transgender candidates must secure at least 50% aggregate marks (without rounding off) in their Master’s degree.
• Final Year / Pursuing Students: Candidates currently studying in the 2nd year or final semester of their postgraduate program are provisionally eligible to apply. However, they must complete their PG degree with the required percentage within two years from the date of KSET 2026 result declaration to receive the eligibility certificate.
• Subject Choice Rule: Candidates must appear for KSET strictly in the subject corresponding to their Master’s degree specialization. If a subject is not listed under KSET 2026, candidates may appear for the UGC-NET / CSIR-NET examinations.
• Ph.D. Degree Holder Relaxation: A relaxation of 5% in aggregate marks (from 55% to 50%) is offered to Ph.D. degree holders who completed their Master’s level examination prior to September 19, 1991.
• Other State Candidates: Candidates belonging to states other than Karnataka will be treated strictly under the General Merit (GM) category and must possess a minimum of 55% in PG.

2. Age Limit

• There is no upper age limit specified to apply for KSET 2026.

3. Exemption Rules

• Candidates who have cleared UGC-NET / CSIR-NET / JRF prior to 1989 are exempt from appearing in KSET.
• Candidates who qualified in SET examinations conducted prior to June 1, 2002, are eligible for Assistant Professor roles across India. Those who qualify SET after June 1, 2002, are eligible for recruitment within colleges/universities of the respective state only.

KSET 2026 Application Fee & Payment Mode

• Payment Method: The fee must be paid online through the designated KEA payment gateway. Modes like Money Order, Demand Draft, IPO, or offline challan will not be accepted.
• Refund Policy: Application fees once paid are non-refundable under any circumstances.

KSET 2026 Exam Pattern

The KSET 2026 examination will consist of two objective-type papers conducted offline using OMR answer sheets in a single 3-hour session.

Key Exam Rules:

• Each question carries 2 marks.
• There is no negative marking for wrong answers.
• Question papers for specified subjects will be printed in both English and Kannada medium.
• Candidates are not permitted to leave the examination hall before 1:00 PM.

Qualifying Criteria & Slot Determination

To be considered for eligibility as an Assistant Professor, candidates must satisfy the minimum qualifying marks in both papers combined as mandated by UGC guidelines:

• General Category (GM): Minimum 40% aggregate marks across Paper I and Paper II combined.
• Reserved Categories (SC/ST/Cat-I/IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB/PwD/Transgender): Minimum 35% aggregate marks across Paper I and Paper II combined.

Slot Selection (Top 6% Rule):

1. Only candidates who appear in both papers and secure the minimum qualifying percentage will be placed in the merit pool.
2. From the qualified pool, the top 6% of candidates across all subjects and reservation categories will be declared KSET 2026 qualified for Assistant Professorship as per state reservation quotas.

KSET 2026 Examination Centres

KEA will organize the examination across 11 designated regional centres in Karnataka:

1. Bengaluru
2. Belagavi
3. Ballari
4. Vijayapura
5. Davanagere
6. Dharwad
7. Kalaburagi
8. Mysuru
9. Shivamogga
10. Tumakuru
11. Mangaluru

• Part A Subjects (18 Core Subjects): Candidates can choose any one of the 11 examination centres listed above.
• Part B Subjects (19 Specialized Subjects): Candidates opting for subjects listed under Part B (e.g., Geography, Criminology, Law, Sanskrit, Folk Literature, Electronic Science, Women’s Studies, Visual Arts, Music, etc.) must choose Bengaluru as their sole exam center.

How to Apply Online

Follow these step-by-step instructions to submit your KSET 2026 application form:

1. Visit Official Portal: Go to the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
2. Registration: Click on the “KSET-2026 Online Application” link and enter basic profile details. Ensure your name, father’s name, and mother’s name match your SSLC / 10th Class marks card.
3. Fill Application Details: Provide educational credentials, select PG status (passed or pursuing), choose the subject, reservation category, Revenue Division (RD) number for certificates, and exam center.
4. Upload Scanned Documents: Upload scanned copies of your passport-sized photo and signature in JPEG format.
5. Fee Payment: Complete the payment process online via net banking, credit card, or debit card.
6. Submit & Print: Verify all information carefully, submit the final application, and download a printed copy of the confirmation page for future reference.

Important Instructions for Candidates

1. Hard copies of hall tickets will not be sent by post. Candidates must download their hall ticket online starting October 1, 2026.
2. Candidates must bring a printed Hall Ticket along with an official valid photo ID proof (such as Passport, Voter ID, PAN Card, Driving License, or Aadhaar Card) to the exam center.
3. Candidates should report to their exam venue at least 2 hours prior to the commencement of the exam.
4. Candidates are advised to wear half-sleeve clothing up to the elbow. Clothes covering the head/ears/face, metallic ornaments (except mangalsutra and toe rings for married women), watches, and electronic gadgets are prohibited inside the exam hall.
5. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) will be granted a total of 60 minutes compensatory extra time across Paper I and Paper II combined.

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