KEA Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 233 Nursing Officer, Pharmacy Officer Posts
This information is from a third-party source. Always verify job details, eligibility, deadlines, and application procedures from the official government website before applying.
The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, has released two separate notifications dated 6 August 2026 for 233 Group-C posts of Pharmacy Officer and Nursing Officer (Shushrushadhikari) — one covering the Kalyana-Karnataka cadre, and the other covering the General/Open cadre under the ESI Scheme. Online applications are open from 7 August 2026 to 30 August 2026. Here's the complete picture across both notifications, so you know exactly where you fit in.
Table of Contents
About KEA
The Karnataka Examination Authority conducts competitive examinations and centralised recruitment on behalf of various Karnataka government departments. This particular drive fills Pharmacy Officer and Nursing Officer posts for two different employers — the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Scheme's Medical Services Department, and the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (for the Kalyana-Karnataka cadre posts) — which is why this recruitment runs across two parallel notifications rather than one combined list.
KEA Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Organization Name | Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), Bengaluru |
|---|---|
| Notification No. (Kalyana-Karnataka) | ಇಡಿ/ಕೆಇ1/35/ನೇ.ವಿ/2026(ಕೆಕೆ), dated 06-08-2026 |
| Notification No. (General/Open) | ಇಡಿ/ಕೆಇ1/34/ನೇ.ವಿ/2026(ಆರ್.ಪಿ.ಸಿ), dated 06-08-2026 |
| Post Names | Pharmacy Officer, Nursing Officer (Shushrushadhikari) |
| Total Vacancies | 233 Posts (45 KK cadre + 188 General cadre) |
| Category | Govt Job (Karnataka State — Group C) |
| Job Location | Various departments/institutions, Karnataka |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Notification Date | 6 Aug 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 7 Aug 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 30 Aug 2026 (Fee: 31 Aug 2026) |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 6 Aug 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 7 Aug 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 30 Aug 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31 Aug 2026 |
| Competitive Examination Date | Not yet announced; to be published separately by KEA |
Vacancy Details / Notification Wise Break-up
This recruitment runs on two parallel notifications, and it's worth being clear on which one applies to you, since the Kalyana-Karnataka posts carry local-candidate eligibility conditions under Article 371(J).
| Notification | Department/Institution | Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre | Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society | Nursing Officer | 23 |
| Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre | ESI Scheme – Medical Services Department | Pharmacy Officer | 11 |
| Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre | Medical Services Department | Nursing Officer | 11 |
| General/Open Cadre | ESI Scheme – Medical Services Department | Pharmacy Officer | 98 |
| General/Open Cadre | ESI Scheme – Medical Services Department | Nursing Officer | 90 |
| Total | 233 | ||
Both notifications include a mix of fresh vacancies, reservation-point ("Kre.") posts, and backlog posts carried over from an earlier recruitment cycle. As always with KEA drives, these numbers are provisional and subject to revision by the government.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
| Post | Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Officer (ESI Scheme) | Diploma in Pharmacy from an institution recognised by the Government of Karnataka, with registration with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council |
| Nursing Officer (ESI Scheme) | Diploma in General Nursing from an authority authorised by the Government of Karnataka, with registration with the Karnataka Nursing Council |
| Nursing Officer (KK cadre, KREIS) | B.Sc Nursing from a recognised university, OR PUC (or equivalent) plus GNM from an institution recognised by the Indian/Karnataka State Nursing Council; plus Kannada language study up to a qualifying level, or a recognised Kannada proficiency certificate |
If a candidate turns out not to meet the prescribed qualification at any stage — even after appearing for the written exam — their candidature is liable to be rejected, so it's worth double-checking your certificates against the exact wording before applying.
Other Eligibility Conditions
- Must be a citizen of India.
- A male candidate with more than one living spouse, or a female candidate married to a man with a living spouse, is ineligible unless prior Government approval has been obtained.
- Must be mentally and physically fit, free from any defect likely to interfere with efficient discharge of duty.
Age Limit (as on the last date for application)
- Minimum Age: 18 Years
| Category | Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General Merit | 40 Years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | 43 Years |
| SC / ST / Category-1 | 45 Years |
These upper limits already reflect a one-time 5-year relaxation added under Government Order No. ಸಿಆಸು 262 ಸೇನವಿ 2025 dated 29 January 2026. Further relaxation is available for government/PSU employees, ex-servicemen, NCC instructors, Grameena Swayamsevaka Yojane volunteers, exceptionally talented candidates, Scheduled Tribes candidates from notified Karnataka communities, widows, and retrenched permanent employees, as detailed in the official notification.
Salary Details
Both posts fall under Group-C, and pay follows the Karnataka government pay matrix applicable to each post.
| Post Name | Pay Scale (₹) |
|---|---|
| Nursing Officer (Shushrushadhikari) | 54,175-1375-58,300-1500-64,300-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400 |
| Pharmacy Officer | 44,425-1125-47,800-1250-52,800-1375-58,300-1500-64,300-1650-74,200-1900-83,700 |
Selected candidates go through a 2-year probation period from the date of appointment, and NPS (National Pension Scheme) benefits apply to these posts across both the ESI Scheme and the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society.
Selection Process
Selection is based entirely on a written Competitive Examination, conducted in either CBT (online) or OMR (offline) mode.
- Paper 1 – General Knowledge (100 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours)
- Paper 2 – Subject-specific paper (100 questions, 100 marks, 2 hours; syllabus published separately)
- Minimum qualifying marks: 35%, with 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer
- Kannada Language Test (qualifying only, 150 marks, minimum 50 to pass) — required unless you've already studied Kannada up to SSLC level or cleared an equivalent Kannada test earlier
Kannada test marks don't count toward your final merit, but candidates who are absent or score below 50 are disqualified outright — so it isn't something to skip if you're required to take it.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General Merit & Categories 2A/2B/3A/3B | ₹750/- (₹500 application + ₹250 processing) |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Third Gender | ₹500/- (₹250 application + ₹250 processing) |
| Persons with Disability | ₹250/- (processing fee only) |
| Payment Mode | Online only |
The fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, once paid.
Required Documents
Keep the following ready before you start your application, since document verification will need originals plus certified proof for any category or relaxation claimed.
- SSLC or equivalent certificate/marks card (for date of birth)
- Diploma in Pharmacy / Diploma in Nursing / B.Sc Nursing certificate and mark sheets, as applicable
- Karnataka Pharmacy Council / Karnataka Nursing Council registration certificate
- Caste Certificate (Category 2A/2B/3A/3B/SC/ST/Category-1), in prescribed format, if applicable — issued specifically for employment purposes
- Kannada Medium Study Certificate or Kannada proficiency certificate, where applicable
- Rural Reservation Certificate, where applicable
- Ex-servicemen Discharge Certificate, where applicable
- Third Gender Certificate from the District Magistrate, where applicable
- Passport-size photograph (JPEG, white background, 50KB–200KB) and scanned signature (JPEG, black ink on white paper, 50KB–70KB)
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Click on the application link for Pharmacy Officer & Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026.
- Fill in the online application form carefully — no corrections are allowed once you submit.
- Upload your passport-size photograph and signature in the exact specified format and file size; incorrect uploads lead to rejection.
- Pay the applicable application fee online before 31 August 2026.
- Save the acknowledgment/fee payment receipt (chalan) until the entire recruitment process is over.
Important Instructions
- Retain your acknowledgment and original certificates, and produce them at document verification — not showing up with originals leads to rejection of candidature.
- Only candidates who apply online, appear for the exam, and secure the qualifying marks have any claim to appointment; KEA isn't bound to fill every advertised post.
- The mobile number and email ID entered in your application are treated as final — no request for change will be entertained later.
- Only caste/income certificates obtained specifically for employment purposes are valid; certificates issued for education or other benefits won't be accepted.
- Candidates claiming rural, Kannada-medium, ex-serviceman, or other special reservation/relaxation must submit proof certificates in the specified format by the application deadline.
- For queries about the notification, exam, or marks list, candidates can call the KEA helpdesk at 080-23460460 (10:00 AM–6:00 PM) — this line doesn't handle candidate-specific queries.
Why Should You Apply?
This is a solid, well-defined Group-C opportunity for Diploma Pharmacy and Nursing candidates in Karnataka, with a clear pay scale, NPS coverage, and a transparent written-exam-based selection process. With 233 posts across two notifications and a fairly accessible qualification bar, it's genuinely one of the bigger paramedical recruitment windows in the state this year.