KSHD Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 85 Assistant Horticulture Officer and Assistant Director 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) has released its 2026 recruitment notification on behalf of the Karnataka State Horticulture Department (KSHD), covering 85 Group-B posts of Assistant Horticulture Officer and Assistant Horticulture Director. This drive actually runs across two separate notifications — a general one covering 80 posts statewide, and a smaller one reserving 5 Assistant Horticulture Director posts for the Kalyana-Karnataka region. Online applications are open from 5 August 2026 to 30 August 2026. Here's the complete picture before you apply.
Table of Contents
About KEA & KSHD
The Karnataka Examination Authority is the state government body responsible for conducting competitive examinations and centralised recruitment for various Karnataka government departments, including this drive for the Horticulture Department. The Karnataka State Horticulture Department, in turn, works on developing and supporting horticultural agriculture across the state — fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and plantation crops — which makes Assistant Horticulture Officer and Assistant Horticulture Director genuinely technical, field-oriented government roles rather than desk postings.
KSHD Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Organization Name | Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), for Horticulture Department, Govt. of Karnataka |
|---|---|
| Notification Numbers | ADE/KEA/32/NE.V/2026 (General) & ADE/KEA/33/NE.V/2026 (Kalyana-Karnataka) |
| Post Names | Assistant Horticulture Officer, Assistant Horticulture Director |
| Total Vacancies | 85 Posts (80 General + 5 Kalyana-Karnataka) |
| Category | Govt Job (Karnataka State — Group B) |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Notification Date | 4 Aug 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 5 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 Release Date | 4 Aug 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 5 Aug 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 30 Aug 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31 Aug 2026 |
| Competitive Exam Date | Not yet announced; to be published with the exam timetable |
Vacancy Details / Notification Wise Break-up
This drive runs on two parallel notifications, so it's worth checking which one applies to you before you apply.
| Notification | Post Name | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| General Recruitment | Assistant Horticulture Officer | 75 |
| General Recruitment | Assistant Horticulture Director | 5 |
| Kalyana-Karnataka Quota (Art. 371-J) | Assistant Horticulture Director | 5 |
| Total | - | 85 |
The 5 posts under the second notification are reserved specifically for local candidates from the Kalyana-Karnataka (Hyderabad-Karnataka) region, under the special reservation rules that apply there. KEA has clarified that post-wise and category-wise numbers are provisional and may be revised as per government orders.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Assistant Horticulture Officer | Graduate degree (B.Sc.) in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by ICAR |
| Assistant Horticulture Director | Post Graduate degree in Horticulture, along with a B.Sc. in Horticulture, from a University established by law in India and accredited by ICAR |
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 include a 5-year relaxation applied for this recruitment cycle under Government Order No. CSaU 262 SEN 2025 dated 29 January 2026. Widows, ex-servicemen, government employees, and a few other specified categories get an additional relaxation of up to 10 years, as detailed in the official notification.
Salary Details
Both posts sit in Group-B, and pay follows the standard Karnataka government pay matrix for the respective post.
| Post Name | Pay Scale (₹) |
|---|---|
| Assistant Horticulture Officer | 65,950-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400-2700-1,15,600-3100-1,24,900 |
| Assistant Horticulture Director | 69,250-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400-2700-1,15,600-3100-1,34,200 |
Selected candidates go through a 2-year probation period from the date of regular appointment, and will be covered under the National Pension System (NPS).
Selection Process
Selection runs entirely through a written Competitive Examination, held in either CBT (online) or OMR (offline) mode, at KEA's discretion.
- Paper 1 – General Knowledge (100 questions, 300 marks, 2 hours)
- Paper 2 – Subject-specific Horticulture paper (100 questions, 300 marks, 2 hours)
- Minimum qualifying marks: 35%, with 0.75 marks deducted per wrong answer
- Kannada Language Test (qualifying only, 150 marks, minimum 50 to pass) — mandatory for candidates who haven't studied Kannada up to SSLC level
The Kannada test doesn't count toward your final merit score, but skipping it if you're required to take it will get you disqualified outright — so don't treat it as optional.
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 Disabilities | ₹250/- (processing fee only) |
| Payment Mode | Online only |
The fee is non-refundable once paid, under any circumstances.
Required Documents
Have the following documents ready and scanned before you sit down to fill the application.
- Aadhaar Card
- SSLC or equivalent certificate/marks card (for date of birth) or Birth Certificate
- Marks cards and certificates for all relevant educational qualifications and semesters
- Caste Certificate (SC/ST/Category-1/2A/2B/3A/3B), in prescribed format, if applicable
- Income & Caste Certificate, where applicable (only certificates issued for government employment purposes are valid)
- Rural Reservation Certificate, where applicable
- Kannada Medium Study Certificate, where applicable
- Ex-servicemen Discharge Certificate/Pension Book, where applicable
- Third Gender Certificate from the District Magistrate, where applicable
- Kalyana-Karnataka (371-J) eligibility and local candidate certificate, where applicable
- Passport-size photograph (JPEG, white background, 50KB–200KB) and scanned signature (JPEG, 50KB–70KB)
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Locate the link for KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer / Director Recruitment 2026.
- Register and fill the online application carefully — no corrections are allowed once submitted.
- Upload your photograph and signature in the exact specified format and file size.
- Pay the applicable application fee through the online payment gateway.
- Download and save the fee payment challan/receipt for future reference.
- Submit the application before 30 August 2026, and complete fee payment by 31 August 2026.
Important Instructions
- Submitting the application doesn't by itself confer any right of appointment — you still need to appear for and qualify the competitive exam.
- No changes or corrections can be made to the application after submission.
- Photograph and signature must match the exact format and size specified, or the application gets rejected.
- Original certificates must be produced for verification when called; not showing up with originals leads to cancellation of candidature.
- KEA doesn't correspond by letter — keep checking the official website and your registered mobile/email regularly for updates.
- Furnishing false information or using unfair means at any stage can lead to rejection of candidature, plus criminal and disciplinary action.
Why Should You Apply?
For Horticulture graduates and postgraduates in Karnataka, this is a fairly rare, technically-focused Group-B opening that puts your specific degree to direct use, rather than competing in a general graduate pool. With a defined pay scale, NPS coverage, and a transparent written-exam-based selection process, it's a solid long-term option for anyone genuinely interested in agricultural/horticultural government service.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many total vacancies are there in KSHD Recruitment 2026?
Ans: There are 80 posts under the general notification (75 Assistant Horticulture Officer and 5 Assistant Horticulture Director) plus 5 more Assistant Horticulture Director posts under the Kalyana-Karnataka notification — 85 in total.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for KSHD Recruitment 2026?
Ans: The online application window closes on 30 August 2026, and fee payment must be completed by 31 August 2026.
Q3. What is the educational qualification required for Assistant Horticulture Officer?
Ans: Candidates need a Graduate degree in Horticulture from a University recognised by law in India and accredited by ICAR.
Q4. What is the educational qualification required for Assistant Horticulture Director?
Ans: Candidates need a Post Graduate degree in Horticulture along with a B.Sc. in Horticulture, from a University recognised by law in India and accredited by ICAR.
Q5. What is the age limit for this recruitment?
Ans: The minimum age is 18 years, with upper limits of 40 years for General Merit, 43 years for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B, and 45 years for SC/ST/Category-1.
Q6. Is there negative marking in the KSHD competitive exam?
Ans: Yes, 0.75 marks are deducted for each wrong answer, and candidates need a minimum of 35% to qualify.
Important Links
Final Words
KSHD's 85-post recruitment is a good match for Horticulture graduates and postgraduates in Karnataka looking for a Group-B government role that actually uses their specialisation — so line up your documents and get your application in before 30 August 2026. Share this with anyone in your circle with a Horticulture degree, and join our Telegram channel above for free alerts on the next Karnataka government job notification.