KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026: Apply for 945 Vacancies Now

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially issued the revised KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026 Notification. This recruitment drive aims to fill 945 vacancies for Agriculture Officer (AO) and Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) positions within the Karnataka Department of Agriculture, encompassing both RPC and Kalyana Karnataka (KK) cadres, with designated horizontal reservations for PwD candidates.

Aspiring candidates seeking a career in the state agricultural sector can now apply through the official KEA website. The updated notification provides comprehensive details regarding vacancy distributions, eligibility benchmarks, crucial application timelines, exam schedules, and the structured selection process.

Download KEA AO AAO Notification PDF

The comprehensive KEA AO AAO Notification PDF serves as the definitive guide for applicants, covering vacancy breakdowns, reservation policies, examination patterns, and submission procedures. We strongly recommend reviewing these documents thoroughly before initiating your online application.

Download KEA AO AAO Official Notification PDF (RPC)

Download KEA AO AAO Official Notification PDF (KK)

KEA AO AAO Notification 2026 Overview

The KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026 represents a premier career opportunity for agriculture graduates to secure a stable Group-B government position in Karnataka, complete with competitive pay scales, professional growth, and comprehensive retirement benefits under the NPS.

KEA AO AAO Vacancy 2026

The revised recruitment notice has increased the total available positions to 945, ensuring wider accessibility for candidates across various regular, backlog, and reserved categories.

Total Vacancy Count: 945 Posts (Comprising 927 Regular/Backlog and 18 PwD reserved positions).

Important Dates

Interested candidates are urged to finalize their applications within the specified time frame to ensure successful candidature.

KEA AAO Apply Online Link

The Karnataka Examinations Authority has officially activated the online registration link for the 2026 Agriculture Officer and Assistant Agriculture Officer recruitment. Candidates may submit their forms from 30 May 2026 until 20 June 2026. We advise applicants to verify all uploaded documentation and process fee payments by 22 June 2026 to avoid last-minute technical delays.

Apply Online for KEA AO AAO Recruitment 2026

KEA AO AAO Application Process 2026

All applications must be completed via the official KEA web portal prior to the designated deadline.

1. Visit the official KEA website.
2. Complete registration using valid details.
3. Fill out the online application form carefully.
4. Upload photograph, signature, and required documents.
5. Pay the application fee online.
6. Submit the application form.
7. Download and print the application confirmation page.

KEA AO AAO Eligibility Criteria 2026

Before submitting your application, please confirm that you meet all mandatory educational qualifications and age requirements specified in the notification.

Educational Qualification

Academic degrees must be issued by an institution recognized by ICAR or AICTE. Please note that technical degrees acquired through distance or correspondence programs are not valid for this recruitment.

Educational Eligibility: 85% Category (AO & AAO)

Applicants must hold the following credentials:

• B.Sc. Agriculture, OR
• B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture

Educational Eligibility: 15% Category (AO & AAO)

Candidates are required to hold one of the following qualifications:

• B.Tech Food Science & Technology
• B.Tech Food Technology
• B.Tech Biotechnology
• B.Tech Agricultural Engineering
• B.Sc. Agricultural Marketing & Cooperation
• B.Sc. (Hons.) Agricultural Marketing & Cooperation
• B.Sc. (Hons.) Agri-Business Management
• B.Sc. Agri-Biotechnology
• Agricultural Engineering Degree

Important Notice: Applicants currently awaiting their final year or semester results are ineligible to apply.

Age Limit

The outlined age limits already incorporate the government-mandated one-time 5-year relaxation period.

Minimum Age Requirement: 18 Years.

Additional Age Relaxation

• Persons with Disabilities (PwD): Up to 10 Years
• Widows: Up to 10 Years
• Ex-Servicemen: As per service rendered
• Government Employees: As per applicable rules

KEA AO AAO Selection Process 2026

The selection procedure for the KEA recruitment is comprised of three distinct stages.

Stage 1: Competitive Written Examination

The written examination will be held in an offline OMR format. Candidates must achieve a minimum aggregate of 35% to be considered eligible for subsequent evaluation phases.

Paper 1: General Knowledge and Aptitude

Paper 2: Subject-Specific Paper

Examination Policy: Negative Marking

• 0.75 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
• If a question is left unanswered and the candidate does not mark the fifth OMR option (void answer circle), 0.75 marks will also be deducted for that question.

Stage 2: Kannada Language Test

Upon qualifying for the written examination, candidates are required to complete a Kannada language proficiency test, unless they are formally exempted.

Criteria for Kannada Test Exemption

Exemption from the Kannada language test applies to candidates meeting specific state-defined criteria.

• Studied Kannada as 1st or 2nd language in SSLC or higher education.
• Studied in Kannada medium from Class 1 to 10.
• Have already passed a government-recognized Kannada language examination.

Note: Scores achieved in the Kannada language test are qualifying in nature and are not included in the final merit calculation.

Stage 3: Document Verification

Candidates who successfully clear all required examination stages will be invited for formal document verification prior to their final appointment.

KEA AO AAO Salary 2026

Selected employees will be entitled to compensation and comprehensive benefits as stipulated by the Government of Karnataka's pay structure.

• Probation Period: Candidates appointed through this recruitment will undergo a probation period of 2 years.
• Pension Scheme: Selected candidates will be covered under the National Pension System (NPS).

KEA AO AAO Helpline Number

For any queries regarding registration, document uploads, application fees, or exam hall tickets, please reach out to the official KEA recruitment helpdesk.

Applicants should ensure their application is fully submitted by 20 June 2026 to prevent issues related to system traffic or payment processing.