Ensure you meet the official KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer eligibility criteria for 2026, including specific educational requirements, age limits, and professional registration mandates for these 233 Group-C government positions.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially released the eligibility criteria for 233 Group-C Nursing and Pharmacy Officer posts. To successfully apply for roles within the ESI Scheme Medical Services and associated institutions, candidates must strictly adhere to the defined age limits, educational qualifications, and professional certification requirements.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026
Eligibility requirements vary based on the specific post and recruitment cadre. The current KEA Recruitment initiative encompasses 188 vacancies under the Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and 45 vacancies reserved for the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Cadre.
| Particulars | Details |
| Recruiting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru |
| Department/Institutions | ESI Scheme Medical Services Department & concerned Government institutions |
| Posts | Nursing Officer & Pharmacy Officer |
| Total Vacancies | 233 Posts |
| General/RPC Cadre Vacancies | 188 Posts |
| Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre Vacancies | 45 Posts |
| General/RPC Notification No. | ED/KEA/34/Recruitment/2026(RPC) |
| Kalyana-Karnataka Notification No. | ED/KEA/35/Recruitment/2026(KK) |
| Notification Date | 06 August 2026 |
| Recruitment Type | Direct Recruitment |
| Selection Method | Competitive Examination |
| Exam Mode | CBT/Offline OMR |
| Online Application Starts | 07 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 30 August 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Job Type | Group-C Government Posts |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026: Educational Qualification
Applicants must possess all necessary educational credentials by the application deadline. Please note that qualification standards can fluctuate depending on the specific post and the hiring government institution.
Educational Qualification – RPC Cadre
For the RPC cadre, Pharmacy Officer candidates are required to hold a Diploma in Pharmacy. Nursing Officer applicants must provide proof of their GNM qualification alongside valid professional state nursing registration.
| Post | Educational Qualification | Registration |
| Pharmacy Officer – ESIS Medical Services Department | Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) from an institution recognized by the Government of Karnataka | Karnataka Pharmacy Council |
| Nursing Officer – ESIS Medical Services Department | Diploma in General Nursing (GNM) issued by an authority authorized by the Government of Karnataka | Karnataka Nursing Council |
- Candidates awaiting their final examination results on the last date of application are not eligible. All required mark sheets, passing certificates, and educational documents must be obtained on or before the application deadline.
Educational Qualification – KK Cadre
While Pharmacy and Nursing Officer criteria for the ESIS Medical Services remain consistent, please be aware that Nursing Officer positions under KREIS offer additional educational pathways for eligible candidates.
| Post/Institution | Required Qualification |
| Pharmacy Officer – ESIS Medical Services Department | Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) from an institution recognized by the Government of Karnataka |
| Nursing Officer – ESIS Medical Services Department | Diploma in General Nursing (GNM) issued by an authority authorized by the Government of Karnataka |
| Nursing Officer – KREIS | B.Sc. Nursing from a recognized university/institution recognized by INC or KSNC OR PUC/equivalent along with GNM from an institution recognized by INC/KSNC |
- For Pharmacy Officer posts, candidates must be registered with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council. Nursing Officer candidates under ESIS must have registration with the Karnataka Nursing Council.
- Candidates whose final results are awaited on the closing date of applications will not be considered eligible.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit
The age limit guidelines apply uniformly across both RPC and KK cadres. Age is calculated as of the application closing date, inclusive of the government-mandated five-year general age relaxation.
| Category | Maximum Age Limit |
| Minimum Age | 18 Years |
| General Merit (GM) | 40 Years |
| 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | 43 Years |
| SC, ST, Category-1 | 45 Years |
Upper Age Relaxation
Specialized age relaxations are available for candidates from specific service backgrounds or reserved categories. Refer to the detailed breakdown below to confirm your eligibility status.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| Karnataka State Government/Corporation/Local Body Employees | Number of years in service or 10 years, whichever is less |
| Ex-Servicemen | Military service period + 3 years |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 10 years |
| Widows | 10 years |
| Released Bonded Labourers | 10 years |
| Full-time NCC Cadet Instructors | Number of years served as instructor |
| Census Department Employees in Karnataka | Number of years in service or 5 years, whichever is less |
| Village Group Inspectors under Rural Industrialization Scheme | Number of years in service |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026: Domicile Eligibility
Candidates are encouraged to verify their cadre-specific status, as the Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) categories have distinct local residence and eligibility mandates.
RPC Cadre
- The Residual Parent Cadre is open to candidates who fulfill the prescribed eligibility conditions.
- There is no separate local eligibility certificate requirement for applying under the RPC cadre.
KK Cadre
- Candidates claiming reservation or local cadre benefits under the Kalyana-Karnataka quota must fulfill the requirements under Article 371(J).
- They must possess a valid Eligibility Certificate (Annexure-A / ನಮೂನೆ ‘ಎ’) issued by the Assistant Commissioner of the concerned Revenue Sub-Division.
Other Important Eligibility Requirements
In addition to academic and age requirements, all applicants must satisfy the overarching administrative eligibility conditions set forth by the KEA, which apply universally to both recruitment cadres.
| Eligibility Condition | Requirement |
| Citizenship | Candidate must be an Indian citizen |
| Health & Physical Fitness | Must be of sound mental and bodily health and free from physical defects likely to interfere with duties |
| Result Awaited | Candidates awaiting final examination results on the last date of application are not eligible |
| Debarment | Candidates debarred by UPSC, KPSC, KEA, or any University may be disqualified |
| Criminal Conviction | Candidates convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude are ineligible |
| Male Candidates | A male candidate having more than one living spouse is ineligible without prior government permission |
| Female Candidates | A female candidate who has married a person already having a living wife is ineligible without prior government permission |
Compulsory Kannada Language Test Eligibility
- The Compulsory Kannada Language Examination requirement depends on the candidate’s previous Kannada language qualification. Certain candidates are exempted from appearing in the examination.
- Candidates who have studied Kannada as a first or second language in SSLC or an equivalent/higher examination, studied in Kannada medium, or previously passed the departmental/KEA/KPSC Compulsory Kannada Examination are exempted.
- Candidates who are not exempted must appear for the 150-mark Compulsory Kannada Language Examination and secure a minimum of 50 marks to qualify for selection.
FAQs
Pharmacy Officer applicants must hold a Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) from a Karnataka Government-recognized institution and maintain an active registration with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council.
Nursing Officer candidates must hold a Diploma in General Nursing (GNM) from an authority recognized by the Government of Karnataka and must be actively registered with the Karnataka Nursing Council.
Candidates must hold either a B.Sc. Nursing degree recognized by INC/KSNC or a PUC qualification supplemented by a GNM diploma from an INC/KSNC-approved institution.
The mandatory minimum age for all applicants to participate in this recruitment process is 18 years.
The maximum age limit is 40 years for General Merit candidates, 43 years for 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B categories, and 45 years for SC, ST, and Category-1 applicants.