The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the 2026 recruitment notification for 233 Group-C Nursing and Pharmacy Officer positions. Applications are open from August 07 to August 30, 2026, for both RPC and Kalyana-Karnataka cadres. Access the official application link below.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially invited online applications for the recruitment of 233 Group-C Nursing Officer and Pharmacy Officer positions. This drive includes vacancies under the Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Cadre. Interested candidates can apply online starting August 07, 2026, until the deadline on August 30, 2026.
To manage these diverse requirements, KEA has issued two distinct recruitment notifications. The RPC Cadre encompasses 188 available posts, while the Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre accounts for 45, totaling 233 vacancies. Applicants are advised to thoroughly review the specific eligibility criteria for their respective cadre before finalizing their submission.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 Notification Released
Released on August 06, 2026, these notifications outline the requirements for Group-C roles. Given the differences between the 188 RPC vacancies and the 45 Kalyana-Karnataka vacancies, it is crucial for candidates to verify the educational qualifications and vacancy distribution specific to their chosen cadre to ensure a successful application.
Download KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Notification 2026 PDF
The official KEA recruitment documents provide comprehensive details on age limits, application fees, exam patterns, reservation policies, and mandatory documentation. Candidates should study these guidelines closely to meet all necessary recruitment standards before submitting their applications.
Download KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Notification 2026 PDF – RPC Cadre
Download KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Notification 2026 PDF – Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre
KEA Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 Overview
Before initiating the application process, review the key recruitment highlights, including vacancy totals, critical dates, cadre differences, and the official selection methodology.
| 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 |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
KEA Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 Important Dates (Common for Both Cadre)
The application schedule remains consistent for both cadres. Candidates must ensure their online application and payment transactions are successfully completed before the established closing dates.
| Event | Date |
| Notification Released | 06 August 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 07 August 2026 |
| Closing Date for Online Application | 30 August 2026 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 31 August 2026 |
| Examination Date | To Be Announced |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Vacancy 2026 (RPC Cadre)
The Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) features 188 openings for Nursing and Pharmacy Officers, inclusive of direct recruitment, Article 371(J) roster adjustments, and backlog vacancies.
| Post Name | Vacancy Breakdown | Total Vacancies |
| Pharmacy Officer | 92 Direct + 05 Roster Adjustment + 01 Backlog | 98 |
| Nursing Officer | 72 Direct + 11 Roster Adjustment + 07 Backlog | 90 |
| Total | 164 Direct + 16 Roster + 08 Backlog | 188 |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Vacancy 2026 (Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre)
The Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Cadre provides 45 vacancies allocated across the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society and the ESIS Medical Services department.
| Department/Institution | Post Name | Vacancies |
| Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society | Nursing Officer | 23 (17 + 06 Backlog) |
| Employees State Insurance Scheme Medical Services | Pharmacy Officer | 11 (06 + 05 Backlog) |
| Employees State Insurance Scheme Medical Services | Nursing Officer | 11 (Shortfall/Roster Balance) |
| Total | — | 45 |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Apply Online 2026
The portal for online applications opened on August 07, 2026. Applicants must carefully select their cadre, input accurate personal data, upload valid documents, and settle the fee to complete the submission process.
Apply Online for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026
Steps to Apply for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026
Eligible candidates should follow the prescribed KEA guidelines to ensure their application is processed correctly.
- Visit the official KEA website.
- Open the Nursing Officer and Pharmacy Officer recruitment application link.
- Select the applicable cadre and post.
- Complete the registration using the required details.
- Enter personal, educational, category, and other information.
- Upload the photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
- Pay the applicable application fee online.
- Carefully verify all information entered in the application.
- Submit the application form.
- Download and print the final application form and fee payment details for future reference.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Application Fee 2026 (Common for Both Cadre)
The application fee structure is identical for both cadres. Please note that all fees paid via the online portal are strictly non-refundable.
| Category | Total Fee | Fee Breakdown |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | ₹750 | ₹500 Application Fee + ₹250 Processing Fee |
| SC, ST, Category-1, Ex-Servicemen, Transgender | ₹500 | ₹250 Application Fee + ₹250 Processing Fee |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | ₹250 | Processing Fee Only |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must verify that they meet the specific age and educational requirements for their chosen post, as certain criteria may vary depending on the cadre and department.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria (RPC Cadre)
Applicants for the RPC Cadre must hold the required professional degrees and maintain active registration with the relevant regulatory council.
| Post | Educational Qualification |
| Pharmacy Officer | Diploma in Pharmacy from an institution recognized by the Government of Karnataka and registration with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council |
| Nursing Officer | Diploma in General Nursing issued by an authority authorized by the Government of Karnataka and registration with the Karnataka Nursing Council |
Candidates awaiting final exam results by the application deadline are ineligible. All certificates and mark sheets must be issued on or before the final date of registration.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria (Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre)
Eligibility for the KK cadre mirrors the General/RPC requirements for Pharmacy and ESIS Nursing Officer positions, including mandatory professional registration.
The Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society has outlined specific qualification pathways for the Nursing Officer positions under their jurisdiction.
| Post | Educational Qualification |
| Pharmacy Officer – ESIS | Diploma in Pharmacy from a Government of Karnataka-recognized institution + registration with Karnataka Pharmacy Council |
| Nursing Officer – ESIS | Diploma in General Nursing from an authority authorized by Government of Karnataka + registration with Karnataka Nursing Council |
| Nursing Officer – Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society | B.Sc Nursing from a recognized university/institution recognized by the Indian/Karnataka State Nursing Council OR PUC/equivalent + GNM from a recognized institution |
Candidates for the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society must demonstrate proficiency in Kannada through SSLC/PUC studies, a degree, or by providing recognized language certificates like Kava, Jana, or Rathna.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Age Limit 2026 (Common for Both Cadre)
The minimum age requirement is 18 years as of the deadline. Upper age limits apply, incorporating the one-time five-year relaxation granted under the Government Order of January 29, 2026.
| Category | Maximum Age |
| General Merit (GM) | 40 Years |
| 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | 43 Years |
| SC, ST, Category-1 | 45 Years |
- Additional relaxation is available for eligible Ex-Servicemen, NCC Full-time Instructors, certain government employees, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, widows, and released bonded labourers as per the conditions specified in the notification.
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities are eligible for 10 years of additional age relaxation. Widows and released bonded labourers are also eligible for 10 years of relaxation subject to the required certificates.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Selection Process 2026 (Common for Both Cadre)
Selection will be determined by a competitive examination managed by KEA, which may be administered in either a Computer-Based Test (CBT) or an offline OMR format.
- Mandatory Kannada Language Test, where applicable
- Competitive Examination
- Document Verification
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Exam Pattern 2026 (Common for Both Cadre)
The selection exam consists of two papers, each containing 100 objective-type questions worth 100 marks.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | General Knowledge | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Paper 2 | Specific Paper | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
Mandatory Kannada Language Test
A qualifying Kannada Language Test is mandatory, requiring a minimum of 50 marks out of a total of 150.
- Candidates are exempted if they studied Kannada as their first or second language in SSLC or an equivalent/higher qualification, passed SSLC in Kannada Medium, or have previously passed the mandatory Kannada examination conducted by KEA/KPSC.
- The marks obtained in this test will be used only for determining eligibility and will not be considered for ranking or merit.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Salary 2026
Selected candidates will be entitled to a competitive salary package consistent with their post and cadre, ensuring pay uniformity across the Nursing and Pharmacy Officer roles.
| Post | Pay Scale |
| Nursing Officer | ₹54,175 – ₹99,400 |
| Pharmacy Officer | ₹44,425 – ₹83,700 |
FAQs
The 233 total vacancies are distributed as follows: 188 posts within the General/RPC Cadre and 45 posts designated for the Kalyana-Karnataka region.
Separate notification PDFs address the specific needs of the RPC and Kalyana-Karnataka cadres, forming the comprehensive 233-post recruitment drive.
Mark your calendars: the online application window closes on August 30, 2026, and the final date for fee payment is August 31, 2026.
For Nursing roles, candidates generally require a Government-authorized Diploma in General Nursing and valid Karnataka Nursing Council registration. Alternative qualifications, such as B.Sc Nursing, are accepted for specific society-based vacancies.
Nursing Officer appointments carry a defined pay scale ranging from ₹54,175 to ₹99,400.
Pharmacy Officer appointments carry a defined pay scale ranging from ₹44,425 to ₹83,700.