KEA Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 — 80 Vacancies

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is hiring 80 Assistant Horticulture Officers and Assistant Directors of Horticulture for the state's Horticulture Department. If you have a Graduate or Postgraduate degree in Horticulture from an ICAR-accredited university, you can apply online. The last date to apply is 30 August 2026. Salary ranges from Rs. 65,950 to Rs. 1,34,200 per month depending on the post, and you must be between 18 and 40 years old (with relaxation for reserved categories).

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) Horticulture Recruitment 2026 - 80 Posts

KEA has released notification No. ED/KEA/32/RECT/2026 (RPC), dated 4 August 2026, for direct recruitment to 80 vacant Group-B posts in the residual cadre of the Karnataka Horticulture Department. These posts will be filled through a competitive written examination conducted by KEA on behalf of the Horticulture Department. KEA is the nodal agency that conducts entrance tests and recruitment examinations for several Karnataka government departments every year, so you can expect a transparent, exam-based selection process. This RPC (Rest of the State) notification covers posts outside the Kalyana Karnataka reservation quota — a separate KK notification covers the Kalyana Karnataka quota for the same posts. This is a rare direct recruitment drive for horticulture graduates looking for a stable state government career with pension benefits, and both freshers and experienced candidates with the required ICAR-accredited degree can apply.

Vacancy Breakdown

Post-wise and category-wise reservation details are published separately by the Horticulture Department and may be revised from time to time.

Who Can Apply?

For Assistant Horticulture Officer (75 posts):

• You must be a Graduate in Horticulture from a university established by law in India, accredited by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).

For Assistant Director of Horticulture (5 posts):

• You must hold a Postgraduate degree in Horticulture along with a B.Sc in Horticulture from an ICAR-accredited university.

You must have your degree marksheet and certificate in hand by the last date of application — candidates still waiting for their final results are not eligible to apply, and no other qualification will be considered.

As an Assistant Horticulture Officer or Assistant Director, you will work within the Horticulture Department's field offices, supporting farmers and implementing state horticulture schemes across Karnataka. This is a field-based government role suited to candidates who enjoy working directly with the farming community.

Age Limit

• You should be at least 18 years old as on the last date for submitting the application.
• Maximum age is 40 years for general merit candidates, 43 years for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B candidates, and 45 years for SC/ST/Category-1 candidates. This already includes a one-time 5-year relaxation granted by government order dated 29 January 2026.
• Age Relaxation: Karnataka government or local authority employees get relaxation equal to their years of service, up to a maximum of 10 years. Ex-servicemen get their service period plus an additional 3 years.

Salary

• Assistant Horticulture Officer: Rs. 65,950 to Rs. 1,24,900 per month.
• Assistant Director of Horticulture: Rs. 69,250 to Rs. 1,34,200 per month.
• Both posts come under the National Pension Scheme (NPS). You will also get DA, HRA and other allowances as per Karnataka government rules.

Application Fee

• General / Category 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B: Rs. 750 (Rs. 500 application fee + Rs. 250 processing fee)
• SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-servicemen / Third Gender: Rs. 500 (Rs. 250 application fee + Rs. 250 processing fee)
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Rs. 250 (processing fee only)
• Payment mode: Online only. The fee once paid is non-refundable.

Selection Process

KEA will select candidates through the following stages:

1. Competitive Written Exam: Conducted in Online (CBT) or Offline OMR mode, entirely in Kannada. There are two papers of 100 questions for 300 marks each, with 2 hours per paper — Paper 1 covers General Knowledge and Paper 2 is subject-specific to your post.
2. Kannada Language Test: Required only if you have not studied Kannada up to SSLC level or higher. You need at least 50 out of 150 marks to qualify.
3. Document Verification: You must bring your original certificates for verification.

You need a minimum of 35% marks in the competitive exam to qualify for the merit list. Every wrong answer carries a negative marking of 0.75 marks.

How to Apply

1. Go to the KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.
2. Open the Horticulture Recruitment 2026 online application link.
3. Register yourself and fill in your personal and qualification details.
4. Upload your photo, signature and required documents.
5. Pay the application fee online.
6. Submit the form and download a copy for your records.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 4 August 2026
• Online Application Start: 5 August 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 30 August 2026
• Last Date for Fee Payment: 31 August 2026
• Exam Date: To be announced

• Inspect and monitor horticulture farms, nurseries and orchards in your assigned area
• Guide farmers on modern cultivation techniques for fruits, vegetables and flowers
• Implement state government horticulture development schemes and subsidy programs
• Maintain records of crop area, yield and plantation activities
• Conduct field surveys and prepare reports on pest control and soil health
• Coordinate with district officials for horticulture project execution
• Organize training programs and farmer awareness camps
• Supervise junior horticulture staff and verify field data