KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026 — 188 Vacancies

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is hiring 188 Nursing Officers and Pharmacy Officers for the Department of Medical Services under the Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS), Government of Karnataka. If you have a Diploma in General Nursing or a Diploma in Pharmacy, you can apply online. The last date to apply is 30 August 2026. Salary ranges from Rs. 44,425 to Rs. 99,400 per month depending on the post.

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 - 188 Posts

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released Notification No. ED/KEP/34/NP/2026 (RPC) dated 6 August 2026 to fill 188 Group-C vacancies in the Department of Medical Services under the Employees' State Insurance Scheme, Government of Karnataka. The drive covers Pharmacy Officer (98 posts) and Nursing Officer (90 posts), filled through a competitive written exam. This includes vacancies reserved under Article 371(J) for the Kalyana Karnataka region and backlog vacancies carried over from earlier years. The notification is tagged RPC, meaning it covers the general recruitment cadre across Karnataka's districts under the state's normal reservation policy, alongside the Article 371(J) and backlog quota built into the same drive. This is a large-scale hiring opportunity for Nursing and Pharmacy diploma holders looking for a stable government healthcare job.

Vacancy Breakdown

Total vacancies: 188 (164 regular + 16 Article 371(J) reserved + 8 backlog). The Pharmacy Officer post has slightly more openings than the Nursing Officer post, but both offer nearly equal opportunities, so candidates from either background should apply based on their diploma qualification.

Who Can Apply?

For Pharmacy Officer (Rs. 44,425/month):

• You must hold a Diploma in Pharmacy from an institution recognized by the Government of Karnataka.
• You must be registered with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council.

For Nursing Officer / Staff Nurse (Rs. 54,175/month):

• You must hold a Diploma in General Nursing issued by an authority authorized by the Government of Karnataka.
• You must be registered with the Karnataka Nursing Council.

Make sure your registration with the respective council is active and valid at the time of document verification, since incomplete registration can lead to rejection even if you clear the written exam.

Age Limit

• Minimum age is 18 years as on the last date of application.
• Maximum age for General category candidates is 40 years (this includes a 5-year relaxation granted under Government Order CiAsu 262 dated 29 January 2026).
• Age Relaxation: Category 2A/2B/3A/3B candidates can apply up to 43 years; SC/ST and Category-1 candidates up to 45 years.

Salary

• Pharmacy Officer: Rs. 44,425 to Rs. 83,700 per month.
• Nursing Officer: Rs. 54,175 to Rs. 99,400 per month.
• You will also get the benefit of the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
• Selected candidates will serve a 2-year probation period before being confirmed in the post.

Application Fee

• General and 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)
• PwBD candidates: Rs. 250 (processing fee only)
• Payment mode: Online only. Fee once paid is non-refundable, so double-check your category and eligibility before you pay.

Selection Process

The selection will be done in 2 stages:

1. Competitive Written Exam: Paper-1 (General Knowledge) — 100 questions for 100 marks in 2 hours, and Paper-2 (Subject Paper) — 100 questions for 100 marks in 2 hours. You need at least 35% marks to qualify, and there is negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer.
2. Kannada Language Test: A qualifying test of 150 marks for candidates who have not studied Kannada up to SSLC level as first or second language; you need at least 50 marks to pass this test. If you have already cleared a Kannada qualifying test conducted by KEA before, you are exempted from taking it again.

How to Apply

1. Go to the KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
2. Click the online application link for Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026 (RPC).
3. Fill in your personal, educational, and category details carefully — corrections are not allowed after submission.
4. Upload the required documents and photo in the prescribed format.
5. Pay the application fee online through the payment gateway.
6. Submit the form and save the printout for future reference.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 6 August 2026
• Online Application Start: 7 August 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online: 30 August 2026
• Last Date for Fee Payment: 31 August 2026
• Exam Date: To be announced

• Provide nursing care and assist with patient treatment at ESI hospitals and dispensaries
• Dispense medicines and maintain pharmacy stock records
• Maintain accurate patient and medicine records
• Follow infection control and hospital safety protocols
• Assist doctors during rounds, procedures, and emergencies
• Counsel patients on medicine usage and dosage
• Work in shifts including night duty as required