What's in this article?
The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has released an official notification for the recruitment of Agriculture Officer (AO) and Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) in the Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka. A total of 890 vacancies are available for Group-B posts. Eligible candidates with a degree in Agriculture or Allied Sciences can apply online through the official KEA website starting from 19 April 2026.
KEA Agriculture Recruitment 2026 Overview
ProJobAlert.com |
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|---|---|
| KEA Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer Recruitment 2026 Advertisement No.:- 18.04.2026 | |
| Recruitment Authority | Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) |
| Post Name | Agriculture Officer & Assistant Agriculture Officer |
| Total Vacancies | 890 |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Start Date to Apply | 19 April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 10 May 2026 |
| Qualification | B.Sc / B.Tech in Agriculture & Allied Subjects |
| Age Limit | 18 to 40-45 Years |
| Selection Process | Competitive Exam (Paper 1 & 2) + Kannada Language Test |
| Salary | Rs. 65,950 to Rs. 1,34,200 |
| Application Fees |
General/2A/2B/3A/3B: Rs. 750/- SC/ST/Cat-1/Ex-SM: Rs. 500/- PwD: Rs. 250/- |
| Application Mode | Online Via Website (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/) |
| Syllabus & PYQs PDF | Download PDF |
| Official Notification | Download PDF |
| Official Website | KEA Official Website |
| 👉 Apply Online Now | |
Important Date
- Notification Released: 18 April 2026
- Application Start: 19 April 2026
- Last Date to Apply Online: 10 May 2026
- Last Date to Pay Fee: 12 May 2026
- Kannada Language Exam: 06 June 2026
- Competitive Exam (Paper 1 & 2): 07 June 2026
- Admit Card: To be announced
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 18 Years
- Maximum Age (General): 40 Years
- Age Relaxation (As per Government Rules):
- 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B Candidates: 43 Years
- SC, ST, Category-1: 45 Years
- PwD / Widow Candidates: 10 Years extra relaxation
- Note: Age is calculated as of the last date of application. A one-time relaxation of 5 years has been included as per Govt Order dated 29.01.2026.
Application Fees
- General Merit and Others (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B): Rs. 750/-
- SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-SM / Transgender: Rs. 500/-
- Persons with Disability (PwD): Rs. 250/-
- Additional Post (Same Syllabus): Rs. 100/- extra
Qualification
- Agriculture Officer (85% Quota): B.Sc (Agriculture) or B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture.
- Agriculture Officer (15% Quota): B.Tech (Food Science/Tech), B.Sc (Agri Marketing), B.Sc (Agri Business Mgmt), B.Sc/B.Tech (Biotechnology), or B.Sc/B.Tech (Agricultural Engineering).
- Assistant Agriculture Officer: Same as above for respective 85% and 15% quotas.
Full Eligibility
Candidates must possess a degree from a university recognized by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) or AICTE. Degrees obtained through distance education or correspondence without recognition are not eligible. Candidates awaiting results are also ineligible to apply.
| Post Name | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Officer (85% Quota) | B.Sc. (Agri) or B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture from ICAR/AICTE recognized University. |
| Agriculture Officer (15% Quota) | B.Tech (Food Tech), B.Sc (Agri Marketing), B.Sc (Hons) Agri-Business Management, B.Sc (Agri Biotech), B.Tech (Biotech), B.Sc (Agri Engg), or B.Tech (Agri Engg). |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer (85%) | B.Sc. (Agri) or B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture. |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer (15%) | B.Tech (Food Tech), B.Sc (Agri Marketing), B.Sc (Hons) Agri-Business Management, B.Sc (Agri Biotech), B.Tech (Biotech), B.Sc (Agri Engg), or B.Tech (Agri Engg). |
Salary Structure
Selected candidates will be placed in the 2024 Revised State Pay Scale. The posts carry an attractive salary with a probation period of 2 years before permanent confirmation.
| Post Name | Pay Scale (INR) |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Officer (AO) | Rs. 69,250 – Rs. 1,34,200 |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) | Rs. 65,950 – Rs. 1,24,900 |
- Probation: 2 Years for both AO and AAO posts.
- Pension: National Pension System (NPS) as per Govt rules.
Selection Process
The recruitment process for KEA Agri Officers is based on performance in a Competitive Written Examination followed by document verification.
- Kannada Language Test: Mandatory qualifying test (150 Marks).
- Paper 1 (General Paper): Objective type (300 Marks).
- Paper 2 (Specific Paper): Subject-related (300 Marks).
- Document Verification: Merit-based selection from written scores.
Exam Pattern
The KEA Competitive Exam will be conducted in Offline-OMR mode in Bengaluru and Dharwad centers. There is negative marking for incorrect answers.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kannada Test | Mandatory Qualifying Kannada (SSLC Level) | 150 | 2 Hours |
| Paper-1 | General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Science, History, Geography, Constitution. | 300 | 2 Hours |
| Paper-2 | Specific Subject (Agriculture/Agri-Engg/Biotech etc.) | 300 | 2 Hours |
- Negative Marking: 0.25 (1/4th) i.e., 0.75 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer.
- Qualifying Marks: Minimum 35% marks in competitive exams and 50 marks in Kannada test required.
- OMR Rule: Candidates must shade the 5th circle if they do not wish to answer a question. Failure to do so leads to 0.75 marks deduction.
Post / Category Wise Vacancy
The total vacancies are distributed among Agriculture Officers and Assistant Agriculture Officers including backlogs and current openings across Karnataka.
| Post Description | Quota | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture Officer | 85% Quota | 67 + 2 (Backlog) + 20 |
| Agriculture Officer | 15% Quota | 12 |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer | 85% Quota | 468 |
| Assistant Agriculture Officer | 15% Quota | 83 |
| Total Vacancies | - | 890 |
Job Profile & Responsibility
Officers will be responsible for implementing government agriculture schemes, providing technical guidance to farmers, and managing agricultural activities at the taluka or district levels in Karnataka.
- Monitor and report on crop conditions and soil health.
- Ensure the distribution of subsidies and high-quality seeds/fertilizers.
- Conduct awareness programs and field demonstrations for modern farming techniques.
- Collaborate with local administrative bodies for rural agricultural development.
How To Apply
Candidates must apply online through the KEA portal. No physical applications will be accepted. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a valid submission.
- Visit the official KEA website: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
- Click on the Recruitment tab and select "Agriculture Dept Recruitment 2026".
- Register using your basic details and generate login credentials.
- Fill out the application form with personal and educational details.
- Upload your Recent Photograph (50-200KB) and Signature (50-70KB) in JPEG format.
- Pay the application fee via the Online Payment Gateway.
- Review all information and Submit the form.
- Download and print the Final Application Form for future reference.
Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Download Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Latest Govt Jobs 2026 | Click Here |
| All India Govt Jobs | Click Here |
| Karnataka Jobs | Click Here |
| KA Engineering Jobs | Click Here |
| Home Page | Click Here |
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for KEA Agri Officer Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 10 May 2026, and the fee payment deadline is 12 May 2026.
Is there negative marking in the KEA Agri Exam?
Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.75 marks (1/4th) for every incorrect answer in Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Can final year students apply for these posts?
No, candidates must have completed their degree and possess the marks card/degree certificate on or before the last date of application.
What is the salary for Assistant Agriculture Officers?
The revised pay scale for Assistant Agriculture Officers is Rs. 65,950 – Rs. 1,24,900 per month.
Who is exempt from the Kannada Language Test?
Candidates who studied Kannada as a 1st or 2nd language in SSLC or higher exams, or studied in Kannada medium, are exempt from the mandatory Kannada test.
How many total vacancies are announced?
A total of 890 vacancies have been announced for AO and AAO posts in the Karnataka Agriculture Department.
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