The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has released the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026 Notification on its official website i.e. cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. KEA has issued two notifications on the same day (6th August 2026) for the posts of Pharmacy Officer and Nursing Officer (Shushrupadhikari) — one covering base-cadre vacancies in the ESI (Karmika Rajya Vima Yojane) Medical Services Department, and a second, separate notification covering Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) region cadre vacancies across the ESI Medical Services Department and the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society.
Put together, the two notifications cover 233 vacancies. The application window for both is open from 7th to 30th August 2026. The KEA exam date will be announced later. Read the article below to know more about KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Notification 2026 Out @cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
The KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Notification 2026 is out on the official website in two parts. Candidates can apply for these posts on the official website only. Before filling the application forms, aspirants are advised to read both official notifications carefully, as they contain information about eligibility criteria, exam pattern, selection process, fee and other requirements. Candidates need to fulfil the eligibility criteria before filling the forms, otherwise their application forms will be rejected.
Notification 2026 PDF
Two notification PDFs have been released, both dated 06-08-2026:
| Notification | Number [Downlaod] |
|---|---|
| Main (RPC) Notification | ED/KEA/34/Ne.Vi/2026(RPC) |
| Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Notification | ED/KEA/35/Ne.Vi/2026(KK) |
Both notifications carry vacancy details, eligibility, age limit, application fee, exam pattern and selection process. Candidates can download the PDFs from the official KEA website. The last date to apply under both notifications is 30th August 2026.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026: Overview
The KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026 offers government jobs under the ESI Scheme Medical Services and the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society. Candidates can apply for either post based on their qualifications and region eligibility. Check the important details below.
| KEA Nursing & Pharmacy 2026 Recruitment Overview | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) |
| Recruiting Departments | ESI Medical Services (Karmika Rajya Vima Yojane); Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society |
| Notification Numbers | 34/2026(RPC) and 35/2026(KK) |
| Notification Date | 6th August 2026 |
| Total Vacancies (combined) | 233 |
| Application Start Date | 7th August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 30th August 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31st August 2026 |
| Selection Process | Written Competitive Exam, Document Verification |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
How to Apply for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026?
The steps to apply for the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026 are given below. Applications for both notifications are submitted the same way, only through the official KEA website.
- Go to the official KEA website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Click on the online application link relevant to the notification (RPC or KK) you are eligible for.
- Complete the registration process.
- Fill in personal, educational and category details.
- Upload a recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, 50KB–200KB) and signature (JPEG, 50KB–70KB).
- Upload required certificates as per the specified format.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Submit the application form and download the confirmation/printout for future reference.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026: Important Dates
Candidates should remember all important dates to avoid missing any event. Both notifications share the same schedule.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 6th August 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 7th August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 30th August 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31st August 2026 |
| Competitive Exam Date | To be announced later |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Vacancy 2026
Check Details Below:
1. Main (RPC) Notification — ESI Medical Services base cadre: 188 posts
| Post Name | Regular | KK-Region Roster Compensation (ಕೈ) | Backlog (ಹಿಂ) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Officer | 92 | 5 | 1 | 98 |
| Nursing Officer (Shushrupadhikari) | 72 | 11 | 7 | 90 |
| Total | 164 | 16 | 8 | 188 |
2. Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Notification — KK-region cadre: 45 posts
| Department | Post Name | Regular | KK Roster Compensation (ಕೈ)† | Backlog (ಹಿಂ) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society | Nursing Officer (Shushrupadhikari) | 17 | – | 6 | 23 |
| ESI Medical Services | Pharmacy Officer | 6 | 5† | – | 11 |
| ESI Medical Services | Nursing Officer (Shushrupadhikari) | – | 11† | – | 11 |
| Total | 23 | 16 | 6 | 45 |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Selection Process 2026
The KEA recruitment process is based on a competitive written examination, common to both notifications. Candidates must qualify the exam and clear document verification to be appointed.
Kannada Language Test Candidates who have not studied Kannada as first or second language up to SSLC, or have not passed an equivalent Kannada proficiency test, must appear for a qualifying Kannada Language Test of 150 marks (objective type), with a minimum of 50 marks required to qualify.
Written Competitive Examination The exam consists of two papers — General Knowledge and a subject-specific paper — conducted in online (CBT) or offline (OMR) mode.
Document Verification Candidates must produce original certificates for verification at the notified time before final selection.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Eligibility 2026
Before applying, candidates should check the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy eligibility criteria applicable to the post and notification they are applying under.
| KEA Eligibility Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Maximum Age (General) | 40 years |
| Maximum Age (Category 2A/2B/3A/3B) | 43 years |
| Maximum Age (SC/ST/Category-1) | 45 years |
| Qualification – Pharmacy Officer | Diploma in Pharmacy from a Karnataka Government–recognized institution; registered with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council |
| Qualification – Nursing Officer (ESI Medical Services, both notifications) | Diploma in General Nursing issued by a Karnataka Government–authorised authority; registered with the Karnataka Nursing Council |
| Qualification – Nursing Officer (Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society, KK Notification only) | B.Sc Nursing from a recognized university and institution (recognized by the Indian Nursing Council/Karnataka State Nursing Council) OR PUC/equivalent plus a GNM course from an institution recognized by the Indian Nursing Council/Karnataka State Nursing Council; candidate must additionally have studied Kannada as a language subject at PG, degree, PUC, SSLC or Diploma level, or hold a Kannada certificate (Kavi/Jana/Ratna) from the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board/Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bengaluru |
| Probation Period | 2 years |
| Citizenship | Indian citizen |
| KK Notification – Region Eligibility | Candidates applying under the KK notification must submit a local-candidate eligibility certificate for the Kalyana-Karnataka region as per the applicable 371(J) rules |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Salary 2026
Selected candidates get salaries as per the Karnataka government pay matrix, applicable identically under both notifications. In addition to basic pay, employees also get allowances and other government benefits, including coverage under the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
| Post | Pay Scale (₹) |
|---|---|
| Nursing Officer (Shushrupadhikari) | 54,175 – 99,400 |
| Pharmacy Officer | 44,425 – 83,700 |
Application Fee 2026
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General & Category 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) |
| Special Chetana (PWD) Candidates | ₹250 (processing fee only) |
FAQs
Q1. When was the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Notification 2026 released?
Both notifications — the RPC (main) notification and the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) notification — were released on 6th August 2026.
Q2. How many vacancies are announced under KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026?
The RPC notification covers 188 base-cadre posts, and the KK notification covers 45 Kalyana-Karnataka cadre posts, taking the combined total to 233 vacancies.
Q3. What is the last date to apply online for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application under both notifications is 30th August 2026, and the last date for fee payment is 31st August 2026.
Q4. What is the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer exam date 2026?
The competitive examination date will be announced later on the official website.
Q5. What is the application fee for General category candidates?
General category candidates have to pay ₹750.
Q6. What is the age limit for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer posts?
The minimum age is 18 years; the maximum age is 40 years for general candidates, 43 years for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B, and 45 years for SC/ST/Category-1 candidates.
Q7. Who can apply under the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) notification?
Candidates who hold a valid local-candidate eligibility certificate for the Kalyana-Karnataka region under the applicable Article 371(J) rules can apply under the KK notification (No. 35/2026).
Q8. Is the qualification the same for all Nursing Officer posts?
No. Nursing Officer posts under ESI Medical Services (in both notifications) require a Diploma in General Nursing. Nursing Officer posts under the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KK notification only) require a B.Sc Nursing degree, or PUC plus a GNM qualification, along with proof of having studied Kannada as a language subject.