Karnataka Prisons Dept Recruitment 2026 — 869 Posts, Apply by 15 Oct

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, on behalf of the Karnataka Prisons and Reforms Services Department, has released two related notifications — No. ED/KEA/22/Ne.Vi/2026(R.P.C.) for the general/Rest-of-State cadre and No. ED/KEA/23/Ne.Vi/2026(K.K.) for the Kalyana Karnataka cadre — for 869 combined base-cadre posts: 5 Jailor, 835 Warder (Vikshakaru), 5 Warder cum Nursing, and 24 Second Grade Teacher/Instructor Grade-II. Candidates aged 20 to 31 years (General) or up to 33 years (SC/ST/Category-1/2A/2B/3A/3B), holding SSLC for most posts or a Bachelor's Degree for Jailor, can apply online at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in from 19 September 2026 to 15 October 2026. Selected candidates will serve within Karnataka's prison and correctional system, undergoing mandatory basic training before confirmation. The selection process is a Competitive Written Examination (100 marks, OMR-based), followed by a Physical Standard Test and Endurance Test (1:5 shortlisting ratio), Document Verification, and Medical Examination. Pay scale for Karnataka Prisons Department Recruitment 2026 ranges from ₹34,100–₹67,600 (Warder cum Nursing) to ₹61,300–₹1,12,900 (Jailor), with an application fee of ₹750 (General Merit/2A/2B/3A/3B) and ₹500 (SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-Servicemen/Third Gender). Candidates for Karnataka Prisons Department Recruitment 2026 must visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/, select the relevant cadre notification (R.P.C. or K.K.), fill in personal, educational and category details, upload documents, pay the applicable fee, and submit before 15 October 2026 (fee payment by 16 October 2026). Candidates must read the complete official notification PDF before applying, since candidates who did not study Kannada as a first-language subject in SSLC must clear a separate Kannada Language Test (minimum 50/150 marks) even if otherwise selected, and the written exam is scheduled for 21 November 2026.

Warder/Warder cum Nursing/Instructor Gr-II: SSLC (10th) pass, with Instructor additionally requiring a technical trade Diploma/Certificate and Warder cum Nursing requiring First Aid certification. Jailor: Bachelor's Degree (Sociology/Psychology/Criminology preferred).

Minimum 20 years; maximum 31 years (General), 33 years (SC/ST/Category-1/2A/2B/3A/3B)

Jailor, Kalyana Karnataka cadre only (5 posts) — Bachelor's Degree or equivalent; preference for Sociology/Psychology/Criminology/Correctional Administration graduates; pay ₹61,300–₹1,12,900 Warder (Vikshakaru), General/R.P.C. cadre (560 posts) + Kalyana Karnataka cadre (275 posts) = 835 posts total — SSLC (10th) pass or equivalent; pay ₹37,500–₹76,100 Second Grade Teacher/Instructor Grade-II, General cadre (16 posts) + Kalyana Karnataka cadre (8 posts) = 24 posts total — SSLC pass + Diploma/Certificate in Mechanical/Electrical/Carpentry/Tailoring/Textile/Weaving/Carpet-making from a Government-recognised institution; pay ₹37,500–₹76,100 Warder cum Nursing, Kalyana Karnataka cadre only (5 posts) — SSLC pass + First Aid certificate; pay ₹34,100–₹67,600 Kannada Language Requirement — Candidates who studied Kannada as first/second language in SSLC, or through Kannada medium, are exempt; others must clear a separate Kannada Language Test (minimum 50/150 marks) or forfeit appointment even if otherwise selected Age Limit — Minimum 20 years, as on closing date; maximum 31 years (General Merit), 33 years (SC/ST/Category-1/2A/2B/3A/3B); Ex-Servicemen get 3 years' relaxation plus length of military service rendered Physical Standards (PST) — Men/Ex-Servicemen: minimum height 168 cm, chest 86 cm (unexpanded), 5 cm expansion; Women/Third Gender: minimum height 157 cm, minimum weight 46 kg Endurance Test — Qualifying, minimum 3 of 5 events must be cleared: 100m race, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, and 800m (Men)/200m (Women/Third Gender/Ex-Servicemen), with category-specific time/distance standards Medical Standards — Specific vision, hearing, and musculoskeletal standards apply (disqualifying conditions include colour blindness, night blindness, squint, varicose veins, Knock Knees, Flat Foot) Job Type — Regular Karnataka Government service; 2-year probation; National Pension Scheme (NPS) applicable Selection Process — Competitive Written Examination (100 marks, OMR) → PST & Endurance Test (1:5 shortlist ratio) → Document Verification → Medical Examination

Jailor: ₹61,300 – ₹1,12,900 per month Warder, Instructor Grade-II: ₹37,500 – ₹76,100 per month Warder cum Nursing: ₹34,100 – ₹67,600 per month

1. Visit the official KEA website, https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
2. Read the detailed notification thoroughly, then click the link for your relevant cadre — General/R.P.C. or Kalyana Karnataka/K.K.
3. Fill in all personal, educational and category details carefully — data cannot be changed after submission.
4. Upload the required documents and pay the application fee online.
5. Submit the application on or before 15 October 2026.
6. Complete fee payment before 16 October 2026.
7. Download your Hall Ticket/Admit Card from the KEA website closer to the exam date.
8. Report to the allotted exam centre with a valid original photo ID on 21 November 2026.
9. If applicable, prepare for and clear the Kannada Language Test within the specified timeframe after selection.