KEA Nursing Officer & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 — 233 Posts, Apply by 30 Aug

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, has released two combined notifications dated 6 August 2026 inviting online applications for 233 Group-C posts — Pharmacy Officer and Nursing Officer (Shushrushadhikari) — across the ESI Scheme Medical Services Department and, under a separate Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) notification covering Article 371(J) reserved posts, the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society and allied ESI departments. This KEA Nursing Officer and Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 splits into 188 posts under the general RPC notification (98 Pharmacy Officer, 90 Nursing Officer) and 45 posts under the Kalyana-Karnataka notification, reflecting Karnataka's constitutional commitment to additional development and job reservation for the historically underdeveloped Kalyana-Karnataka region. Eligibility differs meaningfully by post and notification: Pharmacy Officer requires a Diploma in Pharmacy registered with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council, while Nursing Officer eligibility varies between a straightforward Diploma in General Nursing (Karnataka Nursing Council registration) for most posts, and a more flexible B.Sc. Nursing or PUC-plus-GNM route specifically for the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society post under the KK notification. Selection for this KEA Recruitment 2026 runs through a genuinely rigorous two-paper competitive written examination — Paper-1 covering General Knowledge and Paper-2 covering the post-specific subject, each 100 questions/100 marks over 2 hours with 0.25-mark negative marking — plus a mandatory minimum 35% qualifying score, and a separate Kannada language qualifying test (SSLC-standard, 150 marks, 50 marks to pass) for candidates who haven't already demonstrated Kannada proficiency through their educational background. Online applications opened on 7 August 2026 and close on 30 August 2026, with fee payment permitted until 31 August 2026 — one extra day beyond the application deadline. Pay for selected candidates ranges from Rs. 44,425–83,700 per month for Pharmacy Officer to Rs. 54,175–99,400 per month for Nursing Officer, both under a 2-year probation period with NPS coverage. Candidates should read the complete official KEA notification PDF carefully before applying, since no correction or modification is permitted after submission, and incorrect eligibility, category, or qualification details entered at application stage can lead to disqualification even after the exam.

Pharmacy Officer: Diploma in Pharmacy from an institution recognised by the Government of Karnataka, with registration under the Karnataka Pharmacy Council. Nursing Officer (RPC notification and ESI department posts under KK notification): Diploma in General Nursing issued by an authority authorised by the Government of Karnataka, with registration under the Karnataka Nursing Council. Nursing Officer (Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society post under KK notification): B.Sc. Nursing degree from a university/institution recognised by the Indian Nursing Council/Karnataka State Nursing Council, or PUC/equivalent plus General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) from an institution recognised by the Indian Nursing Council/Karnataka State Nursing Council. All candidates must have studied Kannada as a language subject at PG, Bachelor's, PUC, SSLC, or Diploma level, or hold a Kannada certificate (Kavya/Jana/Rathna) issued by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board or Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bangalore — or clear a separate Kannada language qualifying test.

• General/other eligible candidates: 18 to 40 years
• Category 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B: up to 43 years
• SC/ST/Category-1: up to 45 years
• Additional relaxation of up to 10 years for certain government/local authority/central government employees
• Specific relaxations also apply for Ex-Servicemen, NCC full-time instructors, Grameena Kutumba Palakas, and widows, as detailed in the notification
• Age is calculated as of the last date fixed for submission of the online application, 30 August 2026

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, has released two combined notifications dated 6 August 2026 inviting online applications for 233 Group-C posts — Pharmacy Officer and Nursing Officer (Shushrushadhikari) — across the ESI Scheme Medical Services Department and, under a separate Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) notification covering Article 371(J) reserved posts, the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society and allied ESI departments. This KEA Nursing Officer and Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 splits into 188 posts under the general RPC notification (98 Pharmacy Officer, 90 Nursing Officer) and 45 posts under the Kalyana-Karnataka notification, reflecting Karnataka's constitutional commitment to additional development and job reservation for the historically underdeveloped Kalyana-Karnataka region. Eligibility differs meaningfully by post and notification: Pharmacy Officer requires a Diploma in Pharmacy registered with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council, while Nursing Officer eligibility varies between a straightforward Diploma in General Nursing (Karnataka Nursing Council registration) for most posts, and a more flexible B.Sc. Nursing or PUC-plus-GNM route specifically for the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society post under the KK notification. Selection for this KEA Recruitment 2026 runs through a genuinely rigorous two-paper competitive written examination — Paper-1 covering General Knowledge and Paper-2 covering the post-specific subject, each 100 questions/100 marks over 2 hours with 0.25-mark negative marking — plus a mandatory minimum 35% qualifying score, and a separate Kannada language qualifying test (SSLC-standard, 150 marks, 50 marks to pass) for candidates who haven't already demonstrated Kannada proficiency through their educational background. Online applications opened on 7 August 2026 and close on 30 August 2026, with fee payment permitted until 31 August 2026 — one extra day beyond the application deadline. Pay for selected candidates ranges from Rs. 44,425–83,700 per month for Pharmacy Officer to Rs. 54,175–99,400 per month for Nursing Officer, both under a 2-year probation period with NPS coverage. Candidates should read the complete official KEA notification PDF carefully before applying, since no correction or modification is permitted after submission, and incorrect eligibility, category, or qualification details entered at application stage can lead to disqualification even after the exam.

Rs. 750 for General and Category 2A/2B/3A/3B candidates, Rs. 500 for SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-Servicemen/Third Gender candidates, and Rs. 250 (processing fee only) for Persons with Disability, payable online only and non-refundable.

• Pharmacy Officer: Rs. 44,425 to Rs. 83,700 per month
• Nursing Officer (Shushrushadhikari): Rs. 54,175 to Rs. 99,400 per month
• Selected candidates are on probation for 2 years from the date of joining and are covered under the National Pension Scheme (NPS)

1. Visit the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
2. Click on the relevant recruitment application link for Nursing Officer or Pharmacy Officer
3. Register and fill in the online application form carefully, since no correction or modification is allowed after submission
4. Upload the required photograph and signature in the specified format and size
5. Enter your category/caste certificate RD number accurately if claiming reservation, and any age-relaxation or Kannada-exemption documentation
6. Pay the applicable application fee online before the last date, 31 August 2026
7. Review the completed application thoroughly before final submission, checking post applied for, category, and qualification details
8. Download and keep a copy of the submitted application and fee payment receipt for future reference
9. Watch the official website for the exam date announcement, since the written examination date is to be announced separately
10. Download your admission ticket from the official website closer to the exam date, and carry a valid original photo ID to the exam centre