KEA Social Welfare Residential School Teacher Recruitment 2026 — 140 Posts, Apply by 18 Sep (Karnataka)

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, on behalf of the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Karnataka, has released two notifications dated 20 August 2026 for Social Welfare Residential School Teacher (Vasati Shala Shikshakaru) Recruitment 2026 — 40 posts under the Kalyana Karnataka cadre (Notification No. ED/KEA/39/RC/2026(KK)) and 100 posts under the Residual Post Cadre (Notification No. ED/KEA/38/RC/2026(RPC)), for a combined 140 posts. This state government job in Karnataka requires PUC with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/Category-1/PwD) plus a Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education (or Special Education), along with a passed Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Selected candidates under KEA Residential School Teacher Recruitment 2026 will teach at Social Welfare Department residential schools across Karnataka. The selection process consists of a competitive written examination — two papers of 100 marks each covering general knowledge/Karnataka-specific topics and Kannada/English/Computer Knowledge, with negative marking and a minimum 35% aggregate qualifying mark — plus a qualifying Kannada Language Test for candidates who did not study Kannada up to SSLC level. The salary for KEA Residential School Teacher 2026 follows the 2024 revised Karnataka state pay scale of ₹41,300 to ₹81,800, with a 2-year probation period and NPS applicability. The KEA Residential School Teacher 2026 online application is available at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. The last date to apply is 18 September 2026, with fee payment due by 19 September 2026. Application fee is ₹750 for General Merit and Category 2A/2B/3A/3B, ₹500 for SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-Servicemen/Third Gender, and ₹250 for Special Chetana (PwD) candidates. Candidates must read the complete official KEA notification PDF before applying, since this recruitment is distinct from KEA's other Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS) teacher recruitment — this drive is specifically under the Department of Social Welfare.

• PUC with minimum 50% marks and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education; OR
• PUC with minimum 50% marks and a 4-year Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education; OR
• PUC with minimum 50% marks and a 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education)
• For SC/ST/Category-1 of OBC candidates, or a candidate with disability, the minimum PUC marks required is relaxed to 45%
• AND the candidate must have passed the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) conducted by the Government of Karnataka or the Government of India
• Same educational qualification applies to both the Kalyana Karnataka (KK) and Residual Post Cadre (RPC) notifications

• Age is reckoned as on the last date of application submission
• Minimum age: 18 years
• General Merit candidates: maximum 40 years
• Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B candidates: maximum 43 years
• SC/ST/Category-1 candidates: maximum 45 years
• Further age relaxation is available per the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977, for state government employees, ex-servicemen, NCC instructors, Village Extension Officers/Gram Sevaks, Special Chetana (PwD) candidates (10 years), widows (10 years), and certain other specified categories

• PUC (50%, or 45% for SC/ST/Cat-1/PwD) with a Diploma/Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education or Special Education
• Must have passed the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), Government of Karnataka or Government of India
• Age: 18 to 40-45 years depending on category, as on the last date of application
• Must be an Indian citizen
• Candidates who studied Kannada up to SSLC level are exempt from the qualifying Kannada Language Test; all others must pass it with a minimum of 50/150 marks
• Persons appointed on daily-wage/temporary basis (not through a Public Service Commission/KEA/university exam) are not eligible
• Fee: ₹750 (General/2A/2B/3A/3B), ₹500 (SC/ST/Cat-1/ESM/Third Gender), ₹250 (PwD)

General Merit & Category 2A/2B/3A/3B: ₹750 (₹500 application fee + ₹250 processing fee) SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Third Gender candidates: ₹500 (₹250 application fee + ₹250 processing fee) Special Chetana (PwD) candidates: ₹250 (processing fee only) Fee is payable only online and is non-refundable once paid.

• Pay Scale (2024 revised Karnataka state pay scale): ₹41,300–81,800 (₹41,300-1,000-43,300-1,125-47,800-1,250-52,800-1,375-58,300-1,500-64,300-1,650-74,200-1,900-81,800)
• Probation period of two years from the date of joining; National Pension Scheme (NPS) applies

1. Visit the KEA website, https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/, and click the relevant online application link
2. Register using your own email ID and mobile number, since your Registration Number, Password, and all further communication will be sent there
3. Log in and complete the application form with personal, educational, and other required details
4. Upload a recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, white background, 50–200KB) and a scanned signature (JPEG, 50–70KB)
5. Review all entered details carefully, since corrections or modifications are not permitted once the online application is submitted
6. Pay the applicable application fee online before the fee payment deadline of 19 September 2026
7. Download and retain a printout of your submitted application and fee receipt for future reference