The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has announced KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 for the recruitment of 572 Village Administrative Officers (VAO), also referred to as Village Accountants or Grama Aadalitha Adhikari, in the Karnataka Revenue Department.
The recruitment includes 505 vacancies under the Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and 67 vacancies under the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) region. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the KEA recruitment portal within the prescribed application period.
Candidates interested in Karnataka government jobs should carefully check the official recruitment notification for their respective cadre before submitting the application form.
KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Department | Karnataka Revenue Department |
| Post Name | Village Administrative Officer (VAO) |
| Also Known As | Village Accountant / Grama Aadalitha Adhikari |
| Total Vacancies | 572 |
| RPC Vacancies | 505 |
| Kalyana-Karnataka Vacancies | 67 |
| Advertisement No. (RPC) | ED/KEA/26/NEV/2026 (RPC) |
| Advertisement No. (KK) | ED/KEA/27/NEV/2026 (KK) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 11 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 30 July 2026 |
| Minimum Qualification | 12th Pass or prescribed equivalent |
| Selection Process | Compulsory Kannada Language Test and Written Examination |
| Examination Mode | Offline, OMR Based |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
Important Dates
Candidates should complete the online application process before the deadline and should not wait until the final day.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 10 July 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 11 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 30 July 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | Check Official Notification |
| Kannada Language Test Date | To Be Announced |
| Written Examination Date | To Be Announced |
| Admit Card Release Date | To Be Announced |
| Result Date | To Be Announced |
Candidates are advised to regularly check the KEA recruitment portal because examination dates and other subsequent schedules may be announced separately.
KEA VAO Vacancy 2026
The KEA VAO Notification 2026 has been issued to recruit candidates for 572 Village Administrative Officer (VAO) posts in the Karnataka Revenue Department. Out of the total vacancies, 505 positions are available under the General/RPC cadre, while 67 posts have been allocated to the Kalyana Karnataka (Article 371J) cadre.
These VAO vacancies are spread across various districts in Karnataka. Candidates can check the district-wise vacancy distribution in the tables provided below.
General/RPC District-wise Vacancy (505 Posts)
| District | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru Urban | 20 |
| Bengaluru Rural | 29 |
| Chitradurga | 15 |
| Chikkaballapura | 21 |
| Tumakuru | 50 |
| Shivamogga | 18 |
| Kolar | 22 |
| Bengaluru South | 30 |
| Mysuru | 45 |
| Mandya | 50 |
| Hassan | 35 |
| Udupi | 10 |
| Dakshina Kannada | 20 |
| Chamarajanagara | 31 |
| Chikkamagaluru | 10 |
| Belagavi | 48 |
| Bagalkote | 16 |
| Gadag | 14 |
| Haveri | 15 |
| Bidar | 4 |
| Raichur | 2 |
| Total | 505 |
Kalyana Karnataka Vacancy (67 Posts)
| District | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Kalaburagi | 40 |
| Bidar | 17 |
| Raichur | 10 |
| Total | 67 |
Educational Qualification
Candidates applying for KEA Village Administrative Officer Recruitment 2026 must possess the prescribed educational qualification by the eligibility cut-off date.
The basic educational requirement is Class 12 or an equivalent recognized qualification.
Equivalent qualifications may include eligible Higher Secondary, PUC, vocational, diploma or other qualifications recognized under the applicable recruitment rules. Candidates holding an equivalent qualification should verify its acceptance from the official notification before applying.
Candidates must also satisfy any Kannada language requirements prescribed under Karnataka government recruitment rules.
Age Limit
The minimum age required to apply is generally 18 years. The upper age limit depends on the candidate’s category and the applicable Karnataka government recruitment rules.
Candidates should refer to the official notification for the exact category-wise upper age limit and age-relaxation provisions before submitting the application.
Application Fee
The application fee varies according to category. Candidates should verify the exact fee shown on the KEA application portal before making payment.
| Category | Application Fee |
| General / 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B | Rs. 750 |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Third Gender | Rs. 500 |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | Rs. 250 |
The application fee, once successfully paid, may not be refundable. Applicants should therefore ensure that they meet all eligibility conditions before completing the payment.
KEA VAO Selection Process 2026
The selection process is expected to include the following stages:
- Compulsory Kannada Language Test
- Competitive Written Examination
- Merit List
- Document Verification
Candidates who are not exempt from the Compulsory Kannada Language Test will have to qualify for it according to the prescribed rules.
Final selection will be based on the recruitment rules, written examination performance, reservation requirements and document verification.
KEA VAO Exam Pattern 2026
The competitive written examination is expected to be conducted in offline OMR mode and consist of two papers.
Written Examination Pattern
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Knowledge (Current Affairs, General Science, Indian Constitution, Indian & Karnataka History and Geography, Panchayat Raj & Rural Cooperative Institutions, Karnataka Regional Issues and Development) | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | General Kannada, General English, and Computer Knowledge | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Total | — | 200 | 200 | 4 Hours |
Important Exam Pattern Points
- The examination will be objective in nature.
- Questions will be answered on an OMR sheet.
- Paper I carries 100 marks.
- Paper II carries 100 marks.
- Each paper is expected to have a duration of two hours.
- A penalty of 0.25 marks may apply for each incorrect answer.
- Candidates may also have to qualify for the Compulsory Kannada Language Test unless exempt under the applicable rules.
Candidates should treat the detailed 2026 official notification and examination instructions as final if KEA announces any changes to the pattern.
KEA VAO Syllabus 2026 – Overview
Paper I Syllabus
- General Knowledge
- General Science
- Indian Constitution and Polity
- History of India and Karnataka
- Geography of India and Karnataka
- Panchayat Raj
- Rural Cooperative Institutions
- Karnataka Development and Regional Issues
Paper II Syllabus
- General Kannada
- General English
- Computer Knowledge
- Compulsory Kannada Language Test
Must Read: Click here for detailed KEA VAO Syllabus
KEA VAO Salary 2026
Selected candidates will receive salary according to the pay scale prescribed by the Karnataka government for the Village Administrative Officer post.
The commonly reported pay scale for the post is approximately ₹21,400 to ₹42,000 per month, along with admissible government allowances and benefits.
The actual monthly in-hand salary can vary depending on basic pay, DA, HRA, applicable deductions, posting location and other service conditions.
How to Apply for KEA VAO Recruitment 2026
Candidates can apply online by following these steps:
- Visit the official Karnataka Examinations Authority recruitment website.
- Open the Village Administrative Officer Recruitment 2026 section.
- Read the RPC or Kalyana-Karnataka notification applicable to you.
- Click on the online application link.
- Complete the candidate registration process.
- Enter personal, educational and reservation details carefully.
- Upload the required photograph, signature and documents.
- Review all details entered in the application form.
- Pay the prescribed application fee.
- Submit the application form and save a copy for future reference.
Candidates should ensure that the information entered in the application matches their original certificates.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready:
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Signature
- Aadhaar or valid identity proof
- SSLC/Class 10 certificate
- PUC/Class 12 or equivalent qualification certificate
- Marksheets
- Category certificate, if applicable
- Karnataka reservation-related certificates, if applicable
- Kalyana-Karnataka eligibility certificate, where applicable
- Kannada language eligibility documents, if required
- Other documents specified by KEA
Important Instructions
Candidates should apply only after carefully reading the official notification for the cadre under which they are eligible. Details such as reservation, age relaxation, equivalent qualifications, district-wise vacancies, Kannada language requirements and document formats can differ according to the applicable recruitment rules.
Applicants should also retain their application number, payment receipt and submitted application form until the recruitment process is completed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| How many vacancies are available in KEA VAO Recruitment 2026? |
|---|
| A total of 572 Village Administrative Officer vacancies have been reported, including 505 RPC and 67 Kalyana-Karnataka vacancies. |
| What are the advertisement numbers for KEA VAO Recruitment 2026? |
| The reported advertisement numbers are ED/KEA/26/NEV/2026 (RPC) and ED/KEA/27/NEV/2026 (KK). |
| When did the application process start? |
| The online application process started on 11 July 2026. |
| What is the last date to apply? |
| The reported last date for submitting the online application is 30 July 2026. |
| What is the minimum qualification for KEA VAO Recruitment? |
| Candidates must generally have passed Class 12/PUC or an eligible equivalent qualification as prescribed in the recruitment rules. |
| What is the KEA VAO selection process? |
| The selection process includes a Compulsory Kannada Language Test, where applicable, followed by a competitive written examination and subsequent recruitment formalities. |
| How many papers are there in the KEA VAO written exam? |
| The competitive written examination consists of two papers carrying 100 marks each, for a total of 200 marks. |
| Is there negative marking in the KEA VAO examination? |
| The reported examination scheme provides a deduction of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer. |
| What is the KEA VAO salary? |
| The commonly reported pay scale is ₹21,400 to ₹42,000 per month, along with applicable allowances under Karnataka government rules. |
| When will the KEA VAO Exam 2026 be held? |
| The examination date is yet to be announced. Candidates should regularly check the official KEA website for the examination schedule and admit card updates. |
Some Important Useful Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
|---|---|
| Download Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |