KSHD KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director Application 2026: Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru has published two official recruitment notifications (Notification No. ED/KEA/32/RECT/2026 (RPC) and Notification No. ED/KEA/33/RECT/2026 (KK)) on behalf of the Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka.
Applications are invited from eligible candidates possessing degrees in Horticulture for direct recruitment to 85 vacant Group-B posts of Assistant Director of Horticulture and Assistant Horticultural Officer. Out of the total 85 vacancies, 80 posts belong to the Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and 05 posts belong to the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Local Cadre. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the official KEA recruitment portal.
KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Job Attribute | Details |
| Exam Conducting Body | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru |
| Department Name | Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka |
| Notification Numbers | ED/KEA/32/RECT/2026 (RPC) & ED/KEA/33/RECT/2026 (KK) |
| Post Names | Assistant Director of Horticulture & Assistant Horticultural Officer |
| Total Vacancies | 85 Posts (80 RPC + 05 KK Cadre) |
| Educational Qualification | B.Sc in Horticulture / M.Sc / Post Graduate Degree in Horticulture (ICAR Accredited) |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
Important Dates for KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director
- Official Notification Release Date: 04 August 2026
- Online Application Start Date: 05 August 2026
- Last Date to Apply Online: 30 August 2026
- Last Date for Application Fee Payment: 31 August 2026
- Competitive Examination Date: To be announced separately on the KEA website
KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director Application Fee Details
- General Merit (GM) & Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B Candidates: ₹750/- (₹500 Application Fee + ₹250 Processing Fee)
- SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Transgender Candidates: ₹500/- (₹250 Application Fee + ₹250 Processing Fee)
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): ₹250/- (Processing Fee Only)
- Fee for Additional Post Option: Candidates applying for both Assistant Horticultural Officer and Assistant Director of Horticulture in a single application form need to pay an additional ₹100/- application fee for the second post.
- Payment Mode: Online Payment Gateway only. Non-refundable.
KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director Age Limit and Relaxations
The Age will be calculated as of 30 August 2026
- Minimum Age Limit: 18 Years
- One-Time Relaxation: As per Government Order No. DPAR 262 SRR 2025 dated 29.01.2026, a 5-year one-time relaxation in the upper age limit has been granted across all categories.
- Age Calculator
Category-wise Upper Age Limits
- General Merit (GM): Maximum 40 Years
- Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B: Maximum 43 Years
- SC / ST / Category-1 Candidates: Maximum 45 Years
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD) / Widows: 10 years additional age relaxation
- Ex-Servicemen: Military Service Period + 3 Years additional age relaxation
KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director Vacancy Breakdown
A total of 85 posts are advertised across two cadres. Below is the post-wise and cadre-wise distribution:
| Sl. No. | Post Name | RPC Cadre | KK Cadre | Total Posts |
| 1 | Assistant Horticultural Officer (AHO) | 75 | 00 | 75 |
| 2 | Assistant Director of Horticulture (ADH) | 05 | 05 | 10 |
| TOTAL VACANCIES | 80 | 05 | 85 |
KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director Educational Qualification Criteria
Candidates must possess the required degree awarded by a Law-established University in India and accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on or before 30 August 2026:
- Assistant Horticultural Officer (AHO): Must be a Graduate in Horticulture (B.Sc. in Horticulture) from an ICAR-accredited University.
- Assistant Director of Horticulture (ADH): Must hold a Post Graduate Degree in Horticulture (M.Sc. in Horticulture) with a B.Sc. in Horticulture from an ICAR-accredited University.
- Important Note: Final year students awaiting results on the last date of application are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply.
KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director Pay Scale and Salary Structure
Appointed Group-B officers will serve a probation period of 2 years and will be covered under the National Pension System (NPS). Monthly salaries are structured as per state pay scales:
- Assistant Horticultural Officer (AHO):
- Pay Scale Band: ₹65,950 – ₹1,24,900/- per month
- Pay Scale Matrix: ₹65950-1650-74200-1900-85600-2300-99400-2700-115600-3100-124900
- Assistant Director of Horticulture (ADH):
- Pay Scale Band: ₹69,250 – ₹1,34,200/- per month
- Pay Scale Matrix: ₹69250-1650-74200-1900-85600-2300-99400-2700-115600-3100-134200
KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director Selection Process & Exam Pattern
Selection to these Group-B posts will be carried out through a competitive examination conducted either online (CBT) or offline (OMR-type):
1. Compulsory Kannada Language Test
- Nature: Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) paper carrying 150 Marks (SSLC 1st Language Standard).
- Qualifying Marks: Candidates must score a minimum of 50 Marks (33.33%) to qualify.
- Exemption: Candidates who passed SSLC/higher exams with Kannada as a 1st/2nd language, or studied in Kannada Medium, or previously passed the KEA/KPSC Compulsory Kannada Test are exempted.
2. Main Competitive Written Examination
| Paper Name | Subjects Covered | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| Paper-1 | General Knowledge: Current Affairs, General Science, Indian & Karnataka History, Geography, Social Science, General Mental Ability, Indian Constitution, Public Administration, Rural Development, Environment Science | 100 MCQs | 300 Marks | 2 Hours |
| Paper-2 | Specific Paper (Horticulture Discipline): Specific subject syllabus published separately | 100 MCQs | 300 Marks | 2 Hours |
| TOTAL | 200 MCQs | 600 Marks | 4 Hours |
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: Candidates must secure a minimum of 35% aggregate marks in the competitive exam to be eligible for selection.
- Negative Marking: 1/4th (0.75 marks) will be deducted for every incorrect response. Leaving a question unshaded (5th circle) will also attract a penalty of 0.75 marks.
How to Apply Online for KEA Horticulture Officer & Assistant Director 2026
- Visit the official portal of Karnataka Examinations Authority at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
- Click on the recruitment link for Horticulture Department Recruitment 2026.
- Fill in your basic registration details, educational metrics, ICAR accreditation details, and category information.
- Upload clear scanned copies of your recent passport-size photograph (white background, 50 KB to 200 KB in JPEG format) and signature (black ink, 50 KB to 70 KB in JPEG format).
- Select post preference (AHO, ADH, or Both).
- Pay the prescribed application fee online via Net Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card before 31 August 2026.
- Submit the form on or before 30 August 2026 and download/print out a copy of the application form and fee receipt for document verification.
Important Links
| Links Details | Link Action |
| Apply Online Portal (KEA) | Click Here |
| Official RPC Cadre Notification PDF | Click Here |
| Official KK Cadre Notification PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus | Horticulture Officer | Assistant Director |
| Official KEA Website | Click Here |
| WhatsApp Channel | Join Now |
| Telegram Channel | Join Now |
| Arattai Channel | Join Now |
| Home Page | Click Here |
Source: Information is taken from the official notification released by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), on behalf of the Karnataka State Horticulture Department (KSHD).
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