KEA KSET Application 2026: The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru has released the official notification (Notification No. ED/KEA/01/KSET-26/2026-27) for the Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET-2026).
KSET-2026 is conducted to determine the eligibility of candidates for the post of Assistant Professor in various Universities, first-grade degree colleges, and Higher Education Institutions (Government, Aided, and Private) across Karnataka in 37 subjects. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the official KEA portal.
KEA KSET 2026 Overview
| Job Attribute | Details |
| Exam Conducting Body | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru |
| Examination Name | Karnataka State Eligibility Test 2026 (KSET-2026) |
| Notification Number | ED/KEA/01/KSET-26/2026-27 |
| Purpose of Exam | Eligibility for Assistant Professor |
| Total Subjects | 37 Subjects |
| Educational Qualification | Master’s Degree (PG) / Final Year Appearing (50% to 55% Marks) |
| Job / Eligibility Location | Karnataka |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
Important Dates for KEA KSET
- Official Notification Release Date: 10 August 2026
- Online Application Start Date: 10 August 2026
- Last Date to Apply Online: 05 September 2026
- Last Date for Fee Payment: 06 September 2026
- Hall Ticket (Admit Card) Release Date: 01 October 2026
- KSET Examination Date: 11 October 2026 (Sunday)
KEA KSET Application Fee Details
- General (GM), Cat-IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB & Other State Candidates: ₹750/-
- Cat-I, SC-A, SC-B, SC-C, ST, PwD & Transgender Candidates (Karnataka): ₹500/-
- Payment Mode: Online Mode Only through the payment gateway provided by KEA.
- Note: Application fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances.
KEA KSET Age Limit Criteria
- Minimum Age: No lower age limit specified.
- Maximum Upper Age Limit: No Upper Age Limit to apply for KSET-2026.
KEA KSET Eligibility Scope & Subject Coverage
KSET-2026 is an eligibility certification examination for recruitment as Assistant Professor in Karnataka:
| Metric | Details |
| Scope of Certificate | Valid for Assistant Professor recruitment across Karnataka State |
| Total Test Subjects | 37 Subjects (Commerce, Kannada, Economics, English, Political Science, History, Sociology, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, etc.) |
| Total Test Centres | 11 Regional Nodal Centres across Karnataka |
KEA KSET Educational Qualification Criteria
Candidates must fulfill the minimum percentage criteria in their Post Graduate degree as prescribed by UGC guidelines:
- General (GM) & Other State Candidates: Master’s Degree (or equivalent examination) with at least 55% aggregate marks (without rounding off) from a UGC-recognized University/Institution.
- Reserved Category Candidates of Karnataka (SC, ST, PwD, Transgender, Cat-I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB): Master’s Degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (without rounding off).
- Candidates Appearing in PG (Final Year): Candidates currently pursuing their Master’s Degree (Final Year / 2nd Year) or awaiting results are also eligible to appear provisionally. Such candidates must pass their Master’s Degree with required percentages within 2 years from the date of KSET result declaration.
- Ph.D. Degree Holders: Candidates who completed their Master’s level examination before 19 September 1991 are eligible for a 5% relaxation in aggregate marks (from 55% to 50%).
KEA KSET Selection Process & Examination Pattern
The KSET-2026 examination will be conducted in Offline OMR Mode on 11 October 2026. The test consists of two objective multiple-choice question papers conducted in a single session of 3 hours:
1. Structure of Examination
| Paper | Focus / Subject Area | Total Questions | Maximum Marks |
| Paper-I | General Paper: Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, Comprehension, Divergent Thinking, and General Awareness | 50 Questions (Compulsory) | 100 Marks |
| Paper-II | Selected Subject Paper: Domain-specific syllabus covering all topics of the selected PG subject | 100 Questions (Compulsory) | 200 Marks |
| TOTAL | 150 MCQs | 300 Marks |
- Marking Scheme: Each question carries 2 marks.
- Negative Marking: There is NO negative marking for incorrect answers.
2. Qualifying Criteria (UGC Norms)
- Top 6% Rule: The total number of qualifying candidates will be equal to 6% of the candidates who appear in both Paper-I and Paper-II combined.
- Minimum Aggregate Cut-Off:
- General Category: Minimum 40% aggregate marks in both papers combined.
- Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Transgender): Minimum 35% aggregate marks in both papers combined.
KEA KSET 2026 Examination Centres (11 Regional Cities)
The examination will be conducted across 11 major city centres in Karnataka:
- Bengaluru
- Belagavi
- Ballari
- Vijayapura
- Davanagere
- Dharwad
- Kalaburagi
- Mysuru
- Shivamogga
- Tumakuru
- Mangaluru
(Note: For 19 specialized subjects listed under Part-B of the notification, the examination centre will be Bengaluru only).
How to Apply Online for KEA KSET 2026
- Visit the official website of Karnataka Examinations Authority at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
- Click on the link for “KSET-2026 Online Application”.
- Complete registration by entering your personal details, educational qualifications, contact information, and selecting your KSET subject and test centre.
- Upload clear scanned copies of your recent passport-size photograph and signature in JPEG format.
- Pay the prescribed application fee (₹750/- for General/OBC or ₹500/- for SC/ST/Cat-I/PwD/Transgender) through the integrated online payment portal.
- Verify all details and submit the application form on or before 05 September 2026.
- Download and print a copy of the filled application form and payment confirmation receipt for your records.
Important Links
| Links Details | Link Action |
| Apply Online (KSET-2026) | Click Here |
| Official Detailed Notification | Click Here |
| 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).
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