The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released two separate notifications on 10 July 2026 inviting online applications for the post of Village Accountant, referred to in the official notification as "Grama Aadalitha Adhikari" (Village Administrative Officer). A total of 572 vacancies have been announced under the Revenue Department, split between 505 posts under the General/RPC cadre across 21 districts and 67 posts reserved for the Kalyana-Karnataka region under Article 371(J). Eligible candidates who have passed PUC or an equivalent qualification can apply online from 11 July 2026 to 30 July 2026.
KEA VAO Notification PDF
Candidates should read the full official notification before applying, as it contains complete details on eligibility, reservation, and exam rules. Two separate notifications have been issued for this recruitment cycle - one for the General/RPC cadre (Notification No. ED/KEA/26/NEV/2026(RPC)) and one for the Kalyana-Karnataka cadre (Notification No. ED/KEA/27/NEV/2026(KK)) - both dated 10 July 2026.
Download KEA General / RPC Cadre Notification PDF
Download KEA Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre Notification PDF
KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 Overview
The table below summarizes the key facts of this recruitment for quick reference.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Post Name | Village Accountant / Grama Aadalitha Adhikari (Village Administrative Officer) |
| Total Vacancies | 572 (505 General/RPC + 67 Kalyana-Karnataka) |
| Notification No. (General/RPC) | ED/KEA/26/NEV/2026(RPC) |
| Notification No. (Kalyana-Karnataka) | ED/KEA/27/NEV/2026(KK) |
| Notification Date | 10 July 2026 |
| Mode of Application | Online only |
| Selection Process | Competitive written examination (Offline-OMR mode) |
| Pay Scale | ₹34,100 - ₹67,600 |
| Probation Period | 2 years |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
KEA VAO Important Dates 2026
Candidates must complete the entire application process, including fee payment, within the schedule given below. No changes are permitted after submission, so applicants should keep these dates in mind.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | 11 July 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 30 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Pay Application Fee | 31 July 2026 |
| Written Exam Date (General/RPC cadre districts) | 4 October 2026 |
| Written Exam Date (Kalyana-Karnataka cadre districts) | 25 October 2026 |
| Exam Timing - Paper 1 | 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Exam Timing - Paper 2 | 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM |
| Admit Card / Exam Centre Details | Not Announced Yet |
Also Read: Check all Karnataka Govt Jobs 2026 - Apply Now
KEA VAO Vacancy Details 2026
The 572 vacancies are distributed across two separate cadres based on region. Candidates are allowed to apply for only one district within their applicable cadre; multi-district applications will not be accepted.
General / RPC Cadre - District-wise Vacancies (505 Posts)
| Sl. No. | District | Number of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bengaluru Nagara | 20 |
| 2 | Bengaluru Gramantara | 29 |
| 3 | Chitradurga | 15 |
| 4 | Chikkaballapura | 21 |
| 5 | Tumakuru | 50 |
| 6 | Shivamogga | 18 |
| 7 | Kolara | 22 |
| 8 | Bengaluru Dakshina | 30 |
| 9 | Mysuru | 45 |
| 10 | Mandya | 50 |
| 11 | Hassana | 35 |
| 12 | Udupi | 10 |
| 13 | Dakshina Kannada | 20 |
| 14 | Chamarajanagara | 31 |
| 15 | Chikkamagaluru | 10 |
| 16 | Belagavi | 48 |
| 17 | Bagalakote | 16 |
| 18 | Gadaga | 14 |
| 19 | Haveri | 15 |
| 20 | Bidar | 4 |
| 21 | Raichuru | 2 |
| Total | - | 505 |
Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre - District-wise Vacancies (67 Posts)
| Sl. No. | District | Number of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kalaburagi | 40 |
| 2 | Bidar | 17 |
| 3 | Raichuru | 10 |
| Total | - | 67 |
Note: The notification clarifies that vacancy and category-wise figures may be revised by the concerned district/revenue authorities from time to time, and applicants are advised to check the concerned district authority's corrigendum before finalizing their choice of district.
Also Read: KEA KREIS Teacher Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 1087 Vacancies
KEA VAO Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must satisfy both the nationality and educational qualification requirements laid down in the notification before applying.
- The candidate must be a citizen of India.
- A living man having more than one wife, and a woman who has married such a man, are not eligible for appointment without prior Government permission.
- Candidates must be mentally and physically fit to discharge the duties of the post.
Educational Qualification
Candidates applying for the post of Village Accountant must have passed PUC (Pre-University Course, equivalent to Class 12) or a qualification recognized as equivalent to PUC by the Government of Karnataka. Equivalent qualifications include:
- Class 12 examination conducted by CBSE or ICSE boards.
- Class 12 examination conducted by other State Government pre-university education boards.
- Advanced vocational courses/NSDC-affiliated courses conducted through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
- Candidates with a two-year ITI (Industrial Training Institute) course, provided they have also passed one language subject and one general subject at a pre-degree level examination, are treated as equivalent to PUC only for these specified fields.
- Candidates who completed a three-year diploma from a technical education department institution before 2015 are also required to have cleared the Kannada-language subject through an SSLC-level examination.
Candidates possessing a qualification higher than PUC are also eligible to apply, provided they meet the other eligibility conditions.
KEA VAO Age Limit 2026
The minimum age required is 18 years as on the closing date of application, as per the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977. The upper age limit for direct recruitment, inclusive of the 5-year relaxation granted vide Government Order dated 29 January 2026, is given below.
| Category | Upper Age Limit (Direct Recruitment) |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | 40 years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | 43 years |
| SC / ST / Category-1 | 45 years |
Age Relaxation
Additional age relaxation beyond the above limits is permitted for specific categories, as detailed in the notification, including:
- Persons already serving in Karnataka Government, local body, State/Central statutory or PSU service - relaxation equal to years of service or 10 years, whichever is less.
- Ex-servicemen - relaxation equal to the length of service rendered, plus 3 years.
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) full-time supervisors - relaxation equal to years of service.
- Persons employed as Grama Samuha Parishilakaru under the rural self-employment scheme - relaxation equal to years of service.
- Special Chetana (persons with disabilities) candidates - 10 years relaxation.
- Persons employed by the Government of India census organization in Karnataka - relaxation equal to years of service or 5 years, whichever is less.
- Widows who have not remarried, or women legally divorced and not remarried - 10 years relaxation, subject to proof.
- Retrenched employees who repaid retrenchment compensation as per the Karnataka Retrenched Employees Act/1957 rules - 10 years relaxation, subject to proof.
- Transgender/third-gender candidates - 1% horizontal reservation with corresponding age relaxation as per the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
Candidates seeking any of the above relaxations must produce the original supporting certificate at the time of document verification.
KEA VAO Salary 2026
Selected candidates for the post of Village Accountant will be placed on the state government pay scale below and will be entitled to benefits under the National Pension Scheme (NPS). All appointees will serve a probation period of 2 years from the date of regular appointment.
- Pay Scale: ₹34,100 - 800 - 35,700 - 900 - 39,300 - 1,000 - 43,300 - 1,125 - 47,800 - 1,250 - 52,800 - 1,375 - 58,300 - 1,500 - 64,300 - 1,650 - 67,600
KEA VAO Application Fee 2026
The application fee must be paid online only, at the time of form submission. Fees once paid are non-refundable under any circumstances.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General and Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | ₹750 (₹500 application fee + ₹250 processing fee) |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Third Gender | ₹500 (₹250 application fee + ₹250 processing fee) |
| Special Chetana (PwBD) candidates | ₹250 (processing fee only) |
KEA VAO Selection Process 2026
Selection to the post of Village Accountant is made purely through a competitive written examination; the notification does not mention any separate interview round. The process is as follows:
- Candidates will appear for a competitive written examination conducted in Offline-OMR mode.
- A minimum of 35% marks in the competitive exam is required for eligibility; candidates scoring below this will be disqualified.
- Candidates opting for the Kannada language exam exemption must have passed Kannada as first or second language up to SSLC level, or must clear a compulsory qualifying Kannada language test (150 marks, minimum 50 marks required to qualify). This paper is not counted toward merit ranking.
- District-wise merit lists / marks lists will be prepared and forwarded by KEA to the respective District Magistrates for appointment, which is made at the district level.
KEA VAO Exam Pattern 2026
The written examination consists of two papers, each carrying 100 marks and lasting 2 hours, with negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.
| Paper | Subject | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Knowledge (current affairs, general science, Indian Constitution, Indian and Karnataka history and geography, Panchayat Raj and rural cooperative institutions, and Karnataka regional issues and development) | 100 | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | General Kannada, General English, and Computer Knowledge | 100 | 100 | 2 hours |
Each question offers 4 answer options with only one correct answer. A minimum qualifying score of 35% is required in the competitive exam.
How to Apply for KEA VAO Recruitment 2026
Applicants must apply strictly online through the KEA CET portal by following the steps below.
- Visit the official KEA website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Click on the application link for VAO Recruitment 2026 applicable to your cadre (General/RPC or Kalyana-Karnataka).
- Register with your basic details and generate login credentials.
- Fill in the online application form with personal, educational, and category details, selecting only one district of preference.
- Upload a recent passport-size photograph (JPEG format, 50KB-200KB) and signature (JPEG format, 50KB-70KB) as per the specified format.
- Verify all entered details carefully, as no correction is allowed after submission.
- Pay the applicable application fee online and complete the submission.
- Download and retain a printout of the submitted application and fee payment receipt for future reference.
KEA VAO Important Instructions
- Applications will be accepted online only; offline or postal applications will not be considered.
- Candidates can apply to only one district; applications submitted for more than one district will not be accepted.
- Original documents must be produced at the time of document verification for eligibility, age, and category claims. Failure to appear with valid original documents on the specified date will lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Candidates are responsible for reading all eligibility instructions before applying; incomplete or incorrect information may result in rejection of candidature at any stage.
- Impersonation, submission of forged documents, or use of unfair means during the exam or interview process will lead to disqualification and possible criminal/disciplinary action.
- Aadhaar Card is mandatory for application submission.
KEA Village Administrative Officer Important Links
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official KEA General / RPC Cadre Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
- Join Arattai Channel: Click Here
- Join Telegram Channel: Click Here
- Join WhatsApp Channel: Click Here
- Sarkari Result: Click Here
- Download Mobile App: Click Here
