The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) Assistant Horticulture Officer & Assistant Horticulture Director Notification 2026 has been released on 04.08.2026 on the official website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. A total of 85 vacancies have been announced through the KEA Assistant Horticulture Officer & Assistant Horticulture Director Recruitment 2026.
Candidates aged 18 years to 40 years (General Merit), with applicable upper age relaxations for reserved categories, who have a B.Sc. in Horticulture (for Assistant Horticulture Officer) or a Postgraduate Degree in Horticulture along with a B.Sc. in Horticulture (for Assistant Horticulture Director) are eligible to apply for these Assistant Horticulture Officer and Assistant Horticulture Director vacancies. The online application process for KEA Assistant Horticulture Officer & Assistant Horticulture Director Recruitment 2026 has started on 05.08.2026 and will remain open until 30.08.2026.
Candidates can download the official notification PDF and apply online through the direct links provided below in this article.
- Official Notification PDF For KSHD (General Recruitment)
- Official Notification PDF For KSHD (Kalyana-Karnataka Quota)
- Apply Online For KSHD Recruitment 2026
- Official Website For KEA
KSHD Recruitment 2026 - Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), on behalf of the Horticulture Department, Government of Karnataka |
| Posts | Assistant Horticulture Officer, Assistant Horticulture Director |
| Total Vacancies | 80 (General notification) + 5 (Kalyana-Karnataka notification) |
| Notification Numbers | ADE/KEA/32/NE.V/2026 (RPC) and ADE/KEA/33/NE.V/2026 (KK) |
| Notification Date | 04.08.2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
KSHD Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
- Notification Release Date: 04.08.2026
- Online Application Start Date: 05.08.2026
- Online Application Last Date: 30.08.2026
- Last Date for Fee Payment: 31.08.2026
- Exam Date: Not yet announced (will be published later along with the exam timetable)
KSHD Vacancy 2026 Details
Two separate notifications have been issued for horticulture posts. The general notification covers 80 posts across the state, while a separate notification covers 5 Assistant Horticulture Director posts reserved for candidates from the Kalyana-Karnataka region under Article 371(J).
Notification 1: General Recruitment (80 Posts)
| S. No. | Post Name | No. of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assistant Horticulture Officer | 75 |
| 2 | Assistant Horticulture Director | 5 |
Total posts under this notification: 80. The department has clarified that post-wise and category-wise details are provisional and subject to revision as per government orders issued from time to time.
Notification 2: Kalyana-Karnataka Quota (5 Posts)
| S. No. | Post Name | No. of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assistant Horticulture Director | 5 |
These 5 posts are reserved for candidates belonging to the Kalyana-Karnataka (Hyderabad-Karnataka) region under the local candidate reservation rules applicable to that region.
KSHD Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
| Post | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Assistant Horticulture Officer | Must be a Graduate in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). |
| Assistant Horticulture Director | Must hold a Post Graduate Degree in Horticulture along with a B.Sc. in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by ICAR. |
Age Limit
As per Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977, candidates must be at least 18 years old as on the last date for submission of applications. As per Government Order No. CSaU 262 SEN 2025 dated 29.01.2026, the upper age limit has been relaxed by 5 years for this recruitment cycle, taking the limits below into account.
| Category | Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General Merit Candidates | 40 years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B | 43 years |
| SC / ST / Category-1 | 45 years |
Additional age relaxations of up to 10 years are available for widows, ex-servicemen, government employees, and certain other specified categories as per the notification.
Candidates should ensure that they meet the prescribed age limit as on the specified cut-off date. You can use our Age Calculator to check your exact age and confirm your eligibility before applying.
Also Read: Bangalore University Guest Faculty Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline
KSHD Recruitment 2026 Salary Structure
| Post | Pay Scale (₹) |
|---|---|
| Assistant Horticulture Officer | 65,950-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400-2700-1,15,600-3100-1,24,900 |
| Assistant Horticulture Director | 69,250-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400-2700-1,15,600-3100-1,34,200 |
Selected candidates will be on probation for two years from the date of regular appointment and will be covered under the National Pension System (NPS).
KSHD Recruitment 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General Merit and other categories (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) |
| Persons with Disabilities | ₹250 (processing fee only) |
Fee must be paid only through online mode. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Also Read: IBPS Clerk Recruitment 2026 (CRP CSA-XVI) Notification Out - Apply Online 11403 Posts from August 1
How to Apply Online for KSHD Recruitment 2026?
- Visit the official Karnataka Examination Authority website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Locate the link for KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer / Director Recruitment 2026.
- Register and fill in the online application form carefully, as no correction is allowed after submission.
- Upload a recent passport-size photograph in JPEG format (white background, 50 KB-200 KB) and a scanned signature in JPEG format (50 KB-70 KB).
- Pay the applicable application fee through the online payment gateway.
- Download the fee payment challan/receipt and keep a printout for future reference.
- Submit the application before the last date, i.e., 30.08.2026 (fee payment by 31.08.2026).
KSHD Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
Selection will be made purely through a Competitive Examination conducted in either Online (CBT) or Offline OMR mode, as decided by the Karnataka Examination Authority. The exam consists of two papers:
| Paper | Subject | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Knowledge (current affairs, general science, Karnataka & Indian history and geography, Indian Constitution, general intellectual ability, and related topics) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | Subject-specific paper on Horticulture (syllabus to be notified separately) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours |
- Minimum qualifying marks in the competitive examination: 35%.
- Negative marking: 0.75 marks deducted for every wrong answer (each question has 4 options).
- Kannada Language Test: Candidates who have not studied Kannada as first or second language up to SSLC level (or an equivalent/higher exam) must appear for a qualifying Kannada Language Test of 150 marks; a minimum of 50 marks is required to qualify. Marks from this test are not counted in the final merit list, and candidates absent for it will be disqualified.
Required Documents for KSHD Recruitment 2026
- Aadhaar Card
- SSLC or equivalent examination certificate/marks card showing date of birth, or birth certificate
- Marks cards and certificates for all educational qualifications and semesters as prescribed for the post
- Caste certificate (for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B candidates, as applicable) issued in the prescribed format
- Income and caste certificate, where applicable (only income/caste certificates obtained for government employment purposes are considered valid)
- Rural reservation certificate in the prescribed format, where applicable
- Kannada medium study certificate, where applicable
- Ex-servicemen discharge certificate/pension book/proof of dependency, where applicable
- Third gender certificate from the District Magistrate, where applicable
- Kalyana-Karnataka (371-J) eligibility and local candidate certificate, where applicable
- Recent passport-size photograph and signature scans as per prescribed format and file size
KSHD Recruitment 2026 Important Instructions
- Only online applications submitted correctly, along with appearance in and qualifying the competitive examination, will make a candidate eligible; the notification does not by itself confer any right of appointment.
- No changes or corrections can be made to any information submitted in the application form after submission.
- Candidates must upload photograph and signature strictly as per the specified format and file size, or the application will be rejected.
- Original certificates must be produced for verification when called upon; failure to appear with original documents at the specified time will lead to cancellation of candidature.
- The Authority does not correspond with candidates through letters; candidates should regularly check the official website and the registered mobile number/email for updates.
- Furnishing false information, using unfair means, or impersonation at any stage will lead to rejection of candidature and may result in criminal and disciplinary action.
- Any changes to eligibility criteria arising from differences between this notification and applicable rules will be governed by the Karnataka Civil Services Rules and related government orders.
Candidates looking for more research opportunities can also explore the latest Karnataka Government Jobs across various departments. Applicants searching for openings closer to the NCR region can check Bangalore Government Jobs for upcoming vacancies. Those holding a postgraduate degree in science can also browse more B.Sc Government Jobs and M.Sc Life Sciences Jobs matching their qualification.