KEA VAO Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 572 Village Administrative Officer Posts

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) invites online applications from eligible aspirants for 572 Village Administrative Officer (VAO) and Village Accountant (Grama Aadalitha Adhikari) positions within the Karnataka Revenue Department. Interested candidates applying for KEA Recruitment 2026 must submit their forms on or before 30th July 2026. Applicants are strongly advised to act promptly, as this marks the final opportunity to register for the examination.

Karnataka VAO Notification 2026 Out

Official notification PDFs for both cadres are accessible on the KEA portal and have also been provided below. Candidates are advised to thoroughly review the complete notification regarding eligibility criteria, reservation guidelines, and district preference rules prior to submission.

KEA VAO (General / RPC Cadre) Notification PDF- Click to Download

KEA VAO (Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre) Notification PDF- Click to Download

KEA VAO Recruitment 2026: Summary

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) launched the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 to select qualified candidates for 572 Village Administrative Officer vacancies in the Karnataka Revenue Department. The selection procedure consists of a Kannada Language Test followed by a Competitive Written Examination.

VAO Recruitment 2026 Karnataka- Important Dates

Candidates should carefully note all important timelines to prevent missing crucial deadlines. The final date to submit the KEA Village Administrative Officer online application is 30th July 2026, while the application fee payment window closes on 31st July 2026. 

Note: Candidates should note that the two cadres have separate exam dates

What is KEA VAO Exam Date 2026?

Alongside the notification PDF, the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially announced the KEA VAO Exam Date 2026. The written examination for the General/RPC Cadre is set for 4th October 2026, whereas the Kalyana Karnataka (KK) Cadre exam will take place on 25th October 2026. The schedule for the Compulsory Kannada Language Test will be communicated separately by KEA in due course.

VAO Vacancy 2026 Karnataka

Through the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 drive, the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) seeks to fill 572 Village Administrative Officer (VAO) positions across both RPC and Kalyana cadres within various districts of the Karnataka Revenue Department. Comprehensive district-wise vacancy distributions are outlined in the table below. 

• Residual Parent Cadre (RPC / Non-KK) – 505
• Kalyana Karnataka Cadre (Article 371-J) – 67

General / RPC Cadre – District-wise Vacancies

Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre – District-wise Vacancies

What is Karnataka VAO Eligibility Criteria?

Only applicants who meet the mandatory eligibility parameters regarding educational background and age restrictions are qualified to apply online for the Karnataka VAO Exam.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must have successfully completed PUC (10+2) or possess an equivalent qualification officially recognized by the Government of Karnataka.

For General/RPC 

• CBSE/ICSE Class 12
• Other State Board Class 12
• NIOS Senior Secondary/HSC
• 2-year ITI + 1 language + 1 subject (NIOS or PUC Board)
• GOC courses (competitive exams only)
• 3-year Diploma (direct recruitment/compassionate appointment only)

For Kalyana Karnataka

• CBSE/ICSE, State Boards, NIOS, ITI + NIOS, GOC, 3-year Diploma

Age Limit (As on 30/7/2026)

To register for the KEA Village Administrative Officer Recruitment 2026, candidates must be at least 18 years old as of 30th July 2026.

KEA VAO Online Form 2026 Link

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is scheduled to shut down the application window for KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 tomorrow, 30th July 2026. To sidestep unexpected technical difficulties at the eleventh hour, applicants should finalize their application submissions immediately. A direct link to apply online is also provided here for convenience.

KEA VAO Apply Online 2026 Link (Active)- Click to Apply

Note- Candidates can apply for only one district within their applicable cadre. Vacancy figures may be revised by district/revenue authorities before finalisation, so check for corrigenda before submitting.

Karnataka VAO Application Fee 2026

During the form submission process, candidates are required to remit the requisite application fee as specified in the official notification PDF. Category-specific fee details are laid out in the accompanying table.

How to Apply for Karnataka Village Administrative Officer (VAO) Recruitment 2026?

Aspirants can seamlessly apply online for the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 by adhering to these straightforward steps:

1. Visit the official Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) website.
2. Click on the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 Apply Online link.
3. Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
4. Log in with the generated credentials.
5. Fill in the application form with the required personal and educational details.
6. Upload the necessary documents, passport-size photograph, and signature.
7. Pay the application fee through the available online payment modes.
8. Review the application form and submit it.
9. Download and print the submitted application form for future reference.

What is KEA VAO Selection Process 2026

To select suitable candidates for Village Administrative Officer (VAO) positions, authorities will administer a mandatory Compulsory Kannada Language Test alongside an offline OMR-based Competitive Examination. Successful qualifiers of the written exam will subsequently proceed to document verification.

• Stage 1: Written Competitive Examination (Offline, OMR-based) — two papers of 100 marks each, 100 objective-type questions per paper, 2 hours per paper, with 0.25 marks negative marking per incorrect answer.
• Stage 2: Kannada Language Test (compulsory, qualifying in nature; date to be notified)
• Stage 3: Certificate/Document Verification

Karnataka VAO Exam Pattern & Structure

Compulsory Kannada Language Test

The Compulsory Kannada Language Test carries a maximum of 150 marks. This assessment is purely qualifying in nature (scores are excluded from the merit list), requiring a minimum qualifying score of 50 marks. (Performance in this language test will not influence final post allocations.)

OMR-Based Written Examination

The written test comprises two individual papers, each valued at 100 marks with a time limit of 2 hours per paper. A negative marking scheme applies, deducting 0.25 marks for every incorrect response.

Paper – 1

• Marks 100
• Duration 2 Hours
• Topics Asked in Exam
  (a) General knowledge topics related to current events.
  (b) Matters of day-to-day understanding
  (c) Matters of a broad view of the Constitution of India.
  (d) History of India with special reference to Karnataka.
  (e) Geography of India in relation to Karnataka.
  (f) Matters relating to State and Territorial Administration.
  (g) Matters relating to the development of the economy of Karnataka, including initiatives related to Rural Development, Panchayat Raj Institutions, and Rural Co-operative Societies.
  (h) Matters relating to environmental issues and the development of Karnataka.

Paper – 2

• Marks 100
• Duration 2 Hours
• Topics Asked in Exam
  (a) General Kannada
  (b) General English
  (c) Computer Knowledge

KEA VAO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026- Click to Check

KEA VAO Salary Structure

Candidates selected for Village Administrative Officer (VAO) positions will receive a competitive basic pay scale of Rs. 34,100 – Rs. 67,600 along with various standard allowances and perks outlined in the official notification PDF.