The KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 Notification has been released on 6th August 2026 for the recruitment of 233 Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse) and Pharmacy Officer vacancies. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has issued two separate notifications on the same day: one for 188 posts under the original/residual cadre of the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) Medical Services Department, and another for 45 posts under the Kalyana Karnataka (Hyderabad-Karnataka, Article 371-J) cadre spread across the ESIS Medical Services Department and the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Notification 2026 PDF Out
The Karnataka Examinations Authority has uploaded the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF along with the official advertisement. The notification includes complete details about the Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse) and Pharmacy Officer recruitment which includes eligibility, vacancies, selection process, exam pattern, and important dates. Candidates can apply online through the official KEA portal. Bookmark this page for all the updates related to the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Notification 2026.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Notification 2026 PDF Out: RPC || KK
Karnataka Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Notification 2026
The KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 has been announced for 233 vacancies in total, spread across two notifications released on the same day — 188 posts under the main ESIS Medical Services Department notification (Notification No. 34/2026-RPC), and 45 posts under the Kalyana Karnataka cadre notification (Notification No. 35/2026-KK), covering the ESIS Medical Services Department and the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society. You can now easily check all the important details like notification, application dates, exam schedule, eligibility, and selection process in the overview table given below.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026-27
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Departments | Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) Medical Services; Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society |
| Post Name | Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse) & Pharmacy Officer |
| Notification Numbers | ID/KEA/34/Recruitment/2026(R.P.C) — Main Cadre; ID/KEA/35/Recruitment/2026(K.K) — Kalyana Karnataka Cadre |
| Total Vacancies | 233 (188 Main Cadre + 45 Kalyana Karnataka Cadre) |
| Notification Release Date | 6th August 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 7th August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 30th August 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31st August 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Selection Process | Written Competitive Examination (CBT/OMR) |
| Age Limit | 18 to 40 Years (relaxation for reserved categories) |
| Educational Qualification | Diploma in Pharmacy / Diploma or B.Sc in Nursing |
| Probation Period | 2 Years |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Apply Online 2026
The KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Apply Online 2026 link is now activated on the official website of the Karnataka Examinations Authority. Eligible candidates can submit their online application form from 7th August to 30th August 2026, for both the main cadre and Kalyana Karnataka cadre posts. Applications are only accepted through online mode and there will be no offline application. Candidates must complete the registration then fill the application form, upload the required documents, and pay the application fee online before 31st August 2026.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Apply Online 2026 Link Active: Click to Apply
Karnataka Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Vacancy 2026
The KEA Vacancy is announced for 233 posts across two separate notifications. The main cadre notification covers 188 posts within the ESIS Medical Services Department, while the Kalyana Karnataka cadre notification covers 45 posts across the ESIS Medical Services Department and the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society. The category-wise vacancy distribution is provided in table format below.
KEA Main Cadre Vacancy 2026
| Post Name | Pay Scale (Rs.) | General | Article 371(J) Backlog | Departmental Backlog | Total Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Officer | 44,425 – 83,700 | 92 | 05 | 01 | 98 |
| Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse) | 54,175 – 99,400 | 72 | 11 | 07 | 90 |
| Subtotal | — | 164 | 16 | 08 | 188 |
KEA Kalyana Karnataka Cadre Vacancy 2026
| Department | Post Name | Pay Scale (Rs.) | Posts | Departmental Backlog | Total Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society | Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse) | 54,175 – 99,400 | 17 | 06 | 23 |
| ESIS Medical Services | Pharmacy Officer | 44,425 – 83,700 | 06 | 05 | 11 |
| ESIS Medical Services | Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse) | 54,175 – 99,400 | — | 11 | 11 |
| Subtotal | — | — | 23 | 22 | 45 |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must fulfil the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026 before submitting their application form. The eligibility includes the age limit and educational qualification as prescribed by the Karnataka Examinations Authority. The qualification requirements differ slightly between the main cadre and Kalyana Karnataka cadre notifications, especially for the Nursing Officer post at the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society.
Educational Qualification
| Department | Post | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| ESIS Medical Services (Main & KK Cadre) | Pharmacy Officer | Must possess a Diploma in Pharmacy from an institution recognized by the Government of Karnataka, and must be registered with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council. |
| ESIS Medical Services (Main & KK Cadre) | Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse) | Must possess a Diploma in General Nursing issued by an authority authorized by the Government of Karnataka, and must be registered with the Karnataka Nursing Council. |
| Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KK Cadre) | Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse) | Must have passed a B.Sc Nursing degree from a recognized university/institution recognized by the Indian Nursing Council / Karnataka State Nursing Council; OR must have passed PUC (or equivalent) and a General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course from an institution recognized by the Indian Nursing Council / Karnataka State Nursing Council. Candidates must also have studied Kannada as a subject at PG, Degree, PUC, SSLC, or Diploma level, or hold a Kannada proficiency certificate (Kavya/Jaana/Rathna) from the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board / Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bengaluru. |
Age Limit
As per Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977, candidates must have completed a minimum of 18 years of age as on the last date fixed for submission of applications. As per Government Order CiSaSu 262/SeNeVi/2025 dated 29.01.2026, a one-time relaxation of 5 years has been given to the upper age limit, subject to the ceiling below. This age criteria applies uniformly to both the main cadre and Kalyana Karnataka cadre notifications.
| Category | Direct Recruitment Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General/Unreserved Candidates | 40 Years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B Candidates | 43 Years |
| Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Category-1 Candidates | 45 Years |
Additional age relaxation is available for Ex-Servicemen, National Cadet Corps full-time supervisors, widows/divorced women, persons with benchmark disabilities, and other categories as specified in the official notification.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Application Fee 2026
Candidates have to pay the KEA Application Fee while submitting the online application form. The fee structure is the same for both the main cadre and Kalyana Karnataka cadre notifications. The application fee is non-refundable, and once paid, it will not be adjusted or reserved for any other recruitment.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General & Other Categories (2A/2B/3A/3B) | Rs. 750/- (Rs. 500 application fee + Rs. 250 processing fee) |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Transgender | Rs. 500/- (Rs. 250 application fee + Rs. 250 processing fee) |
| Special Pay Candidates | Rs. 250/- (processing fee only) |
Also Read : HPRCA Clerk Recruitment 2026 Notification Out, Apply Online For 40 Clerk (Job Trainee) Vacancies
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Salary 2026
The KEA Salary 2026 is based on the pay scale mentioned by the Karnataka Government for the respective posts, applicable uniformly across both notifications. The Nursing Officer (Staff Nurse) post carries a pay scale of Rs. 54,175 – 99,400, while the Pharmacy Officer post carries a pay scale of Rs. 44,425 – 83,700. Selected candidates will be on probation for a period of 2 years from the date of appointment. Employees will also be covered under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and will receive other allowances as per Karnataka Government rules.
FAQs
Q1. How many vacancies are announced under KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026?
The KEA Recruitment 2026 has been announced for 233 vacancies in total, across two notifications — 188 posts under the main ESIS cadre notification and 45 posts under the Kalyana Karnataka cadre notification.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for KEA Recruitment 2026?
The last date to apply online is 30th August 2026, and the last date for fee payment is 31st August 2026, for both notifications.
Q3. What is the age limit for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026?
The age limit is a minimum of 18 years, with the upper age limit ranging from 40 to 45 years depending on the category, as on the last date of application.
Q4. What is the educational qualification required for KEA Recruitment 2026?
Candidates need a Diploma in Pharmacy registered with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council for the Pharmacy Officer post. For the Nursing Officer post, ESIS requires a Diploma in General Nursing registered with the Karnataka Nursing Council, while the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (Kalyana Karnataka cadre) requires a B.Sc Nursing degree or PUC + GNM along with a Kannada study requirement.
Q5. What is the application fee for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026?
The application fee ranges from Rs. 250/- to Rs. 750/- depending on the candidate’s category, and is the same across both notifications.
Q6. Where can candidates apply for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026?
Candidates can apply online through the official KEA website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
I want to apply