The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially released the KEA KSHD Recruitment 2026 Notification for 85 vacancies of Assistant Horticulture Officer (AHO) and Director under the Karnataka State Horticulture Department (KSHD). Candidates possessing the required qualifications in Horticulture, Agriculture, or related disciplines can apply online through the official KEA recruitment portal.
This recruitment is an excellent opportunity for aspirants looking for Karnataka Government Jobs 2026 in the horticulture sector. Interested candidates should check the eligibility criteria, vacancy details, age limit, selection process, salary, and important dates before applying.
KEA KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer and Director Recruitment 2026 – Overview
Here is the overview section of KEA KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026. Here you can find the quick information about the KEA KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 notification. First check the following overview and if you find you are eligible and interested then read the next sections like eligibility criteria, important dates and important links. The overview section includes organisation, post name, total number of vacancies, qualification, job location and application mode.
| Organisation | Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), on behalf of the Horticulture Department, Government of Karnataka |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Assistant Horticulture Officer, Assistant Horticulture Director |
| Total Number of Vacancies | 85 |
| Qualification | B.Sc. in Horticulture / Post Graduate Degree in Horticulture with B.Sc. in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by ICAR |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Application Mode | Apply Online |
| Last Date to Apply | 30/08/2026 |
| Official Website | https://karnataka.gov.in/kea |
Vacancies Detail for KEA KSHD Recruitment 2026
Here, you can find the position wise vacancies detail of each position open under KEA KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 notification. You can find here the number of vacancies, qualification, age limit and pay scale. The complete eligibility criteria of each position open under KEA KSHD is given below.
-
Assistant Horticulture Officer (General)
- No. of Vacancies: 75
- Qualification: Graduate in Horticulture (B.Sc. Horticulture) from a university established by law in India and accredited by ICAR
- Age Limit: 18–40 years (General Merit); 18–43 years (2A/2B/3A/3B); 18–45 years (SC/ST/Category-1)
- Pay Scale: ₹65,950-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400-2700-1,15,600-3100-1,24,900
-
Assistant Horticulture Director (General)
- No. of Vacancies: 5
- Qualification: Post Graduate Degree in Horticulture along with B.Sc. in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by ICAR
- Age Limit: 18–40 years (General Merit); 18–43 years (2A/2B/3A/3B); 18–45 years (SC/ST/Category-1)
- Pay Scale: ₹69,250-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400-2700-1,15,600-3100-1,34,200
-
Assistant Horticulture Director (Kalyana-Karnataka Quota)
- No. of Vacancies: 5
- Qualification: Post Graduate Degree in Horticulture along with B.Sc. in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by ICAR
- Age Limit: 18–40 years (General Merit); 18–43 years (2A/2B/3A/3B); 18–45 years (SC/ST/Category-1)
- Pay Scale: ₹69,250-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400-2700-1,15,600-3100-1,34,200
Selection Procedure
The detailed selection procedure has been mentioned in the official notification of KEA KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026. But we are giving you here the short summary of the selection procedure. The candidates are advised to refer to official notification for selection procedure.
Selection Procedure:
- Selection will be made purely through a Competitive Examination conducted in either Online (CBT) or Offline OMR mode, as decided by KEA.
- 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) 100 300 2 hours Paper 2 Subject-specific paper on Horticulture (syllabus to be notified separately) 100 300 2 hours - Minimum qualifying marks: 35% in the competitive examination.
- 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 must appear for a qualifying Kannada Language Test of 150 marks; minimum 50 marks required to qualify. Marks from this test are not counted in the final merit list; candidates absent will be disqualified.
Application Fees for KEA KSHD Recruitment 2026
Here is the complete information about KEA KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026 application fee. We advise the candidates that read the rules, methods and guidelines in the official notification before any payment of the application fee.
| Category | Application 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) |
Important Dates
Candidates should keep track of all important dates related to this recruitment to avoid missing any deadline. The schedule mentioned below is based on official information and may be updated from time to time.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| 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 |
How to Apply KEA KSHD Recruitment 2026?
Here is the complete procedure to apply for KEA KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer Recruitment 2026. The candidates should read the complete procedure to apply in the official notification from the links given below.
The application procedure for is not fully online. Candidates are advised to follow the detailed instructions given below.
- 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).
Important Links for KEA KSHD Recruitment 2026
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online For KSHD Recruitment 2026 | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF For KSHD (General Recruitment) | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF For KSHD (Kalyana-Karnataka Quota) | Click Here |
| Official Website For KEA | Click Here |
Note: Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official KEA website for the latest updates regarding the application schedule.
Other Important Information
Other Important Information:
- Two separate notifications have been issued: General Recruitment (80 posts) and Kalyana-Karnataka Quota (5 posts under Article 371(J)).
- Post-wise and category-wise vacancy details are provisional and subject to revision as per government orders.
- Selected candidates will be on probation for two years from the date of regular appointment.
- Selected candidates will be covered under the National Pension System (NPS).
- Additional age relaxations of up to 10 years are available for widows, ex-servicemen, government employees, and certain other specified categories.
- No changes or corrections can be made to any information submitted in the application form after submission.
- Candidates must upload photograph (JPEG, white background, 50 KB–200 KB) and signature (JPEG, 50 KB–70 KB) strictly as per 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 will lead to cancellation of candidature.
- The Authority does not correspond with candidates through letters; candidates should regularly check the official website and 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.
- Required Documents: Aadhaar Card, SSLC certificate/marks card, educational qualification certificates, caste certificate, income and caste certificate, rural reservation certificate, Kannada medium study certificate, ex-servicemen discharge certificate, third gender certificate, Kalyana-Karnataka eligibility certificate, passport-size photograph and signature scans.
