KEA Principal Recruitment 2026: Apply for 247 Posts
Recruitment Overview
| Organization Name | Post Name | Total Vacancies | Application Mode | Job Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) | Principal, Government Pre-University Colleges | 247 | Online only | Government Pre-University Colleges across Karnataka (KK posts limited to Kalyana-Karnataka region) |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 2026-09-03 |
| Application Start Date | 2026-09-07 |
| Application End Date | 2026-10-04 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 2026-10-05 |
| Exam Date (Papers 1, 2 & 3) | To be announced later |
| Result Date | Check Official Notification |
| Admit Card Date | Check Official Notification |
| Interview Date | Check Official Notification |
| Counselling Date | Check Official Notification |
| Admission Start Date | Check Official Notification |
| Admission End Date | Check Official Notification |
Application / Registration Fee
| Category | Fee (INR) | Payment Mode | Fee Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Merit and 2A/2B/3A/3B | 1500 | Online | 2026-10-05 |
| SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-servicemen/Third Gender | 1000 | Online | 2026-10-05 |
| Persons with Disabilities | 500 | Online | 2026-10-05 |
Eligibility Criteria & Vacancy / Seat Details
| Post Name | Vacancy Count | Age Limit | Educational Qualification | Pay Scale | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal – Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Local Cadre | 31 | No age limit | Serving Lecturer in Govt. Pre-University Colleges with minimum 10 years of service and satisfactory probation completion | Rs. 90,200 – Rs. 1,59,200 | Government Pre-University Colleges in Kalyana-Karnataka region |
| Principal – Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) | 216 | No age limit | Serving Lecturer in Govt. Pre-University Colleges with minimum 10 years of service and satisfactory probation completion | Rs. 90,200 – Rs. 1,59,200 | Government Pre-University Colleges across Karnataka (excluding KK region) |
Category-wise vacancy breakup – Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Local Cadre
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| GM | 15 |
| SC-A | 2 |
| SC-B | 2 |
| SC-C | 1 |
| ST | 1 |
| Cat-1 | 2 |
| 2A | 5 |
| 2B | 1 |
| 3A | 1 |
| 3B | 1 |
Category-wise vacancy breakup – Residual Parent Cadre (RPC)
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| GM | 108 |
| SC-A | 12 |
| SC-B | 11 |
| SC-C | 10 |
| ST | 7 |
| Cat-1 | 9 |
| 2A | 32 |
| 2B | 9 |
| 3A | 8 |
| 3B | 10 |
Selection / Admission / Evaluation Process
Selection Stages
- Competitive Examination (Paper 1, Paper 2 & Paper 3)
- Document Verification (1:2 ratio against vacancies, category-wise, based on Papers 2 & 3 scores)
Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Duration | Qualifying Criteria | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Kannada Language Test (qualifying only) | 150 | 150 | 3 hours | Minimum 50 marks required (marks not counted for merit) | No |
| Paper 2 | General Studies (History & Cultural Heritage, Social & Political Perspective, Indian Economy, Constitution, Public Administration, Science & Technology, Environment & Ecology, Ethics, Aptitude) | 150 | 150 | 3 hours | – | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Paper 3 | Karnataka Civil Service Rules, Classification, Control & Appeal Rules 1957, KCS (Conduct) Rules, Karnataka Treasury Code, Karnataka Financial Code, Recruitment Rules, Karnataka Education Act 1983, Educational Psychology and allied topics | 150 | 150 | 3 hours | – | 0.25 per wrong answer |
How to Apply / Register / Check Status
- Visit the official KEA website.
- Click on the online application link for the relevant Principal Recruitment notification (KK or RPC, as applicable).
- Register and fill in personal, educational, and service details carefully.
- Upload the photograph and signature as per the specified format and size.
- Upload the required certificates and supporting documents.
- Pay the prescribed application fee online.
- Verify all entered details before final submission – no correction or modification is allowed after submission.
- Download and retain a copy of the submitted application and the fee payment receipt.
Required Documents Checklist
- Aadhaar Card
- SSLC certificate or equivalent proof of date of birth
- Service certificate confirming Lecturer appointment, probation completion, and years of service
- Caste certificate (SC/ST/Cat-1/2A/2B/3A/3B) bearing an RD number, where applicable
- Income and caste (creamy-layer) certificate for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B candidates, where applicable
- Rural candidate certificate (Form-2), where applicable
- Kannada-medium study certificate, where applicable
- Ex-servicemen or dependent certificate, where applicable
- Disability certificate (UDID), where applicable
- Third-gender certificate from the District Magistrate, where applicable
- Kalyana-Karnataka local candidate certificate under Article 371(J) (Annexure-A), applicable only for KK-cadre posts
- Recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, 50KB–200KB) and signature (JPEG, 50KB–70KB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
It is a recruitment drive by the Karnataka Examinations Authority, on behalf of the School Education Department, to fill 247 Principal posts in Government Pre-University Colleges across Karnataka through a competitive examination for serving Lecturers.
Q2. How many vacancies are available in KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
There are 247 vacancies in total – 31 under the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Local Cadre and 216 under the Residual Parent Cadre (RPC).
Q3. Who is eligible to apply for KEA Principal posts?
Only serving Lecturers in Government Pre-University Colleges under the School Education Department, with a minimum of 10 years' service and satisfactory completion of probation, are eligible. It is not open to fresh candidates or the general public.
Q4. What is the application fee for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
Rs. 1,500 for General Merit and Category 2A/2B/3A/3B candidates; Rs. 1,000 for SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-servicemen/Third Gender candidates; and Rs. 500 for persons with disabilities.
Q5. What is the selection process for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
Selection is through a competitive examination consisting of three papers (Paper 1 qualifying, Papers 2 and 3 for merit) followed by document verification at a 1:2 ratio against vacancies, category-wise.
| Link Name | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Coming Soon |
| Official Notification / Advertisement | Coming Soon |
| Official Website | Click Here |
About This Notification
Karnataka Examinations Authority has officially released the notification for KEA Principal Recruitment. A total of 247 vacancies are available under this recruitment drive.
Regarding the timeline, applications open from 7 September 2026, the last date to apply is 4 October 2026, the fee payment deadline is 5 October 2026.
General/OBC candidates need to pay a fee of ₹1500. SC/ST/PwBD candidates are required to pay ₹1000. Payment can be made via Online.
The selection procedure for this recruitment consists of the following stages: Competitive Examination (Paper 1, Paper 2 & Paper 3) → Document Verification. Candidates must qualify each stage to proceed to the next.
Interested and eligible candidates are advised to read the official notification carefully before applying. Ensure all required documents are ready and submit the application before the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Keep visiting the official website for the latest updates regarding KEA Principal Recruitment.