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

The KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 notification is finally out, and it’s great news for candidates in Karnataka who’ve been waiting for a stable state government career. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has announced a total of 572 vacancies for the post of Village Administrative Officer (VAO) under the Revenue Department — split into 505 posts under the General/RPC cadre and 67 posts reserved for the Kalyana-Karnataka region. If you’re a PUC-pass candidate looking for a respected government job with a decent pay scale and long-term security, this notification deserves your full attention.

Online applications for the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 open on 11th July 2026 and close on 30th July 2026, with the fee payment window extending until 31st July 2026. Below, we’ve broken down everything you need — vacancy details, eligibility, application fee, salary, selection process, and a step-by-step guide to apply without missing anything.

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KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview

Here’s a snapshot of the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 before we get into the details.

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Important Dates – KEA VAO 2026

Keep these dates handy so you don’t miss a single step of the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 process.

⚠️ Don’t wait until the last week to apply. State government portals tend to slow down as the deadline nears, so it’s best to complete your KEA VAO 2026 application at least a few days before 30 July 2026.

KEA VAO Vacancy Details 2026

The 572 vacancies under the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 are divided into two separate recruitment drives, and candidates can apply to only one district within their applicable cadre.

General / RPC Cadre — 505 Posts

Some of the districts with the highest number of openings include Tumakuru (50), Mandya (50), Mysuru (45), Belagavi (48), and Chamarajanagara (31), along with smaller allocations across nearly every district in the state, including Bengaluru Nagara, Bengaluru Gramantara, Kolara, Hassana, and Shivamogga.

Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre — 67 Posts

This cadre, reserved under Article 371(J), covers Kalaburagi (40 posts), Bidar (17 posts), and Raichuru (10 posts).

Candidates should check the official KEA VAO notification PDF for the complete district-wise and category-wise breakdown before deciding which district to apply for, since this choice cannot be changed after submission.

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KEA VAO Eligibility Criteria 2026

Educational Qualification

To be eligible for the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026, candidates must have passed PUC (Pre-University Course, equivalent to Class 12) or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Government of Karnataka. This includes:

• Class 12 from CBSE, ICSE, or any other State Board
• Senior Secondary/HSC through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
• A two-year ITI course along with one language and one general subject cleared at the pre-degree level, for ITI trade candidates

Age Limit (as on the last date of application)

The minimum age required is 18 years, as per the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977.

✅ Additional age relaxation is available for candidates already working in Karnataka Government/PSU/local body service, ex-servicemen, NCC full-time supervisors, Special Chetana (PwBD) candidates, widows/divorcees, retrenched employees, and third-gender candidates (10 years relaxation). Original certificates must be produced at document verification to claim these relaxations.

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KEA VAO Application Fee 2026

The application fee for KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 is category-based and must be paid entirely online.

The fee is non-refundable once paid, so double-check your category selection before making the payment.

KEA VAO Salary 2026

This is usually the part candidates care about most, so here are the real numbers. Selected Village Administrative Officers under the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 will draw a state government pay scale of ₹34,100 – ₹67,600 per month, along with pensionary benefits under the National Pension System (NPS). Selected candidates will also serve a two-year probationary period, as is standard for regular state government appointments.

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KEA VAO Selection Process 2026

Selection for the KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 will be based on the following stage:

1. Written Competitive Examination — conducted in offline (OMR-based) mode, testing candidates on general knowledge, aptitude, and subjects relevant to revenue administration.
2. Document Verification — shortlisted candidates will need to produce original certificates to confirm eligibility, category, and age relaxation claims.

There is no interview stage mentioned in the current notification, so your preparation should focus entirely on scoring well in the written exam.

How to Apply for KEA VAO Recruitment 2026

Follow these steps carefully to complete your KEA Village Administrative Officer application:

1. Visit the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
2. Click on the appropriate VAO Recruitment 2026 link — General/RPC or Kalyana-Karnataka, based on your eligibility.
3. Register with your basic details to create your login credentials.
4. Fill in the online application form with your personal, educational, and category details, selecting only one district.
5. Upload your scanned photograph (JPEG, 50KB–200KB) and signature (JPEG, 50KB–70KB) in the specified format.
6. Review every entry carefully and pay the application fee online.
7. Submit the form — no corrections are allowed after submission, so verify everything twice.
8. Download and save a printout of your completed application and fee payment challan for future reference.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep your scanned photo and signature ready in the correct file size before you start the form — it saves time and avoids upload errors midway through the process.

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KEA VAO Important Links 2026

Frequently Asked Questions – KEA VAO Recruitment 2026

Summing Up…

The KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 is a solid opportunity for PUC-qualified candidates in Karnataka looking to build a career in state government service, with 572 posts, a respectable pay scale, and pension benefits under NPS. Since the application window is open for a limited time, it’s best to complete your form well before 30 July 2026 and keep your documents ready for verification. For more Karnataka government job alerts, state PSC updates, and Sarkari Naukri notifications, bookmark govtserviceinfo.com and follow us for daily updates.

Disclaimer: All information in this article has been sourced from the official recruitment notification published by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). GovtServiceInfo.com is not a recruiting authority and does not accept job applications. We strongly recommend reading the full official notification before applying and verifying all details — especially dates, eligibility, and fees — directly from the official website. We are not responsible for any changes made by the recruiting authority after the date of publication.