Overview
Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), on behalf of the Horticulture Department, Government of Karnataka has released a recruitment notification for the post of Assistant Horticulture Officer, Assistant Horticulture Director (80 (General notification) + 5 (Kalyana-Karnataka notification) vacancies). Eligible candidates can apply online as per the official notification.
Key Details
- Organization
- Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), on behalf of the Horticulture Department, Government of Karnataka
- Qualification
- Post: Educational Qualification Assistant Horticulture Officer: Must be a Graduate in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). Assistant Horticulture Director: Must hold a Post Graduate Degree in Horticulture along with a B.Sc. in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by ICAR.
- Vacancies
- 80 (General notification) + 5 (Kalyana-Karnataka notification)
- Posted
- 04.08.2026
Important Dates
| Notification Date | 04.08.2026 |
Important Links
- Official WebsiteOpen Link
Eligibility
Post: Educational Qualification Assistant Horticulture Officer: Must be a Graduate in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR). Assistant Horticulture Director: Must hold a Post Graduate Degree in Horticulture along with a B.Sc. in Horticulture from a University established by law in India and accredited by ICAR.
Age Limit
As per Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977, candidates must be at least 18 years old as on the last date for submission of applications. As per Government Order No. CSaU 262 SEN 2025 dated 29.01.2026, the upper age limit has been relaxed by 5 years for this recruitment cycle, taking the limits below into account. Category: Upper Age Limit General Merit Candidates: 40 years Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B: 43 years SC / ST / Category-1: 45 years Additional age relaxations of up to 10 years are available for widows, ex-servicemen, government employees, and certain other specified categories as per the notification. Candidates should ensure that they meet the prescribed age limit as on the specified cut-off date. You can use our Age Calculator to check your exact age and confirm your eligibility before applying.
Salary
Post: Pay Scale (₹) Assistant Horticulture Officer: 65,950-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400-2700-1,15,600-3100-1,24,900 Assistant Horticulture Director: 69,250-1650-74,200-1900-85,600-2300-99,400-2700-1,15,600-3100-1,34,200 Selected candidates will be on probation for two years from the date of regular appointment and will be covered under the National Pension System (NPS).
Application Fee
Category: 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) Fee must be paid only through online mode. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Selection Process
Selection will be made purely through a Competitive Examination conducted in either Online (CBT) or Offline OMR mode, as decided by the Karnataka Examination Authority. 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, and related topics) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours Paper 2: Subject-specific paper on Horticulture (syllabus to be notified separately) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours • Minimum qualifying marks in the competitive examination: 35%. • 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 (or an equivalent/higher exam) must appear for a qualifying Kannada Language Test of 150 marks; a minimum of 50 marks is required to qualify. Marks from this test are not counted in the final merit list, and candidates absent for it will be disqualified.
How to Apply
• 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).
Required Documents
• Aadhaar Card • SSLC or equivalent examination certificate/marks card showing date of birth, or birth certificate • Marks cards and certificates for all educational qualifications and semesters as prescribed for the post • Caste certificate (for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B candidates, as applicable) issued in the prescribed format • Income and caste certificate, where applicable (only income/caste certificates obtained for government employment purposes are considered valid) • Rural reservation certificate in the prescribed format, where applicable • Kannada medium study certificate, where applicable • Ex-servicemen discharge certificate/pension book/proof of dependency, where applicable • Third gender certificate from the District Magistrate, where applicable • Kalyana-Karnataka (371-J) eligibility and local candidate certificate, where applicable • Recent passport-size photograph and signature scans as per prescribed format and file size
Important Instructions
• Only online applications submitted correctly, along with appearance in and qualifying the competitive examination, will make a candidate eligible; the notification does not by itself confer any right of appointment. • No changes or corrections can be made to any information submitted in the application form after submission. • Candidates must upload photograph and signature strictly as per the 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 at the specified time will lead to cancellation of candidature. • The Authority does not correspond with candidates through letters; candidates should regularly check the official website and the 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. • Any changes to eligibility criteria arising from differences between this notification and applicable rules will be governed by the Karnataka Civil Services Rules and related government orders. Candidates looking for more research opportunities can also explore the latest Karnataka Government Jobs across various departments. Applicants searching for openings closer to the NCR region can check Bangalore Government Jobs for upcoming vacancies. Those holding a postgraduate degree in science can als…
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the important dates for KEA KSHD Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 85 Assistant Horticulture Officer and Assistant Directors Posts?
Notification Date: 04.08.2026
What is the application fee?
Category: 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) Fee must be paid only through online mode. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
What is the age limit?
As per Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977, candidates must be at least 18 years old as on the last date for submission of applications. As per Government Order No. CSaU 262 SEN 2025 dated 29.01.2026, the upper age limit has been relaxed by 5 years for this recruitment cycle, taking the limits below into account. Category: Upper Age Limit General Merit Candidates: 40 years Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B: 43 years SC / ST / Category-1: 45 years Additional age relaxations of up to 10 years are available for widows, ex-servicemen, government employees, and certain other specified categories as per the notification. Candidates should ensure that they meet the prescribed age limit as on the specified cut-off date. You can use our Age Calculator to check your exact age and confirm your eligibility before applying.
What is the selection process?
Selection will be made purely through a Competitive Examination conducted in either Online (CBT) or Offline OMR mode, as decided by the Karnataka Examination Authority. 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, and related topics) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours Paper 2: Subject-specific paper on Horticulture (syllabus to be notified separately) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours • Minimum qualifying marks in the competitive examination: 35%. • 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 (or an equivalent/higher exam) must appear for a qualifying Kanna…