KEA Surveyor Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026; Paper-I GK, Paper-II Specific Topics, Negative Marking & Preparation Tips

by

the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the KEA Surveyor Recruitment 2026 notification for 750 Bhoomapaka (Surveyor) Group-C posts in the Department of Survey Settlement and Land Records, Government of Karnataka. Candidates preparing for this highly competitive recruitment should thoroughly understand the KEA Surveyor Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 before starting their preparation.

The selection process consists of a two-paper written examination (Paper-I: General Knowledge and Paper-II: Specific Subject), followed by document verification, while the Kannada Language Test is qualifying in nature for applicable candidates.

The written examination will be conducted in offline OMR mode with 200 objective questions carrying 200 marks, and 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer. Paper-II carries significant importance because it covers Mathematics, Modern Surveying Methods, Computer Applications, Physics, and Geography, with Mathematics having the highest weightage.

In this article, you can check the complete topic-wise syllabus, paper-wise exam pattern, marking scheme, qualifying criteria, and preparation strategy for the KEA Surveyor (Bhoomapaka) Exam 2026.

KEA Surveyor Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 (Bhoomapaka Recruitment)
750 Surveyor Posts | Paper-I (GK) + Paper-II (Specific) — Full Topic-Wise Syllabus Inside
visit for latest job notification24.in
Particulars Details
Organization Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru
Recruiting Department Department of Survey Settlement and Land Records, Government of Karnataka
Post Name Surveyor (ಭೂಮಾಪಕರು / Bhoomapaka), Group-C
Total Vacancies 750 (560 Regular/RPC + 190 Kalyana-Karnataka/KK)
Notification Date 11 July 2026
Exam Mode Offline — OMR Based (Objective Type)
Total Papers 2 (Paper-I General Knowledge + Paper-II Specific Paper) + Qualifying Kannada Language Test (if applicable)
Paper-II (Specific) Exam Date 03 October 2026 (Sat), 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Paper-I (GK) Exam Date 04 October 2026 (Sun), 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Pay Scale (2024 Revised) ₹37,500 – ₹76,100/-
Official Website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea

KEA Surveyor 2026 — Selection Process Overview
  • Stage 1: Competitive Written Examination — Offline OMR-based test (Paper-I General Knowledge + Paper-II Specific Paper)
  • Stage 2: Kannada Language Test — Qualifying only (150 marks, minimum 50 marks required); applicable only to candidates who have NOT studied Kannada as 1st/2nd language up to SSLC or an equivalent higher Kannada exam; marks NOT counted in final merit
  • Stage 3: Document Verification — as per merit list and category-wise reservation
  • Stage 4: Probation (2 Years) + Departmental “Kadaya Tharabeti” (Survey Training) — mandatory 6-month basic survey training with minimum 35% in theory and 40% in practical exam (compulsory for Kalyana-Karnataka cadre candidates)

Note: There is NO interview stage — final selection is purely based on written exam merit + document verification + successful completion of probation training.

read more; UP Super TET Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026

KEA Surveyor Exam Pattern 2026 — Paper-Wise Structure
Paper Subject / Questions / Marks / Duration
Paper-I General Knowledge | 100 Questions | 100 Marks | 2 Hours
Paper-II Specific Paper (Surveyor Subject) | 100 Questions | 100 Marks | 2 Hours
Total (Merit Papers) 200 Questions | 200 Marks | 4 Hours
Kannada Language Test (if applicable) 150 Marks | Qualifying Only (Min. 50 to pass) — Not counted in merit
  • Question Type: Objective/Multiple Choice (4 options each)
  • Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer
  • Minimum Qualifying Marks: 35% for General category (category-wise relaxed cutoffs apply for reserved categories as per rules)
  • Mode: Offline, OMR sheet-based examination at designated centres

read more: ONGC AEE Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026

KEA Surveyor Syllabus 2026 — Paper-I (General Knowledge)
Topic Area Sub-Topics Covered
Current Affairs National & Karnataka state current events, recent government schemes, awards, appointments
Daily Science General science applied to everyday life — basic physics, chemistry, biology concepts
Indian Constitution Basic structure, fundamental rights & duties, directive principles, constitutional bodies
History Karnataka and Indian history — freedom movement, dynasties, socio-cultural developments
Geography Indian geography with special reference to Karnataka — physical features, rivers, climate, resources
State & Regional Issues Karnataka-specific administrative and social issues, regional development matters
Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Three-tier Panchayat Raj system, rural development schemes and programs
Karnataka’s Economic Issues Economic planning, budget highlights, state-specific economic policies and challenges
Note: Paper-I is common in nature and largely tests general awareness with a heavy Karnataka-specific emphasis, similar to other KEA Group-C recruitment exams (VA, FDA, SDA etc.).

KEA Surveyor Syllabus 2026 — Paper-II (Specific Paper) — Detailed Topic-Wise Table
Section / Weightage Detailed Topics
Mathematics — 40%
(Highest Weightage)		 Arithmetic: Number system, squares/cubes & roots, set theory, sequence & series, matrices, permutations & combinations, statistics, HCF & LCM
Algebra: Basics, linear & quadratic equations, factorisation, coordinate geometry
Geometry: Axioms & postulates, theorems, polygons, triangles, congruence, quadrilaterals, parallelograms, midpoint theorem, areas, cyclic quadrilaterals, surface areas & volumes of solids, circles, similarity theorems, right-angle triangles
Modern Methods of Surveying — 20% Photogrammetry & aerial survey, satellite imagery, drone (UAV) imagery, remote sensing, GPS, GIS, DGPS, GNSS, RTK surveying, and the Karnataka State CORS Network
Computer Applications — 20% MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); AutoCAD (including DXF file operations for cadastral data); GIS software & applications; basics of software solutions & land records IT (SDLC, web/mobile app development, APIs, web portal design & UX fundamentals)
Physics — 10% Magnetism, electricity, electromagnetic radiation, electronics, dynamics, heat, light, sound, and gravitation
Geography — 10% The Earth, the lithosphere, maps, and physical features of India
Important: The exact content of Paper-II is finalised by the Recruitment Committee in consultation with the appointing authority (Survey Settlement and Land Records Department), so the weightage given above should be treated as a broad guide. Mathematics alone carries the highest weightage (40%), making it the single most important section to master.

read more: HP Police Constable Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026

Kannada Language Test — Who Needs to Appear?

  • Applicable only to candidates who have NOT studied Kannada as a first or second language up to SSLC (10th) level, or have not passed an equivalent higher-level Kannada examination
  • Total 150 marks; minimum 50 marks required to qualify
  • This is purely a qualifying test — marks obtained here are NOT added to the final merit list, but failing to score minimum marks leads to disqualification
  • Candidates who have already studied Kannada up to the prescribed level are exempted from this test

Educational Qualification Required

  • A Degree in Civil Engineering/Technology, or any other Engineering/Technology degree, or AMIE qualification in any Engineering/Technology stream; OR
  • A Degree (B.Sc.) in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Information Technology, Instrumentation, Electronics & Communication, or Agriculture; OR
  • A Diploma in any branch of Engineering/Technology from an AICTE-approved institution

Note: Candidates who are yet to complete the qualifying course are NOT eligible to apply — only those who have already completed the qualification can apply.

read more; BPSSC SI Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 PDF

KEA Surveyor 2026 Vacancy Snapshot
Cadre Total Vacancies
Regular / State-Wide Cadre (RPC) 560
Kalyana-Karnataka Local Cadre (KK — Article 371(J)) 190
Total 750

Preparation Strategy — Section-Wise Tips for KEA Surveyor

  • Mathematics (highest weightage — 40%): Build strong SSLC/PUC-level fundamentals in arithmetic, algebra and geometry first; practice mensuration (areas, surface areas, volumes) thoroughly as it directly relates to land measurement concepts used in surveying
  • Modern Surveying Methods: Focus on understanding GPS/GNSS/DGPS/RTK basics, how drone & satellite-based land surveys work, and the concept of CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Stations) used by the Karnataka government for real-time land data
  • Computer Applications: Get hands-on practice with MS Excel (for data/records handling) and basic AutoCAD operations (especially DXF file handling used for cadastral/land maps); understand GIS software basics
  • Physics & Geography: These carry lower weightage (10% each) — cover NCERT/SSLC-level basics of magnetism, electricity, heat, light, sound and gravitation for Physics; and Earth’s structure, lithosphere, map-reading and India’s physical geography for Geography
  • Paper-I General Knowledge: Focus heavily on Karnataka-specific history, geography, Panchayat Raj, and current government schemes; read Kannada/English newspapers regularly for current affairs
  • Practice with negative marking in mind: Since 0.25 marks are deducted per wrong answer, avoid blind guessing — attempt only those questions where you are reasonably confident
  • Solve previous KEA Group-C papers (VA, FDA, SDA, AE/JE) for Paper-I pattern familiarity, since the General Knowledge structure is similar across KEA recruitment exams

read more; IBPS SO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026

Job Profile — What a Surveyor (Bhoomapaka) Does

  • Conducting land measurement and boundary surveys for revenue and cadastral records under the Department of Survey Settlement and Land Records
  • Preparing and updating village maps, land records, and property boundary documents (Pani/RTC-linked survey data)
  • Using modern survey technology — GPS/DGPS/RTK instruments, drones, and satellite imagery — for accurate land measurement, alongside traditional chain/tape surveying where required
  • Assisting in resolving land boundary disputes through official re-survey and demarcation
  • Maintaining digital land records using GIS/AutoCAD software as part of Karnataka’s land records digitization initiatives
  • Supporting revenue officials (Tahsildar, RTC issuance) with verified survey data

read more; Telangana Police Constable Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026

important links

Apply Online (KEA Surveyor 2026) click here (Active 11 July – 07 August 2026)
Download RPC (560 Posts) Notification PDF click here
Download KK (190 Posts) Notification PDF click here
Official Website click here
notification 24 jobs click here
join telegram click here
join whatsapp channel click here
susbscribe on youtube click here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — KEA Surveyor Syllabus 2026

Q1. How many papers are there in the KEA Surveyor written exam?
Two papers — Paper-I (General Knowledge, 100 marks) and Paper-II (Specific Paper, 100 marks), totalling 200 marks, plus a separate qualifying Kannada Language Test for candidates who need it.

Q2. Which topic carries the highest weightage in Paper-II?
Mathematics carries the highest weightage at approximately 40%, covering Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry.

Q3. Is there negative marking in the KEA Surveyor exam?
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer in both Paper-I and Paper-II.

Q4. What is the minimum qualifying percentage?
35% for General category candidates; relaxed cutoffs apply for reserved categories as per rules.

Q5. Is the Kannada Language Test compulsory for everyone?
No, it is compulsory only for candidates who have not studied Kannada as first/second language up to SSLC level or an equivalent higher Kannada exam. It is qualifying in nature and does not count toward merit.

Q6. Is there an interview in the KEA Surveyor selection process?
No, there is no interview. Selection is based on written exam merit, followed by document verification and a mandatory probation/training period.

Leave a Comment