KEA VAO Recruitment 2026; Apply Online for 572 Village Accountant (Gram Adalitha Adhikari) Posts OPEN

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The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has released two separate notifications on 10 July 2026, on behalf of the Revenue Department, Government of Karnataka, inviting online applications for 572 Village Accountant (Gram Adalitha Adhikari) posts in Group-C cadre across the state.

This recruitment is split into two notifications — 505 posts under the regular (RPC) category spanning 21 districts, and 67 posts under the Kalyana-Karnataka (Article 371J) quota covering Kalaburagi, Bidar, and Raichur districts. Selection is based purely on a written competitive exam with no interview.

In this article, we’ve covered the complete district-wise vacancy breakdown, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and step-by-step application process from both official notifications.

KEA VAO Recruitment 2026 – Overview
Notification Released 10 July 2026 — 572 Village Accountant Posts | Apply Online 11–30 July 2026
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Particulars Details
Conducting Body Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, for the Revenue Department
Notification Numbers ED/KEA/26/NE.VI/2026(RPC) & ED/KEA/27/NE.VI/2026(KK), Both Dated 10.07.2026
Post Name Village Accountant / Gram Adalitha Adhikari (Group-C)
Total Vacancies 572 Posts (505 Regular/RPC + 67 Kalyana-Karnataka/KK)
Application Mode Online Only — One District Per Candidate
Selection Mode Written Competitive Exam Only (Offline OMR) — No Interview
Appointing Authority Concerned District Collector / District Magistrate
Probation Period 2 Years
Official Website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea

About This Recruitment & the Two Notifications
The Village Accountant (Gram Adalitha Adhikari) is a district-cadre revenue post responsible for maintaining village-level land records and supporting local revenue administration in Karnataka. This recruitment is split into two simultaneous notifications: the Regular (RPC) notification covers 505 posts across 21 districts, while the Kalyana-Karnataka (K.K.) notification covers 67 posts reserved under Article 371(J) specifically for Kalaburagi, Bidar, and Raichur districts. Interestingly, Bidar and Raichur districts have vacancies split across BOTH notifications (Bidar: 4 under RPC + 17 under KK; Raichur: 2 under RPC + 10 under KK), so candidates from these two districts should check both notifications carefully before applying to the correct one.

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Important Dates 2026

  • Notification Released: 10 July 2026
  • Online Application Start Date: 11 July 2026
  • Last Date to Apply Online: 30 July 2026
  • Last Date to Pay Application Fee: 31 July 2026
  • Written Exam Date (RPC Notification — 505 Posts): 04 October 2026
  • Written Exam Date (KK Notification — 67 Posts): 25 October 2026
  • Admit Card Download: To Be Notified Before the Respective Exam Date
  • Result & District-Wise Merit List: To Be Notified After the Exam

Important: Note that the RPC and KK notifications have DIFFERENT exam dates (4 October vs 25 October 2026) — make sure you’re tracking the correct exam date for the notification you applied under.

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KEA VAO Vacancy 2026 — District-Wise Breakdown
District Notification Vacancies
Bengaluru Nagara (Urban) RPC 20
Bengaluru Grameenantara (Rural) RPC 29
Chitradurga RPC 15
Chikkaballapura RPC 21
Tumakuru RPC 50
Shivamogga RPC 18
Kolar RPC 22
Bengaluru Dakshina (South) RPC 30
Mysuru RPC 45
Mandya RPC 50
Hassan RPC 35
Udupi RPC 10
Dakshina Kannada RPC 20
Chamarajanagar RPC 31
Chikkamagaluru RPC 10
Belagavi RPC 48
Bagalkote RPC 16
Gadag RPC 14
Haveri RPC 15
Bidar RPC 04
Raichuru RPC 02
RPC Subtotal — 505
Kalaburagi KK 40
Bidar KK 17
Raichuru KK 10
KK Subtotal — 67
Grand Total 572
Note: Tumakuru and Mandya have the highest allocation with 50 posts each (RPC), followed by Belagavi (48) and Kalaburagi (40, KK). Raichur has the fewest RPC posts (2) but the third-highest KK allocation (10). Vacancy figures are provisional and subject to revision as per future government orders. Category-wise and horizontal reservation breakups are published separately by the Revenue Department.

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Age Limit (As on Last Date of Application)

  • Minimum Age: 18 Years
  • Candidates get a one-time 5-year upper age relaxation as per Government Order dated 29.01.2026 (Circular No. 262, 2025)
Category Maximum Age Limit (After Relaxation)
General/Unreserved Candidates 40 Years
Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B 43 Years
SC / ST / Category-1 45 Years
Note: Additional age relaxation (up to 10 years) is available for Ex-Servicemen, NCC full-time instructors, Gram Sevaks under state rural employment schemes, widows, and retrenched government employees, as per Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977.

Education Qualification

  • Candidate must have passed PUC (Pre-University Course) or an equivalent examination

Equivalent Qualifications Also Accepted:

  • Class 12 examination conducted by CBSE or ICSE boards
  • Class 12 examination conducted by other State Government examination boards
  • Higher Secondary Education courses/HSC conducted under the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
  • For candidates with a 2-year ITI course: NIOS ITI candidates who have passed one language subject and one technical subject examination, OR a pre-degree examination in one language and one subject conducted by an education board, are considered PUC-equivalent for this recruitment

Special Government Order Clarifications:

  • Order dated 06.08.2021: Karnataka State Vocational Training Courses (J.O.C.) are considered PUC-equivalent only for eligibility purposes in this recruitment — candidates using J.O.C. marks cannot use them for merit calculation in the competitive exam; only the qualifying eligibility criterion is satisfied
  • Order dated 30.09.2021: Candidates with a 3-year Diploma are considered PUC-equivalent only for: (1) Direct/Backlog recruitment posts where a Technical Education Department 3-year diploma is treated as PUC-equivalent, and (2) for diploma-holders who completed their diploma before 2015 under the Technical Education Department, they must additionally clear the Kannada language exam conducted alongside KPSC exams

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Mandatory Kannada Language Proficiency Requirement

  • Candidates must have studied Kannada as First or Second Language in SSLC or an equivalent/higher exam recognized by the State or Central Government, OR studied through Kannada medium
  • Candidates who do NOT meet this criterion must appear for and pass a Compulsory Kannada Language Test conducted by KEA
  • This Kannada test carries 150 marks, and candidates must score a minimum of 50 marks to remain eligible for the selection process
  • Marks scored in this Kannada Language Test are NOT counted towards the final merit list — it is purely a qualifying test

Application Fee
General & Category 2A/2B/3A/3B ₹750/- (₹500 Application Fee + ₹250 Exam Fee)
SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Transgender ₹500/- (₹250 Application Fee + ₹250 Exam Fee)
Special Cadre (Persons with Disability) ₹250/- (Exam Fee Only)
Fee Payment Mode Online Only
Note: Fee once paid is non-refundable. Candidates can apply for only ONE district — applications for more than one district are NOT permitted under this recruitment.

Selection Process — Written Exam Only

  • Selection is based entirely on a Written Competitive Examination — there is NO interview stage
  • The exam is conducted in Offline OMR mode at district-level exam centres
  • Candidates must score a minimum of 35% to be considered eligible for the selection process
  • KEA conducts the exam and hands over district-wise merit lists/mark sheets to the respective District Collector, who is the final appointing authority

KEA VAO Exam Pattern 2026
Paper Questions / Marks / Duration
Paper 1 — General Knowledge 100 Questions | 100 Marks | 2 Hours (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
Paper 2 — Kannada, English & Computer Knowledge 100 Questions | 100 Marks | 2 Hours (2:30 PM – 4:30 PM)
Total 200 Questions | 200 Marks
Negative Marking 0.25 Marks Deducted per Wrong Answer
Minimum Qualifying Marks 35%
OMR-Specific Rule: Each question has 4 options plus a 5th “cancellation” circle. Candidates get an extra 5 minutes at the end of the exam specifically to mark the 5th circle for any question they wish to cancel/leave unattempted — any question left neither answered nor cancelled will still attract the 0.25 mark negative deduction.

Paper 1 (General Knowledge) — Syllabus Topics

  • General Knowledge of Current Events
  • Day-to-Day Household & General Life Topics
  • Basic Outline of the Indian Constitution
  • History of India with Special Reference to Karnataka
  • Geography of India with Special Reference to Karnataka
  • State & Regional Administration
  • Rural Development, Panchayat Raj Institutions & Rural Cooperative Societies-Related Sub-Processes
  • Karnataka’s Economic Development
  • Karnataka Environment-Related Issues & Development Topics

Paper 2 — Syllabus Topics

  • (A) General Kannada
  • (B) General English
  • (C) Computer Knowledge

KEA VAO Salary & Pay Scale (2024 Revised)
Pay Scale ₹34,100 – ₹67,600
Pension/Retirement Benefit: Selected candidates are covered under the National Pension Scheme (NPS). The old Pension Scheme and CPF/PF benefits are NOT applicable.

How to Apply Online for KEA VAO Recruitment 2026

  • Visit the official Karnataka Examination Authority website — cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
  • Locate the link for “Village Accountant (VAO) Recruitment 2026” — choose the RPC or KK notification based on your target district
  • Click on “New Registration” and complete the online application form
  • Fill in personal, educational, and category details exactly as per your original certificates
  • Select your ONE preferred district carefully — this cannot be changed after submission and you cannot apply for more than one district
  • Upload a recent passport-size photograph (JPEG format, 50 KB – 200 KB)
  • Upload your signature (JPEG format, 50 KB – 70 KB, signed in cursive, not block letters)
  • Review all entered details carefully — no changes/edits are allowed once the application is submitted
  • Pay the applicable application fee online through the payment gateway
  • Download and save a copy of the fee payment receipt and the final submitted application for future reference

Documents Required for Application & Verification

  • Aadhaar Card
  • PUC/Equivalent Marks Card & Certificate
  • SSLC or Equivalent Certificate (Date of Birth Proof)
  • Caste Certificate for SC/ST/Category-1/2A/2B/3A/3B Candidates (as per prescribed formats in the notification)
  • Rural Reservation Certificate (Model-1 or Model-2, as applicable)
  • Kannada Medium Study Certificate, if Claiming Kannada Medium Candidate Benefit
  • Ex-Servicemen Discharge Certificate, if Applicable
  • Third Gender Certificate from District Magistrate, if Applicable
  • No-Objection/Discharge Certificate for Candidates Already in Government Service, if Applicable

Note: Original documents are required only at the time of physical document verification for shortlisted candidates, not at the time of online application.

Basic Eligibility Conditions (General)

  • Candidate must be an Indian citizen
  • A male candidate who already has a living spouse and marries again, or a woman who marries a man who already has a living spouse, is not eligible for appointment unless specifically exempted by the government
  • Candidate must be physically and mentally fit and capable of efficiently discharging their duties
  • Candidates dismissed from government service or found guilty of dishonest practices by any recognized recruiting/examination authority are not eligible to apply

Preparation Tips for KEA VAO Exam 2026

  • Since Paper 1 leans heavily on Karnataka-specific history, geography, and administration, prioritize state-specific study material — this is a common weak spot for candidates preparing only from generic GK books
  • For Paper 2, practice a balanced mix of General Kannada, General English, and basic Computer Knowledge (MS Office, internet basics, file management) since all three appear in a single 100-mark paper
  • Practice OMR-based mock tests to build familiarity with the negative marking and the unique 5th-circle cancellation system
  • If you need to appear for the compulsory Kannada Language Test, treat it purely as a hurdle to clear (minimum 50/150) since these marks don’t count toward your final merit
  • Given the district-wise merit list system, research the typical cut-off competitiveness of your chosen district (based on past VAO recruitment trends) to set a realistic target score
  • Keep all your educational and category certificates organized in advance, since document verification will strictly check consistency with your online application

important links

Apply Online (KEA VAO Recruitment) click here (Active 11–30 July 2026)
Official Website click here
notification pdf  download  click  1 

click  2 
Helpline Number 080-23460460 (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — KEA VAO Recruitment 2026

Q1. How many total posts are there in this recruitment?
572 posts in total — 505 under the Regular (RPC) notification across 21 districts, and 67 under the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) notification across Kalaburagi, Bidar, and Raichur.

Q2. Can I apply for more than one district?
No, candidates can apply for only ONE district. Applications for more than one district are not permitted.

Q3. Is there an interview in this recruitment?
No, selection is based purely on a written competitive examination.

Q4. What is the last date to apply online?
30 July 2026, with the fee payment deadline on 31 July 2026.

Q5. Do the RPC and KK notifications have the same exam date?
No — the RPC notification exam is on 4 October 2026, while the KK notification exam is on 25 October 2026.

Q6. What is the minimum educational qualification required?
PUC (Pre-University Course) or an equivalent examination, as detailed in the notification’s multiple equivalency clauses.

Q7. Which district has the highest number of vacancies?
Tumakuru and Mandya each have 50 posts (the highest under RPC), followed by Belagavi with 48.

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