The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has announced the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Exam Date 2026 for recruitment to 233 Group-C posts under the ESI Scheme Medical Services Department and other concerned institutions. The written examination is scheduled for 27 October and 31 October 2026, with the Pharmacy Officer Paper 2 examination under the Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) rescheduled to 31 October.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Exam Date 2026: Key Highlights
The written competitive exam will be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) or Offline OMR mode across designated centers in Karnataka.
- General Knowledge (Paper 1): Scheduled for 27 October 2026 for both Nursing Officer and Pharmacy Officer candidates.
- Pharmacy Officer Specific Paper 2 (RPC): Rescheduled to 31 October 2026.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Examination Schedule 2026
Candidates can review the full schedule breakdown, including dates, shift timings, and paper subjects, in the table below:
| Exam Date | Post Name | Paper & Subject | Exam Timings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 October 2026 | ESI – Pharmacy Officer & Nursing Officer (RPC/KK) | Paper 1: General Knowledge | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| 27 October 2026 | ESI – Nursing Officer (RPC/KK) | Paper 2: Specific Subject | 02:30 PM – 04:30 PM |
| 31 October 2026 | ESI – Pharmacy Officer (RPC) (Rescheduled) | Paper 2: Specific Subject | 02:30 PM – 04:30 PM |
Download KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Notification 2026 PDF
The official notifications contain details about vacancies, educational qualifications, age limits, application fees, examination schemes, reservations, and document requirements.
KEA Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 Overview
Before applying, candidates should have a quick look at the major details of the recruitment, including the total vacancies, application dates, cadres, selection method, and application mode.
| Particulars | Details |
| Recruiting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru |
| Department/Institutions | ESI Scheme Medical Services Department & concerned Government institutions |
| Posts | Nursing Officer & Pharmacy Officer |
| Total Vacancies | 233 Posts |
| General/RPC Cadre Vacancies | 188 Posts |
| Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre Vacancies | 45 Posts |
| General/RPC Notification No. | ED/KEA/34/Recruitment/2026(RPC) |
| Kalyana-Karnataka Notification No. | ED/KEA/35/Recruitment/2026(KK) |
| Notification Date | 06 August 2026 |
| Recruitment Type | Direct Recruitment |
| Selection Method | Competitive Examination |
| Exam Mode | CBT/Offline OMR |
| Online Application Starts | 07 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 30 August 2026 |
| Exam Dates | 27 and 31 October 2026 |
| Pharmacy Officer RPC Paper 2 | 31 October 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Job Type | Group-C Government Posts |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Exam Date 2026
Candidates should check the examination schedule and the details mentioned on their hall tickets before appearing for the examination.
| Event | Date |
| Notification Released | 06 August 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 07 August 2026 |
| Closing Date for Online Application | 30 August 2026 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 31 August 2026 |
| Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Written Examination | 27 and 31 October 2026 |
| Pharmacy Officer RPC Paper 2 | 31 October 2026 |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Vacancy 2026 (RPC Cadre)
A total of 188 vacancies have been announced under the Residual Parent Cadre. These include Nursing Officer and Pharmacy Officer posts, along with direct vacancies, Article 371(J) roster adjustment vacancies, and backlog vacancies.
| Post Name | Vacancy Breakdown | Total Vacancies |
| Pharmacy Officer | 92 Direct + 05 Roster Adjustment + 01 Backlog | 98 |
| Nursing Officer | 72 Direct + 11 Roster Adjustment + 07 Backlog | 90 |
| Total | 164 Direct + 16 Roster + 08 Backlog | 188 |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Vacancy 2026 (Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre)
The Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre has 45 vacancies distributed among the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society and the Employees State Insurance Scheme Medical Services.
| Department/Institution | Post Name | Vacancies |
| Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society | Nursing Officer | 23 (17 + 06 Backlog) |
| Employees State Insurance Scheme Medical Services | Pharmacy Officer | 11 (06 + 05 Backlog) |
| Employees State Insurance Scheme Medical Services | Nursing Officer | 11 (Shortfall/Roster Balance) |
| Total | — | 45 |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Apply Online 2026
The online application window ran from 7 August to 30 August 2026, and the fee payment deadline was 31 August 2026. The application period has closed. Candidates who successfully applied should now focus on checking the examination schedule and hall ticket updates.
Apply Online for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026
Steps to Apply for KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026
Eligible candidates can complete their online application by following the steps given below:
- Visit the official KEA website.
- Open the Nursing Officer and Pharmacy Officer recruitment application link.
- Select the applicable cadre and post.
- Complete the registration using the required details.
- Enter personal, educational, category, and other information.
- Upload the photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
- Pay the applicable application fee online.
- Carefully verify all information entered in the application.
- Submit the application form.
- Download and print the final application form and fee payment details for future reference.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Application Fee 2026 (Common for Both Cadre)
The application fee is the same for candidates applying under both cadres. The fee must be paid online and will not be refunded under any circumstances.
| Category | Total Fee | Fee Breakdown |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | ₹750 | ₹500 Application Fee + ₹250 Processing Fee |
| SC, ST, Category-1, Ex-Servicemen, Transgender | ₹500 | ₹250 Application Fee + ₹250 Processing Fee |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | ₹250 | Processing Fee Only |
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must fulfil the educational qualification and age requirements prescribed for their respective cadre and post. Since some qualification requirements differ between the two cadres, applicants should carefully check the applicable conditions.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria (RPC Cadre)
Candidates applying under the RPC Cadre must possess the prescribed professional qualification and registration for the respective post.
| Post | Educational Qualification |
| Pharmacy Officer | Diploma in Pharmacy from an institution recognized by the Government of Karnataka and registration with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council |
| Nursing Officer | Diploma in General Nursing issued by an authority authorized by the Government of Karnataka and registration with the Karnataka Nursing Council |
Candidates waiting for their examination results on the last date of application are not eligible. All required marks cards and certificates must have been obtained on or before the application deadline.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Eligibility Criteria (Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre)
The eligibility requirements for the KK cadre depend on the post and institution. Pharmacy Officer and ESIS Nursing Officer candidates must satisfy the same professional qualification and registration requirements as prescribed under the General/RPC Cadre.
For the Nursing Officer post under the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society, KEA has prescribed additional qualification routes.
| Post | Educational Qualification |
| Pharmacy Officer – ESIS | Diploma in Pharmacy from a Government of Karnataka-recognized institution + registration with Karnataka Pharmacy Council |
| Nursing Officer – ESIS | Diploma in General Nursing from an authority authorized by Government of Karnataka + registration with Karnataka Nursing Council |
| Nursing Officer – Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society | B.Sc Nursing from a recognized university/institution recognized by the Indian/Karnataka State Nursing Council OR PUC/equivalent + GNM from a recognized institution |
For the Nursing Officer post under the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society, candidates must also have studied Kannada as a language in SSLC, PUC, Bachelor’s or PG degree, or possess a Diploma in Kannada or a Kava/Jana/Rathna certificate.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Age Limit 2026 (Common for Both Cadre)
The minimum age is 18 years as on the last date of application. The upper age limit, including the one-time five-year relaxation provided under the Government Order dated 29 January 2026, is given below.
| Category | Maximum Age |
| General Merit (GM) | 40 Years |
| 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | 43 Years |
| SC, ST, Category-1 | 45 Years |
- Additional relaxation is available for eligible Ex-Servicemen, NCC Full-time Instructors, certain government employees, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, widows, and released bonded labourers as per the conditions specified in the notification.
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities are eligible for 10 years of additional age relaxation. Widows and released bonded labourers are also eligible for 10 years of relaxation subject to the required certificates.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Selection Process 2026 (Common for Both Cadre)
The selection process for both cadres will be based on a competitive examination conducted by KEA. The examination may be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) or offline OMR mode.
- Mandatory Kannada Language Test, where applicable
- Competitive Examination
- Document Verification
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Exam Pattern 2026 (Common for Both Cadre)
The main competitive examination consists of two papers. Each paper contains 100 objective-type questions and carries 100 marks.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | General Knowledge | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Paper 2 | Specific Paper | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
Mandatory Kannada Language Test
The Kannada Language Test carries 150 marks, and candidates must score at least 50 marks to qualify.
- Candidates are exempted if they studied Kannada as their first or second language in SSLC or an equivalent/higher qualification, passed SSLC in Kannada Medium, or have previously passed the mandatory Kannada examination conducted by KEA/KPSC.
- The marks obtained in this test will be used only for determining eligibility and will not be considered for ranking or merit.
KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Salary 2026
Candidates selected through the KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Officer Recruitment 2026 will receive salary according to the pay scale prescribed for their respective post and cadre. The salary structure is the same for the corresponding Nursing Officer and Pharmacy Officer posts across the RPC and Kalyana-Karnataka cadres.
| Post | Pay Scale |
| Nursing Officer | ₹54,175 – ₹99,400 |
| Pharmacy Officer | ₹44,425 – ₹83,700 |
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