The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has opened applications for 233 Group-C Nursing Officer and Pharmacy Officer vacancies under two separate recruitment notifications. The recruitment covers 188 posts under the RPC notification and another 45 posts under the Kalyana Karnataka (KK) cadre.
Online applications started on August 7, 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their forms until August 30, 2026. The last date to pay the prescribed application fee is August 31, 2026. KEA has also released separate Nursing and Pharmacy syllabi for the competitive examination.
Table of Contents
KEA Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority |
| Recruitment | Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026 |
| Posts | Nursing Officer, Pharmacy Officer |
| Classification | Group-C |
| Total Vacancies | 233 |
| RPC Vacancies | 188 |
| Kalyana Karnataka Vacancies | 45 |
| Notification Date | August 6, 2026 |
| Application Start Date | August 7, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | August 30, 2026 |
| Fee Payment Deadline | August 31, 2026 |
| Selection | Competitive Examination |
| Exam Date | To be announced |
KEA currently lists separate RPC and KK Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026 sections on its recruitment portal. The authority has published the detailed notifications, vacancy classification, certificate formats, subject syllabus and online application facility for the recruitment.
KEA Nursing, Pharmacy Vacancy Details
Across the two notifications, KEA is filling 233 posts. Of these, 188 vacancies belong to the RPC/main cadre recruitment in the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme Medical Services Department, while 45 vacancies are under the Kalyana Karnataka recruitment.
RPC Vacancy Distribution
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Officer | 98 |
| Nursing Officer | 90 |
| Total | 188 |
The 98 Pharmacy Officer vacancies comprise 92 regular vacancies, five Article 371(J)-related vacancies and one backlog vacancy. Nursing Officer has 72 regular, 11 Article 371(J)-related and seven backlog vacancies.
Kalyana Karnataka Vacancies
The separate KK notification carries 45 vacancies:
- Nursing Officer, Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society: 23 posts
- Pharmacy Officer, ESIS Medical Services: 11 posts
- Nursing Officer, Medical Services: 11 posts
This means that, across both notifications, the recruitment effectively provides 124 Nursing Officer and 109 Pharmacy Officer opportunities.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility differs slightly according to the department and post, particularly for Nursing Officer vacancies.
For the Pharmacy Officer posts under ESIS Medical Services, candidates should possess a Diploma in Pharmacy from an institution recognised by the Government of Karnataka and must be registered with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council.
For the Nursing Officer posts under ESIS Medical Services, candidates should possess a Diploma in General Nursing issued by an authorised institution and should be registered with the Karnataka Nursing Council.
The qualification is broader for the Nursing Officer vacancies under the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society in the KK cadre. Candidates may possess a recognised B.Sc Nursing degree or have completed PUC/equivalent followed by General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) from a recognised institution.
Candidates applying for these posts should carefully match their qualification with the specific department mentioned in the notification rather than relying only on the general Nursing Officer designation.
KEA Recruitment Age Limit
Candidates must have completed at least 18 years of age by the prescribed cutoff date.
The applicable upper-age limits following the relaxation currently provided under Karnataka recruitment rules are:
- General Merit: 40 years
- Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B: 43 years
- SC, ST and Category-I: 45 years
Separate additional relaxation provisions are available for certain categories including persons with disabilities, ex-servicemen and other eligible candidates under Karnataka Government rules.
Application Fee
KEA has prescribed different application charges according to category.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | ₹750 |
| SC, ST, Category-I, Ex-servicemen, Third Gender | ₹500 |
| Persons with Disability | ₹250 |
The fee has to be paid online. Candidates can submit their application up to August 30, while fee payment can be completed until August 31, 2026.
Nursing and Pharmacy Officer Salary
Both posts carry Karnataka Government pay scales.
Pharmacy Officer: ₹44,425 to ₹83,700
Nursing Officer: ₹54,175 to ₹99,400
Candidates appointed through direct recruitment will normally undergo a two-year probation period. The posts also come under the applicable National Pension System and other service conditions prescribed by the Karnataka Government.
KEA Selection Process
Selection will be based primarily on a competitive examination conducted by KEA, which may be organised through CBT or OMR mode.
A Kannada language test will additionally be applicable to candidates who do not qualify for exemption under the prescribed Kannada-study conditions.
The qualifying Kannada test carries 150 marks, and candidates required to appear for it need at least 50 marks to qualify. Kannada test marks are qualifying in nature and are not added to the final competitive examination merit.
Written Examination Pattern
The competitive examination includes a General Knowledge paper along with the relevant professional or subject paper.
Paper 1 carries 100 questions for 100 marks with a duration of two hours. KEA has separately released the subject syllabus for General Nursing and Midwifery as well as Pharmacy.
Candidates must secure at least 35% marks in the competitive examination to qualify.
There is also negative marking. 0.25 mark will be deducted for every incorrect response. Candidates should therefore avoid random guessing in the examination.
Important Dates Candidates Should Note
The detailed recruitment notifications were issued on August 6, 2026. Online registration began the following day, August 7.
The application deadline is August 30, 2026, while candidates get one additional day — until August 31 — to complete fee payment.
KEA has not yet announced the competitive examination date. The examination schedule and admit card information will be issued separately.
How to Apply for KEA Recruitment
Candidates should use the Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment section available on the official KEA portal.
The application process involves registration, entering personal and qualification details, selecting the relevant recruitment/post, uploading the required photograph and signature, paying the application fee and submitting the final form.
Applicants should check all entries before final submission because the recruitment instructions state that changes may not be permitted after the form is finally submitted. Candidates should also retain their application acknowledgement and fee-payment receipt until the recruitment process is completed.
Documents Candidates Should Keep Ready
Applicants should keep their educational certificates, date-of-birth proof, Aadhaar or other prescribed identification, relevant professional council registration certificates, caste/category documents and reservation certificates ready.
Pharmacy applicants should particularly verify their Karnataka Pharmacy Council registration, while Nursing candidates should ensure that the nursing qualification and council registration meet the requirements of the specific department for which they are applying.
Candidates claiming Kalyana Karnataka or other reservation benefits should use certificates in the format and validity period prescribed by KEA.
What Candidates Should Do Now
The immediate priority is the August 30 application deadline. Candidates should first determine whether they are applying under the RPC recruitment, Kalyana Karnataka recruitment or an eligible combination of vacancies and then verify the department-specific qualification before submitting the application.
With 233 Group-C healthcare vacancies, the recruitment is particularly relevant to Diploma in Pharmacy, General Nursing, GNM and eligible B.Sc Nursing candidates. KEA has already released the subject syllabi, so applicants can begin preparation without waiting for the examination date.
The next significant update will be the KEA Nursing and Pharmacy Officer exam schedule, followed by the hall ticket release.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are available in KEA Nursing & Pharmacy Recruitment 2026?
KEA has notified 233 vacancies across two notifications—188 under RPC and 45 under the Kalyana Karnataka cadre.
What is the last date to apply?
The online application deadline is August 30, 2026. The application fee can be paid until August 31.
How many Nursing Officer posts are available?
There are 124 Nursing Officer vacancies when the RPC and Kalyana Karnataka notifications are combined.
How many Pharmacy Officer vacancies are available?
The combined Pharmacy Officer vacancy count is 109 posts.
What is the Pharmacy Officer qualification?
For the notified ESIS Pharmacy Officer posts, candidates require a Diploma in Pharmacy from a recognised institution along with registration with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council.
Has KEA announced the exam date?
No. The competitive examination date has not yet been announced and will be notified separately by KEA.
IF THE GNM CANDIDATE NEED ANY EXPEREINCE TO APPLY