KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 Notification Out - Apply Online for 247 Posts
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, has released two recruitment notifications dated 03.09.2026 on behalf of the Department of School Education (Pre-University Education), Government of Karnataka, to fill 247 posts of Principal in Government Pre-University Colleges. Of these, 31 posts fall under the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Local Cadre (Notification No. ED/KEA/29/Recruitment/2026-KK), and 216 posts fall under the Residual Parent Cadre, or RPC (Notification No. ED/KEA/28/Recruitment/2026-RPC). Both notifications share the same pay scale, application window, fee structure, and exam pattern, and are covered together in this article as a single KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 drive.
Quick facts: KEA is recruiting for the post of Principal, Government Pre-University Colleges, across 247 vacancies (31 KK + 216 RPC). Only serving Lecturers in the Department of School Education (Pre-University) with a minimum of 10 years of service and satisfactory completion of probation are eligible to apply - this is not an open recruitment for the general public. Online applications open on 7 September 2026 and close on 4 October 2026 (fee payment permitted till 5 October 2026), through the KEA website. Postings are to Government Pre-University Colleges located across Karnataka, with KK-cadre posts restricted to colleges in the Kalyana-Karnataka region.
KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, on behalf of the School Education Department (Pre-University Education), Govt. of Karnataka |
| Post Name | Principal, Government Pre-University Colleges |
| Total Vacancies | 247 (31 under Kalyana-Karnataka Local Cadre + 216 under Residual Parent Cadre) |
| Notification Numbers | ED/KEA/29/Recruitment/2026-KK dated 03.09.2026; ED/KEA/28/Recruitment/2026-RPC dated 03.09.2026 |
| Who Can Apply | Serving Lecturers in Govt. Pre-University Colleges (School Education Dept.) with minimum 10 years' service and satisfactory probation completion |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Application Start Date | 07.09.2026 |
| Application Last Date | 04.10.2026 |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 90,200 – Rs. 1,59,200 |
| Job Location | Government Pre-University Colleges across Karnataka (KK posts limited to the Kalyana-Karnataka region) |
| Official Website | https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
KEA Principal Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application start date | 07.09.2026 |
| Online application last date | 04.10.2026 |
| Last date to pay application fee | 05.10.2026 |
| Competitive examination date (Papers 1, 2 & 3) | Not specified – to be announced later on the KEA website |
KEA Principal Vacancy 2026 – Post Details
A total of 247 Principal posts are being filled through this recruitment, split across two cadres. Category-wise vacancy breakups are given below.
| S. No. | Post Name | No. of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Principal – Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Local Cadre | 31 (GM-15, SC-A-2, SC-B-2, SC-C-1, ST-1, Cat-1-2, 2A-5, 2B-1, 3A-1, 3B-1) |
| 2 | Principal – Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) | 216 (GM-108, SC-A-12, SC-B-11, SC-C-10, ST-7, Cat-1-9, 2A-32, 2B-9, 3A-8, 3B-10) |
Within each vertical category above, horizontal reservations also apply for women, rural candidates, ex-servicemen, Kannada-medium candidates, persons with disabilities, and transgender candidates, as detailed in the official notification's roster tables.
KEA Principal Eligibility Criteria
KEA Principal Recruitment 2026 is not open to the general public or fresh candidates. Only Lecturers currently working in Government Pre-University Colleges under the School Education Department are eligible, subject to the qualification and service conditions below.
KEA Principal Qualification
- The applicant must be a serving Lecturer in the Lecturer cadre of Government Pre-University Colleges under the School Education Department.
- The applicant must have completed a minimum of 10 years of service in the Lecturer cadre.
- The applicant must have satisfactorily completed the probation period in the Lecturer post.
- The notification specifies that if an applicant participates in the recruitment process without holding the required educational/service qualification, their candidature may be rejected at any stage by the Government, the Department, or the Authority.
- The prescribed qualification must be held as on the last date fixed for submission of applications.
KEA Principal Age Limit
No age limit is prescribed for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026. The notification states that since this recruitment fills vacancies in the Principal post from among serving Lecturers in Government Pre-University Colleges who have completed 10 years of service under the School Education Department, no upper age limit applies.
KEA Principal Salary
Selected candidates will be placed in the revised 2024 Karnataka state pay scale of Rs. 90,200 – Rs. 1,59,200 (90200-2300-99400-2700-115600-3100-134200-3500-155200-4000-159200). Pension benefits for officers appointed as Principal will continue to be governed by the pension rules applicable to their original appointment as Lecturer.
KEA Principal Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General Merit and other categories (2A / 2B / 3A / 3B) | Rs. 1,500/- |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-servicemen / Third Gender | Rs. 1,000/- |
| Persons with Disabilities (Special Category) | Rs. 500/- |
The fee must be paid online only, and once paid, it will not be refunded under any circumstances.
KEA Principal Selection Process
Selection is through a competitive examination conducted by KEA, either in Online (CBT) mode or Offline (OMR) mode. The exam consists of three papers.
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Kannada Language Test (qualifying only) | 150 | 150 | 3 hours |
| Paper 2 | General Studies (History & Cultural Heritage, Social & Political Perspective, Indian Economy, Constitution, Public Administration, Science & Technology, Environment & Ecology, Ethics, Aptitude) | 150 | 150 | 3 hours |
| Paper 3 | Karnataka Civil Service Rules, Classification, Control & Appeal Rules 1957, KCS (Conduct) Rules, Karnataka Treasury Code, Karnataka Financial Code, Recruitment Rules, Karnataka Education Act 1983, Educational Psychology and allied topics | 150 | 150 | 3 hours |
- A minimum of 50 marks in Paper 1 (Kannada) is required to qualify, but Paper 1 marks are not counted while preparing the merit list – qualifying nature only.
- Only marks scored in Papers 2 and 3 are used to prepare the final merit list.
- Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for each wrong answer in Papers 2 and 3 (bilingual Kannada/English question papers).
- Shortlisting for document verification is done at 1:2 ratio against vacancies, category-wise, based on Paper 2 & 3 scores.
KEA Principal Reservation Policy
Reservation is provided as per Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977 and related government orders. Category codes used in the notification are listed below.
| Code | Category |
|---|---|
| GM | General Merit |
| SC (Cat-A/B/C) | Scheduled Caste (Category A/B/C) |
| ST | Scheduled Tribe |
| Cat-1 | Category-1 |
| 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B | Category 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B |
| XMP | Ex-Servicemen |
| Rural | Rural Candidate |
| KMS | Kannada Medium Student |
| Wom | Woman Candidate |
| TG | Transgender |
| KK | Kalyana-Karnataka (local cadre, applicable to the 31-post notification only) |
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card
- SSLC certificate or equivalent proof of date of birth
- Service certificate confirming Lecturer appointment, probation completion, and years of service
- Caste certificate (SC/ST/Cat-1/2A/2B/3A/3B) bearing an RD number, where applicable
- Income and caste (creamy-layer) certificate for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B candidates, where applicable
- Rural candidate certificate (Form-2), where applicable
- Kannada-medium study certificate, where applicable
- Ex-servicemen or dependent certificate, where applicable
- Disability certificate (UDID), where applicable
- Third-gender certificate from the District Magistrate, where applicable
- Kalyana-Karnataka local candidate certificate under Article 371(J) (Annexure-A), applicable only for KK-cadre posts
- Recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, 50KB–200KB) and signature (JPEG, 50KB–70KB)
How to Apply for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official KEA website: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
- Click on the online application link for the relevant Principal Recruitment notification (KK or RPC, as applicable).
- Register and fill in personal, educational, and service details carefully.
- Upload the photograph and signature as per the specified format and size.
- Upload the required certificates and supporting documents.
- Pay the prescribed application fee online.
- Verify all entered details before final submission – no correction or modification is allowed after submission.
- Download and retain a copy of the submitted application and the fee payment receipt.
KEA Principal Important Instructions
- Applications will be accepted only through the online mode; no other method of submission is allowed.
- No changes or corrections are permitted in the application once submitted.
- Candidates must carry a valid original photo ID (PAN card, driving licence, Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, or government employee ID) along with the exam admission ticket to the exam centre.
- Exam centre changes will not be entertained under any circumstances.
- Applications found to have incorrect, insufficient, or false information will be rejected at any stage.
- Providing false information or engaging in fraudulent practices may lead to disqualification and legal/disciplinary action.
- For queries, candidates can call the KEA helpline: 080-23460460 (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM).
KEA Principal Important Links
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
It is a recruitment drive by the Karnataka Examinations Authority, on behalf of the School Education Department, to fill 247 Principal posts in Government Pre-University Colleges across Karnataka through a competitive examination for serving Lecturers.
How many vacancies are available in KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
There are 247 vacancies in total – 31 under the Kalyana-Karnataka (KK) Local Cadre and 216 under the Residual Parent Cadre (RPC).
Who is eligible to apply for KEA Principal posts?
Only serving Lecturers in Government Pre-University Colleges under the School Education Department, with a minimum of 10 years' service and satisfactory completion of probation, are eligible. It is not open to fresh candidates or the general public.
What is the last date to apply for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
The online application window closes on 4 October 2026, and the fee can be paid until 5 October 2026.
What is the application fee for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
Rs. 1,500 for General Merit and Category 2A/2B/3A/3B candidates; Rs. 1,000 for SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-servicemen/Third Gender candidates; and Rs. 500 for persons with disabilities.
What is the salary for the KEA Principal post?
Selected candidates will draw pay in the scale of Rs. 90,200 – Rs. 1,59,200 as per the revised 2024 Karnataka state pay scale.
How can I apply for KEA Principal Recruitment 2026?
Applications must be submitted online through the KEA website (https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/) before the last date; no offline applications are accepted.
What is the difference between the KK and RPC posts in this recruitment?
Both are for the same Principal post and pay scale, announced on the same date with identical dates, fee, and exam pattern. The KK notification covers 31 posts restricted to the Kalyana-Karnataka local cadre, while the RPC notification covers 216 posts under the residual parent cadre for the rest of the state.