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Karnataka has opened one of its largest Group C drives of the year, and the KEA FDA SDA Recruitment 2026 gives graduates and 12th-pass candidates a single window into state government service. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has announced 5,431 Group C posts across state departments, boards and corporations, with applications open from 30 October 2026 and closing on 25 November 2026. The posts are split between First Division Assistant (FDA) level and Second Division Assistant (SDA) level roles, so a graduate applies for the FDA-level posts while a candidate who has passed 2nd PUC applies for the SDA-level posts. The written examination is scheduled across 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17 January 2027, with the exact date depending on the notification group a candidate applies under. Anyone who has been waiting for a Karnataka government opening should read the four notifications carefully before filling the form, because the cadre, the qualification and the examination date all change with the notification number. (four notifications dated 29 October 2026)
Table of Contents
KEA FDA SDA Recruitment 2026
5,431 Posts : Last Date 25 November 2026
BuzzGamers.com
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Important Dates
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Application Fee
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KEA FDA SDA 2026 : Age Limit
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Total Post 5,431 Posts |
Four Notifications, Two Cadres, One Karnataka Group C Drive
The size of this recruitment is only half the story. The other half is its structure, because KEA has not issued one common notification for all 5,431 posts. It has issued four separate notifications on 29 October 2026, and each one covers a different combination of level and cadre. The Residual Parent Cadre, often shortened to RPC, covers the General State Cadre, while the Kalyana Karnataka, or KK, cadre covers the Local Cadre posts reserved for that region. A candidate must therefore decide, before applying, whether they belong to the RPC or the KK cadre and whether their qualification fits the FDA level or the SDA level. Applying under the wrong notification is not a small mistake, because the examination date, the post list and the cadre all follow from that choice. The four notification numbers are ED/KEA/14/2026, ED/KEA/15/2026, ED/KEA/16/2026 and ED/KEA/17/2026, and candidates should match their application to the right number from the start.
The age limits in this drive deserve a second look, because older summaries of Karnataka recruitments still quote a maximum age of 35 years for General Merit candidates. That figure belongs to the position before the relaxation. The limits used in this recruitment — 40 years for General Merit, 43 years for 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, and 45 years for SC, ST and Category-1 — already include a one-time relaxation of five years granted through a government order dated 29 January 2026. That extra window matters most for candidates who thought they had aged out of Group C recruitment, because it brings a whole group of experienced applicants back into eligibility. Even so, every candidate should verify the age cut-off date and the category-wise limits in the notification itself, because the notification is the only document that settles a borderline case.
KEA FDA SDA 2026 : Vacancy Details
| Notification / Post Level | No. Of Post |
|---|---|
| ED/KEA/14/2026 — RPC, FDA-Level Posts | 2,163 |
| ED/KEA/15/2026 — KK, FDA-Level Posts | 563 |
| ED/KEA/16/2026 — RPC, SDA-Level Posts | 2,070 |
| ED/KEA/17/2026 — KK, SDA-Level Posts | 635 |
| Total | 5,431 |
The posts covered by these four notifications include First Division Assistant (FDA), Second Division Assistant (SDA), Accounts Assistant, Hostel Superintendent, Warden, Gram Panchayat Secretary and other Group C roles across state departments, boards and corporations. The FDA-level share comes to 2,726 posts and the SDA-level share to 2,705 posts, so the two levels are almost equal in size, even though they ask for different qualifications. The post-wise and department-wise breakup for each notification is given in the detailed notifications on the official KEA website, and candidates should check that breakup for the exact posts they are eligible for rather than assuming every post under a notification carries the same duties.
Who Can Apply For FDA-Level And SDA-Level Posts
| Post Level | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| FDA-Level Posts |
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| SDA-Level Posts |
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The qualification deadline is as important as the qualification itself. A candidate must hold the required degree or 2nd PUC qualification on or before 25 November 2026, which is the last date for applications. A result that arrives after that date does not count, even if the examination was taken earlier. Candidates who are in their final year or waiting for a result should therefore check the exact wording of the notification before paying the fee, because the fee is not a substitute for eligibility. For SDA-level posts, the acceptable qualification changes with the post, so a 2nd PUC pass, an ITI certificate and a diploma are not interchangeable — each post lists what it accepts, and
the candidate must match their certificate to that list.
KEA FDA SDA 2026: Papers To Keep Ready Before You Fill The Form
A Group C application moves quickly when the documents are ready
before the portal opens, and it stalls when a candidate has to hunt for a certificate on the last day. Candidates for this recruitment should keep their degree or 2nd PUC marks card and certificate, as applicable, ready in the format the portal asks for, along with a recent photograph and signature. Candidates claiming a reserved category should keep their caste or category certificate ready, and candidates claiming the Kalyana Karnataka Local Cadre should keep the proof of that eligibility ready as well, because the cadre choice is made in the form itself. PwD candidates, Ex-Servicemen and Third Gender candidates should keep their supporting certificates ready before they select the fee category, since the fee of ₹500 or ₹250 depends on that claim. Every detail entered in the form — name, date of birth and qualification — should match the certificates exactly, because a mismatch discovered later is far harder to correct than a careful entry made now.
You May Also Check : CGSSB Group 2 Recruitment 2026
- Read The Right Notification First: Open The Official KEA Website, Find The Notification Number That Matches Your Level And Cadre — 14/2026, 15/2026, 16/2026 Or 17/2026 — And Read Its Post List, Qualification And Age Limits Before Starting The Form.
- Keep The Documents Ready: A Recent Photograph And Signature, The Degree Or 2nd PUC Certificate, And Any Category Or Cadre Certificate You Intend To Claim, All In The Format The Portal Requires.
- Fill The Online Form On The Official KEA Portal With Personal Details Exactly As They Appear On Your Certificates, And Select The Correct Notification, Cadre And Post Preferences In The Form.
- Pay The Fee Online By 26 November 2026 — ₹750 For General Merit And 2A/2B/3A/3B, ₹500 For SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-Servicemen/Third Gender, And ₹250 For PwD, As Reported — And Save The Payment Receipt. Verify The Category-Wise Fee In The Notification Before Paying.
- Submit Before 25 November 2026 And Download The Final Application Printout, Because The Portal Will Not Accept A Form After The Last Date.
- Do Not Wait Until The Last Evening To Apply, Because A Slow Connection Or A Missing Document On 25 November Leaves No Time To Recover.
- Written Examination — On 8, 9, 10, 16 And 17 January 2027, By Notification Group
- Further Stages As Per Official Notification — Candidates Should Check The Detailed Notification For The Stages After The Written Examination, Including Any Document Verification Or Further Process Prescribed For Their Post.
- The Examination Date Varies By Notification Group, So Candidates Must Confirm Their Own Date From The Notification And The Admit Card Rather Than Assuming The Date Of Another Group Applies To Them.
- Preparation Should Follow The Syllabus And Examination Pattern Given In The Notification, Because Only That Document Settles The Subjects, Marks And Duration For Each Post Level.
Some Useful Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Download Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Five Questions Karnataka Candidates Are Asking First
| What is the last date to apply for KEA FDA SDA Recruitment 2026? The last date to apply online is 25 November 2026, and the fee can be paid till 26 November 2026. |
| How many vacancies are there in KEA FDA SDA Recruitment 2026? There are 5,431 Group C posts across four notifications — 2,163 RPC FDA-level, 563 KK FDA-level, 2,070 RPC SDA-level and 635 KK SDA-level posts. |
| Who can apply for FDA-level and SDA-level posts? FDA-level posts need a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, while SDA-level posts need 2nd PUC (12th pass) or equivalent, or ITI / diploma as per the post. The qualification must be held on or before 25 November 2026. |
| When will the written exam be held? The written examination is scheduled on 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17 January 2027, by notification group. Candidates must confirm their own date from the notification and admit card. |
| What is the application fee and age limit? As reported, the fee is ₹750 for General Merit and 2A/2B/3A/3B, ₹500 for SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-Servicemen/Third Gender and ₹250 for PwD. The maximum age is 40 years for General Merit, 43 years for 2A/2B/3A/3B and 45 years for SC/ST/Category-1, including the one-time 5-year relaxation. Verify both the fee category table and the age limits in the notification before applying. |
Conclusion
The KEA FDA SDA Recruitment 2026 is a rare opening that covers both graduates and 12th-pass candidates in a single drive, with 5,431 Group C posts across Karnataka’s departments, boards and corporations. Applications close on 25 November 2026, the fee can be paid till 26 November 2026, and the written examination runs across 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17 January 2027 by notification group. Candidates should first identify the correct notification for their level and cadre, verify the fee and age limits in that notification, and then apply early on the official KEA website rather than waiting for the last day. Readers tracking other state government openings can find the CGSSB Group 2 recruitment in our Jobs section, and our Jobs section will carry the KEA admit card update when the authority releases it.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is based on the four KEA notifications dated 29 October 2026 as reported on 9 November 2026. Vacancy numbers, dates, fee and eligibility rules can change through official corrigenda. Readers must verify every detail in the official notification on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea and apply only through the official portal. BuzzGamers is not a government website and is not affiliated with the Karnataka Examinations Authority.
AKAbout the Author
Hi, I am Arvind Kushwaha, founder of BuzzGamers. I have been writing about BGMI and gaming for over 6 years, and every post on this site is checked against official sources before it goes live. More About Arvind