KSHD Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 85 Assistant Horticulture Officer & Director Posts
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), on behalf of the Karnataka State Horticulture Department (KSHD), has released two linked notifications for 85 Group-B posts of Assistant Horticulture Officer and Assistant Horticulture Director. Online applications opened on 5 August 2026 and close on 30 August 2026, with fee payment allowed until 31 August 2026.
KSHD Recruitment 2026 at a Glance
| Organisation | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), on behalf of the Horticulture Department, Government of Karnataka |
| Posts | Assistant Horticulture Officer, Assistant Horticulture Director |
| Notification Numbers | ADE/KEA/32/NE.V/2026 (general/RPC) and ADE/KEA/33/NE.V/2026 (Kalyana-Karnataka) |
| Total Vacancies | 85 (80 general + 5 Kalyana-Karnataka quota) |
| Notification Date | 4 August 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only, via cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
| Online Application Window | 5 to 30 August 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31 August 2026 |
Vacancy Breakup
Two separate notifications cover this recruitment: a general notification for 80 posts across the state, and a Kalyana-Karnataka (Hyderabad-Karnataka, Article 371-J) quota notification for 5 additional Assistant Horticulture Director posts.
| Notification | Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| General (ADE/KEA/32/NE.V/2026) | Assistant Horticulture Officer | 75 |
| Assistant Horticulture Director | 5 | |
| Kalyana-Karnataka Quota (ADE/KEA/33/NE.V/2026) | Assistant Horticulture Director | 5 |
| Total | 85 | |
Post-wise and category-wise details are provisional and subject to revision as per government orders issued from time to time.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Assistant Horticulture Officer | Graduate in Horticulture from a university established by law in India and accredited by ICAR |
| Assistant Horticulture Director | Post-Graduate degree in Horticulture along with a B.Sc. in Horticulture from a university established by law in India and accredited by ICAR |
Age Limit
Candidates must be at least 18 years old as on the last date for submission of applications, per the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977. The upper age limit has been relaxed by 5 years for this cycle under Government Order No. CSaU 262 SEN 2025 dated 29 January 2026:
| Category | Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General Merit | 40 years |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | 43 years |
| SC / ST / Category-1 | 45 years |
Additional relaxation of up to 10 years applies for widows, ex-servicemen, government employees and other specified categories as per the notification.
Pay Scale
| Post | Pay Scale (₹) |
|---|---|
| Assistant Horticulture Officer | 65,950–1650–74,200–1900–85,600–2300–99,400–2700–1,15,600–3100–1,24,900 |
| Assistant Horticulture Director | 69,250–1650–74,200–1900–85,600–2300–99,400–2700–1,15,600–3100–1,34,200 |
Selected candidates are on probation for two years from the date of regular appointment and are covered under the National Pension System (NPS).
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General Merit and 2A/2B/3A/3B | ₹750 (₹500 application fee + ₹250 processing fee) |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Third Gender | ₹500 (₹250 application fee + ₹250 processing fee) |
| Persons with Disabilities | ₹250 (processing fee only) |
Fee is payable online only and is non-refundable once paid.
Selection Process
Selection is entirely through a competitive written examination, conducted online (CBT) or offline (OMR), as decided by KEA:
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Knowledge (current affairs, general science, Karnataka & Indian history/geography, Constitution, general intellectual ability) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | Subject-specific Horticulture paper (syllabus to be notified separately) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours |
- Minimum qualifying marks: 35%
- Negative marking: 0.75 marks deducted per wrong answer (4-option questions)
- Candidates who have not studied Kannada as a first or second language up to SSLC level must clear a qualifying Kannada Language Test (150 marks, minimum 50 to qualify); these marks don’t count toward the final merit list, and absentees are disqualified.
Documents Required
Aadhaar Card; SSLC or equivalent certificate showing date of birth; marks cards/certificates for all required qualifications; caste certificate where applicable; income-cum-caste certificate (only if issued for government employment purposes); rural reservation certificate where applicable; Kannada medium study certificate where applicable; ex-servicemen discharge certificate where applicable; third gender certificate from the District Magistrate where applicable; Kalyana-Karnataka (371-J) local candidate certificate where applicable; and photograph/signature scans in the prescribed format.
How to Apply
- Visit the KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
- Locate the KSHD Assistant Horticulture Officer/Director Recruitment 2026 link.
- Register and complete the online application carefully — no corrections are allowed after submission.
- Upload a passport-size photograph (JPEG, white background, 50–200 KB) and a scanned signature (JPEG, 50–70 KB).
- Pay the applicable fee through the online payment gateway.
- Download and keep the fee payment receipt.
- Submit before 30 August 2026, with fee payment completed by 31 August 2026.
Official Links
- Official Notification PDF (General): Download here
- Official Notification PDF (Kalyana-Karnataka Quota): Download here
- Apply Online: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Official KEA Website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/indexnew
Only correct online applications, followed by qualifying the competitive examination, make a candidate eligible for appointment — the notification itself confers no right of appointment. Furnishing false information or using unfair means leads to rejection and possible disciplinary/criminal action.
Related Recruitment
Candidates tracking other Karnataka state recruitments can check Latest Jobs for openings closing this month, including other KEA-conducted examinations for state government posts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total vacancies are there in KSHD Recruitment 2026?
85 posts — 80 under the general notification (75 Assistant Horticulture Officer, 5 Assistant Horticulture Director) plus 5 more Assistant Horticulture Director posts under the Kalyana-Karnataka quota notification.
What is the last date to apply?
The online application window closes on 30 August 2026, and fee payment must be completed by 31 August 2026.
What qualification is needed for Assistant Horticulture Officer?
A Graduate degree in Horticulture from a university recognised by law in India and accredited by ICAR.
What qualification is needed for Assistant Horticulture Director?
A Post-Graduate degree in Horticulture along with a B.Sc. in Horticulture from a university recognised by law in India and accredited by ICAR.
Is there negative marking in the exam?
Yes, 0.75 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.
What is the minimum qualifying mark?
Candidates must score at least 35% in the competitive examination to qualify.