Village Accountant / Village Administrative Officer (VAO) Recruitment 2026

📋 Job Description

- Recruitment drive by Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for 572 Village Accountant (Grama Aadalitha Adhikari) posts under the Revenue Department.
- Vacancies split into General/RPC cadre (505 posts) and Kalyana-Karnataka cadre (67 posts) under Article 371(J).
- Online applications open from 11th July 2026 to 7th August 2026 (extended from original deadlines).
- Selection based on competitive written examination in OMR mode with no interview round.
- Pay scale: ₹34,100 - ₹67,600 with National Pension Scheme (NPS) benefits.
- Probation period of 2 years for selected candidates.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

- Must be a citizen of India.
- Minimum age: 18 years as on 7th August 2026.
- Maximum age: 40 years (General), 43 years (Category 2A/2B/3A/3B), 45 years (SC/ST/Category-1) with applicable relaxations.
- Must have passed PUC (Class 12) or equivalent qualification recognized by the Government of Karnataka.
- Equivalent qualifications include CBSE/ICSE Class 12, State Board Class 12, NIOS advanced vocational courses, or ITI (with specific conditions).
- Candidates with higher qualifications (e.g., diploma, degree) are also eligible.
- Must be mentally and physically fit to discharge duties.
- Candidates with more than one wife or women married to such men are ineligible without prior Government permission.

🏆 Selection Process

- Selection is based solely on a competitive written examination conducted in OMR mode.
- Examination consists of two papers: Paper 1 (General Knowledge) and Paper 2 (General Kannada, General English, and Computer Knowledge).
- Each paper carries 100 marks with a duration of 2 hours.
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
- Minimum qualifying score: 35% in the competitive exam.
- Candidates opting for Kannada language exemption must have passed Kannada as first/second language up to SSLC level or clear a compulsory Kannada test (150 marks, minimum 50 marks required).
- District-wise merit lists will be prepared and forwarded to respective District Magistrates for appointment.
- No interview round is conducted.

📊 Key Information

Organization	Karnataka Examinations Authority
Location / State	Karnataka
Job Location	Karnataka, India
Category Eligibility	Open to all categories (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD) with applicable reservations.
Experience Required	No prior experience required for direct recruitment.
Application Start	11 July 2026
Last Date to Apply	07 August 2026

📊 KEA Recruitment - Vacancy Details

Post Name	Total Posts
Village Accountant (General/RPC Cadre)	505
Village Accountant (Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre)	67
Total	572

📁 Required Documents

- Aadhaar Card (mandatory for application submission).
- Class 10th (SSLC) certificate for age proof.
- PUC (Class 12) or equivalent qualification certificate.
- Caste certificate (if applicable) for reservation benefits.
- Income certificate (if applicable) for EWS category.
- Disability certificate (if applicable) for PwBD candidates.
- Ex-servicemen certificate (if applicable) for age relaxation.
- Kannada language proficiency certificate (if claiming exemption from Kannada test).
- Recent passport-size photograph (JPEG format, 50KB-200KB).
- Scanned signature (JPEG format, 50KB-70KB).

🎓 Required Qualifications

📊 Vacancy Details

Total vacancies: 572 (505 under General/RPC cadre + 67 under Kalyana-Karnataka cadre).
General/RPC cadre vacancies distributed across 21 districts in Karnataka.
Kalyana-Karnataka cadre vacancies distributed across 3 districts (Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichuru).
Reservation details: 505 posts under General/RPC cadre (UR, SC, ST, OBC, etc.) and 67 posts reserved for Kalyana-Karnataka region under Article 371(J).
Vacancy and category-wise figures may be revised by district/revenue authorities; applicants advised to check corrigendum before finalizing district choice.

🎂 Age Limits & Relaxation

Minimum age: 18 years as on 7th August 2026.
Maximum age (General): 40 years.
Maximum age (Category 2A/2B/3A/3B): 43 years.
Maximum age (SC/ST/Category-1): 45 years.
Age relaxations applicable for reserved categories, ex-servicemen, NCC supervisors, government employees, widows, retrenched employees, and transgender candidates.

💰 Salary & Allowances

Pay scale: ₹34,100 - ₹67,600 with annual increments.
Selected candidates will receive benefits under the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
Probation period: 2 years from the date of regular appointment.

💳 Application Fee Details

General and Category 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).
Special Chetana (PwBD) candidates: ₹250 (processing fee only).
Fees are non-refundable and must be paid online during application submission.

📝 Exam Pattern

Examination mode: Offline (OMR-based).
Two papers: Paper 1 (General Knowledge) and Paper 2 (General Kannada, General English, and Computer Knowledge).
Each paper: 100 marks, 2 hours duration.
Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
Minimum qualifying score: 35% in the competitive exam.
Paper 1 covers current affairs, general science, Indian Constitution, history, geography, Panchayat Raj, rural cooperative institutions, and Karnataka regional issues.
Paper 2 covers General Kannada, General English, and Computer Knowledge.

📚 Syllabus

Paper 1: General Knowledge (current affairs, general science, Indian Constitution, Indian and Karnataka history and geography, Panchayat Raj and rural cooperative institutions, Karnataka regional issues and development).
Paper 2: General Kannada (language proficiency), General English (language proficiency), and Computer Knowledge (basic computer operations, MS Office, internet, etc.).
Candidates opting for Kannada language exemption must have passed Kannada as first or second language up to SSLC level or clear a compulsory qualifying Kannada language test (150 marks, minimum 50 marks required).

✍️ How to Apply

Visit the official KEA website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
Click on the application link for VAO Recruitment 2026 applicable to your cadre (General/RPC or Kalyana-Karnataka).
Register with basic details and generate login credentials.
Fill in the online application form with personal, educational, and category details, selecting only one district of preference.
Upload a recent passport-size photograph (JPEG format, 50KB-200KB) and signature (JPEG format, 50KB-70KB).
Verify all entered details carefully; no corrections allowed after submission.
Pay the applicable application fee online and complete the submission.
Download and retain a printout of the submitted application and fee payment receipt for future reference.

⚠️ Important Instructions

Applications will be accepted online only; offline or postal applications will not be considered.
Candidates can apply for only one district; applications for more than one district will be rejected.
Original documents must be produced at the time of document verification for eligibility, age, and category claims.
Failure to appear with valid original documents on the specified date will lead to cancellation of candidature.
Candidates are responsible for reading all eligibility instructions before applying; incomplete or incorrect information may result in rejection.
Impersonation, submission of forged documents, or use of unfair means during the exam will lead to disqualification and possible legal action.
Aadhaar Card is mandatory for application submission.
Candidates must keep track of exam dates, admit card release, and result announcements on the official KEA website.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the last date to apply for VAO Recruitment 2026 in Karnataka?

A. The online application window closes on 07 August 2026, and the fee payment deadline is 10 August 2026.

Q. How many total vacancies are there in KEA VAO Recruitment 2026?

A. There are 572 total vacancies, split into 505 posts under the General/RPC cadre and 67 posts under the Kalyana-Karnataka cadre.

Q. What is the educational qualification required for KEA VAO 2026?

A. Candidates must have passed PUC (Pre-University Course) or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Government of Karnataka.

Q. What is the age limit for KEA VAO Recruitment 2026?

A. The upper age limit is 40 years for General category, 43 years for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B, and 45 years for SC/ST/Category-1, inclusive of applicable relaxations. The minimum age is 18 years.

Q. Can a candidate apply for more than one district?

A. No. Candidates can apply for only one district within their applicable cadre. Applications for more than one district will not be accepted.