VAO Recruitment 2026: KEA Invites Application for 572 Posts

The Karnataka Government has announced a major recruitment drive, offering a golden opportunity for thousands of aspirants seeking government jobs. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released an official notification inviting online applications for 572 Village Administrative Officer (VAO) posts in the Revenue Department.

VAO Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details:

According to the official notification, the Karnataka Revenue Department will fill a total of 572 Village Administrative Officer (VAO) posts, including 505 vacancies in the General Region and 67 vacancies in the Kalyana Karnataka Region.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the recruitment, candidates must have passed PUC (Class 12) or an equivalent examination from a recognized board. Applicants should generally be between 18 and 35 years of age. However, age relaxation is available as per government rules, with OBC candidates eligible for a three-year relaxation and SC/ST candidates eligible for a five-year relaxation. Candidates applying under reserved categories must submit valid caste or reservation certificates.

Application Fee:

As per the notification, the application fee is ₹750 for General and OBC candidates (Categories 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B), ₹500 for SC/ST and Category 1 candidates, and ₹250 for Persons with Disabilities (PwD).

VAO Recruitment 2026 Salary:

Selected candidates will receive a pay scale of ₹34,100 to ₹67,600 per month.

In addition to the basic salary, employees will be entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and other benefits as per Karnataka Government rules. Since these are permanent Group C government posts, they also offer long-term job security.

Important Dates:

Online application begins: July 11, 2026 (Applications are now open)

Last date to apply: July 30, 2026

Last date to pay application fee: July 31, 2026

Written Examination Schedule

General Region candidates: October 4, 2026

Kalyana Karnataka Region candidates: October 25, 2026

Mandatory Kannada Language Test: Date to be announced separately.

Selection Process & Exam Pattern:

Selection will be based on a written examination conducted in offline OMR mode.

The examination will consist of two papers:

Paper I: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Paper II: 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM

Each paper will carry:

100 questions

100 marks

Negative marking: 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.

The final merit list will be prepared based on candidates’ performance in the written examination, in accordance with the recruitment rules prescribed by the Karnataka Government.