KSET 2026 Notification: Eligibility, Exam Date, Application Fee, Exam Pattern & How to Apply

Introduction to KSET 2026 Notification

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the Karnataka State Eligibility Test for Assistant Professors 2026 (KSET 2026) notification under Notification No. ED/KEA/01/KSET-26/2026-27. The test determines eligibility for Assistant Professor posts in Government, Aided and Private universities, first grade colleges and other higher education institutions in Karnataka.

Online applications opened on 10 August 2026 and close on 5 September 2026. The examination is scheduled for 11 October 2026 in offline OMR mode. Aspirants can also follow the latest govt jobs notifications for teaching and other government recruitment updates.

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) Overview

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is the conducting authority for KSET 2026. For this cycle, KEA will conduct the State Eligibility Test across 37 subjects. Qualifying KSET does not itself appoint a candidate; it establishes eligibility to apply for Assistant Professor posts subject to the recruitment rules of the concerned university, college or higher education institution.

KSET 2026 Notification Overview

KSET 2026 is a two-paper eligibility examination conducted in a single sitting. Candidates must choose the appropriate subject based on their postgraduate qualification and satisfy the prescribed Master's degree marks before claiming final eligibility.

Expert insight: Because KSET uses a subject-wise and category-wise merit process within an overall eligibility ceiling of about 6% of candidates appearing in both papers, clearing the minimum qualifying percentage alone does not guarantee KSET eligibility.

KSET 2026 Important Dates

KSET 2026 Exam & Subject Details

KSET 2026 is an eligibility test rather than a vacancy-based recruitment drive, so there is no notified post-wise vacancy count. The examination will be conducted in 37 subjects. Candidates can appear in only one subject and should normally choose the same subject in which they completed their postgraduate studies, subject to the interdisciplinary eligibility conditions in the notification.

The notified subject list includes Commerce, Kannada, Economics, English, Political Science, History, Sociology, Geography, Hindi, Management, Education, Computer Science and Applications, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Law and other approved subjects. Candidates should verify the exact subject code and paper language before submitting the form.

KSET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

• Master's degree: The qualifying postgraduate degree or equivalent must be from a UGC-recognised university or higher education institution.
• Final-year PG candidates: Candidates awaiting their postgraduate result may apply provisionally. They must secure the required percentage and submit the final marks card within 2 years from the date of KSET result declaration.
• Ph.D. relaxation: Candidates holding a Ph.D. whose Master's level examination was completed on or before 19 September 1991 get a 5% relaxation in the qualifying marks requirement.
• PwD requirement: PwD candidates claiming the benefit must have not less than 40% disability and possess the prescribed supporting certificate.
• Foreign qualification: Candidates with a foreign postgraduate degree or diploma must establish equivalence with a recognised Indian postgraduate qualification through the competent equivalence authority.
• Subject choice: A candidate can appear for KSET 2026 in only one subject. The selected subject cannot be changed after submission.

KSET 2026 Age Eligibility Checker

* KSET 2026 does not prescribe a maximum age for appearing in the eligibility test. Candidates must still satisfy all educational, category and documentary requirements stated in the notification.

Age relaxation: Since there is no upper age limit for KSET 2026, a separate category-wise upper-age relaxation is not required for appearing in the examination.

KSET 2026 Application Fee

The fee must be paid through the prescribed online mode. Offline methods such as demand draft, money order, IPO or office challan are not accepted. The last date for fee payment is 6 September 2026.

KSET 2026 Salary and Pay Scale

Salary and pay scale depend on the specific Assistant Professor recruitment, institution and applicable service rules for which a KSET-qualified candidate later applies.

KSET 2026 Selection Process & Exam Pattern

• Paper I: 50 compulsory objective questions for 100 marks, covering teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, general awareness and related abilities.
• Paper II: 100 compulsory objective questions for 200 marks, based on the candidate's selected subject.
• Total duration: Both papers are conducted in one sitting from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, giving a combined duration of 3 hours.
• Negative marking: There is no negative marking for wrong answers.

For General category candidates, the minimum combined qualifying requirement is 40% in Paper I and Paper II together. For SC-A, SC-B, SC-C, ST, Category-I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, PwD and Transgender candidates, it is 35%. After applying these minimum marks, the eligibility list is prepared subject-wise and category-wise under the UGC-prescribed methodology, with about 6% of candidates appearing in both papers declared eligible overall.

KSET 2026 How to Apply

1. Visit the official KSET 2026 online application portal.
2. Complete new registration using the required personal and contact details.
3. Log in and fill in educational qualification, category and KSET subject details carefully.
4. Upload the required photograph, signature and supporting documents in the prescribed format.
5. Pay the applicable examination fee online before 6 September 2026.
6. Review the completed application because key choices such as subject and category must be entered correctly.
7. Submit the application before 5 September 2026, 5:00 PM and keep a printout or saved copy for reference.

KSET 2026 Documents Required

• Recent passport-size photograph and signature in the prescribed upload format.
• Master's degree marks cards/certificates, or relevant final-year postgraduate details for provisional applicants.
• Valid category/caste certificate for candidates claiming Karnataka reservation benefits.
• PwD certificate with the required disability details and UDID information, where applicable.
• Transgender identity certificate issued by the competent authority, where applicable.
• Foreign-degree equivalence certificate, if the qualifying postgraduate degree was obtained outside India.
• Application fee payment proof and a copy of the submitted online form.

KSET 2026 Preparation Focus

Preparation should be split between the common Paper I and the chosen Paper II subject. Paper I demands regular practice in teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension and general awareness, while Paper II carries 200 marks and therefore needs strong subject-depth and repeated objective-question practice. Candidates can support Paper I preparation with daily current affairs, Static GK and the daily current affairs quiz.

KSET 2026 Exam Centres

The notified examination centres are Bengaluru, Belagavi, Ballari, Vijayapura, Davanagere, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Tumakuru and Mangaluru. Part A subjects are available across the notified centres, while Part B subjects are conducted only in Bengaluru. Candidates should check the subject-centre combination before final submission.

KSET 2026 Important Links

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