KEA KSET 2026 Assistant Professor Notification: Exam Date, Eligibility, Fees & Apply Online
The official KSET 2026 notification was released on August 10, 2026. Online applications have also commenced from August 10, and eligible candidates can apply online through the official KEA website.
The KSET 2026 examination is provisionally scheduled to be conducted on October 11, 2026 (Sunday).
KSET 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| KSET 2026 Notification | August 10, 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | August 10, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | September 5, 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | September 6, 2026 |
| Hall Ticket Release | October 1, 2026 |
| KSET 2026 Exam Date | October 11, 2026 |
| Exam Time | 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM |
All dates are provisional as mentioned in the KEA notification.
KSET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates applying for KSET 2026 must have a Master's degree or equivalent qualification from a UGC-recognized university or institution in the subject in which they wish to appear.
Minimum Educational Qualification
| Category | Minimum Master's Degree Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 55% |
| SC-A/SC-B/SC-C, ST | 50% |
| OBC Cat-I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB | 50% |
| PwD | 50% |
| Transgender | 50% |
There is no rounding off of marks for determining eligibility.
Candidates whose Master's-level examination was completed by September 19, 1991 and who have a Ph.D. are eligible for a 5% relaxation in the minimum marks requirement.
KSET 2026 Official Website & Notification PDF
Official KEA Website:
https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
Download KSET 2026 Official Notification PDF:
https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/keawebentry456/kset2026/KSET_NOTI_Eng_10082026english.pdf
Apply Online:
Click Here to Apply: Login - KEA KSET 2026
Candidates should refer to the official KEA notification for the complete rules, eligibility conditions and instructions before submitting their application.
Can Final-Year Master's Students Apply?
Yes. Candidates who are in the final year of their Master's degree or are awaiting their results can apply provisionally.
However, if they qualify KSET, they must provide proof of completing their Master's degree with the required percentage within two years from the date of the KSET result. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Is There an Age Limit for KSET 2026?
No. There is no upper age limit for appearing in KSET 2026.
KSET 2026 Application Fee
The application fee must be paid online only.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General, Cat-IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB & Other State Candidates | ₹750 |
| Cat-I, SC-A/SC-B/SC-C, ST, PwD & Transgender Candidates | ₹500 |
The fee is non-refundable.
Other-state candidates are not eligible for Karnataka reservation benefits and must satisfy the 55% General-category eligibility requirement.
KSET 2026 Exam Pattern
KSET 2026 will consist of two papers conducted in a single session.
| Particular | Paper I | Paper II |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 50 | 100 |
| Marks per Question | 2 | 2 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 | 200 |
| Type | General Aptitude | Subject-Specific |
Paper I tests areas such as:
Teaching aptitude
Research aptitude
Reasoning
Comprehension
Divergent thinking
General awareness
Paper II is based on the subject selected by the candidate.
KSET 2026 Exam Duration
The examination will be conducted from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, for a total duration of three hours.
The examination will be conducted in offline OMR-based multiple-choice question (MCQ) format.
Is There Negative Marking in KSET 2026?
No. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
KSET 2026 Subjects
KEA is conducting KSET 2026 for 37 subjects.
Some of the subjects include:
Commerce
Kannada
Economics
English
Political Science
History
Sociology
Geography
Hindi
Management
Education
Library & Information Science
Mass Communication & Journalism
Psychology
Social Work
Criminology
Law
Sanskrit
Physical Education
Folk Literature
Urdu
Public Administration
Computer Science & Applications
Physical Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Chemical Sciences
Life Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Home Science
Electronic Science
Earth Sciences
Philosophy
Women Studies
Performing Arts
Music
Visual Arts
Candidates must generally appear in the same subject as their postgraduate qualification. If the candidate's postgraduate subject is not included in the KSET subject list, the notification advises candidates to consider UGC-NET/CSIR-NET instead.
KSET 2026 Examination Centres
KEA has notified 11 examination centres:
Bengaluru
Belagavi
Bellary
Vijayapura
Davangere
Dharwad
Kalaburgi
Mysuru
Shivamogga
Tumkuru
Mangaluru
For 19 subjects, the examination centre is restricted to Bengaluru. These include subjects such as Geography, Tourism Administration & Management, Mass Communication & Journalism, Psychology, Criminology, Law, Sanskrit, Folk Literature, Urdu, Public Administration, Environmental Sciences, Home Science, Electronic Science, Earth Sciences, Philosophy, Women Studies, Performing Arts, Music and Visual Arts.
Candidates should carefully check the centre applicable to their selected subject before submitting the application.
KSET 2026 Qualifying Marks
Candidates must secure the following minimum aggregate marks in Paper I and Paper II combined:
| Category | Minimum Aggregate |
|---|---|
| General | 40% |
| SC-A/SC-B/SC-C, ST, Cat-I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, PwD & Transgender | 35% |
However, meeting the minimum aggregate alone does not mean that a candidate will automatically qualify.
As per the notification, the total number of candidates declared eligible will be limited to 6% of the candidates who appeared in both papers. Subject-wise and category-wise merit lists will be prepared according to the applicable UGC methodology.
How to Apply for KSET 2026
Candidates must submit their applications online only through the official KEA website.
Before submitting the application, candidates should carefully enter their:
Personal details
Educational qualification
Category details
KSET subject
Examination centre
Other required information
The candidate's name, father's name and mother's name must exactly match the SSLC/10th standard marks card, as these details will be used for printing the eligibility certificate.
Reserved-category candidates must provide the required RD number for their category certificate at the time of application.
PwD candidates must provide their UDID number, while transgender candidates must provide the required Transgender Identity Certificate details.
Candidates must upload the required documents in JPEG format and retain a copy of the final submitted application.
No physical documents need to be sent to KEA.
KSET 2026: Quick Summary
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority |
| Purpose | Assistant Professor Eligibility |
| Notification Date | August 10, 2026 |
| Application Start | August 10, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | September 5, 2026 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | September 6, 2026 |
| Hall Ticket | October 1, 2026 |
| Exam Date | October 11, 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Offline OMR |
| Papers | 2 |
| Total Questions | 150 |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Subjects | 37 |
| Negative Marking | No |
| Upper Age Limit | None |
| Application Fee | ₹500 / ₹750 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the KSET 2026 exam?
The KSET 2026 examination is provisionally scheduled for October 11, 2026 (Sunday) from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
What is the last date to apply for KSET 2026?
The last date for submitting the online KSET 2026 application is September 5, 2026.
What is the KSET 2026 application fee?
The application fee is ₹750 for General, specified OBC categories and Other State candidates, and ₹500 for Cat-I, SC, ST, PwD and Transgender candidates.
Is there negative marking in KSET 2026?
No. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
Is there an age limit for KSET 2026?
No. The notification specifies no upper age limit for KSET 2026.
Can final-year Master's students apply for KSET 2026?
Yes. Final-year and result-awaiting candidates can apply provisionally, subject to the conditions specified by KEA.
How many subjects are available in KSET 2026?
KSET 2026 is being conducted for 37 subjects.
What is the KSET 2026 qualifying percentage?
Candidates need at least 40% aggregate for General candidates and 35% for the specified reserved categories in both papers combined. However, only 6% of candidates who appeared in both papers will ultimately be declared eligible, subject to the applicable merit criteria.
