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KSET Notification 2026 Out, Apply Online at www.cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

Shristy Kandwal

Aug 13, 2026

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has announced the official notification for the KSET 2026, released on 10 August 2026 at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Candidates may submit their applications online from 10 August to 05 September 2026. KSET 2026 exam is set to take place on 11 October 2026. ​

Apply Online For KSET 2026 (Link Active)

KSET 2026 Notification Out 

The KEA has released KSET 2026 notification and invited applications from eligible candidates. The application process started on 10 August, KSET 2026 exam will be conducted for 37 subjects on 11 October 2026. Qualified candidates will be eligible for assistant professor positions in higher education institutions across Karnataka.

KSET 2026 Application Form 2026 

KSET 2026 application process has started on August 10, 2026. Candidates can submit the KSET 2026 application form online till September 5, 2026, while the last date to pay the application fee is September 6, 2026. Candidates should enter their details carefully and complete the fee payment within the prescribed dates.

Steps to Apply for KSET 2026

  1. Visit the official KEA website https://kearecruitment.karnataka.gov.in/ and go to the KSET 2026 section.
  2. Click on the KSET 2026 application link and complete the registration using the required details.
  3. Log in with the registration credentials and fill in the KSET 2026 application form.
  4. Enter the required personal, academic, category, and examination details.
  5. Upload the prescribed photograph, signature, and other required documents.
  6. Pay the applicable KSET 2026 application fee through the available payment mode.
  7. Review all the details carefully and submit the KSET 2026 application form.
  8. Download and save the submitted application form and fee receipt for future reference.

What is KSET 2026?

KSET 2026, also known as Karnataka State Eligibility Test, is an important qualifying exam for candidates aspiring to work as Assistant Professors in universities, colleges, and institutions across Karnataka. KSET is mandatory for those who wish to take up teaching as a career in Karnataka’s universities and colleges. The exam covers 33 different subjects, including Commerce, Kannada, English, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, and more. Candidates who qualify in KSET 2026 will be governed by the recruitment rules and regulations of the concerned institutions (government, aided, or private) in the state.

KSET 2026 Highlights

The table below provides a quick overview of the key details of KSET 2026:

Particulars Details
Exam Name Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) 2026
Conducting Authority Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA)
Purpose Eligibility for Assistant Professor in Karnataka universities and colleges
Exam Level State-level
Recognition Approved by UGC, New Delhi
Subjects Offered 33 subjects
Exam Mode Offline (OMR-based)
Frequency Once a year
Official Website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ 

KSET 2026 Important Dates

Events Dates
KSET 2026 Notification August 10, 2026
KSET 2026 Application Begins August 10, 2026
KSET 2026 Application Ends (without late fee) September 5, 2026
KSET 2026 Application Ends (with late fee/fee payment) September 6, 2026
KSET 2026 Admit Card Release October 1, 2026
KSET 2026 Exam Date October 11, 2026
KSET 2026 Provisional Answer Key Release To be announced
KSET 2026 Result To be announced

KSET Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates must meet the following requirements to be eligible for KSET 2026:

Criteria Details
Age Limit No upper age limit to apply for KSET 2026
Age Relaxation Not applicable (since there is no age limit)
Educational Qualification Master’s Degree or equivalent from a UGC-recognized university
Minimum Marks (General) 55% marks (without rounding off)
Minimum Marks (Reserved Categories - SC/ST/OBC/PwD) 50% marks (without rounding off)
Final Year PG Students Eligible provisionally, must complete a Master’s with required marks within the stipulated time
Ph.D. Degree Holders Relaxation of 5% in qualifying marks (from 55% to 50%) as per UGC regulations
Subjects Must appear in the subject of post-graduation; if not available, choose related subject from KSET list

KSET Application Process 2026

KSET 2026 application process will be conducted online through the official KEA website. Candidates will be required to complete the registration, fill in the application form, upload the necessary documents, and pay the exam fee to submit their applications successfully. KSET application window will open once the official notification is released.

KSET 2026 Application Fees

Category Fees (in Rs.)
General, Cat-IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB & Other State Candidates 1,000/-
Cat-I, SC, ST, PwD & Transgender Candidates 700/-

KSET Admit Card 2026

KSET Admit Card 2026 will be released on the official KEA website before the exam date. Candidates must download the admit card online, as it will not be sent by post or email. The admit card is a mandatory document to appear for the exam and must be carried along with a valid photo ID proof.

Steps to Download KSET Admit Card 2026

  1. Visit the official website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
  2. Click on the link for KSET 2026 Admit Card.
  3. Enter your application number and date of birth/password.
  4. Download the admit card and take a clear printout.
  5. Verify all the details mentioned and keep multiple copies for safety.

KSET Exam Pattern 2026

KSET 2026 exam will be conducted in offline mode (OMR-based test) consisting of two papers. Both papers include only objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs) where all questions are compulsory to attempt.

Paper Number of Questions Marks Duration
Paper I 50 100 1 hour
Paper II 100 200 2 hours
Total 150 300 3 hours

NOTE:

  • Paper I is general in nature and tests teaching/research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, divergent thinking, and general awareness.
  • Paper II is subject-specific and based on the candidate’s chosen post-graduation subject.
  • Both papers are conducted on the same day in two separate sessions.
  • There is no negative marking for wrong answers.

KSET Qualifying Marks

To be considered eligible for an Assistant Professor position through KSET, candidates must meet the minimum qualifying marks set by UGC guidelines. For General category candidates, it is mandatory to secure at least 40% aggregate marks in both papers taken together. For all reserved categories (Cat-I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, SC, ST, PwD, Transgender), the minimum qualifying mark is 35% aggregate marks in both papers combined.

KSET Marks Calculation

The final merit list and qualifying slots are determined as per UGC guidelines. Only 6% of the appearing candidates are declared qualified for eligibility as Assistant Professors. The qualifying slots are distributed category-wise and subject-wise using specific formulas

For General Category Candidates

The number of qualifying slots in a subject is calculated by checking how many General category candidates secured 40% or more marks in that subject. This figure is divided by the total number of General category candidates who scored 40% or more marks across all subjects. The result is then multiplied by the total number of available slots under the General Category.

For Reserved Category Candidates

For reserved categories, the process is similar but based on the 35% qualifying mark. The number of candidates in a reserved category who secured 35% or more in a subject is divided by the total number of reserved category candidates who secured 35% or more across all subjects. This is then multiplied by the total number of slots available for that reserved category.

KSET Syllabus 2026

KSET Syllabus 2026 is formulated to test both general teaching/research aptitude and subject expertise of candidates. KSET Syllabus 2026 is divided into two parts: Paper I (common for all) and Paper II (subject-specific).

KSET Paper I Syllabus

Paper I is common for all candidates and is aimed at testing reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking, and general awareness. The key areas include:

  • Teaching Aptitude
  • Research Aptitude
  • Comprehension
  • Communication
  • Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Data Interpretation
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
  • People, Development and Environment
  • Higher Education System: Governance, Polity, and Administration

KSET Paper II Syllabus

  • Paper II is based on the subject chosen by the candidate from the list of 33 subjects notified by KSET.
  • The syllabus of Paper II is the same as that of the UGC-NET syllabus for the respective subject.
  • Subjects include: Kannada, English, Economics, Commerce, Sociology, Political Science, Psychology, History, Education, Library & Information Science, Law, Management, Journalism & Mass Communication, and many others.

KSET 2026 Subjects

Subject Subject Code Medium of Question Paper
Commerce 01 English
Kannada 02 Kannada
Economics 03 Kannada & English
English 04 English
Political Science 05 Kannada & English
History 06 Kannada & English
Sociology 07 Kannada & English
Geography 08 Kannada & English
Hindi 09 Hindi
Management 10 English
Education 12 Kannada & English
Library & Information Science 13 English
Mass Communication & Journalism 14 Kannada & English
Psychology 15 Kannada & English
Social Work 16 Kannada & English
Law 18 English
Sanskrit 19 Sanskrit
Physical Education 20 Kannada & English
Urdu 22 Urdu
Public Administration 23 Kannada & English
Computer Science & Applications 24 English
Physical Sciences 25 English
Mathematical Sciences 26 English
Chemical Sciences 27 English
Life Sciences 28 English
Environmental Sciences 29 English
Home Science 30 English
Electronic Science 31 English
Earth Sciences 32 English
Women Studies 37 Kannada & English
Performing Arts 39 Kannada & English
Music 40 Kannada & English
Visual Arts 41 Kannada & English

KSET Exam Centre 2026

KSET 2026 exam will be conducted in various cities across Karnataka to make it convenient for candidates from different regions. Candidates can select their preferred exam centre while filling the online application form. The final centre will be allotted by the authority and mentioned on the admit card.

Centre Code Exam Centre
01 Bengaluru
02 Belagavi
03 Ballary
04 Vijayapura
05 Davangere
06 Dharwad
07 Kalaburagi
08 Mysuru
09 Shivamogga
10 Tumakuru
11 Mangaluru

Candidates can select any of the above-mentioned exam centres if they wish to appear for the following subject exam:

Subject Subject Code
Commerce 01
Kannada 02
Economics 03
English 04
Political Science 05
History 06
Sociology 07
Hindi 09
Management 10
Education 12
Library & Information Science 13
Social Work 16
Physical Education 20
Computer Science & Applications 24
Physical Sciences 25
Mathematical Sciences 26
Chemical Sciences 27
Life Sciences 28

Candidates have to select Bangalore as the exam center if they choose the following subjects:

Subject Subject Code
Geography 08
Mass Communication & Journalism 14
Psychology 15
Law 18
Sanskrit 19
Urdu 22
Public Administration 23
Environmental Sciences 29
Home Science 30
Electronic Science 31
Earth Sciences 32
Women Studies 37
Performing Arts 39
Music 40
Visual Arts 41

KSET Result 2026

KSET Result 2026 will be announced on the official KEA website after the completion of the exam and evaluation process. The result will be declared in the form of a scorecard/merit list, showing the marks secured by the candidate and whether they have qualified for eligibility as Assistant Professor.

How to Check KSET Result 2026?

  1. Visit the official website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
  2. Click on the link for KSET 2026 Result.
  3. Enter your roll number/application number and date of birth.
  4. The result/scorecard will appear on the screen.
  5. Download and save the result for future use in recruitment processes.

KSET Cut Off 2026

KSET Cut Off 2026 is the minimum score that candidates must secure to qualify for eligibility as an Assistant Professor in Karnataka. The cut-off will be released by KEA after the declaration of results, and it will vary for each subject and category. In the meantime, candidates can refer to 2024 cut off.

Download KSET 2024 Cut Off PDF

KSET 2026 FAQs

Ques: How many attempts are allowed for KSET 2026?

Ans: There is no limit on the number of attempts for KSET. However, candidates who have already qualified KSET are generally not eligible to appear again in the same subject.

Ques: Can candidates from other states apply for KSET 2026?

Ans: Yes, candidates from other states can apply for KSET. However, candidates belonging to reserved categories in other states are treated as General category candidates for KSET.

Ques: Can a candidate change the KSET subject after submitting the application form?

Ans: No. Candidates should select their KSET subject carefully while filling out the application form, as the subject should correspond to their postgraduate qualification or an appropriate related subject where applicable.

Ques: What documents are required for the KSET 2026 application?

Ans: Candidates should keep a valid email ID and mobile number, scanned photograph and signature, educational qualification documents, and applicable category or disability certificates ready before filling out the KSET application form.

Ques: What happens after qualifying KSET 2026?

Ans: Qualifying KSET makes a candidate eligible for consideration for Assistant Professor positions in universities, colleges, and higher education institutions across Karnataka. However, qualifying KSET alone does not guarantee appointment; recruitment is carried out according to the rules of the concerned institution.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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