KEA 2025 Exam Syllabus
KEA has announced the 2025 syllabus & exam pattern for Group-B/C posts (e.g., AE/JE, FDA/SDA, Librarian, Assistant Accountant). The test is OMR-based at major centres in Karnataka. A Kannada Language Test (150 marks; 50 to qualify) applies unless exempt and is not counted for merit. Competitive papers have ¼ negative marking; use the 5th bubble to skip. Minimum qualifying: generally 35% (and 36% for NWKRTC/KKRTC). Paper-wise details follow.
Quick Overview — KEA Recruitment 2025
Departments
- Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA)
- Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL)
- Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS)
- Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC)
- Department of Technical Education (DTE)
Exam Conducting Department
Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA)
Post Names
Junior Programmer (Group-B)
AE (Civil) (Group-B)
FDA / RI
Assistant / Assistant Librarian
Assistant Accountant
Junior Officer
Librarian
JE (Civil)
SDA
Junior Assistant
ATI (Grade-3)
Conductor
Total Number of Posts
708
Application Window
Start: 09 October 2025 | Last Date: 10 November 2025
KEA EXAM DATES 2025
Expected exam date: Dec 2025 last week / Jan 2026 first week |
Syllabus
Second Division Assistant,
Junior Assistant,
Assistant Traffic Inspector (Grade-3) &
Conductor
Paper
Paper-1
Subjects / Topics
General Studies & General Knowledge covering:
- Current events and everyday general awareness
- Overview of the Constitution of India
- Indian History with special focus on Karnataka
- Indian Geography relevant to Karnataka
- State & regional administration
- Development of Karnataka’s economy including Rural Development, Panchayat Raj and cooperatives
- Environment issues and development in Karnataka
Marks
100
Duration
2 Hours
Paper
Paper-2
Subjects / Topics
(A) General Kannada (B) General English (C) Computer Knowledge
Marks
100
Duration
2 Hours
Key Rules & Notes
- OMR-based objective test; negative marking: 1/4 for each wrong answer.
- For unanswered questions, shade the “5th bubble” (extra 5 minutes at the end). If no bubble is shaded, 1/4 mark is deducted per item.
- Minimum qualifying marks and any post-specific weightage/selection rules (e.g., % split with qualifying exam) apply as notified.
Syllabus
Junior Programmer (Group-B),
Assistant Engineer (Civil) (Group-B),
Assistant Engineers (Civil) (Group-B)
Common pattern for the above Group-B posts.
Paper
Paper-1 (General Paper)
Subjects / Topics
General Studies covering:
- Current events & daily general awareness
- General Science; Science & Technology
- Karnataka History & Geography; Indian History & Geography
- Social Science; Indian Constitution; Public Administration & Aptitude
- Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, Cooperatives; Indian Economy
- International Relations; Environmental Science
- Logical thinking & everyday comprehension
Marks
300
Duration
2 Hours
Paper
Paper-2 (Specific Paper)
Subjects / Topics
Post-specific/discipline syllabus and practical knowledge from the prescribed qualifying examination.
Marks
300
Duration
2 Hours
Exam Rules (apply as notified)
- OMR objective type; negative marking ¼ per wrong answer.
- Use the 5th bubble for unanswered questions (as instructed in OMR guidelines).
Syllabus — Group-C Posts
First Division Assistant
(First Class Court Clerk/Revenue Inspector),
Assistant / Assistant Librarian,
Assistant Accountant,
Junior Officer,
Librarian, and
Junior Engineer (Civil).
Paper
Paper-1 (General Studies)
Subjects / Topics
Objective questions from:
- Current events; everyday general awareness
- General Science
- Geography & Social Science
- Indian Society and its historical development
- History of India & Karnataka
- Indian Constitution & Public Administration
- Practical knowledge & mental ability (SSLC level)
- Karnataka’s social & cultural history; post-Independence land reforms & social changes
- Karnataka Economy (strengths/weaknesses; current status)
- Rural Development, Panchayat Raj & rural cooperatives
- Role of Science & Technology in effective governance (Karnataka)
- Environmental issues & development in Karnataka
Marks
100
Duration
2 Hours
Paper
Paper-2 (Languages & Computer)
Subjects / Topics
(A) General Kannada (B) General English (C) Computer Knowledge
Marks
100
Duration
2 Hours
Exam Rules (as notified)
- OMR objective type; negative marking of ¼ per wrong answer.
- For unanswered questions, shade the “5th bubble” (grace time provided at the end). If no bubble is shaded, ¼ mark is deducted per item.
Compulsory Kannada Language Test
Who is exempt?
- Candidates who studied Kannada as First/Second Language in SSLC (or equivalent).
- Candidates who have already passed the Compulsory Kannada Test conducted by KEA or KPSC.
Test format & qualifying
- Objective (MCQ) paper, maximum 150 marks.
- Minimum 50 marks required to qualify; otherwise the candidate is not eligible for selection.
- Question level: aligned to SSLC First-Language Kannada standards.
- Marks from this paper are not counted for merit/ranking.
Special note for Transport Corporations
- Candidates who applied only for NWKRTC/KKRTC posts need not appear for this KEA Kannada test.
- For NWKRTC/KKRTC, candidates must have studied Kannada as 1st/2nd language at SSLC; otherwise they must pass the corporation’s own Kannada test in a single attempt, failing which their selection will be cancelled.
Selection Method — NWKRTC & KKRTC posts (exam + weightage)
OMR Objective Test
Negative Marking: ¼
Follow 5th-bubble rule
Step 1 — Competitive Examination:
Common OMR test as per the syllabus already given. Minimum qualifying marks apply as notified.
Step 2 — Merit Score (where weightage is applicable):
For the following posts, the final merit is computed using:
Final Score = 75% of Competitive-Exam marks + 25% of Qualifying-Exam marks
- NWKRTC: Assistant Traffic Inspector (Grade-3)
- KKRTC: Conductor, Assistant Accountant
Step 3 — Verification & Fitness:
Shortlisted candidates must clear document verification. Appointment is subject to medical fitness and any post-specific checks (e.g., physical/skill requirements) that the corporation may prescribe.
Step 4 — Final Allotment:
Final list is prepared in order of merit and availability of vacancies, following reservation rules and other government norms.
Quick Tip for candidates: Because of the 75:25 formula for the listed posts, focus on maximizing your OMR score and keep your qualifying-exam aggregate handy for verification.
Specific Paper (Paper-2) — Quick Guide
Junior Officer — QAD/Chemistry
~100 marks~2 hrs
- Inorganic basics: periodic trends, bonding, coordination.
- Physical: thermo, equilibrium, kinetics, surfaces.
- Organic: functional groups, stereochemistry, basic spectra use.
- Analytical & safety: titration, chromatography, lab practice.
Junior Officer — Production & Maintenance
~100 marks~2 hrs
- Process flow: raw-to-pack, batch vs. continuous.
- Packaging & QC: basics, labels, storage checks.
- Maintenance & safety: preventive care, machine tools, HSE.
- Mechatronics & thermal: sensors/control, heat management.
Junior Officer — Materials/Stores
~100 marks~2 hrs
- Materials mgmt: planning, ABC/VED, standardisation, vendors.
- Purchasing: cycles & docs, price analysis, legal & ethics.
- Warehousing: receipt/issue, stock checks, layout & handling.
- Inventory: EOQ, reorder levels, safety stock (basics).
Exam tips: Attempt carefully (negative marking). If skipping, use the 5th bubble as instructed. Keep a one-page formula/process sheet for last-minute revision.
Syllabus PDF — KEA 2025
Download the official KEA 2025 syllabus PDF covering Group-B & Group-C posts — FDA, SDA, Junior Assistant, AE/JE (Civil), Librarian, Assistant Accountant, Junior Officer, ATI (Grade-3) & Conductor. Includes exam pattern, Kannada Language Test info, negative marking and OMR rules.
- Paper-1: General Studies & GK — Constitution, History & Geography (India/Karnataka), Economy, Rural Development, Environment.
- Paper-2: Languages & Computer / Post-specific paper — as per post (AE/JE Civil, Junior Programmer, Librarian, etc.).
