Karnataka Prison Department Recruitment 2026 Notice Out for 869 Jailor, Warder and Instructor Vacancies, Apply Online by October 15

• Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services Department recruitment covers 869 Jailor, Warder, Instructor and Warder-cum-Nursing vacancies.
• Online applications through KEA are open from September 19 to October 15, 2026, with fee payment permitted until October 16.
• The recruitment includes 576 General/RPC cadre and 293 Kalyana Karnataka cadre vacancies, with the competitive examination scheduled for November 21, 2026.

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is conducting Karnataka Prison Department Recruitment 2026 for 869 vacancies in the state’s prison services. The recruitment covers Jailor, Warder (Vikshakaru), Second Grade Teacher/Instructor Grade-II and Warder-cum-Nursing posts across the General/Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and Kalyana Karnataka (KK) cadre.

Online registration started on September 19, 2026 and candidates can submit applications until October 15. The last date for payment of the prescribed application fee is October 16, 2026. The recruitment process includes a competitive written examination and, for applicable posts, physical standards and endurance testing, followed by document verification and medical examination.

Warder accounts for the majority of vacancies, with 835 posts across the two cadres. The remaining openings include five Jailor posts, 24 Second Grade Teacher/Instructor Grade-II posts and five Warder-cum-Nursing posts. Pay scales range from ₹34,100–₹67,600 to ₹61,300–₹1,12,900, depending on the post.

Karnataka Prison Department Recruitment 2026 Notification

Karnataka Prison Department Vacancy 2026

The 869 vacancies are divided between the General/RPC and Kalyana Karnataka cadres.

Candidates should select the appropriate recruitment/cadre while completing the online application.

Post-wise Salary

Different pay scales have been specified according to the post.

Educational Qualification

Jailor

Candidates applying for Jailor should possess a Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent recognized qualification.

Preference is indicated for candidates with relevant academic backgrounds such as Sociology, Psychology or Criminology.

The five Jailor vacancies are under the Kalyana Karnataka cadre.

Warder (Vikshakaru)

Candidates should have passed SSLC/Class 10 or an equivalent examination from a recognized board.

There are 835 Warder vacancies, comprising 560 General/RPC cadre posts and 275 Kalyana Karnataka cadre posts.

Second Grade Teacher / Instructor Grade-II

Applicants should have passed SSLC or an equivalent examination and possess the prescribed Diploma or Certificate in the relevant trade.

The recruitment covers 24 Instructor vacancies across the General/RPC and Kalyana Karnataka cadres. Candidates should check the detailed notification for the trade-wise qualification applicable to the post for which they intend to apply.

Warder-cum-Nursing

Candidates should have passed SSLC or an equivalent examination and possess the prescribed First Aid Certificate.

All five Warder-cum-Nursing vacancies are under the Kalyana Karnataka cadre.

Kannada Language Requirement

Knowledge of Kannada forms part of the recruitment requirements.

Candidates who have studied Kannada as prescribed at SSLC level are exempt from the separate Kannada language examination.

Other candidates are required to qualify in the Kannada Language Test. The stated qualifying requirement is 50 marks out of 150.

Candidates should check the detailed KEA notification to determine whether they are required to appear for this test.

Age Limit

The minimum age specified for the recruitment is 20 years.

For the maximum age, the recruitment information specifies 31 years for General candidates and provides category-based relaxation, including a higher limit for eligible reserved-category candidates.

Age is to be calculated as on October 15, 2026.

Candidates should verify their precise category-wise upper-age limit from the detailed notification before submitting the application.

Karnataka Prison Department Selection Process

The recruitment involves multiple stages, with physical testing applying to the relevant uniformed posts.

The selection process includes:

1. Competitive Written Examination
2. Physical Standard Test, where applicable
3. Endurance Test, where applicable
4. Document Verification
5. Medical Examination

Candidates who are required to undergo physical testing will be shortlisted according to the prescribed recruitment criteria.

Written Examination

The competitive examination will be conducted in offline OMR format.

The examination covers areas such as General Knowledge, Science and Mental Ability, with the exact syllabus varying according to the post.

Candidates should use the official syllabus and examination scheme issued by KEA for preparation.

Physical Standard and Endurance Tests

Candidates shortlisted for posts requiring physical fitness will undergo Physical Standard Test (PST) and Endurance Test.

The recruitment information states physical height standards of:

The endurance component includes prescribed physical events such as running, jumping and shot put. Candidates are required to meet the qualifying conditions specified for the applicable events.

The detailed notification should be checked for gender-wise, category-wise and post-wise physical measurements and endurance standards before applying.

Application Fee

The recruitment information specifies the following application fee structure:

The last date for completing fee payment is October 16, 2026.

Candidates should confirm the applicable fee category and payment instructions on the KEA application portal before making payment.

Important Dates

Medical Examination and Document Verification

Candidates clearing the prescribed selection stages will be required to produce original educational, age, category and other eligibility documents for verification.

For posts carrying physical and medical requirements, candidates must also satisfy the prescribed medical fitness standards. The recruitment information specifically indicates assessment of areas such as eyesight, hearing and general physical fitness.

Candidates should review the detailed medical standards before applying, particularly for uniformed prison service posts.

How to Apply for Karnataka Prison Department Recruitment 2026

Applications are to be submitted online through the Karnataka Examinations Authority recruitment system.

1. Visit the official KEA portal.
2. Open the Karnataka Prisons Department Recruitment 2026 application section.
3. Read the notification applicable to the General/RPC or Kalyana Karnataka cadre.
4. Complete the registration process using the required personal and contact information.
5. Enter educational qualification, category and other eligibility details carefully.
6. Select the applicable post and cadre.
7. Upload the prescribed photograph, signature and supporting documents in the required format.
8. Submit the application by October 15, 2026.
9. Pay the applicable examination/application fee by October 16, 2026.
10. Save and print the submitted application and payment confirmation for future reference.

Candidates should verify all entries before final submission, as corrections after submission may be restricted under the application instructions.

Important Links

Candidates should use the KEA portal for the detailed Karnataka Prison Department Recruitment 2026 notification, online application, examination syllabus, admit card and subsequent selection updates.