KEA Karnataka Recruitment 2026: 210 Water Supply Operator and Electrician Posts, Apply Online
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released a new recruitment notification for candidates looking for government jobs in Karnataka. A total of 210 Group C vacancies have been announced for posts including Water Supply Operator, Assistant Water Supply Operator, Electrician Grade-1 and Electrician Grade-2.
The recruitment is being conducted by KEA on behalf of the Directorate of Municipal Administration for Urban Local Bodies in the Kalyana-Karnataka region.
Candidates with the required SSLC and ITI qualifications, along with the prescribed apprenticeship requirements for applicable posts, can apply online. The online application process started on September 16, 2026, and the last date to submit the application is September 30, 2026. The last date for payment of the application fee is October 1, 2026.
If you are preparing for Karnataka government jobs and have an ITI qualification in the relevant trade, this notification is worth checking carefully before applying.
KEA Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Department | Directorate of Municipal Administration |
| Recruitment | Kalyana-Karnataka Urban Local Bodies Group C Recruitment |
| Total Vacancies | 210 |
| Posts | Water Supply Operator, Assistant Water Supply Operator, Electrician Grade-1, Electrician Grade-2 |
| Qualification | SSLC/Equivalent + Relevant ITI qualification |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | September 16, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | September 30, 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | October 1, 2026 |
| Selection Process | Competitive Written Examination |
| Job Region | Kalyana-Karnataka |
| Official Website | KEA CET Portal |
The notification is dated September 11, 2026, and the recruitment notification number reported for this drive is ED/KEA1/46/NEV/2026(KK).
KEA 210 Vacancy Details
KEA has announced vacancies across four different technical posts. The largest number of vacancies is available for Assistant Water Supply Operator.
| Post Name | Number of Vacancies | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Water Supply Operator | 80 | ₹37,500 – ₹76,100 |
| Electrician Grade-1 | 3 | ₹37,500 – ₹76,100 |
| Assistant Water Supply Operator | 122 | ₹34,100 – ₹67,600 |
| Electrician Grade-2 | 5 | ₹34,100 – ₹67,600 |
| Total | 210 | — |
The vacancy numbers are reported as provisional and may be revised by the concerned department. Candidates should therefore check the official notification before submitting their application.
1. Water Supply Operator – 80 Posts
There are 80 vacancies for the Water Supply Operator post.
This is a technical position connected with water-supply operations in Urban Local Bodies. Candidates applying for this post must meet the educational, ITI and apprenticeship requirements mentioned in the recruitment notification.
The reported pay scale for Water Supply Operator is ₹37,500 to ₹76,100.
2. Assistant Water Supply Operator – 122 Posts
The highest number of vacancies in this recruitment is for Assistant Water Supply Operator.
A total of 122 posts are available under this category.
The reported pay scale is ₹34,100 to ₹67,600.
Candidates interested in this position should carefully check the prescribed ITI trade, apprenticeship requirements and other conditions before applying.
3. Electrician Grade-1 – 3 Posts
KEA has announced 3 vacancies for Electrician Grade-1.
The reported pay scale for this post is ₹37,500 to ₹76,100.
Candidates with the required electrical trade qualification and prescribed apprenticeship training can check the notification to confirm their eligibility.
4. Electrician Grade-2 – 5 Posts
There are 5 vacancies for Electrician Grade-2.
The reported pay scale is ₹34,100 to ₹67,600.
Because the number of posts is limited, candidates should verify the exact eligibility conditions and submit their applications correctly within the prescribed dates.
Educational Qualification
One important point candidates should understand is that simply passing SSLC does not automatically make a candidate eligible for every post in this recruitment.
The recruitment includes technical posts, so the prescribed qualification includes SSLC or equivalent qualification along with the relevant ITI trade certificate. For applicable posts, candidates also need the required apprenticeship training and certificate.
Reports based on the notification indicate that relevant ITI trades include Electrical/Fitter, depending on the post. For Water Supply Operator and Electrician Grade-1 posts, the prescribed apprenticeship requirement also needs to be satisfied.
Therefore, candidates should not apply based only on the headline saying “10th/SSLC eligible.” They should match their qualification with the specific post mentioned in the official notification.
Is ITI Mandatory?
For the technical posts covered by this recruitment, candidates need to satisfy the relevant ITI qualification requirements.
A candidate who has only completed SSLC but does not have the required technical qualification may not be eligible for the relevant technical post.
Candidates should check:
- SSLC or equivalent qualification
- Relevant ITI trade
- Required duration of ITI course
- Apprenticeship requirement wherever applicable
- Required certificate such as NTC/NAC, wherever prescribed
- Category and local-cadre requirements
- Other conditions mentioned in the official notification
This is important because eligibility can differ according to the post.
Age Limit
The minimum age reported for the recruitment is 18 years.
The maximum age for General Merit candidates is reported as 40 years, with higher age limits for certain reserved categories.
The reported upper age limits are:
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General Merit | 40 years |
| 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B | 43 years |
| SC / ST / Category-1 | 45 years |
Candidates must check the official notification for the exact age calculation date and any additional relaxation applicable to their category.
So, the statement that “anyone between 18 and 40 years can apply” should not be understood as applying to every category without conditions. Reserved categories may receive the applicable age relaxation.
Salary Details
The salary is one of the important attractions of this recruitment.
However, candidates should understand that the salary is not the same for all 210 posts.
The reported pay scales are:
Water Supply Operator: ₹37,500 – ₹76,100
Electrician Grade-1: ₹37,500 – ₹76,100
Assistant Water Supply Operator: ₹34,100 – ₹67,600
Electrician Grade-2: ₹34,100 – ₹67,600
These are pay scales and should not be interpreted as the exact monthly in-hand salary for every employee. The actual amount received can depend on applicable allowances, deductions and government service rules.
Important Dates
Candidates should remember the following dates:
Notification Date: September 11, 2026
Application Start Date: September 16, 2026
Last Date to Submit Application: September 30, 2026
Last Date for Fee Payment: October 1, 2026
Candidates are advised not to wait until the final day. Online applications can sometimes face technical problems when a large number of candidates try to submit forms close to the deadline.
Application Fee
Candidates need to pay the applicable application fee while submitting the online application.
Reported fee details include:
- General and applicable other categories: ₹750
- SC/ST/Category-1/Ex-servicemen/Third Gender categories: ₹500
- Eligible special-incentive category: ₹250
Candidates should verify the fee applicable to their category from the official KEA notification before making payment.
Selection Process
Candidates will be selected through a competitive written examination conducted through KEA.
The reported examination structure includes a general knowledge paper and a post-specific subject paper. A qualifying Kannada language test may also apply to candidates who do not fall under the relevant exemption conditions.
The recruitment process can broadly be understood as:
Online Application → Written Examination → Document Verification → Further Recruitment Formalities
Candidates should prepare according to the syllabus and examination pattern provided in the official notification.
Written Examination
The written examination is particularly important because selection is based on competitive examination performance.
Candidates should prepare for general knowledge as well as subjects related to the post and their technical qualification.
For technical posts such as Electrician and Water Supply Operator, candidates should revise the basic concepts associated with their relevant trade.
Preparation should include:
- General Knowledge
- Karnataka-related current affairs
- Basic technical knowledge
- Relevant ITI trade subjects
- Previous examination-style questions
- Kannada language requirements, where applicable
The detailed syllabus and examination instructions should be checked in the KEA notification.
Who Can Apply?
Candidates who meet the prescribed educational, technical, age and other conditions can apply.
The recruitment is particularly relevant to candidates who have:
- Passed SSLC or equivalent
- Completed the required ITI course
- Studied the relevant trade
- Completed the prescribed apprenticeship where required
- Possess the required certificates
- Meet the prescribed age conditions
- Satisfy the Kalyana-Karnataka/local-cadre conditions mentioned in the notification
Candidates should carefully read the post-wise eligibility conditions before selecting a post.
Kalyana-Karnataka Recruitment
This recruitment is for posts in Urban Local Bodies under the Directorate of Municipal Administration in the Kalyana-Karnataka region.
Therefore, candidates should understand that this is not simply a general Karnataka-wide recruitment in which every applicant can ignore local-cadre conditions.
Candidates claiming eligibility under the Kalyana-Karnataka provisions should ensure that they have the necessary documents and satisfy the applicable rules.