Karnataka SDA

Karnataka SDA (Second Division Assistant) is the main clerical, Group C post in Karnataka state government departments, and the Karnataka SDA exam is the written test used to fill it. This guide covers the current SDA recruitment through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), the eligibility rules, the age relaxation in force until 2027, the compulsory Kannada test, the two-paper exam pattern, the syllabus, pay and a preparation plan.

Year-specific figures sit in labelled tables, so you can tell what is confirmed and what is still tentative.

Table of Contents

• What is Karnataka SDA?

• Karnataka SDA at a Glance

• Who Conducts Karnataka SDA Recruitment

• Karnataka SDA Notification 2026 and Vacancies

• Important Dates

• Karnataka SDA Eligibility

• Application Fee and How to Apply

• Karnataka SDA Exam Pattern

• Karnataka SDA Syllabus Summary

• Selection Process

• SDA Salary and Career Growth

• SDA vs FDA: Key Differences

• How to Prepare for the Karnataka SDA Exam

• Cut-Off Reference

What is Karnataka SDA?

The Karnataka SDA exam is a state-level recruitment exam for Second Division Assistant posts, also called Junior Assistant in some departments. These are Group C, non-technical ministerial posts that handle clerical and office work in Karnataka government departments, boards and corporations. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts the current cycle as part of a combined drive for PUC-level posts. Earlier cycles were run by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), while the High Court and district judiciary recruit their own SDAs separately.

There is no fixed annual calendar. Drives are notified when enough vacancies build up, as with the KPSC cycles of 2018 and 2019-20 and the KEA cycle of 2026. The exam is taken mostly by candidates who have passed Second PUC (Class 12) and are looking for a permanent state government job, and many graduates apply too. Selection runs through a Kannada language test (only if required), two written papers and document verification, with no interview.

Karnataka SDA at a Glance

Who Conducts Karnataka SDA Recruitment

There is no single, fixed "SDA exam" body in Karnataka. The SDA post exists in almost every department, so recruitment has been handled by different authorities over time. This is the part most older pages get wrong.

In practice, the eligibility rules and the exam scheme are set by the Karnataka Civil Services (Direct Recruitment) (General) Rules, 2021, and its later amendments. That is why the pattern stays largely the same whichever authority conducts the exam.

Karnataka SDA Notification 2026 and Vacancies

KEA released an advance notice on 31 August 2026 for 4,699 posts across government departments, grouped by qualification level. SDA posts fall in the PUC-level, non-technical group. The figures below come from that notice as reported; post-wise counts can change in the detailed notifications.

Within the PUC-level group, the largest single SDA block reported is 590 posts in the Commercial Taxes Department, with further SDA posts in Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Forest, Registration and Stamps, Transport and other departments. Treat department-wise SDA figures as indicative until you check the detailed notification for your cadre.

Two rule changes notified in 2026 also matter. Candidates must list their preferred departments or posts in order in the application, and selected candidates can be posted anywhere in Karnataka regardless of preference.

Important Dates

Tentative dates come from the notice schedule and news reports, and they can change. Track the recruitment section of the KEA portal and your registered email and mobile number.

Karnataka SDA Eligibility

Educational Qualification

You need a pass in Second PUC (Class 12) or an equivalent qualification. Recent KEA notifications accept CBSE or ICSE Class 12, other state board Class 12, NIOS senior secondary, and in some cases a three-year diploma or a two-year ITI with the conditions stated in the notification. Your result must be declared by the last date of application; candidates awaiting results are not eligible.

Age Limit

The minimum age is 18 years. The normal upper limits for Karnataka civil posts are 35, 38 and 40 years by category. The state has allowed a one-time 5-year relaxation for recruitment notified up to 31 December 2027, so the current upper limits are as follows.

Further relaxation applies to persons with benchmark disabilities, ex-servicemen, widows and serving government employees as per the notification. Age is counted as on the last date for applications.

Kannada Language Requirement

Kannada is central to this job. If you did not study Kannada as a first or second language in SSLC (or a higher exam), and have not already passed the KPSC or KEA Kannada test, you must clear a Compulsory Kannada Language Test. It carries 150 marks, the pass mark is 50, it is set at SSLC first-language level, and its marks do not count in the merit list.

For the complete rules, documents and common disqualifiers, see the Karnataka SDA eligibility guide.

Application Fee and How to Apply

The fee is paid online and is non-refundable. Confirm the amount in the detailed notification for your cycle.

1. Read the notification: Check your cadre (residual parent cadre or Kalyana Karnataka), the posts and the department list.

2. Register on the KEA portal: Use a mobile number and email you will keep for the whole process.

3. Fill in details and preferences: Enter personal, educational and reservation details, then rank your preferred posts carefully, because the order matters at allotment.

4. Upload documents: Photograph, signature and certificates in the format the portal asks for.

5. Pay and save: Pay the fee online, then download and keep the submitted application.

Common reasons for rejection include a wrong reservation or Kalyana Karnataka claim, missing certificates, a mismatch in name or date of birth, and an unpaid fee.

Karnataka SDA Exam Pattern

The written exam has two compulsory objective papers, as laid down in the 2021 recruitment rules for Group C posts below degree level.

One-fourth of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer. You need at least 35 percent of the total (70 out of 200) to qualify for the merit list.

What this means for you:

• Paper 2 is scoring: Kannada, English and Computer questions are predictable, so steady practice here lifts your total quickly.

• Guess with care: Four wrong guesses cancel one correct answer, so attempt only when you can rule out two options.

• Follow OMR instructions: Recent KEA papers have used special OMR rules for unanswered questions. Read the admit card and paper instructions closely.

Older pages may still show a three-paper, 350-mark pattern or say there is an interview. Follow the current notification. The Karnataka SDA exam pattern page explains the marking in detail.

Karnataka SDA Syllabus Summary

The rules name the subject areas but not a detailed topic list, so build your checklist from the rules and previous papers.

Selection Process

There is no interview for Group C posts under the 2021 rules. Where two candidates score the same, the older candidate ranks higher.

SDA Salary and Career Growth

Your in-hand pay depends on the city, current DA rate and deductions, so any monthly figure you see online is an estimate, not an official figure. An SDA typically moves up to FDA and then to senior clerical and supervisory posts through departmental promotion, based on seniority and service rules.

SDA vs FDA: Key Differences

Graduates can apply for both if the notification allows it, but must rank their preferences.

How to Prepare for the Karnataka SDA Exam

Paper 1: General Knowledge

Start with Karnataka history, geography and economy, because these appear every year. Add the Constitution and Panchayat Raj next, and keep 30 to 40 minutes a day for current affairs with monthly notes.

Paper 2: Kannada, English and Computer

Revise Kannada grammar from SSLC textbooks, practise English error spotting daily, and learn MS Office and internet terms with short notes. These 100 marks reward regular, small sessions.

Mock Tests and Previous Papers

Once the basics are done, take full-length tests in the two-paper format and review every wrong answer. KEA does not publish an official online mock test for its recruitment exams, so rely on previous papers and timed practice.

Official website: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/

Cut-Off Reference

The only fixed benchmark is the qualifying mark set by the rules. Final cut-offs differ by category, cadre and department, and are published as category-wise lists with the selection lists.

Cut-offs change every cycle with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants, so treat past lists as a benchmark only and aim for a clear margin above them.

Earlier KPSC notices and results remain on the Commission's site: https://kpsc.kar.nic.in/