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KSET Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility, Important Dates

1645 topics across 146 subjects. Every question carries a written explanation.

The Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) decides who is eligible to be an Assistant Professor in Karnataka's universities, first grade degree colleges and other higher education institutions, whether government, aided or private. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru, runs it for the Government of Karnataka under the UGC's NET/SET rules. Qualifying makes you eligible; posts are filled under each institution's own recruitment rules.

KSET-2026 was held on Sunday, 11 October 2026 in 37 subjects at 11 centres across the state. It is a pen-and-paper exam: two objective papers on OMR sheets in one three-hour sitting, with no negative marking.

  • A KSET qualification counts only in Karnataka. UGC-NET is the national one.
  • Only 6 per cent of those who sit both papers qualify, with a cut-off for each subject and category.
  • There is no upper age limit.

Last checked against the official notification on .

Previous year question papers

KSET Details

Exam Pattern
PaperQuestionsMarksTime
Paper I: general paper on teaching and research aptitude50, all compulsory50 × 2 = 1003 hours together, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Paper II: your subject100, all compulsory100 × 2 = 200
  • Offline, on an OMR answer sheet issued with the question papers.
  • Two marks a question and no negative marking.
  • You can't leave the hall before 1:00 p.m.
  • Qualifying depends on the aggregate of both papers out of 300.

Paper I tests teaching and research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness. The medium depends on the subject: many papers are set in both Kannada and English, the science, management, law and computer science papers are in English only, and the language papers are in that language.

Syllabus

KEA says the KSET syllabus follows the model of the syllabus prescribed for UGC-NET and CSIR-NET. It publishes its own syllabus PDF for Paper I and for each subject on the KSET-2026 page, and doesn't post copies to candidates. Paper I is common to everyone; Paper II is your Master's subject.

KSET-2026's 37 subjects

GroupSubjects
Languages and literatureKannada, English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu, Folk Literature
Humanities and social sciencesEconomics, Political Science, History, Sociology, Geography, Psychology, Social Work, Criminology, Public Administration, Philosophy, Women Studies
ProfessionalCommerce, Management, Tourism Administration and Management, Education, Library and Information Science, Mass Communication and Journalism, Law, Physical Education
SciencesComputer Science and Applications, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Home Science, Electronic Science, Earth Sciences
ArtsPerforming Arts, Music, Visual Arts

Several subjects take a wide range of Master's degrees. Physical Sciences covers physics and its branches, from electronics and nuclear physics to astrophysics and materials science. Life Sciences covers botany, zoology, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, biotechnology, fisheries, sericulture and allied subjects. Earth Sciences covers geology, applied geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, physical geography and related fields. Economics also takes Co-operation, and Women Studies takes rural development, humanities, social science and language Master's degrees.

If your Master's subject isn't on the list, KEA's advice is to take UGC-NET or CSIR-NET instead.

Eligibility Criteria

Degree and marks

  • A Master's degree or equivalent from a university or institution recognised by the UGC.
  • 55 per cent for General Merit; 50 per cent for SC-A, SC-B, SC-C, ST, Category-I, IIA, IIB, IIIA and IIIB, PwD and transgender candidates. No rounding off.
  • Ph.D. holders who finished their Master's by 19 September 1991 get 5 per cent off (55 to 50).
  • Foreign degrees and PG diplomas need equivalence from the Association of Indian Universities.
  • No upper age limit.

Final-year students

Students in the final year of a Master's can apply and are admitted provisionally. You get the certificate only after passing with 55 or 50 per cent within two years of the KSET result and sending your marks cards; otherwise the qualification is cancelled.

Reservation is for Karnataka only

Reservation follows the Karnataka backward classes list and needs a certificate from the competent authority, with its RD number entered on the form. Candidates from other states get no reservation and can apply only as General Merit, with 55 per cent. PwD candidates need a UDID number for a disability of 40 per cent or more.

Subject and repeat rules

  • Sit KSET only in the subject you studied for your Master's, and in one subject only.
  • If you've already qualified KSET in a subject, you can't apply again in it. Doing so cancels the new and the old qualification.

Who doesn't need KSET

Exemptions follow UGC rules. Those who cleared UGC-NET, CSIR-NET or JRF before 1989 are exempt. A SET cleared before 1 June 2002 counts anywhere in India; one cleared after that counts only in its own state.

Selection Process

KSET only decides eligibility. KEA follows the UGC method to decide who qualifies:

StepWhat happens
1. SlotsQualifying slots equal 6 per cent of candidates who sat both papers
2. MinimumOnly those with at least 40 per cent aggregate (General Merit) or 35 per cent (SC, ST, Category-I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, PwD, transgender) across both papers are counted
3. CategoriesSlots are split by Karnataka's reservation policy
4. SubjectsEach category's slots are shared across subjects in proportion to how many in that subject reached the minimum
5. Cut-offA merit list is drawn per subject and category; where its slots run out is the cut-off

The minimum only gets you counted. The real cut-off varies by subject and category. Subject, category and centre can't be changed after you apply.

Salary

KSET carries no pay. It makes you eligible for Assistant Professor posts in Karnataka; pay is set by the institution that appoints you.

How to Apply

Apply online only, through cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. Fees are paid online and are not refunded. You don't send any certificate with the form, but keep printouts of the final form.

CategoryFee
General Merit, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, and candidates from other states₹750
Category-I, SC-A, SC-B, SC-C, ST, PwD and transgender₹500
  • Enter your name and your parents' names exactly as on your SSLC/Class 10 marks card; that is how they print on the certificate, and no change is accepted later.
  • Upload scans as JPEG within the size limits on the form.
  • Candidature stays provisional. KEA doesn't check eligibility when you apply, and ineligibility found later means cancellation and possible legal action.
Exam Centres

KSET-2026 had 11 centres: Bengaluru, Belagavi, Ballari, Vijayapura, Davanagere, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Tumakuru and Mangaluru. You pick one, and can't change it.

  • 18 subjects are held at all 11 centres: Commerce, Kannada, Economics, English, Political Science, History, Sociology, Hindi, Management, Education, Library and Information Science, Social Work, Physical Education, Computer Science and Applications, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Chemical Sciences and Life Sciences.
  • The other 19 subjects are held at Bengaluru only.

On the day

  • Reach the centre at least two hours early with the admit card and a government photo ID (voter ID, driving licence, passport, Aadhaar or PAN).
  • No phones, Bluetooth devices, calculators, whitener, chits or books, and no watch of any kind.
  • Wear half-sleeved clothes; anything covering the ears, head or face is barred. No metal jewellery apart from the mangalsutra and toe rings.
  • PwD candidates get 60 minutes extra across the two papers.
Important Dates

KSET-2026

EventDate
Notification and applications open10 August 2026
Last date to apply (extended)10 September 2026, 5:30 p.m. (originally 5 September)
Last date for fee payment (extended)11 September 2026, banking hours (originally 6 September)
Admit card1 October 2026
Exam11 October 2026 (Sunday)
Provisional answer keys12 October 2026
Preparation Tips

Work from KEA's syllabus

It follows the UGC/CSIR NET model, but KEA publishes its own PDF per subject, and Performing Arts and Music were updated for 2026. Use the version on the KSET page.

Answer everything

There's no negative marking, so leave no OMR circle empty.

Don't neglect Paper I

It's a third of the 300 marks and the same for every subject.

Check the key

Provisional keys appear soon after the exam. An objection costs ₹50 a question and must be made online before the result; nothing is heard after that.

Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions

Who conducts KSET?

The Karnataka Examinations Authority, Bengaluru.

Is KSET online or offline?

Offline, on OMR sheets, in one three-hour sitting.

Is there negative marking?

No.

Is the KSET syllabus the same as UGC-NET?

KEA says it follows the UGC/CSIR NET model, and publishes its own syllabus for each subject.

Can a candidate from another state apply?

Yes, as General Merit with 55 per cent in the Master's. There's no reservation for other states' candidates.

Can I get my answer sheet re-evaluated?

No. There's no re-evaluation or recount, and KEA issues no marks card.

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