Karnataka Prisons Department Recruitment 2026: 869 Jailor, Warder & Instructor Posts, Apply Online

Karnataka Prisons Department Recruitment 2026: 869 Jailor, Warder & Instructor Posts, Apply Online

The Karnataka Prisons and Reforms Services Department has released two recruitment notifications through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for 869 vacancies in the Karnataka Prisons Department. The recruitment covers the R.P.C. (Rest of State/General) cadre and K.K. (Kalyana Karnataka) cadre.

The available posts include Jailor, Warder (Vikshakaru), Second Grade Teacher/Instructor Grade-II and Warder cum Nursing. Online applications begin on 19 September 2026, while the last date to submit the application is 15 October 2026. The fee payment deadline is 16 October 2026.

The written competitive examination is scheduled for 21 November 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Candidates shortlisted after the written examination will have to undergo the prescribed Physical Standard Test (PST) and Endurance Test.

Karnataka Prisons Department Recruitment 2026 – Overview

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Karnataka Prisons Department Vacancy 2026

The two notifications together provide 869 vacancies. The distribution is different for the R.P.C. and K.K. cadres.

R.P.C. – Rest of State / General Cadre

The R.P.C. notification has 576 vacancies:

K.K. – Kalyana Karnataka Cadre

The K.K. notification has 293 vacancies:

Therefore, the combined vacancy is 869 posts.

Karnataka Prison Recruitment Important Dates

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The notification specifically provides 21 November 2026 as the date for the competitive written examination. Details regarding the subsequent physical tests are to be communicated separately through the KEA/Karnataka Prisons Department channels.

Prison Recruitment Educational Qualification

The qualification depends on the post.

1. Jailor

The Jailor post is available under the K.K. cadre in this recruitment.

Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent qualification.

Preference is given to candidates possessing a Bachelor’s Degree in:

• Sociology
• Psychology
• Criminology
• Correctional Administration
• Equivalent qualification as prescribed in the notification

2. Warder (Vikshakaru)

Candidates applying for Warder must have:

Passed SSLC examination or possess an equivalent qualification.

This is particularly important for candidates who are searching for Karnataka government jobs after 10th standard.

3. Second Grade Teacher / Instructor Grade-II

Candidates must:

• Have passed SSLC or equivalent qualification, and
• Hold the prescribed Diploma or Certificate in relevant technical/trade areas.

The notification mentions areas including:

• Mechanical
• Electrical
• Carpentry
• Tailoring
• Textile
• Weaving
• Carpet making
• Other prescribed equivalent trades

The certificate/diploma must be from an institution recognized by the Government.

4. Warder cum Nursing

This post is available under the K.K. cadre.

Candidates must have:

• Passed SSLC or equivalent qualification, and
• Possess a First Aid certificate as prescribed.

Important Qualification Point

Candidates should carefully check the specific qualification prescribed for the post they select. The recruitment notification specifies particular qualifications for different posts, so merely possessing a higher qualification does not automatically replace a prescribed technical certificate or other mandatory qualification.

Age Limit

The minimum age prescribed for this recruitment is 20 years.

The upper age limit is:

The age is considered with reference to the closing date of the application. Applicable relaxation for eligible special categories, including Ex-Servicemen, is governed by the relevant rules mentioned in the notification.

Candidates should verify their exact eligibility from the relevant notification before submitting the application.

Karnataka Prison Recruitment Application Fee

The notification prescribes different fees according to category.

The fee is to be paid through the prescribed online process. The fee payment deadline is 16 October 2026.

Karnataka Prison Recruitment Salary Details

The pay scale varies according to the post.

For Warder and Instructor Grade-II, the detailed scale mentioned in the notification progresses through different annual increments up to ₹76,100.

The actual monthly salary after appointment will depend on the applicable pay rules and allowances.

Karnataka Prisons Recruitment 2026 Selection Process

The recruitment is not based only on the written examination. Candidates should prepare for the complete selection process.

The broad process is:

Competitive Written Examination → Physical Standard Test (PST) → Endurance Test → Document Verification → Medical Examination

Candidates shortlisted for the physical stages are selected from the written examination in the prescribed 1:5 ratio, according to the notification.

This means candidates interested in Warder and other physically tested posts should not wait until after the written examination to begin physical preparation.

Written Examination Pattern

The competitive examination carries 100 questions for 100 marks and the duration is 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).

The examination is scheduled for:

21 November 2026, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

The prescribed syllabus covers areas such as:

• General Knowledge
• General Science
• Current Affairs
• Indian Constitution
• Social Science
• Kannada
• English
• Other subjects/topics specified by the recruitment notification

Negative Marking

There is negative marking in the competitive examination.

As specified in the notification, 0.25 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.

Therefore, candidates should avoid random guessing and focus on accuracy as well as speed.

Physical Standard Test 2026

Physical standards are particularly important for candidates appearing for posts for which PST and Endurance Test are prescribed.

Male Candidates

The notification specifies:

• Minimum Height: 168 cm
• Chest: 86 cm
• Minimum chest expansion: 5 cm

Female Candidates

The notification specifies:

• Minimum Height: 157 cm
• Minimum Weight: 46 kg

Candidates should check the original notification carefully regarding the physical standards applicable to their category/post.

Endurance Test

The notification provides separate endurance requirements for male and female candidates.

Male Candidates

The prescribed events include:

• 100 metre run
• Long jump
• High jump
• Shot put – 7.26 kg
• 800 metre run

Female Candidates

The events include:

• 100 metre run
• Long jump
• High jump
• Shot put
• 200 metre run

The notification provides specific qualifying standards for each event. Candidates are required to qualify in the prescribed number of events rather than treating the endurance test as a single running test.

The notification states that candidates must qualify in at least 3 out of the 5 endurance events.

Therefore, physical preparation should cover running, jumping and throwing instead of concentrating on only one event.

Medical Examination

Candidates who progress through the recruitment process must also satisfy the prescribed medical standards.

The notification contains medical checks relating to areas such as:

• Vision
• Hearing
• Rinne’s Test
• Weber’s Test
• Tests for Vertigo
• Varicose veins
• Speech
• Chest X-ray
• Musculoskeletal deformities

The notification also lists conditions such as knock knees, flat feet, cubitus valgus and cubitus varus among the physical deformities that can result in disqualification.

Medical standards should therefore not be ignored while preparing for the recruitment.

Documents and Items to Keep Ready

Candidates should keep their documents ready before beginning the online application.

Depending on the requirement, candidates may need documents such as:

• SSLC marks card/certificate
• Degree certificate, where applicable
• Diploma/technical certificate for Instructor Grade-II
• First Aid certificate for Warder cum Nursing
• Caste certificate, where applicable
• Income/category documents wherever applicable
• Aadhaar Card
• Passport-size photograph
• Signature
• Valid identity proof
• Other certificates supporting special reservations or claims

The notification also lists various acceptable identity documents for verification, including Aadhaar, EPIC/Voter ID, PAN Card, Driving Licence, Passport and other prescribed photo identity documents.

Photograph and Signature Requirements

Candidates should pay attention to the digital file requirements while applying.

The notification specifies the uploading of:

• Recent photograph in JPEG format
• Signature in JPEG format

The prescribed file-size limits should be followed during upload. Candidates should not wait until the final day to prepare these files because an incorrect format or size can create problems during submission.

How to Apply for Karnataka Prisons Department Recruitment 2026

Eligible candidates can apply online through the Karnataka Examinations Authority website.

Step 1

Visit the official KEA website.

KEA Official Website

Step 2

Look for the Karnataka Prisons and Reforms Services Department recruitment notification/application link.

Step 3

Select the appropriate notification/cadre:

• R.P.C. – Rest of State/General Cadre
• K.K. – Kalyana Karnataka Cadre

Candidates should select the cadre and post carefully before proceeding.

Step 4

Register or log in as instructed by KEA.

Step 5

Enter personal, educational and other required details carefully.

Step 6

Upload the required photograph, signature and supporting information/documents in the prescribed format.

Step 7

Check the application carefully before final submission.

Step 8

Pay the applicable application fee online.

Step 9

Submit the application before 15 October 2026.

Step 10

Complete the fee payment by 16 October 2026 and save/print the final application and payment details for future use.

What Candidates Should Do After Applying

Submitting the application is only the first stage.

Candidates should immediately begin preparation for the 21 November 2026 written examination.

A practical preparation plan should include:

For the Written Exam

Focus on:

1. Karnataka current affairs
2. General knowledge
3. Indian Constitution
4. General Science
5. Social Science
6. Kannada
7. English
8. Previous-style objective questions
9. Time management
10. Accuracy because of negative marking

For the Physical Test

Do not wait for the written examination result.

Start gradually working on:

• 100-metre speed
• Long jump
• High jump
• Shot-put technique
• 800-metre endurance for male candidates
• 200-metre endurance for female candidates

Candidates should also monitor the official websites for PST/Endurance Test dates, venue and admit-card instructions.

Why This Recruitment Is Important for Karnataka Job Aspirants

This recruitment is particularly relevant because it combines opportunities for different educational levels.

SSLC candidates can look at the Warder vacancies, while candidates with prescribed technical qualifications can consider Instructor Grade-II. Graduates who meet the Jailor qualification can look at the limited K.K. cadre Jailor vacancies. Candidates with the prescribed First Aid qualification can consider Warder cum Nursing.

The recruitment also covers both the Rest-of-State/R.P.C. cadre and Kalyana Karnataka/K.K. cadre, making it important for candidates to understand the cadre-specific vacancy distribution before applying.

With 869 total posts, candidates should not focus only on the number of vacancies. The written examination, negative marking, physical standards, endurance requirements and medical standards all need to be considered while planning preparation.

Karnataka Prison Recruitment Important Links

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The two official portals identified for the recruitment are the KEA website and the Karnataka Prisons Department website.

FAQs – Karnataka Prisons Department Recruitment 2026

Conclusion

The Karnataka Prisons Department Recruitment 2026 provides 869 government job opportunities across the R.P.C. and K.K. cadres. The vacancies include Warder, Instructor Grade-II, Jailor and Warder cum Nursing posts, with educational requirements ranging from SSLC to Bachelor’s Degree and prescribed technical qualifications.

Candidates should complete their online application before 15 October 2026, pay the applicable fee by 16 October 2026, and start preparing for both the written examination and physical stages well in advance.

Most importantly, applicants should select the correct cadre and post, verify their qualification and age eligibility, and read the relevant official notification carefully before submitting the final application.