Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026: 188 Pharmacist & Nursing Officer Posts, Apply Online

Karnataka ESI Pharmacist & Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 – 188 Posts, Apply Online

Karnataka ESI Pharmacist & Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 has been announced for eligible candidates seeking government medical-sector jobs in Karnataka. As per the official notification dated 06 August 2026, a total of 188 vacancies are available for the posts of Pharmacist and Nursing Officer (Shushrooshadhikari).

The recruitment is being conducted through the prescribed online application and examination process. Candidates possessing the required Diploma in Pharmacy or Diploma in General Nursing, along with the mandatory registration with the relevant Karnataka professional council, can apply subject to the other conditions mentioned in the notification.

The online application process begins on 07 August 2026, while the last date to submit the application is 30 August 2026. Candidates must also complete the prescribed fee payment by 31 August 2026.

Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026 – Overview

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The notification specifically provides 98 Pharmacist vacancies and 90 Nursing Officer vacancies, taking the total recruitment figure to 188 posts.

Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

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Candidates should not wait until the final day because the notification states that candidates must complete the application process and prescribed fee payment within the specified schedule.

Karnataka ESI Vacancy Details 2026

The recruitment notification contains vacancies for two medical posts.

The vacancy distribution shown in the notification includes the applicable cadre/category distribution, including provisions connected with Article 371(J) and other specified categories.

Pharmacist Vacancy

Total Pharmacist Posts: 98

The notification shows the Pharmacist vacancies as:

• 92 + 05 + 01 = 98

Nursing Officer Vacancy

Total Nursing Officer Posts: 90

The notification shows:

• 72 + 11 + 07 = 90

Total

98 + 90 = 188 vacancies.

Karnataka ESI Pharmacist Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for the Pharmacist post must satisfy the educational and professional registration requirements specified in the notification.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must:

1. Possess a Diploma in Pharmacy from an institution recognized by the Government of Karnataka.
2. Be registered with the Karnataka Pharmacy Council.

Therefore, simply possessing a pharmacy-related qualification may not be sufficient. Candidates should ensure that they meet the registration requirement mentioned in the official notification.

Karnataka ESI Nursing Officer Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for the Nursing Officer post must satisfy the prescribed nursing qualification and registration requirements.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must:

1. Possess a Diploma in General Nursing issued by an authority recognized/authorized by the Government of Karnataka.
2. Be registered with the Karnataka Nursing Council.

The notification also provides additional provisions concerning eligibility, document verification and other recruitment conditions.

Important Eligibility Conditions

The notification contains several important conditions concerning qualifications and eligibility.

Candidates are required to submit valid documents supporting their educational qualifications and applicable claims. The authority may verify the eligibility of candidates during the recruitment process.

Candidates should therefore ensure that:

• Their educational qualification is recognized.
• Professional council registration is valid.
• Required category certificates are available wherever applicable.
• Information entered in the application matches the supporting documents.
• They satisfy the prescribed age and other eligibility conditions.

The notification further states that eligibility may be assessed based on the information and documents furnished by the candidate.

Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026 Age Limit

The notification specifies different upper-age limits according to category.

The notification also provides age-related relaxations/provisions for certain special categories, including ex-servicemen and other eligible categories, subject to the conditions specified in the recruitment rules.

Important: Candidates should calculate their age with reference to the date and conditions prescribed in the official notification rather than relying only on a general age-limit calculation.

Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026 Salary

One of the major attractions of this recruitment is the government pay scale.

Nursing Officer Salary

₹54,175 – ₹99,400

Pharmacist Salary

₹44,425 – ₹83,700

The pay scales are directly mentioned in the recruitment notification.

The actual salary received by a selected employee can depend on applicable government rules, allowances, deductions and other service conditions. Candidates should therefore treat the figures above as the prescribed pay scale, not as a guaranteed monthly in-hand salary.

Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026 Application Fee

The application fee varies according to the candidate category.

The notification specifies that the prescribed application fee is applicable to the online application process and that the fee, once paid, is subject to the conditions mentioned in the notification.

Candidates should carefully select their category while submitting the application because incorrect category information can affect eligibility and reservation benefits.

Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026 Selection Process

The recruitment process includes a written examination.

According to the notification, the competitive examination consists of:

1. Paper-I – General Knowledge
2. Paper-II – Specific Subject / Post-related Paper

The examination is conducted through the prescribed CBT (Computer Based Test) or Offline OMR type method as specified by the authority.

Karnataka ESI Exam Pattern 2026

Paper-I – General Knowledge

The General Knowledge paper covers the subjects/topics specified in the official notification, including areas relating to general knowledge, India, Karnataka and other prescribed portions.

Paper-II – Specific Subject

Paper-II is the post-specific subject paper, meaning candidates should prepare according to the subject relevant to the post for which they are applying.

Kannada Language Test

The notification contains a provision concerning the Kannada language requirement.

Candidates who are required to appear for the Kannada language examination must obtain the prescribed minimum qualifying marks. The notification mentions 35 marks as the qualifying requirement.

Importantly, the Kannada language test is treated as a qualifying examination, and its marks are not added to the competitive examination marks for ranking, subject to the provisions stated in the notification.

Candidates should carefully read the Kannada language test provisions before assuming that every applicant will be treated in exactly the same manner, because exemptions/eligibility conditions can apply under the recruitment rules.

Negative Marking in Karnataka ESI Exam 2026

Candidates should pay particular attention to negative marking.

The notification states that for every wrong answer in the competitive examination, 0.25 marks will be deducted.

Therefore, candidates should avoid random guessing, especially when they are not reasonably confident about an answer.

The notification also contains provisions concerning unanswered questions and multiple responses, so candidates should carefully follow the examination instructions.

Reservation and Special Category Provisions

The recruitment notification contains provisions relating to reservation and special categories.

It includes provisions connected with:

• Scheduled Caste
• Scheduled Tribe
• Category-1
• Category-2A
• Category-2B
• Category-3A
• Category-3B
• Ex-Servicemen
• Persons with Disabilities
• Women candidates
• Transgender candidates
• Rural candidates
• Kannada Medium Students
• Project Displaced Persons
• Other applicable categories

The notification provides specific rules regarding how reservation and special-category benefits are to be claimed. Candidates should possess valid supporting certificates wherever required.

Article 371(J) / Hyderabad-Karnataka Reservation

The vacancy table also contains a distribution connected with Article 371(J).

Candidates claiming benefits under the relevant 371(J) provisions must satisfy the applicable eligibility and documentation requirements. The notification specifically provides cadre-wise vacancy distribution and conditions for the relevant candidates.

This is particularly important for candidates from the applicable Karnataka region because the reservation/cadre benefit is not simply based on residence alone; the prescribed conditions and certificates must be satisfied.

Required Documents for Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026

Candidates should keep the following documents/details ready while applying:

• Recent passport-size photograph
• Signature
• Educational qualification certificate
• Diploma certificate
• Pharmacy/Nursing professional registration certificate
• Aadhaar or other valid identity document
• Category certificate, if applicable
• 371(J) certificate, if applicable
• Ex-serviceman certificate, if applicable
• Disability certificate, if applicable
• Rural candidate certificate, where applicable
• Kannada Medium certificate, where applicable
• Other applicable reservation/supporting certificates

The notification gives specific instructions regarding the photograph and signature uploaded during the online application. The recent photograph is required in JPEG format, with the specified file-size requirements, and the signature must also satisfy the prescribed format and size.

Photo and Signature Requirements

Applicants should carefully follow the upload specifications.

The notification requires:

Photograph

• Recent photograph
• JPEG format
• White background
• File size between 50 KB and 200 KB

Signature

• Signature in JPEG format
• File size between 50 KB and 70 KB

Candidates should not upload unclear, old or improperly cropped photographs because application-related discrepancies may create problems during later stages.

How to Apply for Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026

Candidates can apply online through the KEA application portal mentioned in the official notification.

Step 1 – Visit the Official Application Portal

Open the Karnataka Examination Authority online application portal:

KEA Karnataka Online Application Portal

The notification specifically directs candidates to the KEA portal for the online application process.

Step 2 – Register/Login

Create an account or log in using the required details.

Step 3 – Select the Recruitment

Find the relevant Karnataka ESI Pharmacist/Nursing Officer recruitment application.

Step 4 – Enter Personal Details

Enter:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Category
• Address
• Contact details
• Other required information

Step 5 – Enter Educational Details

Enter the qualification details relevant to the selected post.

Pharmacist applicants should provide their Pharmacy qualification and registration details.

Nursing Officer applicants should provide their General Nursing qualification and Karnataka Nursing Council registration details.

Step 6 – Upload Documents

Upload the photograph, signature and other documents wherever required.

Step 7 – Verify the Application

Before final submission, carefully check:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Category
• Qualification
• Professional registration
• Reservation claims
• Photograph
• Signature
• Contact details

Step 8 – Pay the Application Fee

Pay the applicable fee according to your category.

Step 9 – Submit the Application

Submit the completed application before 30 August 2026.

Step 10 – Save the Application

Download and retain a copy of the submitted application, payment receipt and other important records for future reference.

Important Instructions for Candidates

The notification contains several important instructions that candidates should not ignore.

Candidates must ensure that all information submitted in the online application is correct. The authority may verify the information and documents during the recruitment process.

The notification also states that candidates should keep copies/records of their application and relevant documents.

Candidates should also monitor the official KEA portal for subsequent information regarding:

• Examination schedule
• Admit card
• Examination centre
• Results
• Document verification
• Further recruitment stages

Why This Recruitment Is Important

The recruitment is particularly relevant for candidates looking for Karnataka government medical-sector employment.

There are 188 vacancies, including:

• 98 Pharmacist posts
• 90 Nursing Officer posts

The posts also carry the prescribed government pay scales of ₹44,425–₹83,700 for Pharmacists and ₹54,175–₹99,400 for Nursing Officers.

For eligible diploma holders with the required professional council registration, this recruitment provides an opportunity to compete for government service positions in the ESI medical services setup.

Preparation Strategy for Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026

Candidates should prepare separately for both papers.

1. Prepare General Knowledge

Focus on:

• Karnataka-related general knowledge
• Indian history
• Indian geography
• Indian polity
• Constitution
• Current affairs
• Government schemes
• General science
• Karnataka government-related information
• Important national and international events

2. Give More Importance to the Post-Specific Paper

For Pharmacist applicants, preparation should concentrate on pharmacy-related subjects.

For Nursing Officer applicants, preparation should focus on the prescribed nursing-related syllabus.

3. Practice Previous Questions

Mock tests can help candidates understand:

• Question difficulty
• Time management
• Accuracy
• Negative marking
• Frequently tested concepts

4. Avoid Blind Guessing

Since the notification provides for 0.25-mark negative marking, accuracy is important.

5. Complete the Kannada Requirement

Candidates who are required to take the Kannada language test should make sure they understand the qualifying requirement before the examination.

Karnataka ESI Recruitment 2026 – Important Links

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Karnataka ESI Pharmacist & Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 – FAQs

Conclusion

The Karnataka ESI Pharmacist & Nursing Officer Recruitment 2026 is an important opportunity for eligible Pharmacy and Nursing diploma holders in Karnataka. With 188 total vacancies, the recruitment includes 98 Pharmacist posts and 90 Nursing Officer posts, with prescribed pay scales extending up to ₹83,700 for Pharmacists and ₹99,400 for Nursing Officers.

Eligible candidates should complete their online application within the prescribed schedule. The application process starts on 07 August 2026, the last date to submit the application is 30 August 2026, and the fee payment deadline is 31 August 2026.

Because the examination includes negative marking, candidates should focus on accuracy as well as speed. Applicants should also carefully verify their professional registration, educational qualification, category claims and uploaded documents before submitting the application.