| Online Application Starts | Concluded |
| Last Date to Apply Online | Application Closed |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | Application Closed |
| Admit Card Release Date | Available before exam |
| Written Exam / CBT Date | 31 October 2026 |
General / OBC: Rs. 1000 | SC / ST / Cat-1: Rs. 500
Payment Mode: Online (Net Banking, Debit / Credit Card, or UPI).
18 to 35 Years
Age relaxation provided for SC, ST, OBC, PwD as per Government norms.
Access the authorized board portals and download official gazettes.
Karnataka Examinations Authority published the provisional answer sheet for Paper 2 of the Pharmacy Officer recruitment drive.
The competitive test took place on 31 October 2026 across designated centers in Karnataka. Candidates who appeared for the exam can now cross-check their recorded responses with the official solutions.
The recruitment aims to fill vacancies under the Employees State Insurance Scheme Medical Services department.
| Parameter | Official Notification Specification |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority |
| Post Designation | Pharmacy Officer (RPC Cadre) |
| Total Openings | Various Posts |
| Remuneration / Pay Scale | As per Karnataka State Civil Services Rules |
| Place of Posting | Karnataka State ESI Medical Facilities |
| Age Limit Benchmark | 18 to 35 Years (Relaxations Applicable) |
| Educational Qualification | D.Pharm or B.Pharm with State Pharmacy Council Registration |
| Selection Mode | Competitive Written Examination and Certificate Verification |
| Application Deadline | 2 November 2026 |
| Official Board Portal | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in |
Check the schedule below. Act quickly if you plan to challenge any answer.
The objection submission link remains open until 2 November 2026 on the KEA website.
| Recruitment Event | Important Date / Deadline |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Release | Notification Published Earlier |
| Online Application Starting Date | Completed Online |
| Application Fee Payment Deadline | Completed |
| Online Application Closing Date | Completed |
| Paper 2 Written Exam Date | 31 October 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | 31 October 2026 |
| Objection Submission Deadline | 2 November 2026 |
The recruitment covers Residual Parent Cadre posts across Karnataka. Seat allotment follows statutory reservation rosters.
Vertical reservation applies to categories such as SC, ST, and OBC, while horizontal reservation covers female candidates, rural quota, and Kannada medium students.
| Cadre / Candidate Category | Vacancy Allocation | Reservation Quota Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) / General | Open Merit Allocation | As per Government Roster |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | Reserved Allocation | 10% Statutory Reservation |
| Other Backward Classes (Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) | Reserved Allocation | State Reservation Norms |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | Reserved Allocation | 15% Statutory Reservation |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | Reserved Allocation | 3% Statutory Reservation |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | Horizontal Allocation | 4% Horizontal Reservation |
| Total Notified Openings | Various Posts | 100% Vacancies Across RPC Cadre |
Candidates must hold a recognized Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) or Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) from an approved institution.
In addition, you must hold an active registration certificate with the Karnataka State Pharmacy Council. Knowledge of the Kannada language is compulsory.
Candidates who didn't study Kannada in Class 10 or equivalent must clear the compulsory Kannada Language Test conducted by the authority.
Freshers and experienced professionals can both apply for this post. Prior clinical or hospital pharmacy experience isn't mandatory unless specified for specialized posts.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old on the closing date of the original application. The standard upper age limit is 35 years for unreserved candidates.
Reserved categories receive relaxation under state government rules.
| Candidate Category | Permissible Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) / Category-1 | 5 Years Relaxation (Up to 40 Years) |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (OBC) | 3 Years Relaxation (Up to 38 Years) |
| PwBD (General Category) | 10 Years Relaxation (Up to 45 Years) |
| PwBD (OBC Categories) | 13 Years Relaxation (Up to 48 Years) |
| PwBD (SC / ST / Cat-1) | 15 Years Relaxation (Up to 50 Years) |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | Years of Military Service plus 3 Years |
| In-Service Candidates | As per Karnataka Civil Services Rules |
Selected candidates receive a monthly salary as per the Karnataka State Revised Pay Scale. The remuneration includes basic pay along with Dearness Allowance (DA) and House Rent Allowance (HRA).
Other allowances like medical benefits apply according to ESI department rules. Newly appointed personnel will serve a probationary period of two years.
| Remuneration Parameter | Official Terms & Entitlements |
|---|---|
| Monthly Remuneration / Basic Pay | Pay Band as per State Government Norms |
| Pay Standard / Structure | Karnataka State Pay Commission Rules |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | Applicable at current state rates |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Classified by city classification (X, Y, Z) |
| Medical Allowance | Covered under ESI Scheme facilities |
| Nature of Engagement | Regular Permanent State Government Service |
The selection relies entirely on merit scores secured in the competitive examination. There's no viva voce or personal interview round.
The exam comprises Paper 1 (General Knowledge and General Aptitude) and Paper 2 (Pharmacy Domain Technical Knowledge).
After the final answer keys are settled, the authority will release the provisional selection list followed by original document verification.
Paper 2 carries objective type multiple choice questions based on the pharmacy syllabus. Every question carries equal weight.
Marks get deducted for incorrect answers under negative marking rules, so calculate your score carefully.
| Subject / Test Section | Questions | Max Marks | Language Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: General Knowledge, Reasoning & Kannada | 100 Questions | 100 Marks | English and Kannada | 120 Minutes Allocation |
| Paper 2: Pharmacy Core Technical Subjects | 100 Questions | 100 Marks | English | 120 Minutes Allocation |
| Total Examination Scheme | 200 Questions | 200 Marks | Bilingual and English | 240 Minutes Total Duration |
Candidates paid their examination fee during online registration through the integrated payment gateway using debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.
Objections against provisional solutions may require a nominal processing fee per challenged question. Always use the official website link and never send money to private agencies.
Pharmacy Officer Paper 2 Question Paper Booklet.
Candidate response sheet or carbon copy of the OMR answer sheet.
Standard reference textbooks or academic journals supporting your objection.
Online registration credentials (Application ID and Password).
Valid Photo Identity Card (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or Driving License).
Pharmacy Council Registration Certificate for ready reference.
in.
Go to the recruitment section on the homepage and choose ESI Medical Services Recruitment.
Click on the link titled Pharmacy Officer Paper 2 Provisional Answer Key 2026.
Open the Kannada PDF document in a new tab or save it to your local device.
Compare your question booklet answers with the provisional solutions provided in the PDF.
Locate the objection submission link on the candidate portal if you find discrepancies.
Log in using your registered application number and date of birth.
Select the question number, specify your objection, and upload supporting standard textbook references.
Pay any prescribed objection fee through the online portal if prompted.
Submit your representation before the cutoff date of 2 November 2026.
Quick answers to common candidate queries for KEA Pharmacy Officer Key
The objection window for the Paper 2 provisional answer key closes on 2 November 2026. The examination took place on 31 October 2026. There's no interview round for this post.
Appointees receive regular pay as per Karnataka State Civil Services Pay Commission norms. The package includes basic pay, Dearness Allowance, and House Rent Allowance based on your station.
Applicants must hold a D.Pharm or B.Pharm from a recognized board or university. You also need an active registration certificate issued by the Karnataka State Pharmacy Council.
The minimum age is 18 years and the maximum age is 35 years for General candidates. Upper age relaxation is 3 years for OBC and 5 years for SC, ST, and Category-1 applicants.
Selection depends entirely on marks secured in the competitive examination (Paper 1 and Paper 2). Merit list candidates are called directly for document verification without any personal interview.
Yes, both Paper 1 and Paper 2 contain objective multiple-choice questions with negative marking. A fixed fraction of marks gets deducted for each incorrect answer.
During application, General and OBC candidates paid Rs. 1000, while SC, ST, and Category-1 applicants paid Rs. 500. Raising objections may require a separate nominal processing fee.
Candidates who appeared for the exam on 31 October 2026 can download the provisional solution PDF from the portal. If you spot errors, submit your objections online before 2 November 2026.
This post is regular government service under the Employees State Insurance Scheme Medical Services department of Karnataka. Selected candidates undergo a two-year probationary period.
You can download the Paper 2 provisional solution PDF directly from the official portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Use the direct PDF link provided in this guide.
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