There are not many government recruitments where a Class 10 pass candidate can compete for 869 posts with a fixed pay scale of ₹37,500 and above. The Karnataka Prisons Department recruitment, run through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), is exactly that. Applications are open from 19 September to 15 October 2026, with the fee payable until 16 October, and the written exam is scheduled for 21 November 2026. If you are in or near Karnataka, this is worth a serious look, and the deadline is close. Here is everything we could verify, along with the areas where sources disagree.
Last updated: 9 October 2026. Facts below are compiled from published reports and may change, so confirm on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea before you act.
What the posts are
The 869 vacancies are split into two notifications: 576 for the rest of Karnataka and 293 under the Kalyana Karnataka region, which has its own reservation rules. Warder is the main post, with about 835 vacancies across the two cadres. The others are Instructor Grade-II or Second Grade Teacher (24), Jailor (5) and Warder-cum-Nursing (5). In plain words, this is an overwhelmingly Warder recruitment, which matters because the qualification for Warder is only SSLC, the Karnataka Class 10 certificate.
| Post | Vacancies | Pay scale |
|---|---|---|
| Warder (both cadres) | 835 | ₹37,500 to ₹76,100 |
| Instructor Grade-II | 24 | ₹37,500 to ₹76,100 |
| Jailor | 5 | ₹61,300 to ₹1,12,900 |
| Warder-cum-Nursing | 5 | ₹34,100 to ₹67,600 |
Who can apply
For Warder and Warder-cum-Nursing, SSLC pass is the stated qualification, or the qualification prescribed for the post. Instructor Grade-II needs SSLC along with a recognised trade diploma or certificate in a notified trade. Jailor needs a bachelor’s degree. On age, one source says 20 to 31 years for General candidates and 20 to 33 for SC, ST and several backward-class categories as on 15 October 2026. Another source simply says a two-year relaxation for those categories. These two do not match exactly, so the notification is the only source you should rely on for the exact age limit.
Fee and last dates
The fee is reported as ₹750 for General and several backward-class categories, and ₹500 for SC, ST, Category-I, ex-servicemen and third-gender candidates. Applications close on 15 October 2026 and the last date for fee payment is 16 October 2026. Do not assume these are the same date, and do not pay on the last evening, because payment gateways slow down.
Online or offline? Resolve this first
Most reports say the application is online through the KEA portal. One portal says the recruitment is offline by post and that there is no online link. It is rare for sources to disagree on something so basic, which suggests that one of them is wrong or is describing a different notification. Open the KEA portal, find the Prisons Department notification for your region, and follow exactly what it says before you pay anything.
Selection process
The process reported is a competitive written examination (scheduled for 21 November 2026), then a Physical Standard Test, an Endurance Test and document verification for shortlisted candidates. The coverage does not give the paper pattern or marks, so we are not writing any numbers. When the KEA hall ticket comes out, it will show the exam centre and instructions. Check the syllabus in the notification and prepare for general knowledge, basic maths, Kannada or English language and general mental ability, as is typical for such recruitments, but treat the official syllabus as the final word.
Preparing for the written exam in six weeks
You have about six weeks. Spend the first two on the syllabus: read the notification line by line and mark each topic. In the next three weeks, solve previous KEA or similar state-level papers in a timed way. Make a habit of revising current affairs and basic Karnataka general knowledge (state geography, history, culture, administration). Spend the last week on mock tests and revision. For the physical test, run at least four days a week and practise the endurance and strength activities mentioned in the notification once you have read it.
What the job is actually like
A Warder works inside a prison, supervising prisoners, maintaining discipline and security, and following the jail manual. It is a disciplined, uniformed job with shift duties. It is not a desk job, and it asks for steady nerves and physical fitness. The fixed pay, uniform allowance and security of a state government post draw many applicants, but it helps to speak to a serving warder if you can.
How to apply
- Open the KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
- Select the Prisons Department recruitment for your region, either the rest of Karnataka or Kalyana Karnataka.
- Register and fill in your personal and educational details.
- Upload your photo, signature and documents.
- Pay the fee and submit before 15 October 2026.
- Download the confirmation and keep a copy.
Other 10th pass jobs to look at
If you are a Class 10 pass candidate, also look at the MP Police Constable Driver and JKSSB Class IV recruitments, and browse our full 10th and 12th pass jobs section.
Rest of Karnataka versus Kalyana Karnataka
The recruitment is split into two notifications because the Kalyana Karnataka region (the districts of the former Hyderabad-Karnataka area) has special reservation provisions under the Constitution. In practice, a candidate from that region competes for the 293 posts reserved under that notification as well as for general posts in some cases, depending on the rules, while candidates from the rest of the state compete for 576 posts. If you belong to the Kalyana Karnataka region, read the notification for the region-specific conditions and the local candidate certificate that may be asked for. If you are not sure which notification applies to you, ask the KEA helpline listed on the portal before you fill the form.
Documents to keep ready
- SSLC marks card showing name and date of birth.
- Degree certificate for the Jailor post, or trade certificate for Instructor posts.
- Caste and income certificate for reserved categories, in the format Karnataka uses.
- Kalyana Karnataka region certificate, if you are claiming that quota.
- Ex-servicemen documents, if applicable.
- Photograph and signature in the required size.
Five mistakes to avoid
First, applying under the wrong notification. Second, paying the fee but not completing the final submission. Third, entering your name differently from your SSLC marks card. Fourth, forgetting that a physical test follows the written exam and starting fitness training only after the result. Fifth, trusting unofficial Telegram groups that quote vacancy numbers and dates with no source. Always cross-check with the KEA portal and the official notification.
A word on competition
State prison department recruitments attract applicants from across Karnataka because the qualification is only SSLC and the pay scale is attractive. Expect a large number of candidates for each post. Your advantage will come from preparing the physical test early and from reading the exam syllabus carefully, since many applicants only start thinking about the endurance test after the written result.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date for Karnataka Prisons 2026?
15 October 2026, with fee payment allowed until 16 October 2026.
Can 10th pass candidates apply?
Yes. Warder posts, which make up 835 of 869 vacancies, are open to SSLC pass candidates.
When is the exam?
The written exam is reported for 21 November 2026.
Is the application online?
Most sources say yes, through the KEA portal, but one says offline. Confirm in the official notification.
Related Government Job Updates
- ECIL ITI Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 310 Posts in Hyderabad, Apply by 11 October
- DRDO DIPR ITI Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 24 Posts in Delhi, Stipend and Last Date 13 October
- IOCL Western Region Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 335 Posts, Stipend, Eligibility, Apply by 4 November
- ITBP Constable GD Sports Quota Recruitment 2026: 126 Posts, Last Date 1 November
- Indian Navy Sports Quota Recruitment 2026: Sailor Entry, Last Date 22 October
- JKSSB Class IV MTS and Sanitation Worker Recruitment 2026: 2,863 Posts, Last Date 3 November
More in: 10th & 12th Pass Jobs | State Govt Jobs | Upcoming Government Jobs | Sarkari Job Website Home