K-SET 2026: Notification, Exam Date, Eligibility, Qualification, Application Form, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Previous Year Question Papers & Cut-Off
K-SET 2026 or Karnataka State Eligibility Test 2026 is an important state-level eligibility examination for candidates aspiring to become Assistant Professors in universities, colleges and higher educational institutions in Karnataka.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has issued the K-SET 2026 notification on 10 August 2026. According to the notification, the K-SET 2026 examination will be conducted on 11 October 2026.
This article provides complete information about K-SET 2026 eligibility, educational qualification, age limit, application dates, application fee, exam pattern, subjects, minimum qualifying marks, reservation, previous-year question papers, previous-year cut-offs and preparation strategy.
K-SET 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination Name | Karnataka State Eligibility Test (K-SET) 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Purpose | Eligibility for Assistant Professor |
| Notification Date | 10 August 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date to Apply | 5 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 6 September 2026 |
| Hall Ticket | 1 October 2026 |
| K-SET 2026 Exam Date | 11 October 2026 |
| Number of Subjects | 37 |
| Paper I | 100 Marks |
| Paper II | 200 Marks |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Examination Duration | 3 Hours |
| General Minimum Qualifying Marks | 40% |
| Reserved Category Minimum Qualifying Marks | 35% |
| Negative Marking | No negative marking |
| Official Website | KEA K-SET portal |
The dates above are based on the K-SET 2026 notification issued by Karnataka Examinations Authority.
Download Notification, Syllabus, Apply link
| K-SET 2026 Resource | Download |
|---|---|
| 📄 K-SET 2026 Official Notification | Download Notification PDF |
| 📚 K-SET 2026 Syllabus – 37 Subjects | Download Syllabus PDF |
| 🌐 Official K-SET 2026 Website | Apply Portal |
What is K-SET?
K-SET stands for Karnataka State Eligibility Test.
It is a state-level eligibility examination conducted for determining the eligibility of candidates for appointment as Assistant Professors in Karnataka.
Qualifying K-SET does not itself mean that a candidate will automatically get an Assistant Professor job. Instead, it makes the candidate eligible to apply for Assistant Professor/teaching positions according to the recruitment rules of the concerned university, college or institution.
The K-SET examination follows the general framework of eligibility tests for Assistant Professorship, with Paper I testing teaching/research aptitude and Paper II testing subject knowledge.
K-SET 2026 Important Dates
The K-SET 2026 notification provides the following schedule:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 10 August 2026 |
| Online Application – Last Date | 5 September 2026 |
| Application Fee Payment – Last Date | 6 September 2026 |
| Hall Ticket | 1 October 2026 |
| Examination | 11 October 2026 |
Candidates should not wait until the last date because application-related technical problems or payment issues may occur.
K-SET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
1. Educational Qualification
Candidates must generally possess a Master's Degree or equivalent examination from a recognized university/institution.
General Merit Candidates
Candidates belonging to the General Merit category must have obtained at least:
55% marks in Master's Degree
without rounding off the percentage.
Reserved Category Candidates
Candidates belonging to categories such as:
SC-A
SC-B
SC-C
ST
Category-I
Category-IIA
Category-IIB
Category-IIIA
Category-IIIB
PwD
Transgender
are eligible with:
50% marks in Master's Degree
as specified in the K-SET 2026 notification.
K-SET 2026 Previous Year Paper & Cut-Off Download Section
For convenience, candidates can use the following resources:
| Year | Question Paper | Cut-Off |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | KSET 2020 Question Papers | KSET 2020 Cut-Off |
| 2021 | KSET 2021 Question Papers | KSET 2021 Cut-Off Details |
| 2024 | KSET 2024 Question Papers | KSET 2024 Cut-Off PDF |
| 2025 | KSET 2025 Question Papers | KSET 2025 Cut-Off PDF |
| 2026 | Examination scheduled for 11 October 2026 | To be released after the examination |
K-SET 2026: Previous Year Cutoff Trend
The previous-year data shows why candidates should not target merely the minimum qualifying score.
For example, in Computer Science & Applications:
| Year | GM Cutoff |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 148/300 |
| 2025 | 160/300 |
The difference demonstrates that the final cutoff can change considerably between examinations.
Similarly, in 2025, some subjects had considerably higher General Merit cutoffs—for example:
- Public Administration – 214
- Management – 206
- Psychology – 202
- Women's Studies – 198
- Home Science – 196
while some subjects had lower cutoffs such as:
- Computer Science & Applications – 160
- Mathematical Science – 156
- Chemical Science – 154
This shows that there is no single K-SET cutoff for all subjects.
What Should Be a Safe Score for K-SET 2026?
There is no officially predetermined "safe score" for K-SET 2026 because the final cutoff depends on candidate performance and the qualifying-slot process.
However, candidates should not prepare with the mindset of merely scoring 120/300.
A better strategy is to target:
Paper I
70–80+ / 100
Paper II
150–170+ / 200
Overall
220–250+ / 300
A higher target gives you a better margin against changes in difficulty and cutoff.
This is a preparation target, not an official K-SET 2026 cutoff.
Can Final-Year Master's Students Apply?
Yes.
Candidates who are:
studying in the final year of their Master's Degree, or
have appeared for their Master's final examination and are awaiting results
may be allowed to apply provisionally, subject to fulfilling the prescribed qualification within the stipulated period.
However, such candidates must ultimately satisfy the required educational qualification.
K-SET Age Limit
There is no upper age limit for appearing in K-SET.
Therefore, candidates who satisfy the educational qualification can appear irrespective of their age.
Can BE/BTech Candidates Write K-SET?
This is an important question for engineering graduates.
A BE/BTech degree alone generally does not satisfy the Master's Degree qualification requirement.
For example:
BE Computer Science only → Not eligible on the basis of BE alone.
However, a candidate who subsequently obtains a relevant Master's qualification such as M.Tech/M.E./MCA or another recognized postgraduate qualification, subject to the applicable subject and K-SET rules, may become eligible.
Candidates should always check whether their Master's subject corresponds to the K-SET subject they intend to select.
K-SET Subject Selection
Candidates normally need to select the subject corresponding to their postgraduate qualification.
For example:
| Master's Qualification | Possible K-SET Subject |
|---|---|
| M.Com | Commerce |
| M.A. Economics | Economics |
| M.A. English | English |
| M.A. History | History |
| M.A. Political Science | Political Science |
| M.A. Sociology | Sociology |
| M.Sc. Computer Science | Computer Science & Applications |
| MCA | Check applicable K-SET subject rules |
| M.Sc. Mathematics | Mathematical Science |
| M.Sc. Physics | Physical Science |
| M.Sc. Chemistry | Chemical Science |
Candidates should carefully check the official subject-equivalence provisions before applying.
K-SET 2026 Number of Subjects
The 2026 notification provides 37 subjects for the examination.
The subjects include:
Commerce
Kannada
Economics
English
Political Science
History
Sociology
Geography
Hindi
Management
Tourism Administration and Management
Education
Library & Information Science
Mass Communication & Journalism
Psychology
Social Work
Criminology
Law
Sanskrit
Physical Education
Folk Literature
Urdu
Public Administration
Computer Science & Applications
Physical Science
Mathematical Science
Chemical Science
Life Science
Environmental Science
Home Science
Electronic Science
Earth Sciences
Philosophy
Women's Studies
Performing Arts
Music
Visual Arts
Important: The number of subjects has changed compared with earlier K-SET cycles, where the examination was conducted for 41 subjects. For example, the 2021 examination was conducted in 41 subjects. (tuteehub.com)
K-SET 2026 Application Fee
According to the K-SET 2026 notification:
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General Merit / applicable General categories | ₹750 |
| Reserved categories specified in notification | ₹500 |
The fee structure is given in the fee section of the 2026 notification.
Candidates should pay the fee through the prescribed online payment process within the specified deadline.
K-SET 2026 Exam Pattern
The K-SET examination consists of two papers.
Paper I
Paper I is common to all candidates.
It tests areas such as:
Teaching Aptitude
Research Aptitude
Reasoning Ability
Comprehension
Communication
Mathematical/Logical Reasoning
Data Interpretation
Information and Communication Technology
People and Environment
Higher Education System
Paper I
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 50 |
| Marks per Question | 2 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
Paper II
Paper II is the subject-specific paper.
For example:
Commerce candidates → Commerce
English candidates → English
History candidates → History
Computer Science candidates → Computer Science & Applications
Mathematics candidates → Mathematical Science
Paper II
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 |
| Marks per Question | 2 |
| Total Marks | 200 |
Therefore:
Paper I = 100 marks
Paper II = 200 marks
Total = 300 marks
The 2024 K-SET paper structure similarly consisted of 50 questions in Paper I and 100 questions in Paper II, with a total of 300 marks. (Prepp)
K-SET 2026 Examination Duration
The examination is conducted in a single session of three hours.
Candidates have to manage:
Paper I – 100 marks
Paper II – 200 marks
within the overall examination duration.
There is no separate break between the papers under the current pattern.
Is There Negative Marking in K-SET?
No.
There is no negative marking for incorrect answers under the current K-SET pattern.
Therefore, candidates should attempt questions strategically rather than leaving a large number of questions unanswered.
K-SET 2026 Minimum Qualifying Marks
This is one of the most important points.
Candidates have to obtain the prescribed minimum percentage in both papers taken together.
General Merit
40% aggregate
Reserved Categories
35% aggregate
The 2026 notification specifies the 40% and 35% qualifying thresholds for the respective categories.
Since the total examination is 300 marks:
| Category | Minimum Percentage | Minimum Marks out of 300 |
|---|---|---|
| General Merit | 40% | 120/300 |
| Reserved categories specified by notification | 35% | 105/300 |
But remember:
120/300 is NOT necessarily the final K-SET cutoff.
This is only the minimum qualifying requirement.
The actual subject/category cutoff can be much higher.
K-SET 2026 Selection / 6% Rule
One of the most important concepts in K-SET is the 6% qualifying rule.
After candidates satisfy the minimum qualifying requirement, the final qualification is determined according to the prescribed procedure, including the number of candidates to be declared eligible and reservation rules.
The 2026 notification specifies allocation of the qualifying slots and reservation-based selection.
Therefore, simply scoring:
120/300 in General category
does not mean that you are guaranteed to qualify as K-SET eligible.
Your actual cutoff depends on:
Subject
Category
Number of candidates
Performance of candidates
Number of available slots
Reservation
Overall difficulty of the examination
K-SET Previous Year Question Papers
Previous-year question papers are extremely important for K-SET preparation.
They help candidates understand:
Question pattern
Difficulty level
Repeated concepts
Paper I topics
Subject-specific Paper II topics
Time management
Expected level of preparation
Previous-year KSET papers for 2020 and 2021 are available through several question-paper repositories, including subject-wise Paper II collections. (Aglasem.com)
K-SET 2020 Cut-Off – Subject-wise
The following table gives the General, SC and ST cutoffs reported for K-SET 2020.
| Subject | General | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commerce | 144 | 132 | 132 |
| Kannada | 142 | 130 | 134 |
| Economics | 144 | 132 | 138 |
| English | 154 | 134 | 142 |
| Political Science | 142 | 130 | 134 |
| History | 144 | 132 | 136 |
| Sociology | 146 | 134 | 138 |
| Geography | 156 | 144 | 152 |
| Hindi | 142 | 126 | 126 |
| Management | 152 | 138 | 144 |
| Tourism Administration & Management | 144 | 128 | — |
| Education | 144 | 132 | 130 |
| Library & Information Science | 150 | 138 | 140 |
| Mass Communication & Journalism | 162 | 132 | 134 |
| Psychology | 162 | 140 | 154 |
| Social Work | 142 | 136 | 134 |
| Criminology | 160 | 156 | — |
| Law | 158 | 140 | 152 |
| Sanskrit | 156 | — | — |
| Physical Education | 138 | 128 | 132 |
| Folk Literature | 164 | 156 | 156 |
| Urdu | 162 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 156 | 148 | 130 |
| Physical Science | 148 | 122 | 130 |
| Computer Science & Applications | 148 | 136 | 132 |
| Mathematical Science | 138 | 120 | 128 |
| Life Science | 152 | 136 | 140 |
| Chemical Science | 150 | 126 | 132 |
| Environmental Science | 154 | 150 | — |
| Home Science | 164 | 150 | — |
| Electronic Science | 140 | 128 | 136 |
| Earth Science | 158 | 142 | 140 |
| Archaeology | 152 | 142 | 150 |
| Anthropology | 164 | 150 | — |
| Marathi | 148 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 162 | 130 | — |
| Women's Studies | 156* | — | — |
| Linguistics | 156 | 154 | — |
| Performing Arts | 152* | — | — |
The historical cutoff data shows that the final cutoff varies substantially by subject. (EntranceZone)
Note: Historical cutoff tables can be represented differently by different sources—for example, as marks out of 300 or percentages. Always check the original cutoff document before making an application or preparation decision.
K-SET 2021 Cut-Off
K-SET 2021 was conducted on 25 July 2021, and the results and cutoff percentages were released subsequently.
The reported General-category cutoffs for several major subjects included:
| Subject | K-SET 2021 General Cut-Off |
|---|---|
| Commerce | 51.33% |
| Kannada | 48.17% |
| Economics | 49.33% |
| English | 56.00% |
| Political Science | 49.33% |
| History | 48.67% |
| Sociology | 50.00% |
| Geography | 55.33% |
| Hindi | 52.67% |
| Management | 56.67% |
| Tourism Administration & Management | 50.00% |
| Education | 51.33% |
| Library & Information Science | 56.00% |
The official result process included subject-wise and category-wise cutoff percentages; the full cutoff list covered all subjects. (AglaSem News)
Important
K-SET 2021 is particularly useful for analysing cutoff trends, but candidates should not directly compare the percentage from one year with marks from another year without checking the examination structure and official cutoff format.
K-SET 2024 Cut-Off
K-SET 2024 cutoff was published subject-wise and category-wise.
For example, in Commerce, the reported cutoff was:
| Category | General | PwD | Transgender |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM | 156 | 136 | — |
| SC | 142 | 120 | — |
| ST | 142 | 118 | — |
| Cat-1 | 148 | 130 | — |
| Cat-2A | 144 | 132 | — |
| Cat-2B | 142 | 122 | — |
| Cat-3A | 148 | 132 | — |
| Cat-3B | 148 | 128 | — |
The 2024 cutoff document reports subject-wise/category-wise cutoffs out of 300 marks. (Karnataka Help)
K-SET 2025 Cut-Off
The K-SET 2025 cutoff is particularly useful for candidates preparing for K-SET 2026 because it is the most recent completed examination.
The official-style cutoff document provides subject-wise and category-wise cutoff marks out of 300.
Selected K-SET 2025 General Merit Cutoffs
| Subject | GM Cut-Off / 300 |
|---|---|
| Commerce | 172 |
| Kannada | 156 |
| Economics | 164 |
| English | 170 |
| Political Science | 168 |
| History | 160 |
| Sociology | 156 |
| Geography | 182 |
| Hindi | 158 |
| Management | 206 |
| Education | 188 |
| Library & Information Science | 178 |
| Mass Communication & Journalism | 170 |
| Psychology | 202 |
| Social Work | 174 |
| Law | 184 |
| Sanskrit | 170 |
| Physical Education | 160 |
| Urdu | 176 |
| Public Administration | 214 |
| Computer Science & Applications | 160 |
| Physical Science | 152 |
| Mathematical Science | 156 |
| Chemical Science | 154 |
| Life Science | 166 |
| Environmental Science | 190 |
| Home Science | 196 |
| Electronic Science | 160 |
| Earth Sciences | 180 |
| Women's Studies | 198 |
| Performing Arts | 164 |
| Music | 190 |
| Visual Arts | 178 |
The 2025 cutoff document records these as category-wise cutoffs, with the maximum score being 300.
Computer Science & Applications – K-SET 2025
For candidates preparing for Computer Science & Applications, the 2025 cutoff was:
| Category | Cut-Off |
|---|---|
| GM | 160/300 |
| SC-A | 148 |
| SC-B | 144 |
| SC-C | 146 |
| ST | 148 |
| Cat-1 | 156 |
| Cat-2A | 150 |
| Cat-2B | 152 |
| Cat-3A | 152 |
| Cat-3B | 154 |
The 2025 cutoff document also records the highest score in Computer Science & Applications as 226/300.
K-SET Cut-Off vs Minimum Qualifying Marks
This is where many candidates make a mistake.
Suppose a General candidate scores:
125/300
The candidate has crossed the minimum 40% qualifying requirement.
But that does not necessarily mean the candidate has qualified K-SET.
For example, if the final cutoff for a particular subject/category is:
160/300
then a score of 125 will not be enough.
Therefore:
Minimum qualifying marks ≠ Final cutoff
The final cutoff depends on the competitive performance of candidates and the prescribed selection procedure.
K-SET Previous Papers: Which Years Should You Solve?
For K-SET 2026, candidates should ideally solve:
K-SET 2020
K-SET 2021
K-SET 2024
K-SET 2025
These papers can help identify recurring concepts and changes in question style.
The 2020 collection contains subject-wise papers across the KSET subjects, while the 2021 collection provides subject-wise Paper II resources and answer keys. (Aglasem.com)
For 2024, subject-wise question papers and answer-key resources are also available. (Prepp)
How to Use Previous Year Papers for K-SET 2026
Don't simply solve the papers and check your score.
Use this method:
Step 1 – Solve Paper I
Try to complete Paper I under examination conditions.
Record:
Correct answers
Wrong answers
Questions you guessed
Questions you could not understand
Step 2 – Analyse Paper II
For your subject, classify every question into:
Easy
Moderate
Difficult
Repeated concept
New concept
Conceptual
Factual
Application-based
Step 3 – Create a PYQ Notebook
For every repeated concept, write:
Topic → Question → Correct Concept → Source/Chapter
This becomes your final revision material.
K-SET 2026 Preparation Strategy
Paper I Strategy
Paper I is common to every candidate.
Give special attention to:
Teaching Aptitude
Research Aptitude
Communication
Reasoning
Data Interpretation
ICT
Higher Education
People & Environment
Comprehension
Do not completely ignore Paper I because it contributes 100 marks.
Paper II Strategy
Paper II carries 200 marks, which makes it the most important component of your preparation.
Your preparation should be:
Syllabus → Standard Books → Previous Year Questions → Revision → Mock Tests
Do not study randomly.
First download the official syllabus of your subject and divide it into units.
Then analyse the 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025 papers.
K-SET 2026 Preparation Plan
A simple preparation cycle can be:
Phase 1 – Syllabus Completion
Complete your Paper II syllabus unit by unit.
Phase 2 – PYQ Analysis
Solve:
2020
2021
2024
2025
Phase 3 – Revision
Revise every unit at least twice.
Phase 4 – Mock Tests
Attempt full-length:
50-question Paper I + 100-question Paper II
tests.
Phase 5 – Final Revision
Focus on:
Repeated concepts
Difficult topics
Important theories
Important thinkers
Definitions
Models
Formulas
Factual areas
PYQ mistakes
Important K-SET 2026 Points
Before applying, remember these points:
1. Master's Degree is important
A Bachelor's degree alone generally does not satisfy the main educational qualification requirement.
2. 55% for General
General Merit candidates generally require 55% in Master's Degree.
3. 50% for specified reserved categories
Candidates belonging to the categories specified in the notification generally require 50%.
4. No upper age limit
There is no upper age limit for appearing in K-SET.
5. Two papers
There are two papers:
Paper I – 100 marks
Paper II – 200 marks
6. Total = 300 marks
7. Minimum qualifying marks
General – 40%
Specified reserved categories – 35%
8. Final cutoff is different
Crossing 40%/35% does not automatically guarantee K-SET qualification.
9. 6% rule
The final qualification process is linked to the prescribed qualifying-slot procedure and reservation rules.
10. Previous papers are extremely important
Solve 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025 papers before appearing for K-SET 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions – K-SET 2026
Is K-SET 2026 conducted by KEA?
Yes. The 2026 notification has been issued by the Karnataka Examinations Authority.
When is K-SET 2026?
11 October 2026.
When is the last date to apply?
5 September 2026.
What is the last date for fee payment?
6 September 2026.
When will the hall ticket be released?
The notification schedules the hall ticket from 1 October 2026.
What is the minimum qualification for General candidates?
Generally, 55% in Master's Degree.
What is the minimum qualification for reserved categories?
Generally, 50% in Master's Degree for the categories specified in the notification.
Is there an age limit?
There is no upper age limit for K-SET.
How many marks are there in K-SET?
300 marks in total.
How many papers are there?
Two:
Paper I – 100 marks
Paper II – 200 marks
Is there negative marking?
No negative marking is followed under the current pattern.
What is the minimum qualifying percentage?
40% for General Merit and 35% for the specified reserved categories.
Is 40% enough to qualify K-SET?
Not necessarily. 40% is the minimum qualifying requirement. The final subject/category cutoff can be higher.
Is BE/BTech enough for K-SET?
A Bachelor's degree alone generally does not satisfy the Master's-level eligibility requirement.
Can final-year Master's students apply?
Candidates appearing in the final year of their Master's qualification may apply provisionally, subject to the conditions prescribed in the notification.
Which previous papers should I solve?
For K-SET 2026 preparation, solve:
2020 + 2021 + 2024 + 2025
with special attention to your Paper II subject.
Final Words
K-SET 2026 is an important opportunity for postgraduate candidates who want to pursue an Assistant Professor career in Karnataka.
The most important things to remember are:
Master's Degree → 55%/50% eligibility → Select the correct subject → Prepare Paper I + Paper II → Analyse PYQs → Practice mock tests → Aim well above the minimum qualifying marks.
The K-SET 2026 examination is scheduled for 11 October 2026, while the application deadline is 5 September 2026.
Candidates should regularly check the official KEA portal for updates, hall tickets, examination-centre information, answer keys and results.
Official Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) Portal
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