Karnataka Health Department Recruitment 2026: 1,505 Posts, Eligibility & Exam Pattern
Karnataka Health Department Recruitment 2026:Karnataka Health Department Recruitment 2026: Check 1,505 Primary Health Care Officer and Health Inspecting Officer vacancies, eligibility, qualifications, exam pattern, syllabus, age relaxation and selection process.
The Government of Karnataka has notified the Karnataka Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services (Recruitment of Primary Health Care Officers and Health Inspecting Officers) (Special) Rules, 2026 for direct recruitment to the posts of Primary Health Care Officer (Female) and Health Inspecting Officer.
A total of 1,505 vacancies are covered under the special recruitment rules, including 1,205 Primary Health Care Officer (Female) posts and 300 Health Inspecting Officer posts.
The recruitment will be conducted through a competitive examination by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), followed by a compulsory practical examination.
Karnataka Health Department Recruitment 2026 – Key Details
Particulars Details Recruiting Department Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Karnataka Recruitment Special Recruitment 2026 Total Vacancies 1,505 Primary Health Care Officer (Female) 1,205 Health Inspecting Officer 300 Pay Scale ₹37,500 – ₹76,100 Selection Exam Competitive Examination Exam Conducting Authority Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) Practical Exam 40 Marks Interview No Interview Kannada Language Test 150 Marks; minimum 50 marks Appointment Authority Director, Health and Family Welfare Services
1. Primary Health Care Officer (Female) – 1,205 Posts
The department has notified 1,205 vacancies for the post of Primary Health Care Officer (Female).
Important Eligibility
Only female candidates are eligible to apply for the Primary Health Care Officer post. Male candidates and other candidates are not eligible for this post.
Candidates must have:
- Passed SSLC or equivalent examination; and
- Possess one of the prescribed nursing/health-related qualifications.
Eligible qualifications include:
- Valid Junior Health Assistant (Female) training certificate, formerly known as Auxiliary Nurse Midwife/Health Worker (Female), awarded by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services; OR
- Valid Diploma in Nursing/Midwifery/Psychiatric Nursing certificate awarded by the Karnataka Nursing and Para-medical Sciences Education (Regulation) Authority; OR
- Valid Bachelor Degree in Nursing (B.Sc Nursing) awarded by a university established by law in India.
Important: Candidates must be registered with the Karnataka Nursing Council.
2. Health Inspecting Officer – 300 Posts
A total of 300 vacancies are available for the Health Inspecting Officer post.
Candidates must have passed SSLC or equivalent examination and possess the prescribed health inspector/nursing qualification.
The notification provides multiple qualification routes, including:
- Two-year Vocational Course in Multipurpose Basic Health Worker Training conducted by the State Council of Vocational Education; or
- Three-year Diploma in Health Inspector Course awarded by the Karnataka Nursing and Para-medical Sciences Education (Regulation) Authority; or
- PUC with Science subjects — Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology;
along with the prescribed additional qualification such as:
- Two-year Diploma in Health Inspector Course; or
- Diploma in General Nursing/Midwifery/Psychiatric Nursing; or
- B.Sc Nursing degree from a legally established university in India.
Candidates should carefully verify the exact combination of qualifications prescribed in the official notification before applying.
Eligibility Based on Marks
Candidates who have secured more than 50% marks in the qualifying examination are eligible to appear for the competitive examination under these special recruitment rules.
Age Limit and Relaxation
The maximum age limit will receive a 5-year relaxation for all categories, as per Government Order No. DPAR 262 SCR 2025 dated 29-01-2026.
Other applicable age relaxations under the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977 will also apply.
Special Relaxation for Contract Employees
Candidates who have worked on a contract basis under eligible Government of Karnataka health schemes may receive:
- 1 year of age relaxation for each completed year of service
- Maximum relaxation: 10 years
- However, the candidate’s maximum age, including relaxation, must not exceed 50 years on the last date for submitting applications.
This provision applies to eligible services under the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Medical Education Department, National Rural Health Mission or National Health Mission in Karnataka.
Selection Process
The selection process consists of:
- Competitive Written Examination
- Practical Examination
- Kannada Language Test, wherever applicable
- Preparation of final merit list
There will be no interview.
Written Examination Pattern
Both Primary Health Care Officer and Health Inspecting Officer candidates will have:
- Paper 1 – 80 marks
- Paper 2 – 80 marks
- Total Written Exam – 160 marks
- Practical Exam – 40 marks
Each written-examination question carries one mark.
Primary Health Care Officer Exam Syllabus
Paper 1 – General/Subject Knowledge – 80 Marks
Subject Marks Maternal and Child Health 10 National and State Health Programmes 20 General Knowledge 20 General English 20 Basic Health and Nursing Concepts 10 Total80
Paper 2 – Subject Knowledge – 80 Marks
Candidates are advised to wait for and follow the official recruitment notification/application advertisement for application dates, fee, reservation details and other instructions.
Subject Marks Community Health Nursing and Health Promotion 20 Primary Health Care Nursing 10 Psychology 10 Nutrition and Biochemistry 10 Anatomy and Physiology 10 Health Centre Management 20 Total80
Health Inspecting Officer Exam Syllabus
Paper 1 – General/Subject Knowledge – 80 Marks
Subject Marks Anatomy and Physiology 10 Nutrition, Hygiene, Basic Pharmacology & Basic Microbiology 10 First Aid and Basic Medicine 10 Disaster Management and Rehabilitation 10 Communicable & Non-communicable Diseases 10 Environmental Sanitation and Public Health Problems 5 Communication and Health Education 5 General Kannada and General English 20 Total80
Paper 2 – Subject Knowledge – 80 Marks
Subject Marks Fundamentals of Management, Public Health Act, Local Self-government & Project Preparation 20 Behavioural Sciences – Sociology, Psychology & Mental Health 20 Biomedical Waste Management, Palliative Care & Geriatric Care 20 National and State Health Programmes 20 Total80
Practical Examination – 40 Marks
The practical examination is compulsory for both posts.
Candidates will be called for the practical examination in the ratio of 1:3, based on merit in the written examination.
An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) will be conducted to assess the candidates’ clinical competency.
Service Weightage
Candidates who have served on a contract basis in eligible Government hospitals or healthcare centres under the relevant health departments/schemes may receive additional marks.
- 1 mark for each completed year of service
- Maximum: 5 marks
These marks will be added to the marks obtained in the competitive examination for preparing the merit list.
Kannada Language Test
Candidates must qualify in the Kannada Language Test by securing at least 50 marks out of 150 marks.
The standard of the Kannada language paper will be equivalent to First Language Kannada at SSLC level.
Candidates may be exempted from the Kannada Language Test if they have already passed the prescribed Kannada qualification, including SSLC or an equivalent/higher examination with Kannada as the main or second language, studied in Kannada medium, or passed the Kannada Language Test conducted earlier by KPSC or KEA.
Final Merit List
The final merit list will be prepared based on:
- Marks obtained in the competitive examination
- Applicable service weightage
- Reservation policy of the Karnataka Government
If two or more candidates obtain the same percentage of total marks, the older candidate will be placed higher in the merit order.
Selection Committee
A State-level Selection Committee will oversee the recruitment process.
The committee includes:
- Commissioner, Health and Family Welfare Services – Chairman
- Director, Health and Family Welfare Services – Member
- Representative of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms – Member
- Chief Administrative Officer-2, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services – Member Secretary
Additional Selection List
The Selection Committee will prepare an additional list within three months of publication of the main selection list.
The additional list may contain candidates up to 75% of the notified vacancies, subject to the rules specified in the notification.
The main and additional lists will remain valid until all notified vacancies are filled or for one year from publication of the main list, whichever is earlier.
Application Fee
The application fee will be fixed by the Selection Committee and announced along with the recruitment advertisement.
The recruitment notification will specify:
- Eligibility conditions
- Number of vacancies
- Reservation details
- Selection procedure
- Application fee
- Application dates
- Other instructions for candidates
Important Points for Candidates
- 1,505 total vacancies are covered under the special rules.
- There are 1,205 Primary Health Care Officer (Female) vacancies.
- There are 300 Health Inspecting Officer vacancies.
- Only female candidates can apply for the Primary Health Care Officer post.
- Candidates must have more than 50% marks in the qualifying examination.
- Written examination carries 160 marks.
- Practical examination carries 40 marks and is compulsory.
- No interview will be conducted.
- Eligible contract service can provide up to 5 additional marks.
- A Kannada Language Test of 150 marks requires a minimum of 50 marks, unless exempted.
- The posts carry a pay scale of ₹37,500–₹76,100.
- Candidates should verify their qualification, registration and category requirements before submitting the application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How many vacancies are notified under Karnataka Health Department Special Recruitment 2026?
A total of 1,505 vacancies are covered, including 1,205 Primary Health Care Officer (Female) and 300 Health Inspecting Officer posts.
2. Can male candidates apply for Primary Health Care Officer?
No. The rules specifically state that only female candidates can apply for the Primary Health Care Officer post.
3. What is the pay scale?
The prescribed pay scale for both posts is ₹37,500–₹76,100.
4. What is the minimum qualifying-examination percentage?
Candidates must have secured more than 50% in the qualifying examination to appear for the competitive examination.
5. Is there an interview?
No. There will be no interview.
6. How many marks are there in the written examination?
The written examination consists of two papers of 80 marks each, making a total of 160 marks.
7. Is the practical examination compulsory?
Yes. The practical examination carries 40 marks and is compulsory.
8. How many service-weightage marks are available?
Eligible contract service can provide 1 mark for each completed year, up to a maximum of 5 marks.
9. What is the Kannada Language Test requirement?
The Kannada Language Test carries 150 marks, and candidates must secure at least 50 marks, unless they qualify for an exemption under the rules.
10. When will applications start?
The application dates, fee, vacancy-wise reservation and other instructions will be specified in the official recruitment advertisement issued by the Selection Committee.
The Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services Department’s Special Recruitment Rules 2026 provide a major recruitment opportunity for eligible candidates seeking appointment as Primary Health Care Officer (Female) and Health Inspecting Officer.
With 1,505 posts, a competitive written examination, compulsory practical test and service weightage for eligible contract employees, candidates should carefully check the prescribed educational qualifications and prepare according to the notified syllabus.
