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KSET 2025 Notification - Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Exam Date

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released a notification for the Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) 2025 for Assistant Professorships. The exam is scheduled for Sunday, November 2, 2025, and applications are being accepted online. The notification outlines key dates, eligibility criteria, exam details, and other important instructions for candidates

Important Dates

Events Dates (Tentative)
Online Application Start Date
August 28, 2025
Last Date for Online Application
September 18, 2025
Last Date to Pay Application Fee
September 19, 2025
Admit Card (Hall Ticket) Release Date
October 24, 2025
Tentative Exam Date
November 02, 2025

Download KSET 2025 Notification

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Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for KSET 2025, candidates must meet the following criteria:

Educational Qualification:

    • Candidates must have a Master’s degree or an equivalent from a UGC-recognized university or institution.

    • General category candidates must have at least 55% aggregate marks (without rounding off).

    • SC, ST, Category I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and Transgender candidates must have at least 50% aggregate marks (without rounding off).

Current Students: Candidates who are in their final year (first or second year) of a Master’s degree are provisionally eligible to take the exam. However, they must obtain the required percentage of marks in their postgraduate degree within two years from the date of the KSET result to be issued the eligibility certificate.

Subject-Specific Rules:

    • Candidates must take the KSET exam in the subject of their postgraduate degree.

    • For subjects not listed in the KSET 2025 notification, candidates can take the UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR-NET exams, which are held twice a year.

Exemptions:

    • Ph.D. degree holders who completed their Master’s degree before September 19, 1991, are given a 5% relaxation in the aggregate marks, i.e., 50% instead of 55%.

    • There is no upper age limit for the KSET 2025 exam.

    • Candidates who passed the UGC-NET/CSIR-NET, JRF exam before 1989 are exempted from the KSET exam.

    • Candidates who passed a state-level eligibility test for Assistant Professors before June 1, 2002, are also exempted from the KSET exam. They are eligible for Assistant Professor posts anywhere in India.

However, those who qualify for KSET after June 1, 2002, are only eligible for Assistant Professor posts within the universities and colleges of the respective state.

Other Conditions:

    • Candidates who have already qualified for KSET in a particular subject are not allowed to apply again for the same subject. If they do, their current and previous KSET qualification will be canceled.

    • Out-of-state candidates are not eligible for any reservations. They must have a minimum of 55% in their Master’s degree to be considered under the general category.

    • For specific subjects, certain related postgraduate degrees are also considered eligible. For example, candidates with a two-year PG Diploma in Management can apply for the “Management” subject. Similarly, candidates with degrees in various related fields can apply for subjects like “Physical Sciences,” “Mathematical Sciences,” “Chemical Sciences,” “Life Sciences,” “Earth Sciences,” and “Women’s Studies.”

Application and Fee Details

Application Process: Candidates can only apply online through the official KEA website: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
No other application forms will be accepted.

Application Fee:

₹1,000 for General and candidates from other states.

₹700 for Category I, SC, ST, PwD, and Transgender candidates.

Payment Method: The fee must be paid online only. The fee is non-refundable.

Exam Pattern and Structure

Paper No. of Questions Marks Duration
Paper 1
50
100
3 hours
Paper 2
100
200
  • Paper-I: This is a general paper that assesses the candidate’s teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, comprehension, and general awareness.

  • Paper-II: This paper is based on the subject chosen by the candidate.

  • Negative Marking: There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

Paper 1 Syllabus - General Paper on teaching and Research aptitude

The main objective is to assess the teaching and research capabilities of the candidates. The test aims at assessing the teaching and research aptitude as well. Candidate are expected to possess and exhibit cognitive abilities, which include comprehension, analysis, evaluation, understanding the structure of arguments, deductive and inductive reasoning. The candidates are expected to have a general awareness about teaching and learning processes in higher education system. Further, they should be aware of interaction between people, environment, natural resources and their impact on the quality of life. The details of syllabi are as follows:

Unit – I Teaching Aptitude

  • Teaching: Concept, Objectives, Levels of teaching (Memory, Understanding and Reflective), Characteristics and basic requirements.
  • Learner’s characteristics: Characteristics of adolescent and adult learners (Academic, Social, Emotional and Cognitive), Individual Differences.
  • Factors affecting teaching related to: Teacher, Leaner, Support material, Instructional facilities, Learning environment and Institution.
  • Methods of teaching in Institutions of higher learning: Teacher centred vs. Learner centred methods; Off-line vs. On-line methods (Swayam, Swayamprabha, MOOCs etc.).
  • Teaching Support System: Traditional, Modern and ICT based.
  • Evaluation Systems: Elements and Types of evaluation, Evaluation in Choice Based Credit System in Higher education, Computer based testing, Innovations in evaluation systems

Unit – II Research Aptitude  

  • Research: Meaning, Types, and Characteristics, Positivism and Post-positivistic approach to research.  
  • Methods of Research: Experimental, Descriptive, Historical, Qualitative and Quantitative methods.  
  • Steps of Research.  
  • Thesis and Article writing: Format and Styles of referencing.  
  • Application of ICT in research.  
  • Research ethics.

Unit – III Comprehension  

  • A passage of text be given. Questions be asked from the passage to be answered. 

Unit – IV Communication  

  • Communication: Meaning, types and characteristics of communication.  
  • Effective communication: Verbal and Non-verbal, Inter-Cultural and group communications, Classroom communication.
  • Barriers to effective communication.  
  • Mass-Media and Society. 

Unit-V Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude

  • Types of reasoning.  
  • Number series, Letter series, Codes and Relationships.  
  • Mathematical Aptitude (Fraction, Time & Distance, Ratio, Proportion and Percentage, Profit and Loss, Interest and Discounting, Averages etc.).

Unit – VI Logical Reasoning

  • Understanding the structure of arguments: arguments forms, structure of categorical propositions, Mood and Figure, Formal and Informal fallacies, Uses of language, Connotations and denotations of terms, Classical square of opposition.  
  • Evaluating and distinguishing deductive and inductive reasoning.  
  • Analogies.  
  • Venn diagram: Simple and multiple use for establishing validity of arguments.  
  • Indian Logic: Means of knowledge.  
  • Pramanas: Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Comparison), Shabda (Verbal testimony), Arthapatti (Implication) and Anupalabddhi ( Non-apprehension).  
  • Structure and kinds of Anumana (inference), Vyapti (invariable relation), Hetvabhasas (fallacies of inference).

Unit – VII Data Interpretation

  • Sources, acquisition and classification of Data.  
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Data.  
  • Graphical representation (Bar-chart, Histograms, Pie-chart, Tablechart and Line-chart) and mapping of Data.  
  • Data Interpretation.  
  • Data and Governance

Unit-VIII Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

  • ICT: General abbreviations and terminology.  
  • Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio and Video-conferencing.  
  • Digital initiatives in higher education.  
  • ICT and Governance.

 Unit-IX People, Development and Environment 

  • Development and environment: Millennium development and Sustainable development goals.  
  • Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities and their impacts on environment.  
  • Environmental Issues: Local, Regional and Global; Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution, Waste (solid, liquid, biomedical, hazardous, electronic), Climate change and its SocioEconomic and Political dimensions. 
  • Impacts of pollutants on human health.  
  • Natural and energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear and Forests.  
  • Natural hazards and disasters: Mitigation strategies.
  • Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate change, International agreements/efforts –Montreal Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance. 

Unit – X Higher Education System

  • Institutions of higher learning and education in ancient India.  
  • Evolution of higher learning and research in Post Independence India.  
  • Oriental, Conventional and Non-conventional learning programmes in India. 
  • Professional, Technical and Skill Based education.  
  • Value education and environmental education.  
  • Polices, Governance, and Administration. 

NOTE: (i) Five questions each carrying 2 marks are to be set from each Module.

            (ii) Whenever graphical/pictorial question(s) are set for sighted candidates, a   passage followed by equal number of questions and weightage be set for visually impaired candidates.

Result and Qualification Criteria

The qualification criteria for KSET are based on UGC guidelines.

  • Minimum Qualifying Marks:
  • General (GM) Category: 40% aggregate marks in both Paper-I and Paper-II combined.
  • Reserved Categories (SC/ST/CAT-I/II-A/II-B/III-A/III-B/PWD/TRANSGENDER): 35% aggregate marks in both papers combined.
  • Final Merit List: The total number of candidates to be qualified for Assistant Professorships is equivalent to 6% of the candidates who appeared in both papers. The merit list is prepared subject-wise and category-wise based on the candidates’ total marks and in accordance with the state government’s reservation policy.

Download Paper 01 previous Year Questions

Exam Subjects and Centers

The KSET exam is conducted for 33 subjects. The question papers are available in both Kannada and English for certain subjects.

List of Subjects: The subjects offered include 

Commerce Kannada Economics English
Political Science History Sociology Geography
Hindi Management Education Library & Information Science
Mass Communication & Journalism Psychology Social Work Law
Sanskrit Physical Education Urdu Public Administration
Computer Science & Applications Physical Sciences Mathematical Sciences Chemical Sciences
Life Sciences Environmental Sciences Home Science Electronic Science
Earth Sciences Women's Studies Performing Arts Music
Visual Arts

Exam Centers: The exam will be held in 12 centers across Karnataka.

  • Part A: For 18 subjects, candidates can choose any one of the 12 centers: Bengaluru, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Davangere, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, and Mangaluru.

     
  • Part B: For the remaining 15 subjects, candidates must choose Bengaluru as their exam center.

Important Notes

  • Candidates should not wait until the last minute to apply to avoid any technical issues.

  • Admit cards must be downloaded from the KEA website; hard copies will not be sent.

  • Candidates must carry a valid photo ID proof along with their admit card to the exam center.

  • Electronic devices, calculators, and other prohibited items are not allowed inside the exam hall.

  • There is a 60-minute extra time for PwD candidates for both papers.

  • Revaluation or re-totaling of marks is not permitted.

  • Objections to the provisional answer key can be submitted online with a fee of ₹100 per question.

  • The entire application process, including uploading photos, paying fees, and printing the confirmation page, is online. Candidates are not required to submit any physical documents to KEA.

  • The eligibility of the candidates is entirely provisional. KEA does not verify the information provided during online registration. If any ineligibility is found at any stage, the candidate’s application will be cancelled, and legal action will be taken.

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