KSET Answer Key 2026: Final Key Out, Objections & Scoring

The KSET 2026 final answer key is out. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) published it together with the provisional result on 24 October 2026, after releasing revised keys on 23 October. KSET, the eligibility test for Assistant Professor, was held on 11 October 2026 in 37 subjects. Provisional keys came out on 12 October, and objections were accepted until 10.30 a.m. on 14 October 2026. The keys and notices are on KEA's KSET 2026 page.

How did KEA handle objections to the KSET 2026 key?

• Where: only through the online portal link on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea, by 10.30 a.m. on 14 October 2026.
• Fee: Rs.50 for each objection. The fee is not refunded.
• What to give: the paper, subject, exam date, version code and question number, with supporting documents as a PDF.
• Rejected objections: those without a question number or version code, incomplete or baseless ones, and unpaid ones are not considered. The keys decided by the subject expert committee are final, according to the KEA notice of 12 October 2026.
• Outcome: the revised-key notice of 23 October says no objections came in for 9 subjects, so their keys stayed unchanged. Those subjects were Tourism Administration and Management, Education, Psychology, Sanskrit, Folk Literature, Home Science, Women Studies, Performing Arts and Music. Objections on Paper-1 and 28 subjects went to subject expert committees, and revised keys were published subject by subject.

How do you work out your KSET score from the key?

• Pattern: under KEA's bell schedule, both papers were written in one sitting on 11 October 2026, from 10.00 a.m. to 01.00 p.m., on OMR sheets. Paper-1 had 50 questions for 100 marks and Paper-2 had 100 questions for 200 marks.
• Negative marking: the KSET 2026 notification says there is none for wrong answers.
• Your copy: at the final bell, the room supervisor returns the lower sheet of the OMR answer sheet, the candidate's copy, to each candidate. Compare it with the key for your version code.
• Qualifying marks: you must appear in both papers. General Merit candidates need 40% aggregate across the two papers. SC-A, SC-B, SC-C, ST, Cat-I, II-A, II-B, III-A, III-B, PwD and transgender candidates need 35%.
• Slots: total qualifying slots equal 6% of the candidates who appeared in both papers. They are shared out by subject and category under the state's reservation policy, so clearing 40% or 35% makes you eligible but does not mean you have qualified.

What happens after the final key?

• Provisional result: published on 24 October 2026 on the basis of the final key, according to the KEA notice of that date. Objections to the provisional result, with supporting documents, could be filed through the link until 10.30 a.m. on 26 October 2026. Objections about key answers, or without supporting documents, are not considered.
• No more key objections: the notification rules out further objections once the final key is published. There is also no revaluation or recounting.
• No marks card: KEA does not issue a marks card to either qualified or disqualified candidates.
• SC sub-categories: Scheduled Caste candidates who did not enter a caste certificate RD number showing SC-A, SC-B or SC-C must enter it through the kset2026result link by 10.00 a.m. on 28 October 2026. Anyone who fails to do so will be treated as General category.

Queries go to the KEA helpline, 080-23460460, or [email protected]. In the 2025 cycle, KEA also posted a centre-wise link to view OMR sheets on 3 November 2025.

KSET answer key in past cycles