The KEA FDA SDA Syllabus 2026 is the first thing to sort out once you have decided to apply for the 5,431 Group C posts that the Karnataka Examinations Authority notified on 29 October 2026. There are four notifications this time: FDA-level (degree) and SDA-level (PUC) posts, each for the Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and the Kalyana Karnataka (KK) cadre. All four follow the same two-paper written exam, plus one compulsory Kannada language test for those who are not exempt. What changes between FDA and SDA is the General Knowledge list in Paper 1, and that difference is bigger than most people expect.

We get a lot of messages from Telugu-speaking readers in Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir and the other Kalyana Karnataka districts, and also from people on the Telangana and Andhra side of the border who studied part of their schooling in Karnataka. For you, two things matter more than anything else: whether you are exempt from the Kannada test (it depends on how Kannada appears in your SSLC or a higher exam, not on where you live), and how strong your General Kannada is, because it sits inside Paper 2 and counts towards your rank. This post explains every part of the syllabus in plain English, points out where KEA has not given details, and ends with a week-by-week plan that runs right up to the exam.

For vacancies, eligibility, age limits, fee and the apply link, read our KEA FDA SDA Recruitment 2026 post. This page is only about what to study and how the exam works.

KEA FDA SDA 2026 Exam Dates at a Glance

KEA has printed the exam timetable in the notifications. The Kannada test is common to every notification and comes first; after that, each cadre and level writes on a different day. All papers are offline, on OMR sheets.

Because the dates do not clash, a degree holder who is eligible for both levels can, in principle, write the FDA papers on one weekend and the SDA papers the next. Do check the application rules in the notification before you plan on that.

KEA FDA SDA Exam Pattern 2026 (FDA vs SDA)

Here is the full structure in one place. The shape of the exam is identical for both levels: two objective papers of 100 questions each, two hours each, written on the same day. Only the topics inside Paper 1 differ.

What the pattern means for you

• One mark, about 72 seconds. 100 questions in 120 minutes gives you a little over a minute per question. GK questions are quick (you either know it or you don’t), so save time there for reading-heavy English and Kannada questions in Paper 2.
• Both papers count equally. Your merit is built on Paper 1 + Paper 2 out of 200. A strong Paper 2 can pull you up even if GK is average, and the reverse is also true.
• The 35% line is a floor, not a target. KEA says you must get at least 35% in the competitive exam to be considered at all. Selection then goes by rank, so the real target is far higher. Since KEA has not published past cut-offs in these notifications, we suggest aiming for 60%+ in each paper (Nck115 suggestion).
• The Kannada test does not add to your rank. It is only a gate. Score 50 out of 150 and you are through; score less, or stay absent, and you are out of the selection process no matter how well you did in Papers 1 and 2.

Negative marking, explained with numbers

This is where many candidates lose marks without noticing. Each question has four answer options, and the OMR sheet gives a fifth circle for “not attempted”. A wrong answer costs 0.25. A question you skip must have that fifth circle shaded; if you leave all five circles empty, KEA cuts 0.25 for that question too. You get five extra minutes after the final bell only to shade the fifth circle for skipped questions.

Candidate B lost 2.5 marks only because of empty bubbles. In a competition this big, 2.5 marks can be hundreds of ranks. Candidate C guessed every doubtful question and ended up level with B. The lesson: guess only when you can cut down to two options, and always shade the fifth circle for the rest.

KEA FDA Syllabus 2026: Paper 1 General Knowledge (Degree Level)

The FDA notification lists 15 areas under General Knowledge. We have grouped them into one table, with the official area on the left and what it usually means in practice on the right. The right-hand column is our reading of each heading, so treat it as a study guide rather than an official list.

KEA SDA Syllabus 2026: Paper 1 General Knowledge (PUC Level)

The SDA list is shorter, with 8 areas, and it leans more heavily on Karnataka. There is no separate science or mental ability heading in the SDA list, which changes how you should split your time.

FDA vs SDA Paper 1: the real difference

KEA does not say what “level” the SDA questions will be set at. Since SDA posts need PUC and FDA posts need a degree, it is reasonable to expect FDA questions to be a step tougher, but that is our inference, not KEA’s statement.

KEA FDA SDA Syllabus 2026: Paper 2 (General Kannada, General English, Computer Knowledge)

Paper 2 is the same three subjects for both levels. KEA gives only the three subject names; it does not split the 100 marks between them or give a topic list. The table below is how we would prepare each part, based on what such language and computer sections normally test. Treat every line as an Nck115 suggestion.

Compulsory Kannada Language Test 2026: Marks, Pass Mark and Exemption

The Kannada test is a separate paper on 8 January 2027, from 3 PM to 5 PM. It exists to make sure every person who joins a state government office can work in Kannada. Here is how KEA has set it up, in simple terms.

Who does not need to write the Kannada test

You are exempt if any one of these is true for you:

• In SSLC from the Karnataka board, you studied Kannada as your first or second language.
• In an exam the state government treats as equal to SSLC, or in any exam above SSLC, you studied Kannada as first or second language.
• You passed SSLC, an equivalent exam, or a higher exam with Kannada as the medium of study.
• You have already passed a compulsory Kannada test conducted earlier by the Public Service Commission or another recruiting authority.

So a candidate from Bidar who studied in a Telangana school with Telugu and Hindi, and never took Kannada as first or second language, will have to write the test. A candidate who studied in Karnataka with Kannada as second language is exempt even if their mother tongue is Telugu. Keep the marks card ready; you will need it as proof at document verification.

What to study for the Kannada test (Nck115 suggestion)

KEA says the paper is set at the level of SSLC first-language Kannada, so the best source is the Karnataka Class 8 to 10 first-language Kannada textbooks. Focus on:

• Reading and understanding a short passage (gadya and padya).
• Grammar: alphabet (varnamale), sandhi, samasa, vibhakti, tense, gender and number forms.
• Vocabulary: synonyms, opposites, word meanings, idioms and proverbs.
• Correct spelling and sentence correction.
• Famous Kannada poets, writers and their works covered in the SSLC textbooks.

A pass mark of 50 out of 150 is about one-third. With six to eight weeks of steady reading of the textbooks, most Telugu speakers can cross it comfortably.

Topic Priority for KEA FDA SDA 2026 (Nck115 Suggestion)

KEA does not publish topic-wise marks. The table below is how we would rank topics by return on study time, based on how wide each heading is and how directly the notification names it. Use it to plan, not as an official split.

60-Day KEA FDA SDA Preparation Plan (4 Nov 2026 to Jan 2027)

This plan assumes about 4 to 5 hours a day for a working student and 7 to 8 hours for a full-time aspirant. Every day has three fixed blocks: one Paper 1 block, one Paper 2 block, and a short current-affairs block. If you must write the Kannada test, add 30–45 minutes of Kannada reading daily; if you are exempt, put that time into mental ability (FDA) or Karnataka GK (SDA).

How to use this plan well

• Start with the Constitution, not history. It is short, it repeats every year in every state exam, and an early win builds confidence.
• Keep one current-affairs notebook. Ten minutes daily of Karnataka and national news is better than two days of cramming in January.
• Practise on an OMR sheet from week 7. Print a 100-bubble sheet and shade it in every mock, including the fifth circle for skipped questions. The exam is offline, so practise offline.
• Do Paper 1 and Paper 2 on the same day in mocks. On the real day you sit two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. Train your focus for that.
• Do not skip Kannada if you find it hard. It is inside Paper 2 for everyone, and it is the Kannada test for some. Thirty minutes a day for nine weeks is more than 30 hours of practice.

Free and Official Study Resources

• Karnataka state textbooks (Class 6 to 10): social science, science and first-language Kannada books are free to download from the Karnataka Textbook Society website. These are the base for Karnataka history, geography, Panchayat Raj and the Kannada test.
• NCERT textbooks: Class 6–10 science and social science, and Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, free on the NCERT textbook page.
• Karnataka Economic Survey and state budget speech: released by the state government every year; read the summary chapters for the economy and scheme questions.
• The four official notifications: RPC FDA level, RPC SDA level, KK FDA level and KK SDA level. Keep the one you applied under saved on your phone.
• KEA website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea for admit cards, answer keys and any corrigendum.

Previous Cut-off Marks

The 2026 notifications do not include any previous cut-off marks, and we have not found an official KEA document with category-wise cut-offs for this exact FDA/SDA format. So we are not printing guessed numbers here. What KEA does state is the 35% minimum. Our honest advice: a score of about 60% or more in each paper is a sensible target for a good rank (Nck115 suggestion). We will add official cut-offs if KEA publishes them with the results.

Common Mistakes KEA FDA SDA Aspirants Make

• Leaving OMR rows empty. An unshaded question costs 0.25. Shade the fifth circle for every question you skip.
• Preparing only from one-liner GK lists. The notification asks about Karnataka’s economy, land reforms and governance. These need understanding, not just facts.
• Ignoring General Kannada because “I am exempt”. Exemption is only from the separate Kannada test. General Kannada is still part of Paper 2 for everyone.
• Assuming you are exempt. Check your SSLC marks card: Kannada must be your first or second language, or your medium. Third language Kannada does not appear in the exemption rules.
• Studying the FDA list for SDA (or the other way round). The two Paper 1 lists are different. Prepare the one for the level you applied to, and add the extra FDA topics only if you are writing both.
• Starting mocks too late. Begin full-length practice by week 6. The time pressure of 100 questions in 120 minutes needs training.
• Missing the fee date. The application closes on 25 November and the fee window on 26 November 2026. An application without fee is not complete.

Frequently Asked Questions on KEA FDA SDA Syllabus 2026

Official Links

KEA FDA SDA Syllabus 2026 KEA FDA Syllabus KEA SDA Syllabus KEA Kannada Language Test Syllabus KEA FDA SDA Exam Pattern 2026 Karnataka FDA SDA Exam Date 2027

Source: KEA notifications ED/KEA/14/2026 (RPC), 15/2026 (KK), 16/2026 (RPC) and 17/2026 (KK), dated 29.10.2026. Sub-topics, priority, study plan and target scores are Nck115 suggestions, not official. Details marked To be notified will be updated when KEA announces them.