Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC)
KPSC KAS 2026 — Karnataka Administrative Service Recruitment
Quick Information
| Post Name | Gazetted Probationers — Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS), Karnataka Police Service (KPS), Karnataka Finance Service, Assistant Commercial Tax Officer, and other Group A/B posts |
| Total Vacancies | 215 |
| Salary | Pay Level 8–10 (Karnataka pay scales) — ₹41,800–₹1,32,300/month basic + DA + HRA + state allowances. KAS Officer: ₹56,100 basic + allowances, total ~₹80,000–₹1,00,000/month gross. |
| Organization | Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) |
Application Fee
| General | ₹600 |
| OBC | ₹300 |
| SC / ST | ₹300 |
| Women | ₹300 |
| PH / Divyang | ₹300 |
Important Dates
| Start Date | 1 March 2026 |
| Last Date | 1 April 2026 |
| Exam Date | 5 July 2026 |
Eligibility
| Age Limit | 21–35 years for General. OBC +3 yrs (max 38), SC/ST/Cat-I +5 yrs (max 40), Ex-Servicemen as per Karnataka Govt rules. Karnataka domicile required. |
| Education | Bachelor's Degree from a recognised university. Kannada language proficiency required (tested in examination). |
Selection Process
- 1**Stage 1 — Preliminary Exam (Objective)** | Paper | Marks | Duration | |---|---|---| | Paper I: General Studies | 200 | 2 hours | | Paper II: General Kannada & General English | 100 | 1 hour | | **Total** | **300** | **3 hours** | No negative marking. Qualifying — marks not counted in final merit. **Stage 2 — Main Exam (Written
- 2Descriptive)** | Paper | Marks | |---|---| | Paper I: General Kannada | 150 | | Paper II: General English | 150 | | Paper III: General Studies (Indian History
- 3Polity
- 4Economy) | 250 | | Paper IV: General Studies (Karnataka History
- 5Economy
- 6Science) | 250 | | Paper V: Optional Subject Paper I | 250 | | Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper II | 250 | | **Total** | **1
- 7300** | **Stage 3 — Personality Test (Viva Voce)** 100 marks. For all post codes under KAS/KPS recruitment.
How to Apply
Official Links
What is KPSC KAS?
KPSC Gazetted Probationers (commonly called KAS — Karnataka Administrative Service) is the state civil services examination conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission. It is the gateway to Group A and Group B gazetted posts in Karnataka state government.
KAS officers work as Deputy Commissioner (after promotion), Assistant Commissioner, Commercial Tax Officer, and in various administrative roles across Karnataka's 31 districts.
Posts Offered
| Post | Service |
|---|---|
| Gazetted Probationer (KAS) | Karnataka Administrative Service |
| Gazetted Probationer (KPS) | Karnataka Police Service |
| Assistant Director of Treasuries | Karnataka Finance Service |
| Assistant Commercial Tax Officer | Commercial Tax |
| Tahsildar | Revenue |
| Inspector of Labour | Labour |
| Assistant Superintendent of Schools | Education |
| Other Group A/B Posts | Various Depts |
Eligibility
Age Limit
- General/EWS: 21–35 years
- OBC (Cat II-A, II-B, III-A, III-B): Up to 38 years
- SC/ST/Cat-I: Up to 40 years
Educational Qualification
- Bachelor's Degree from any recognised university
- Kannada proficiency (reading, writing, spoken) is required and tested in the examination
Exam Pattern
Prelims (Objective, Qualifying)
| Paper | Marks |
|---|---|
| GS Paper I: History, Polity, Economy, Science, Geography, Current Affairs | 200 |
| Paper II: General Kannada + General English | 100 |
No negative marking. Only for shortlisting Mains candidates.
Mains (Descriptive, Merit)
| Paper | Marks |
|---|---|
| General Kannada | 150 |
| General English | 150 |
| GS III: Indian History, Indian Polity, Indian Economy, Geography | 250 |
| GS IV: Karnataka History, Karnataka Economy, Science & Tech, Current Affairs | 250 |
| Optional Paper I | 250 |
| Optional Paper II | 250 |
| Total | 1,300 |
Viva Voce (Interview)
100 marks.
Final merit = Mains (1,300) + Interview (100) = 1,400 marks.
Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start | March 1, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | April 1, 2026 |
| Prelims Exam | July 5, 2026 |
| Mains Exam | November 2026 (expected) |
| Interview | February–March 2027 (expected) |
Preparation Strategy
Karnataka-specific content is decisive: KPSC Mains Paper IV is entirely Karnataka-focused — Kannada literature (Pampa, Ranna, Ponnanna, modern poets), Veerashaiva/Lingayat movement, Mysore Kingdom, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, Karnataka economy (silk, sandalwood, IT in Bengaluru), rivers (Cauvery, Krishna, Tungabhadra), districts and administration. Prepare this with Karnataka-specific books.
Kannada Papers: Both Prelims and Mains test Kannada. Grammar, comprehension, essay, and précis are the formats. This is manageable for native Kannada speakers — practice formal writing style.
Optional Subject: Choose based on graduation — familiarity matters most. History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics are most popular.
Official Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| KPSC Website | kpsc.kar.nic.in |
| Apply Online | kpsc.kar.nic.in |