- The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is a constitutional body constituted on 18 May 1951 and headquartered at Udyoga Soudha, Bengaluru
- Its flagship KAS exam has three stages, Preliminary, Mains and Personality Test, and carries no optional subject
- Recruitment now runs under the Karnataka Public Examination Act, 2023
- The official portal is kpsc.kar.nic.in.
The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is the constitutional body that recruits candidates for civil and administrative posts under the Government of Karnataka. It advises the state government on service matters, issues recruitment notifications, and conducts examinations, tests and interviews to prepare merit-based ranked lists.
KPSC's best-known examination is the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) exam, formally the Gazetted Probationers examination, which recruits Group A and Group B officers. All applications are submitted online through the official portal, kpsc.kar.nic.in.
What Is the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC)?
The Karnataka Public Service Commission is a constitutional body constituted on 18 May 1951 under the Constitution of India. Headquartered at Udyoga Soudha in Bengaluru, it advises the Karnataka government on recruitment and service matters and conducts competitive and departmental examinations to fill state civil service posts on merit.
The commission publishes notifications, invites online applications for vacancies reported by appointing authorities, and conducts written examinations, practical tests, physical tests and interviews. Recruitment is now governed by the Karnataka Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Malpractices) Act, 2023, which strengthens anti-cheating provisions for state selections.
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KPSC conducts the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) Gazetted Probationers exam for Group A and B posts, plus direct recruitment for departmental posts, stenographers and typists, assistant conservator of forest, and audit and accounts staff. It also holds departmental examinations for serving government employees seeking promotion or confirmation.
Beyond the flagship KAS examination, KPSC runs recruitment across a range of state cadres and services. The main categories of recruitment handled by the commission include the following.
- KAS Gazetted Probationers (Group A and Group B posts)
- Direct recruitment to departmental and technical posts
- Stenographers and typists
- Assistant Conservator of Forest and allied posts
- Audit and Accounts department posts
- Departmental examinations for serving government staff
What Is the KAS Exam Pattern in 2026?
The KAS exam has three stages. The Preliminary exam has two objective papers of 200 marks each and is only a screening test. The Mains has descriptive papers totalling 1,250 merit marks plus qualifying Kannada and English papers. The Personality Test carries 25 marks, making a final merit of 1,275.
| Stage (KAS 2026) | Papers | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | Paper I and Paper II (objective) | 400 (200 each) | Screening / qualifying |
| Mains | Kannada and English (qualifying), Essay plus GS I-IV | 1,250 merit + 300 qualifying | Descriptive |
| Personality Test | Interview | 25 | Final selection |
Each Preliminary paper has 100 questions of two marks each over two hours, with 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer. In the Mains, the Kannada and English papers are only qualifying (minimum 35 percent), and there is no optional subject, so merit rests entirely on the essay and four General Studies papers of 250 marks each.
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To apply for KPSC KAS, a candidate must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised university and generally be aged between 21 and 35 years. The upper age limit is relaxed by three years for Karnataka OBC categories and by five years for SC, ST and Category-1 candidates.
- Educational qualification: a bachelor's degree from a recognised university
- Minimum age 21 years; maximum 35 years for General Merit candidates
- Age relaxation up to 38 years for Karnataka OBC categories (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B)
- Age relaxation up to 40 years for SC, ST and Category-1 candidates
- Attempts: five for General Merit, seven for reserved categories, unlimited for SC and ST
How Do You Apply on the KPSC Website?
All KPSC applications are submitted online through the official portal kpsc.kar.nic.in. Candidates first complete a one-time registration to create a profile, then log in to fill the specific notification form, upload a photograph and signature, pay the fee online, and submit before the deadline printed in the notification.
- Visit the official website kpsc.kar.nic.in and open the current recruitment notification.
- Complete the one-time registration (OTR) to create your candidate profile.
- Log in and fill the application form with personal, educational and category details.
- Upload a recent photograph, signature and required certificates.
- Pay the application fee online and submit the form before the last date.
- Download and save the confirmation for future reference.
What Posts Can You Get Through KPSC KAS?
KPSC KAS recruits Group A and Group B gazetted officers for the Karnataka Administrative Service and allied cadres. Successful candidates are appointed to posts such as Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tahsildar, Commercial Tax Officer and Assistant Labour Commissioner, with senior KAS officers eligible for promotion into the Indian Administrative Service.
- Assistant Commissioner (Revenue)
- Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP)
- Tahsildar
- Commercial Tax Officer / Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes
- Assistant Labour Commissioner
- Other Group A and Group B gazetted posts across state departments
How Should You Prepare for KPSC KAS?
Effective KPSC KAS preparation combines the official syllabus with Karnataka-specific general knowledge: state history, geography, polity and current affairs. Candidates should practise previous years' question papers, take regular mock tests for the objective Prelims, and build descriptive answer-writing and essay skills for the Mains, while maintaining Kannada language proficiency.
- Read the official KPSC KAS syllabus carefully and map it to a study plan.
- Focus on Karnataka state history, geography, economy and polity alongside national topics.
- Follow daily current affairs, especially state and national government schemes.
- Solve previous years' papers and attempt full-length mock tests for the Prelims.
- Practise essay and descriptive answer writing for the Mains, and keep Kannada skills sharp.