Overview of KPSC KAS Recruitment 2026
The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) has officially announced the examination schedule for the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) Gazetted Probationers recruitment. This major administrative drive aims to fill 319 vacancies across various high-ranking Group A and Group B administrative departments under the Government of Karnataka. Candidates preparing for these prestigious positions can now streamline their revision timelines as the preliminary examination date has been officially released.
Detailed Vacancy & Eligibility Breakdown
| Post and Department | RPC | HK | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Commissioner (Junior Scale), Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms | 36 | 3 | 39 |
| Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Commercial Taxes Department | 50 | 0 | 50 |
| Assistant Director, Treasuries Department | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Executive Officer / Assistant Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department | 13 | 2 | 15 |
| Assistant Director Grade-I, Social Welfare Department | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Total | 112 | 5 | 117 |
| Post and Department | RPC | HK | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tahsildar (Grade-2), Revenue Department | 18 | 7 | 25 |
| Commercial Tax Officer, Commercial Taxes Department | 74 | 0 | 74 |
| Assistant Superintendent, Prisons Department | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Co-operation Department | 19 | 2 | 21 |
| Assistant Director, Agricultural Marketing, Co-operation Department | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Deputy Superintendent of Excise, Excise Department | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Employment Officer, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Chief Officer (Grade-1), Urban Development Department | 18 | 2 | 20 |
| Assistant Treasury Officer, Finance Department (Treasuries) | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Assistant Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Section Officer, Karnataka Government Secretariat | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Section Officer, Karnataka Public Service Commission | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Assistant Director Grade-2, Social Welfare Department | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Total | 185 | 17 | 202 |
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General Merit (GM) | 40 years |
| OBC (Categories 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B) | 43 years |
| SC, ST and Category-1 | 45 years |
| Paper | Subject | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Current Affairs | National and international current affairs |
| Paper I | History | Indian History, Indian National Movement, Karnataka History and Culture |
| Paper I | Geography | World Geography, Indian Geography with special focus on Karnataka |
| Paper I | Polity and Economy | Indian Constitution, political system, rural development, planning, economic reforms, sustainable development, poverty alleviation, demographics and social sector initiatives |
| Paper II | Current Affairs | Karnataka state current affairs and important state government programmes |
| Paper II | General Science and Technology | General science, science and technology developments and their applications |
| Paper II | Environment and Ecology | Environmental ecology, biodiversity, climate change and related issues |
| Paper II | General Mental Ability | Comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision making, problem solving, basic numeracy and data interpretation |
| Paper | Subject | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Kannada | Comprehension, precis writing, usage, vocabulary, communication skills and essay |
| Paper 2 | English | Comprehension, precis writing, usage, vocabulary, communication skills and essay |
| Paper 3 | Essay | Essay on international/national importance and state/local importance |
| Paper 4 | General Studies 1 | History and cultural heritage of India and Karnataka; social and political perspective; Indian society and culture |
| Paper 5 | General Studies 2 | Constitution, polity, governance, public administration, social justice and international relations |
| Paper 6 | General Studies 3 | Science and technology, agriculture, rural development, environment, ecology and economic development |
| Paper 7 | General Studies 4 | Ethics, integrity, aptitude, emotional intelligence and case studies |
Aspirants looking to build a distinguished career in public administration can also explore all latest Karnataka Government Jobs to find similar openings across state departments. The recruitment process requires rigorous preparation across multiple tiers, starting with the preliminary examination designed to screen candidates for the descriptive mains stage.
Post-Wise Vacancy Distribution
The 319 vacancies are distributed across several key administrative designations, catering to both Residual Parent Cadre (RPC) and Hyderabad-Karnataka (HK) local reservations. Candidates can review the detailed post-wise breakdown below:
| Post Name | RPC Vacancies | HK Vacancies | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Commissioner (Junior Scale) | 36 | 3 | 39 |
| Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes | 50 | 0 | 50 |
| Assistant Director, Treasuries Department | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Executive Officer / Assistant Secretary | 13 | 2 | 15 |
| Assistant Director Grade-I, Social Welfare Department | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Tahsildar (Grade-2) | 18 | 7 | 25 |
| Commercial Tax Officer | 74 | 0 | 74 |
| Assistant Superintendent, Prisons Department | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies | 19 | 2 | 21 |
| Assistant Director, Agricultural Marketing | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| Deputy Superintendent of Excise | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Employment Officer | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Chief Officer (Grade-1) | 18 | 2 | 20 |
| Assistant Treasury Officer | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Assistant Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Section Officer, Karnataka Government Secretariat | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Section Officer, Karnataka Public Service Commission | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Assistant Director Grade-2, Social Welfare Department | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Eligibility Standards & Age Criteria
Eligibility for the KPSC KAS 2026 examination requires specific academic qualifications and adherence to strict age boundaries. Candidates must ensure they meet these parameters before appearing for subsequent selection stages. Qualified graduates can also check more Graduate jobs in Karnataka to expand their career opportunities.
- Educational Qualification: Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Graduates from any discipline are eligible, provided they completed their degree qualification on or before the application deadline.
- Age Limits: The general merit age limit spans from 21 to 40 years. Category-wise upper age limits extend to 43 years for OBC (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) and 45 years for SC, ST, and Category-1 applicants.
- Age Relaxations: Permissible upper age relaxation includes 3 Years for OBC (2A/2B/3A/3B) and 5 Years for SC/ST/Category-1 candidates in accordance with state guidelines.
Selection Process & Examination Pattern
The selection methodology for KPSC Gazetted Probationers is structured into three rigorous tiers designed to test administrative aptitude, domain knowledge, and personality traits. For related updates on departmental testing, candidates may review notices such as the Karnataka Public Service Commission Departmental Examination Hall Ticket 2026 Out - Download Kannada Viva-Voce Admission Ticket at kpsc.kar.nic.in recruitment details.
- Stage 1: Preliminary Examination: Comprises two objective-type papers carrying 200 marks each (400 marks total). This stage is strictly qualifying in nature to shortlist candidates for the mains.
- Stage 2: Main Examination: Consists of seven descriptive papers carrying a total of 1,250 marks, which form the primary basis for the merit ranking.
- Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview): Carries 25 marks to evaluate leadership qualities, mental alertness, and administrative suitability.
Important Schedule & Application Timeline
The application window for this recruitment cycle commenced on 31 July 2026 and concluded on 31 August 2026, with the fee payment deadline also set for 31 August 2026. Registered candidates must now prepare for the Preliminary Examination, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on 15 November 2026.
Exam Date Advisory: The preliminary exam date of 15 November 2026 is currently tentative. Candidates should regularly monitor the official KPSC portal for final timetable confirmations and admit card release notifications.
Required Documents Checklist
Candidates appearing for the examination stages must keep the following documents verified and ready:
- Photo Identification: Valid Photo ID Card such as Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN Card, or Driving License.
- Photographs: Recent passport-sized color photographs with a light background.
- Academic Certificates: Educational qualification certificates and marksheets for 10th, 12th, and Degree programs.
- Category Proof: Caste or category certificate (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS) issued in the prescribed state format, if applicable.
- Signature Copy: Scanned copy of the applicant's signature meeting official dimension requirements.
Candidate Warnings & Precautions
Adherence to official guidelines is mandatory to prevent disqualification during verification stages. Applicants must take note of the following precautions:
- Name & Date of Birth Match: Ensure that your name, father's name, and date of birth match your 10th Class Matriculation certificate exactly.
- Avoid Duplicate Submissions: Do not submit multiple forms for the same post, as duplicate entries lead to outright rejection.
- Specification Verification: Verify scanned photograph and signature dimensions prior to final uploads to prevent technical errors.
- Fee Confirmation: Ensure online fee payments are fully processed and acknowledged before deadlines; incomplete fee submissions will invalidate candidature.
