KPSC KAS Recruitment 2026: Exam Pattern, Notification Details, Eligibility & How to Apply

KPSC KAS Recruitment 2026: Official Overview

The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC – ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಲೋಕಸೇವಾ ಆಯೋಗ) has released the official recruitment notification for the Gazetted Probationers (KAS) Exam 2026. A total of 319 vacancies across Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ administrative posts in various state departments have been announced.

Important Dates & Key Highlights

Posts Breakdown & Vacancy Distribution

The 319 positions are divided into Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ roles within the Karnataka Civil Services:

Group ‘A’ Posts (117 Vacancies)

• Assistant Commissioner (ಆಸಿಸ್ಟೆಂಟ್ ಕಮಿಷನರ್ / ಸಹಾಯಕ ಆಯುಕ್ತರು) – Revenue Department

• Commercial Tax Officer (ವಾಣಿಜ್ಯ ತೆರಿಗೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ) – Commercial Tax Department

• Assistant Director (ಸಹಾಯಕ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು) – Agricultural Marketing / Food & Civil Supplies

• Executive Officer / Chief Officer (ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ Grade-1) – Urban Development

Group ‘B’ Posts (202 Vacancies)

• Tahsildar Grade-2 (ತಹಶೀಲ್ದಾರ್ ಗ್ರೇಡ್-೨) – Revenue Department

• Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies (ಸಹಕಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳ ಸಹಾಯಕ ನಿಬಂಧಕರು)

• Section Officer (ವಿಭಾಗಾಧಿಕಾರಿ) – Karnataka Secretariat

• Deputy Superintendent of Excise (ಅಬಕಾರಿ ಉಪ ಸೂಪರಿಂಟೆಂಡೆಂಟ್)

• Assistant Superintendent (ಸಹಾಯಕ ಸೂಪರಿಂಟೆಂಡೆಂಟ್) – Prisons Department

• Assistant Treasury Officer (ಸಹಾಯಕ ಖಜಾನೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ) – Finance Department

Eligibility Criteria

1. Educational Qualification (ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ಅರ್ಹತೆ)

• Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a recognized University or Institution.

• Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation can apply provisionally, provided they fulfill all degree completion conditions prior to the submission of the Main Examination application.

2. Age Limits & Relaxation (ವಯೋಮಿತಿ)

Minimum age to apply is 21 years. Maximum age limits include statutory age relaxations provided by the Commission:

3. Language & Domicile Requirement

• Candidates must have functional knowledge of Kannada (writing, reading, speaking).

• Candidates who have studied Kannada as a first/second language in SSLC or equivalent are exempted from the compulsory Kannada Language Paper during the Mains examination. Others must pass the qualifying Kannada paper (minimum 35% marks).

Selection Process & Exam Pattern

The KPSC KAS selection process consists of 3 distinct stages:

[ Stage 1: Preliminary Exam ] ──> [ Stage 2: Main Exam ] ──> [ Stage 3: Personality Test ]
    (Objective / Screening)         (Descriptive / Written)           (Interview - 25 Marks)

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (ಪೂರ್ವಭಾವಿ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆ)

The Preliminary Exam is an objective multiple-choice screening test consisting of two papers.

• Type: Objective Type (MCQ)

• Medium: Bilingual (Kannada & English)

• Negative Marking: $1/4^{\text{th}}$ (0.25 marks) deducted for every incorrect answer.

Note: Scores obtained in the Preliminary Examination serve only as a qualifying filter for shortlisting candidates to the Mains Examination and are not counted toward the final merit list ranking.

The Mains Exam is a conventional, descriptive-type written examination. It consists of 2 Qualifying Papers and 5 Merit-Based Papers.

Section A: Qualifying Papers (ಅರ್ಹತಾ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಗಳು)

Must score a minimum of 35% (52.5 marks out of 150) in each paper to qualify for evaluation of Merit papers.

1. Kannada Language (ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷಾ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ): 150 Marks (3 Hours)

2. English Language (ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಭಾಷಾ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ): 150 Marks (3 Hours)

Section B: Merit Papers (ಅಂಕಗಳ ಆಧಾರದ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು)

Stage 3: Personality Test / Interview (ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆ / ಸಂದರ್ಶನ)

• Total Marks: 25 Marks

• Purpose: Evaluates overall personality, intellectual traits, decision-making, critical thinking, leadership qualities, and suitability for public services.

Final Ranking Calculation:

$\text{Final Score} = \text{Mains Score (1250 Marks)} + \text{Personality Test (25 Marks)} = \mathbf{1275\ \text{Total Marks}}$

Step-by-Step Application Process (How to Apply)Candidates must register and submit their forms through the official KPSC online portal.

1. • SC / ST / Cat-1 / PwBD: Exempted (Nominal processing fee only)

2. Final Submission & Printout:

   • Review all fields prior to clicking Submit.

   • Download and save the soft copy / printout of the generated application summary for future reference.

Essential Kannada Glossary for KAS Candidates

Understanding administrative Kannada vocabulary is critical for both the Mains qualifying paper and day-to-day administrative duties: