The Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) examination — officially the Gazetted Probationers (Group A and Group B) recruitment — is conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). It is the state-level equivalent of the UPSC Civil Services exam and fills posts such as Assistant Commissioner, Tahsildar, Commercial Tax Officer and DySP.
KAS at a glance
| Conducting body | Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) |
|---|---|
| Posts (2026) | 319 — 117 Group A + 202 Group B |
| Notification | 31 July 2026 |
| Prelims date | 15 November 2026 (tentative) |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree |
| Age limit | 21 – 40 years (General Merit) |
| Stages | Prelims → Mains → Personality Test |
KAS eligibility
Educational qualification
- A Bachelor's or Master's degree from a university established by law in India, or an equivalent qualification.
Age limit
- Minimum age: 21 years.
- Maximum age as per the 2026 notification: 40 years (General Merit), 43 years (Category 2A/2B/3A/3B), 45 years (SC/ST/Category-1).
- The 2026 notification refers to a one-time age relaxation under a Government Order — read the notification for the exact conditions.
Other requirements
- Application fee (2026): ₹600 General Merit, ₹300 Category 2A/2B/3A/3B, ₹50 ex-servicemen; SC/ST/Category-1 and persons with disabilities are exempt.
KAS selection process
- Preliminary ExaminationObjective, 400 marks. Screening only — prelims marks are not counted in the final merit.
- Main ExaminationWritten, 7 papers. 2 language papers are qualifying; 5 papers (1,250 marks) count for merit.
- Personality TestInterview, 25 marks, added to mains marks for the final merit list.
KAS exam pattern
Preliminary examination
| Paper | Sections | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies (national & international) – 40 Q; Humanities – 60 Q | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Paper II | General Studies (state importance) – 40 Q; Science, Technology & Environment – 30 Q; General Mental Ability – 30 Q | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
- Negative marking: one-fourth of the marks allotted to a question is deducted for every wrong answer.
- Questions are set in Kannada and English.
Main examination
| Paper | Marks | Duration | Counts for merit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kannada (SSLC first-language standard) | 150 | 2 hours | No — qualifying, minimum 35% |
| English (SSLC first-language standard) | 150 | 2 hours | No — qualifying, minimum 35% |
| Essay (two essays, 125 marks each) | 250 | 3 hours | Yes |
| General Studies I | 250 | 3 hours | Yes |
| General Studies II | 250 | 3 hours | Yes |
| General Studies III | 250 | 3 hours | Yes |
| General Studies IV | 250 | 3 hours | Yes |
- Optional subjects have been removed — every candidate writes the same papers.
- Merit total: 1,250 (mains) + 25 (personality test) = 1,275 marks.
KAS syllabus
Prelims Paper I
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and world geography
- Indian polity and governance
- Indian economy and social development
Prelims Paper II
- Current events and schemes of state importance (Karnataka)
- General science and technology
- Environment and ecology
- General mental ability and reasoning
Mains GS I
- Cultural heritage and history of Karnataka and India
- Social and political perspectives
- Planning, Indian economy and rural development
Mains GS II
- Natural resources and physical features
- Indian Constitution and governance
- Public administration and international relations
Mains GS III
- Role of science and technology in development
- Life sciences, agriculture and allied fields
- Ecology and environmental issues
Mains GS IV
- Ethics and human interface
- Integrity in public administration
- Aptitude, attitude and case studies
How to prepare for KAS
- Karnataka-specific current affairs and schemes carry a dedicated 40-question block in Prelims Paper II — follow state news daily.
- Because prelims marks do not carry into the final merit, use prelims prep as a foundation for GS I–III rather than a separate track.
- Do not neglect the qualifying Kannada and English papers: failing either one makes your GS answer scripts irrelevant.
- Practise previous year KAS papers under timed conditions to calibrate your accuracy against the negative marking.
Prepare for KAS with Sadhisu
Previous year papers, subject-wise practice tests, daily current affairs and bilingual study notes in Kannada and English.
KAS — frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for KPSC KAS 2026?
The minimum age is 21. The 2026 notification lists maximum ages of 40 years for General Merit, 43 for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B and 45 for SC/ST/Category-1 candidates.
Is there negative marking in the KAS prelims?
Yes. One-fourth of the marks allotted to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
Are prelims marks counted in the final KAS merit list?
No. The preliminary exam is a screening test. The final merit is based on the five merit papers of the mains (1,250 marks) plus the 25-mark personality test.
Are there optional subjects in KAS mains?
No. Under the current pattern all candidates write the Essay paper and General Studies I–IV, plus the qualifying Kannada and English papers.
What is the qualification for KAS?
A Bachelor's degree from a university established by law in India, or an equivalent qualification.