The premier administrative recruitment for Assistant Commissioners and DSPs in Karnataka.
Mandatory educational background, age limits, pay scale, and service designations
The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) conducts the Gazetted Probationers Examination to recruit officers for the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS - Assistant Commissioner Group A), Karnataka Police Service (DSP Group A), and Commercial Tax Officers. Featuring a 2-paper objective Prelims (400 marks total) with 0.25 negative marking, KPSC Mains comprises 7 descriptive papers (1250 marks merit + 2 qualifying language papers), culminating in a 50-mark personality test.
Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or equivalent qualification.
21 to 38 Years
Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B: 3 years (up to 41) | SC / ST / Category-1: 5 years (up to 43) | PwD: 10 years
General / UR: 5 attempts (Up to 38 years of age)
OBC: 7 attempts (Up to 41 years of age)
SC / ST: Unlimited attempts (Up to 43 years of age)
Pay Scale ₹52,650 – ₹97,100 (Group A Senior Time Scale / Level 10 equivalent) + DA, HRA, Medical & Quarters
Annual Vacancies: Approx. 250 – 450 vacancies per cycle
Stage-wise breakdown, paper timing, question distribution, and negative marking rules
Negative Marking Rule: 0.25 marks deducted per incorrect answer in Prelims.
Mode: Offline OMR for Prelims, Descriptive Sheets for Mains, In-Person Interview in Bengaluru | Medium: Bilingual (Kannada / English); Kannada and English qualifying language papers.
Two objective papers of 200 marks each. Crucially, BOTH Paper 1 (GS & Humanities) and Paper 2 (GS, Science & Aptitude) are combined (400 Marks) to determine the cutoff for Mains. Standard 0.25 negative marking applies.
| Paper / Component | Format | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1: General Studies & Humanities Current Events of National and International Importance (40 Qs), Indian History and National Movement with special reference to Karnataka History (30 Qs), Indian and World Geography with special focus on Karnataka Geography (30 Qs) | Objective (MCQ) | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours | Combined with Paper 2 for Mains qualification list (20x vacancies) |
Paper 2: General Studies, Science & Aptitude Current Events of State and Local Importance (40 Qs), General Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology (30 Qs), General Mental Ability, Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation (30 Qs) | Objective (MCQ) | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours | Combined with Paper 1 for Mains qualification list |
7 descriptive papers conducted over 4 consecutive days in Bengaluru and divisional centers. Kannada (150 marks) and English (150 marks) are qualifying (minimum 35% required). Final written merit is determined by Essay (250) and GS 1 to 4 (250 each = 1000) totaling 1250 marks; no optional subject.
| Paper / Component | Format | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1: Kannada Language Comprehension of passage, Precis writing, Usage and Vocabulary, Short Essay, Translation from English to Kannada | Descriptive (Written) | 150 | 3 Hours | Qualifying (Min 35% required, not counted in merit) |
Paper 2: English Language Comprehension of passage, Precis writing, Usage and Vocabulary, Short Essay, Translation from Kannada to English | Descriptive (Written) | 150 | 3 Hours | Qualifying (Min 35% required, not counted in merit) |
Paper 3: Essay Section 1: Essay on International or National Issue (125 Marks), Section 2: Essay on State or Local Issue (125 Marks) | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 4: General Studies I Section 1: History and Cultural Heritage of India & Karnataka (Modern period, social reform), Section 2: Social and Political Perspective (Social change, caste, backward classes in Karnataka), Section 3: Indian Economy and Karnataka Economy (Planning, agriculture, rural development) | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 5: General Studies II Section 1: Physical Features and Natural Resources of India & Karnataka, Section 2: Overview of Indian Constitution and State Administration, Section 3: Public Administration and Management, International Relations | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 6: General Studies III Section 1: Role and Impact of Science & Technology, Section 2: Information Technology, Bio-Technology & Space, Section 3: Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Disaster Management | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 7: General Studies IV Section 1: Ethics and Human Interface, Section 2: Attitude, Aptitude and Emotional Intelligence, Section 3: Integrity, Impartiality and Case Studies | Descriptive (Written) | 250 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Board interview conducted at KPSC headquarters at Udyoga Soudha, Bengaluru evaluating administrative leadership, ethical integrity, and awareness of Karnataka governance.
| Paper / Component | Format | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Personality Interview Board Personal record & DAF, Karnataka Five Guarantee schemes (Gruha Lakshmi, Yuva Nidhi, Shakti, etc.), Bengaluru infrastructure & urban traffic management, Cauvery and Krishna inter-state river water disputes, Kalyana Karnataka (Article 371-J) development initiatives | Interview | 50 | 20 – 30 Minutes | Added to Mains marks for 1300 Grand Total Merit |
Detailed curriculum modules categorized by standard foundations vs. high-yield scoring chapters
Phase-by-phase roadmap, daily study schedule, topper golden rules, and fatal pitfalls to avoid
KPSC KAS has eliminated Optional subjects, making the 4 General Studies papers (1000 marks) and Essay (250 marks) the core arena of competition. In Prelims, BOTH Paper 1 and Paper 2 marks are added together for the 400-mark cutoff. Candidates must score heavily in Karnataka history (Vijayanagara, Wodeyars, Basaveshwara), regional geography, and master structured descriptive answer writing with Karnataka-specific administrative case studies.
Suryanath Kamath Karnataka History, K. Sadashiva, NCERTs, Laxmikanth
GS 1 (History/Economy), GS 2 (Polity/Geography), GS 3 (Science), GS 4 (Ethics)
Full syllabus revision, Mental Ability (30 Qs), Karnataka Current Affairs
Full 7-paper simulation, interview coaching in Bengaluru
Topper-validated standard reference books and chapter-wise question banks
Author: Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath | Pub: MCC Publications Bengaluru
The definitive academic text for Kadambas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara, and Mysore state history.
Author: Ranganatha / Planning Dept, Govt of Karnataka | Pub: Vidyanidhi Prakashana
Exhaustive coverage of river systems (Cauvery, Krishna), Malnad ecology, and state welfare missions.
Author: M. Laxmikanth | Pub: McGraw Hill
The definitive guide for Prelims and Mains GS Paper 5 (Polity & Governance).
Author: Spardha Spoorthi / Chanakya Editorial Board | Pub: Spardha Spoorthi Publications Dharwad
Authentic past papers of KPSC Gazetted Probationers with detailed bilingual explanations.
Official past category-wise cutoffs to benchmark your target mock scores
| Cycle / Tier / Service | General (UR) | OBC | EWS | SC | ST | Scope & Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Prelims (Out of 400 Marks) | 208.50 Marks | 201.00 Marks (Cat 2A/3B) | 205.00 Marks | 188.00 Marks | 192.50 Marks | Combined cutoff of Paper 1 (200) + Paper 2 (200); both papers count. |
| 2017 Prelims (Out of 400 Marks) | 195.00 Marks | 188.50 Marks | N/A | 174.00 Marks | 178.50 Marks | Cutoff across both papers combined. |
| 2020 Final Merit (Out of 1300 Marks) | 685.00 Marks (Assistant Commissioner) | 655.00 Marks | 662.00 Marks | 610.00 Marks | 620.00 Marks | Final aggregate out of 1300 (Mains 1250 + Interview 50). |
From initial application to final cadre allocation and joining the training academy
Apply online at kpsc.kar.nic.in with academic credentials and post preferences.
Appear for Paper 1 (GS - 200 marks) and Paper 2 (GS/CSAT - 200 marks). Combined score qualifies top 20x for Mains.
Write 5 descriptive merit papers (1250 marks) + 2 qualifying language papers (Kannada & English) over 4 days.
Attend board interview at Udyoga Soudha, Bengaluru (50 Marks).
Merit ranking out of 1300 determines allocation to Assistant Commissioner, DSP, or Commercial Tax Officer followed by training at ATI Mysuru.
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