Karnataka Police Constable 2026 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
The Karnataka Police Constable (Civil Police Constable - CPC) 2026 Written Examination was successfully conducted by the Karnataka State Police (KSP) on 2 August 2026 for both Non-HK (Residual Cadre) and HK (Kalyana Karnataka Cadre) candidates. Candidates can download the question papers and answer keys from the tables below once they are available.
Karnataka Police Constable 2026 Question Paper & Answer Key PDF
| Cadre | Exam Date | Question Paper PDF | Answer Key PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-HK (Residual Cadre) | 02 August 2026 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| HK (Kalyana Karnataka Cadre) | 02 August 2026 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
Karnataka Police Constable 2026 Exam Updates
The Karnataka State Police conducted the written examination for 3,991 Civil Police Constable (CPC) vacancies on 2 August 2026.
Application Statistics
| Category | Applications Received | Candidates Appeared | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-HK (Residual Cadre) | 3,77,861 | 3,49,521 | 92.52% |
| HK (Kalyana Karnataka Cadre) | 76,676 | 72,075 | 94.00% |
Competition Level: Approximately 90 candidates competed for every 1 Civil Police Constable post, making the recruitment highly competitive.
Karnataka Police Constable 2026 Exam Pattern
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR Based) |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 Marks |
| Duration | 90 Minutes (1 Hour 30 Minutes) |
| Mark per Question | 1 Mark |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 Mark deducted for every incorrect answer |
| Language | Kannada & English |
| Selection Stage | Written Examination → Physical Test → Document Verification |
Negative Marking Rule
Candidates should answer questions carefully.
✅ Correct Answer = +1 Mark
❌ Wrong Answer = −0.25 Mark
⭕ Unanswered Question = No mark (follow the OMR instructions issued for the exam)
Avoid random guessing, as excessive incorrect answers can significantly reduce your final score.
Expected Cut-Off (Unofficial)
The expected cut-off may vary depending on the difficulty level of the paper, the number of candidates, vacancies, and category.
| Category | Expected Cut-Off (Out of 100) |
|---|---|
| General Merit (GM) | 72–78 Marks |
| 2A | 68–74 Marks |
| 2B | 67–73 Marks |
| 3A | 69–75 Marks |
| 3B | 70–76 Marks |
| SC | 62–68 Marks |
| ST | 58–64 Marks |
| CAT-1 | 60–66 Marks |
Note: These are expected cut-offs based on previous recruitment trends and candidate feedback. The official cut-off will be released by Karnataka State Police after the recruitment process.
Difficulty Level Analysis
Based on initial feedback from candidates:
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
General Knowledge: Moderate
Current Affairs: Easy to Moderate
Indian Constitution & Polity: Moderate
History: Moderate
Geography: Easy to Moderate
Science & Technology: Moderate
Reasoning & Mental Ability: Moderate
Important Points for Candidates
Exam Conducted: 2 August 2026
Total Vacancies: 3,991 Civil Police Constable Posts
Question Type: Objective (MCQs)
Duration: 90 Minutes
Total Marks: 100
Negative Marking: 0.25 Mark
Mode of Examination: Offline (OMR Sheet)
Official Answer Key: To be released by Karnataka State Police
Result: Will be announced after the evaluation process.
Why Download the 2026 Question Paper?
Practicing the latest Karnataka Police Constable 2026 question paper helps candidates:
Understand the latest exam pattern.
Identify frequently asked topics.
Analyze the difficulty level.
Improve time management.
Prepare effectively for upcoming KSP recruitments.
Compare answers using the official answer key and estimate their score before the results are declared.
Important OMR Sheet Rule – 5th Option (Not Attempted)
The Karnataka Police Constable examination follows a unique 5th Option Rule on the OMR answer sheet. Every candidate must understand this rule to avoid losing marks unnecessarily.
OMR 5th Option Rule
Every question has five bubbles on the OMR sheet:
Option A
Option B
Option C
Option D
Option E (5th Option – Not Attempted)
If you do not know the answer and decide to skip a question, you must shade the 5th Option (E).
Leaving a question completely blank without shading the 5th option is treated as a negative response and attracts a penalty of 0.25 marks, just like marking a wrong answer.
If you intentionally skip a question, always mark the 5th option to indicate that you have chosen not to attempt it.
Example:
✅ Know the answer → Shade A/B/C/D
✅ Don't know the answer → Shade 5th Option (E)
❌ Leave all bubbles blank → 0.25 mark deducted
Final 5 Minutes Matter
The Karnataka State Police usually provides candidates with a few extra minutes at the end of the examination to ensure they have shaded the 5th Option for every unattempted question. Before submitting your OMR sheet:
✔ Check all 100 questions.
✔ Ensure every question has one bubble shaded.
✔ For skipped questions, shade Option E (5th Option).
✔ Never leave any question completely blank.
Important: Many candidates lose marks simply by forgetting to mark the 5th Option for unanswered questions. Developing this habit while practicing previous year papers can help you avoid unnecessary negative marks in the actual examination.
