KPSC KAS Notification 2026: 319 Vacancies, Syllabus, PYQ, Cut Off Marks (Previous Years) and Expected Cut Off
The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) has released the KAS (Gazetted Probationers) Notification 2026-27 for 319 posts. This guide covers the notification, vacancies, exam dates, pattern, syllabus, previous year question papers, previous years' cut offs and the expected 2026 cut off.
Note on accuracy: The 2026 vacancies, application window, Prelims date and Mains structure come from the official notification dated 31 July 2026. The other 2026 dates come from the schedule circulated with it. KPSC says the tentative exam and result calendar is on its website, so verify those dates at kpsc.kar.nic.in. KPSC publishes official cut offs only as PDFs, and the figures below are estimates from third-party portals.
1. KPSC KAS Notification 2026: Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) |
| Recruitment | Gazetted Probationers, 2026-27 |
| Notification date | 31 July 2026 |
| Notification PDF | Official notification pdf here. |
| Total vacancies | 319 (Group A: 117, Group B: 202) |
| Application window | 1 Aug to 31 Aug 2026 (closed) |
| Selection process | Prelims, Mains (written), Personality Test |
| Prelims exam date | 15 Nov 2026 (tentative) |
| Prelims pattern | 2 papers, 100 questions each, 400 marks. Qualifying only. |
| Mains pattern | Kannada and English (qualifying, 150 each), Essay and 4 GS papers (250 each, 1,250 total) |
| Personality test | 25 marks (1:3 ratio) |
| Syllabus PDF | The detailed Prelims and Mains syllabus here. |
| PYQ PDF | PDF here. |
| Official website | kpsc.kar.nic.in |
| Helpline | 080-30574957 / 30574901 / 22356487 / 22200090 |
Eligibility, age limit, fee and reservation details are in the full notification PDF. Read them there before relying on any summary.
2. Vacancy Details
| Group | Rest of Karnataka | Hyderabad-Karnataka | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | 112 | 5 | 117 |
| Group B | 185 | 17 | 202 |
| Total | 297 | 22 | 319 |
Group A (117 posts)
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) | 39 |
| Assistant Commissioner, Commercial Taxes | 50 |
| Assistant Director, Treasury | 2 |
| Executive Officer / Assistant Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj | 15 |
| Assistant Director Grade-1, Social Welfare | 11 |
Group B (202 posts)
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Tahsildar (Grade-2) | 25 |
| Commercial Tax Officer | 74 |
| Assistant Superintendent, Prisons | 6 |
| Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies | 21 |
| Assistant Director, Agricultural Marketing | 12 |
| Excise Deputy Superintendent | 5 |
| Employment Officer (Skill Development) | 3 |
| Chief Officer Grade-1, Urban Development | 20 |
| Assistant Treasury Officer | 12 |
| Assistant Director, Food and Civil Supplies | 4 |
| Section Officer, Karnataka Government Secretariat | 5 |
| Section Officer, KPSC | 4 |
| Assistant Director Grade-2, Social Welfare | 11 |
3. Timeline of the 2026 Cycle
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Application starts | 1 Aug 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 31 Aug 2026 |
| Prelims (tentative) | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Prelims result | 15 Dec 2026 |
| Mains exam | 12 to 18 Feb 2027 |
| Mains result | 27 Apr 2027 |
| Interview / Personality Test | 10 to 31 May 2027 |
| Provisional selection list | 5 Jun 2027 |
With Prelims about a month away, the priority now is revision, mock tests and PYQ practice.
4. Exam Pattern
Prelims (qualifying only, 400 marks)
Prelims marks do not count in the final merit. They only decide who qualifies for Mains. The 2024 pattern was as follows. Confirm it against the 2026 notification.
| Paper | Content | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies (National and International) and Humanities | 100 | 200 |
| Paper II | General Studies (State), General Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology, General Mental Ability (X Standard level) | 100 | 200 |
- Each question carries 2 marks and each paper is 2 hours.
- Papers are bilingual (Kannada and English).
- Negative marking was reported at 0.25 per wrong answer.
Mains (written)
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying | Kannada | 150 | 2 hrs |
| Qualifying | English | 150 | 2 hrs |
| Paper 1 | Essay | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 2 | General Studies 1 | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 3 | General Studies 2 | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 4 | General Studies 3 | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper 5 | General Studies 4 | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Written total | 1,250 | ||
| Personality Test | 25 | ||
| Grand total | 1,275 |
Key rules:
- The Kannada and English papers are qualifying only. You need at least 35% (52.5 marks) in each, and their marks do not count toward merit. Fail either one and you are not eligible for the personality test, however well you do elsewhere.
- The standard for these two papers is SSLC first-language level. The other papers are at degree level.
- The Mains is descriptive and all papers are compulsory. Papers 2 to 5 each have three sections.
- Questions are set in Kannada and English, and you can answer in either language.
- Candidates are called for the personality test at a 1:3 ratio to vacancies.
- The final rank is based on Mains plus Personality Test marks.
5. KPSC KAS Syllabus
Prelims syllabus
Paper I
- General Studies (National and International): Current events, Indian history and the freedom struggle, polity and the Constitution, geography, economy and international relations.
- Humanities: History, culture and art, sociology, political science, economics and geography.
Paper II
- General Studies (State): Karnataka's history, geography, economy, culture, administration, schemes and budget.
- General Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology: Basic science, biodiversity, climate change, space and defence technology, IT and biotechnology.
- General Mental Ability (X Standard): Reasoning, number series, percentages, ratio, data interpretation and logical ability.
Mains syllabus (broad areas)
Mains structure at a glance
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying | Kannada | 150 | Qualifying (35% needed) |
| Qualifying | English | 150 | Qualifying (35% needed) |
| Paper 1 | Essay | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 2 | General Studies 1 | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 3 | General Studies 2 | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 4 | General Studies 3 | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 5 | General Studies 4 | 250 | Merit |
Papers 2 to 5 each have three sections.
Qualifying papers
Kannada and English (150 marks each, SSLC first-language level). They test your ability to read serious prose and express ideas clearly. The English paper is reported to include these components, worth 25 marks each:
- Comprehension
- Precis writing
- Usage
- Communication skills
- Vocabulary
- Essay
Paper 1: Essay (250 marks)
Two essays of 125 marks each, written in Kannada or English:
- Essay 1: A topic of national or international importance
- Essay 2: A topic of state or local importance
Paper 2: General Studies 1 (250 marks)
Section I: History and Cultural Heritage (India and Karnataka), 6 units
- Cultural heritage of India:
- Indus and Vedic civilisations, the caste (varna and jati) system, and religious movements
- Ancient Sanskrit literature, the epics and Puranas, and Mughal contributions to literature
- Ancient Indian science and technology
- Art and architecture (Maurya, Gupta, temple styles, Mughal, Pallava and Chola), painting, classical music and dance, and folk arts
- India's cultural influence on Central Asia, China, Japan, South-East Asia and Sri Lanka
- Major religions: Hinduism and its sects, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam (including Sufis of Karnataka) and Sikhism
- Transforming Indian society: Modern history from the 19th century, including reforms and reformers, social and religious reform, upliftment of depressed classes, the Dravidian movement, Dalit emancipation, the two-nation theory, and Gram Swaraj, Satyagraha and Bhoodana.
- Kadambas to Hoysalas: The antiquity of Karnataka, Kannada language and literature, gazetteers, museums and archives, heritage protection, World Heritage Sites in Karnataka, and the dynasties' contributions to architecture, sculpture and religion.
- Vijayanagara Empire and after (1336 to 1799):
- Vijayanagara's origin, rulers, administration, society, arts and the battle of Talikota
- Religious sects and saints, including Basaveshwara, Veerashaivism and the Haridasa movement
- Bahmani and Adil Shahi contributions
- The Wodeyars, Keladi and Chitradurga Nayakas, Rani Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan
- Modern Mysore (1799 to 1947): Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, rebellions against the British, the Commissioner's Rule (1831 to 1881), Nizam's rule in Hyderabad-Karnataka, and the Dewans of Mysore.
- Freedom movement and unification (1885 to 1956): Nationalism before and during the Gandhian era, the Hyderabad-Karnataka freedom movement, key personalities, the three stages of unification, Alur Venkatrao, and social and cultural developments (education, the press, literature, the Backward Class movement, Miller Committee).
Section II: Social and Political Perspective, 7 units
- Post-Independence Karnataka: Political consolidation, backward classes and social justice (Havanur, Venkataswamy and Chinnappa Reddy committees), the Dalit movement, Devaraja Urs and land reforms, the Gokak movement, boundary and water disputes, the Mahajan Committee, farmers' movements and the Nanjundappa Committee.
- Social change and movements: Theories of social change and social movements.
- Social change and modernisation: Role conflict, women's status, urbanisation, Sanskritisation and westernisation, and social evils such as terrorism, corruption and black money.
- Government and political system: Legislature, executive and judiciary, and political parties.
- Decentralisation: Union and state government, judicial review, Centre-State relations, Panchayati Raj, regionalism, secularism and national integration.
- Socio-economic system: The Jajmani system, market economy, trade unions, inequality and globalisation.
- Rural social system and rural development: Village structure, poverty, indebtedness, bonded labour, land reforms and the Green Revolution.
Section III: Indian Economy, Planning and Rural Development, 8 units
- Indian economy: Post-independence growth, poverty and inequality, and the Karnataka economy during the plan era.
- International economic relations: Foreign trade, balance of payments, and Karnataka's exports.
- Regional disparities: Public policy, SEZs, and regional development boards in Karnataka.
- Planning: Five-Year Plans (I to VII, then the post-reform plans) and planning in Karnataka.
- Decentralised planning: Panchayati Raj planning, District Planning Committee, state finance commission and resource devolution.
- Rural development: Agriculture, farm size and productivity, irrigation, food security, rural credit, marketing, and rural infrastructure and schemes in Karnataka.
- Rural development initiatives: Poverty alleviation and employment programmes, self-help groups, microfinance and PURA.
- Data analysis and quantitative aptitude:
- Graphs, charts and tables
- Probability, permutations and combinations
- Number series, ratios, percentages, profit and loss, time and work, and speed-time-distance
- Reasoning and reading comprehension
Paper 3: General Studies 2 (250 marks)
Section I: Physical Features and Natural Resources
- World geography:
- Lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere
- Physiography of continents
- Population distribution and demographic transition
- Geography of India: Climate, rivers, soil, vegetation, minerals, major crops, demography, industries and industrial regions, infrastructure, regional planning and urban structure.
- Geography of Karnataka: Physiographic divisions, climate, rainfall, soil, agro-climatic regions, crops, minerals, power sources, industries, transport, GIS, urbanisation, land use, town planning and slums.
Section II: Overview of the Indian Constitution, 7 units
- Nature and salient features of the Constitution, including the Preamble, Directive Principles and federalism
- Fundamental rights, reservations for SC/ST/OBC and the Atrocities Act
- Distribution of legislative powers and Union-State relations, plus the roles of the Governor and Council of Ministers
- Legislative procedure, delegated legislation, judicial review, and the CAG and Attorney General
- Important amendments, the basic structure theory, emergency provisions and the 73rd and 74th Amendments
- Constitutional bodies: Election Commission, Public Service Commissions, the various commissions (women, minorities, backward classes, human rights, information, finance) and the National Development Council
- Services under the Union and State
Section III: Public Administration and Management, International Relations, 7 units
- Public versus private administration, and New Public Management
- Structure of organisation, personnel and financial administration, law and order, and development administration
- Organisational behaviour and management concepts (decision making, communication, delegation and control)
- Formal and informal organisation, and functional management (finance, HR, marketing, leadership and motivation)
- Management tools: PERT/CPM, POSDCORB, SWOT, PDCA, performance appraisal, conflict and change management, and team building
- Administrative reforms, ethics in public service, good governance, Lokpal and Lokayukta, grievance redress, district administration, and welfare programmes for SC/ST and women
- International relations: the UN and its agencies, IMF, World Bank, WTO, EU, ASEAN, SAARC, NATO, NAM, OPEC and others, plus the role of developing countries and India's neighbours
Paper 4: General Studies 3 (250 marks)
Section I: Science and Technology in Development, IT in the Public Domain
- Basics and emerging areas of S&T, national S&T policy, technology missions, ICT, e-governance and the digital divide
- Space science: global and Indian programmes (INSAT, IRS, EDUSAT, Chandrayaan) and applications in education, agriculture and rural development
- Energy resources: the Indian energy scenario and renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, tidal, hydrogen and fuel cells), with enabling legislation
- Disasters, pests and pollution: climate change, floods, cyclones, disaster management, crop science, safe drinking water, sanitation and waste disposal
- Related perceptions: S&T literacy, HDI, GDP contribution and indigenous knowledge
- Knowledge society: human capital, education, skills and values
- Rural upliftment: rural infrastructure, horticulture, agro-food processing, biofuels and water harvesting
Section II: Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Agricultural Science, Health and Hygiene, 7 units
- Natural science: Useful and harmful plants, classification and usefulness of animals, and common microorganisms.
- Agriculture: Crop production and protection, fertilisers and vermicompost, organic farming, farm mechanisation, agro-processing and land and water management.
- Horticulture and sericulture: Floriculture, fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, polyhouse cultivation and sericulture in India and Karnataka.
- Biotechnology: Genetic engineering, stem cells, GM plants, biofertilisers and biopesticides, tissue culture, food safety and standards.
- Animal husbandry: Livestock breeds, dairy (including the AMUL and KMF cooperatives), fisheries and value addition.
- Agricultural policies and trade: National and Karnataka agricultural policies, price policy, seed policy, credit, crop insurance, food security, watershed programmes, agricultural exports, and the WTO Agreement on Agriculture.
- Health and hygiene:
- Human body systems
- AYUSH, NRHM, and the HIV and TB programmes
- Communicable and vector-borne diseases (cholera, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, bird flu)
- Vaccines and immunity
Section III: Challenges and Issues of Development in Environment and Ecology, 6 units
- Environmental segments: Forest and wildlife protection, Project Tiger, national parks and sanctuaries, the impact of mining, the Red Data Book and eco-tourism.
- Natural resources: Forests, water resources, floods and droughts, rainwater harvesting, and displacement and rehabilitation from infrastructure projects.
- Ecosystem and biodiversity: Ecological concepts, food chains, biodiversity hotspots, threats, sustainable forest management and IPR.
- Pollution and solid waste management: Air, water, soil and noise pollution, solid waste types and recycling, and the key pollution-control laws (Environment Protection Act and the Air and Water Acts).
- Environment and human health: Climate change, acid rain, global warming, watershed management, river linking and water crisis.
- State-community interface: Joint forest management, community participation, disaster management, and ozone layer, CFCs and carbon credits.
Paper 5: General Studies 4 (250 marks)
Section I: Ethics
- Essence, determinants and consequences of ethics in human action, and ethics in private and public relationships
- Ethics in public administration, ethical dilemmas, and laws and rules as sources of guidance
- Accountability, ethical governance and corporate governance
- Concept of public service, transparency, RTI, codes of ethics and conduct, citizen charters, service delivery, and corruption
- Human values from great leaders and reformers, and the role of family, society and education
Section II: Integrity
Integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, and empathy, tolerance and compassion towards weaker sections.
Section III: Aptitude
- Aptitude and foundational values for civil service, attitudes, social influence and persuasion, and emotional intelligence in administration
- Contributions of moral thinkers from India and the world
- Case studies on the above topics
Quick preparation tips for Mains
- Papers 2, 3 and 4 have heavy Karnataka-specific content: history, geography, economy and schemes. Prepare it alongside the national syllabus.
- GS 2 Section III and GS 4 reward answer-writing practice more than reading.
- GS 1 Section III's data and quantitative part is easy to neglect but scoring.
- Treat Kannada and English as pass/fail: 35% in each is mandatory.
6. Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs)
PYQs show how KPSC frames questions. Official papers are available on the KPSC website.
- Collect 3 to 5 years of papers for Prelims and Mains.
- Solve them under exam conditions, at 2 hours per Prelims paper.
- Tag each question by topic (polity, Karnataka history, environment and so on) to see where the weight lies.
- Look for patterns.
- Statement-based and "which of the following is correct" questions are common.
- Karnataka-specific facts recur every year: dynasties, rivers, districts, literature and schemes.
- Current affairs and reasoning are scoring areas.
- Study Mains questions for directive words such as discuss, analyse and critically examine, and practise within the word limit.
- Keep an error log and revisit it weekly.
7. KPSC KAS Prelims Cut Off Marks
The Prelims cut off is category-wise and depends on paper difficulty, vacancies, candidate performance and reservation. Qualifying Prelims only gets you into Mains. The final cut off depends on Mains plus personality test marks.
Prelims cut off, 2024 cycle (reported estimates, out of 400)
| Category | Commonly reported cut off |
|---|---|
| General Merit | about 185 to 187 |
| SC | about 150 to 152 |
| ST | about 163 to 165 |
| Category 1 | about 168 to 169 |
| Category 2A | about 150 to 152 |
| Category 3A | about 175 to 176 |
| Category 3B | about 172 to 173 |
| Category 2B | about 135 |
These come from job portals and some are labelled "expected", so they may differ from KPSC's official PDF. Some portals gave a general range of 173 to 180.
Trend
- General category Prelims cut offs have tended to sit around 45% of total marks (about 180 to 190 out of 400).
- Reserved categories sit roughly 15 to 35 marks lower.
- The 2024 Prelims was reconducted, which shows that disruptions can affect timelines more than cut offs.
8. Expected Cut Off for 2026
This is an estimate based on trends and not an official figure.
| Category | Safe target (out of 400) |
|---|---|
| General Merit | 185 to 200 |
| Category 3A / 3B | 170 to 185 |
| Category 1 / ST | 160 to 175 |
| SC / 2A | 145 to 160 |
| 2B | 130 to 145 |
Target: Aim for 200+ in mock tests to stay safe even if the paper is easy.
Factors that will shift the 2026 cut off:
- 319 vacancies and the Prelims shortlisting ratio
- Paper difficulty and the effect of negative marking
- Number of applicants and attendance
- Reservation and horizontal quota adjustments
9. Preparation Strategy for the Next Month
- Prioritise the syllabus. Tick off topics and use the final weeks mainly for revision.
- Strengthen Karnataka content using state textbooks, the economic survey and the latest budget.
- Cover current affairs for the past 12 months, national and Karnataka.
- Take full-length mocks twice a week and analyse them.
- Solve PYQs topic-wise, then year-wise.
- Practise reasoning daily, as it is a scoring section.
- Start Mains answer writing now. Prelims is only the gate, and the Mains and interview decide your rank.
- Prepare for Kannada and English qualifying papers early. Failing either blocks you from the interview.
10. FAQs
How many posts are in KAS 2026?
319: 117 in Group A and 202 in Group B.
When is the Prelims?
15 November 2026 (tentative).
Do Prelims marks count toward the final rank?
No. Prelims is qualifying only.
What are the total marks after Prelims?
1,275: 1,250 for the written Mains and 25 for the personality test.
Are the Kannada and English papers counted in merit?
No. They are qualifying (35% minimum in each), but failing either one makes you ineligible for the personality test.
Where can I get the official syllabus, PYQs and cut offs?
On kpsc.kar.nic.in.
Conclusion
The 2026 KAS recruitment offers 319 posts, with Prelims on 15 November 2026. Use PYQs to learn the pattern, aim well above the expected Prelims cut off, and start Mains answer writing early. Check the KPSC website regularly for the official calendar, syllabus and results.
