Karnataka Administrative Service

KAS is an acronym for Karnataka Administrative Service. Candidates selected through this process are eligible to serve some of the administrative roles in the state. The statewide exam is equivalent to IAS exam conducted nationwide. The selection procedure involves written examination followed by a personal interview.

For an effective administration of the Government, it is the policy of the Government to recruit dynamic youngsters in the administration of the State. For this purpose Gazetted probationers Rules of 1966 has been introduced. It is provided in the Rules that the Commission should invite applications from the eligible candidates for recruitment to the posts coming under Group I & II Civil Service posts. Up to 1997, these examinations were conducted at a single stage followed by Personality Test.

In the year 1997 this procedure was given up and the rules were amended on the lines of Civil Service examinations conducted by the U.P.S.C. In the year 2014, this procedure was further changed. Two Optional Subjects in Mains Exam were replaced by single Optional Subject and four General Studies Subjects were introduced.

Scheme of the Examination

As per the 1997 Rules the competitive examination comprises;

1. Preliminary Examination for the selection of candidates to the entrance examination - Qualifying
2. Main Examination (Written Examination) for selection of candidates to the personality test.
3. Personality test for final selection of candidates to various posts/ caders.

Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers with objective type questions (multiple choice). There will be negative marking of one-fourth of the total marks allocated to each question in both the papers.

Subject                                    Marks
Paper – I       General Studies         200
Paper – II      General studies         200

Total              400 marks

Note 1  : The question paper would be set both in Kannada and English. A candidate may answer the paper entirely either in Kannada or in English. Note 2  : The standard of Preliminary Examination is that of degree level. Note 3  : Each paper will be of two hours duration. Note 4  : The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination would be 20 times the vacancies notified for recruitment in the order of merit on the basis of the performance in the preliminary Examination . This would take care of vacancies reserved for candidates belonging to the categories of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward classes.

Main Examination

The main Examination consists of written examination which of conventional type.

SUBJECT                                                                  MARKS
Compulsory Kannada                                                150 marks
Compulsory English                                                150 marks

Paper - I                           Essay                    250 marks 
Paper – II, III, IV & V                      General studies          250 marks for each paper = 1000 marks
Paper – VI & VII                     Optional Subject         250 marks for each paper = 500 marks

TOTAL                                       1750 marks

The four General Studies paper are introduced on the lines of IAS Civil Services exam conducted by UPSC. GS-1 will have three separate sections each on Karnataka History, Sociology and Economy. GS-2 will also have three sections each on Geography, Indian Polity and Public Administration. GS-3 is completely on Science and GS-4 completely on Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude.

Note – 1  : The marks obtained in compulsory papers i.e. in Kannada and in English are of qualifying nature. For qualifying in these papers, a minimum of 30% in each paper and 35% aggregate is prescribed. The marks obtained in these two papers are not considered for determining the merit for selection. Candidates who do not secure the prescribed marks in these papers namely, Kannada and English, will not be eligible for personality test and selection.

Note – 2  : The Examination is of conventional type. Compulsory Kannada and English paper will be of two hours duration. Rest all the papers will be of three hours duration

Note – 3  : The question papers are set both in Kannada and in English. A candidate may answer a paper either entirely in Kannada or in English.

Note – 4  : The standard of the main examination except paper – I Kannada and Paper – II English (qualifying nature) are that of degree level. The standard of paper – I Kannada and Paper – II English are that of First Language Kannada and First Language English respectively at SSLC Level.

Personality Test

The Commission calls for personality test, at the ratio of 1:3 based on the number of vacancies in the order of merit on the basis of the results of the main Examination, taking into consideration the vacancies reserved for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Personality test carries a maximum of 200 marks. The object of the Personality test is to assess the personal suitability of a candidate to the service or services for which he is a candidate. The qualities judged at the time of personality test are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion, leadership and intellectual depth of the candidate.

External links

• Official Site:http://kpsc.kar.nic.in/
• http://nammakpsc.com/