KPSC KAS 2026 — Karnataka Administrative Service: Karnataka's state civil services exam — become Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, or Tahsildar through KPSC competitive exam.Vacancies: ~200-500. Salary: ₹56K–2L/mo. Age: 21-35 (Gen). State: Karnataka.KPSC KAS (Karnataka Public Service Commission — Karnataka Administrative Service) exam recruits for Group A and Group B posts in Karnataka's state administration. Top posts include Deputy Commissioner (DC), Superintendent of Police (SP — after promotion), Tahsildar, and Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes. The exam has Prelims (2 papers — GS + GS-II with Karnataka focus) and Mains (2 GS papers + optional + Kannada/English).
Registration OpenUpdated: March 2026
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KPSC KAS 2026 — Karnataka Administrative Service
Karnataka's state civil services exam — become Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, or Tahsildar through KPSC competitive exam
Vacancies
~200-500
Salary
₹56K–2L/mo
Age
21-35 (Gen)
State
Karnataka
📋Key Details
EducationBachelor's degree from recognized university
Age21-35 years (General). OBC: 38, SC/ST/Cat-I: 40.
PrelimsPaper 1: GS (100 Qs, 200 marks). Paper 2: GS-II with Karnataka focus (100 Qs, 200 marks).
KannadaCompulsory Kannada paper in Mains — must know Kannada
📝Prelims (2 papers)
Paper 1: GS (100 MCQs). Paper 2: GS-II with Karnataka-specific content. Both papers count for cutoff.
Paper 1: General Studies100 Qs · 200 marks
Paper 2: GS-II (Karnataka focus)100 Qs · 200 marks
Total200 Qs · 400 marks · 4 hours (2+2)
⚠️ Negative marking: Varies by cycle — check notification
💰Posts & Salary
Deputy Commissioner (DC)(District Administration)
₹1,00,000–1,50,000/monthTahsildar(Revenue Department)
₹70,000–90,000/monthAsst Commissioner (Taxes)(Commercial Tax Department)
₹70,000–90,000/month📚Karnataka GK — Essential Topics
History: Vijayanagara Empire (Hampi — UNESCO site), Hoysala temples (Belur, Halebidu), Wodeyar dynasty of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, Kittur Rani Chennamma, Karnataka Ekikarana (unification in 1956), Alur Venkata Rao.
Geography: Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, Cauvery-Krishna-Tungabhadra river systems, Malnad-Maidan-coastal divisions, Jog Falls, Deccan Plateau, coffee/sandalwood regions.
Economy: IT/BT capital (Bangalore), Mysore silk, coffee and spice production, aerospace industry (HAL), automobile manufacturing, KIADB industrial areas.
Current Affairs: Karnataka government schemes (Gruha Lakshmi, Shakti, Gruha Jyothi, Anna Bhagya, Yuva Nidhi), Bangalore infrastructure (Metro, peripheral ring road), Cauvery water tribunal updates.
📅Important Dates
NotificationCheck kpsc.kar.nic.in
📚Preparation Strategy
1.Paper 2 is Karnataka-specific — this is where most aspirants gain or lose their edge. Dedicate 30-40% of preparation to Karnataka history, geography, and economy.
2.Kannada literature and culture questions appear regularly. Know Kuvempu, Bendre, Karanth, Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, and Jnanpith award winners from Karnataka.
3.Follow Prajavani and Vijaya Karnataka newspapers for Karnataka current affairs. National newspapers miss state-level news that KPSC asks.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
🔗Related Exams
KPSC Official
kpsc.kar.nic.in