KPSC Gazetted Probationers (KAS) Group A & B Recruitment 2026-27
Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC)
Updated 16 Sep 2026 · details from the official notice
01
Overview
Karnataka's administrative service exam, with prelims two months away.
KPSC notified the Gazetted Probationers Group A and B recruitment for 2026-27 on 31 July 2026, for 319 posts: 297 in the residual cadre and 22 in the Hyderabad-Karnataka cadre. Applications opened on 1 August and, after an extension, closed on 7 September 2026.
The preliminary exam is tentatively scheduled for 15 November 2026. Main exam and personality test dates will follow.
Quick snapshot
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment | Gazetted Probationers, Group A and Group B, 2026-27 |
| Notification | Dated 31 July 2026; closing date extended by corrigendum of 31 August 2026 |
| Vacancies | 319 — Group A 117, Group B 202 |
| Applications | 1 August – 7 September 2026 (closed) |
| Preliminary exam | 15 November 2026 (tentative) |
| Official website | kpsc.kar.nic.in |
02
Vacancy
Group A and Group B, by cadre.
| Group | Residual cadre | Hyderabad-Karnataka cadre | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | 112 | 5 | 117 |
| Group B | 185 | 17 | 202 |
| Total | 297 | 22 | 319 |
Group A includes Assistant Commissioners and other senior posts; Group B covers 13 services. The post-wise tables are in the notification on kpsc.kar.nic.in.
03
Exam pattern
Prelims to screen, mains and a personality test to rank.
Preliminary exam
- Two objective papers of 200 marks each, two hours each — 400 marks in all.
- The aptitude part is set at SSLC level; the rest is degree level.
- Candidates up to 15 times the vacancies, by merit and category, are admitted to the mains.
Negative marking
A quarter of a question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer. Marking more than one answer counts as wrong; a blank answer carries no penalty. Some questions award different marks to the most appropriate and a less appropriate answer instead.
Main exam
| Paper | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kannada (qualifying) | 150 | 2 hours |
| English (qualifying) | 150 | 2 hours |
| Paper 1 | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 2 — General Studies 1 | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 3 — General Studies 2 | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 4 — General Studies 3 | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 5 — General Studies 4 | 250 | 3 hours |
| Written total (merit) | 1,250 | |
| Personality test | 25 | |
| Grand total | 1,275 |
The Kannada and English papers need 35% (52.5 marks) each but do not count towards merit; they are set at SSLC first-language level. The other papers are degree level and can be answered entirely in Kannada or entirely in English.