SyllabusKPSC
KPSC KAS Syllabus 2026
The Karnataka Administrative Service examination runs through a Preliminary screening of two objective papers worth 400 marks, a descriptive Main examination of nine papers worth 1,750 marks, and a personality test. The Kannada and English papers in the Mains are qualifying at 35% and are not added to the merit total.
Last Updated 16 August 2026
Selection Stages
| Stage | Mode | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary examination | Objective, two papers | 400 | 2 hours per paper |
| Main examination | Descriptive, nine papers | 1,750 | As notified |
| Personality test (interview) | Interview | As notified | — |
Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims Paper I | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Prelims Paper II | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Mains — Kannada (qualifying) | Descriptive | 150, qualifying at 35% | As notified |
| Mains — English (qualifying) | Descriptive | 150, qualifying at 35% | As notified |
| Mains — Essay | Descriptive | Counted in the merit | As notified |
| Mains — General Studies I to IV | Descriptive | Counted in the merit | As notified |
Negative marking. 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in the Preliminary examination. There is no negative marking in the Main examination.
Subject-wise Syllabus
Current Affairs
- National events
- International events
- Sports, awards and appointments
- Government schemes and policy
Karnataka History and Geography
- History of Karnataka
- Unification movement
- Physical and economic geography of the state
- Culture, art and literature of Karnataka
Indian Polity and Governance
- Constitution of India
- Union and state government
- Judiciary
- Panchayati Raj
- Public policy and governance
- Rights issues
Indian Economy and Economic Development
- Planning and economic reform
- Budget and fiscal policy
- Banking and finance
- Agriculture and industry
- Sustainable development
- Karnataka's economy
General Science and Technology
- Physics, chemistry and biology at general standard
- Everyday science
- Information technology
- Space and defence technology
- Environment and ecology
General Mental Ability and Logical Reasoning
- Analytical reasoning
- Series and analogies
- Data interpretation
- Basic numeracy
- Decision making
Kannada and English (Mains, qualifying)
- Comprehension
- Precis writing
- Translation
- Grammar and usage
- Composition
Essay (Mains)
- Social and economic issues
- Governance and policy
- State and national current topics
- Structure, argument and expression
Important Links
Official Links
- Official WebsiteVisit
Confirm against the official notification. Syllabus and exam pattern are revised from time to time. Job Times 24 summarises them for study planning; the notification on the conducting body’s website is the authority.