KPSC Assistant Controller & Audit Officer Recruitment 2026
Job highlights
| Organisation | Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) |
|---|---|
| Location | Karnataka |
| State | 💻 Karnataka |
| Employment type | Full Time |
| Vacancies | 68 |
| Salary | INR 69,250 – 155,200 / year |
| Posted | Aug 27, 2026 |
| Apply by | Sep 26, 2026 |
| Education | Master’s degree in Commerce (M.Com) / MBA (Finance) / MBA (Financial Management) / MBA-M.Com (Financial Analysis) / any UGC-recognised Master’s degree with Finance as a subject; or Member of ICAI; or Associate member of Institute of Cost Accountants of India. |
| Age limit | Minimum 21 years as on the last date for application receipt. Maximum age: General 35, Category 2A/2B/3A/3B 38, SC/ST/Category-1 40. One-time relaxation of 5 years (General 40, Category 2A/2B/3A/3B 43, SC/ST/Category-1 45). Further relaxations: Ex-service |
| Application fee | General Merit 600; Category 2A/2B/3A/3B 300; Ex-servicemen 50; SC/ST/Category-1/PwBD exempted. Pay online via Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card or UPI; non-refundable and non-adjustable. |
The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) has released the KPSC Recruitment 2026 notification for 68 vacancies for the posts of Assistant Controller (Group A) and Audit Officer/Lekha Parishodhanadhikari (Group B). The recruitment is under the residual parent cadre of the Karnataka State Accounts and Audit Department. Eligible candidates can apply online through the KPSC Online portal.
Online applications are accepted from 28 August 2026 and must be submitted by 26 September 2026. The selection will be conducted through a Preliminary Examination followed by a Main (written) Examination, as per the applicable KPSC rules. Before applying, candidates should verify post-wise eligibility, age limits, and other requirements mentioned in the official notification.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | 2026-08-28 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 2026-09-26 |
| Preliminary Examination Date (Tentative) | 2026-12-06 |
| Main Examination Date | null |
| Result Declaration | null |
Vacancy Details
The recruitment drive is for a total of 68 vacancies in the Karnataka State Accounts and Audit Department (Residual Parent Cadre). Out of these, 53 vacancies are for Audit Officer/Lekha Parishodhanadhikari (Group B) and 15 vacancies are for Assistant Controller (Group A).
Group A – Assistant Controller (15 Posts)
| Category | Others | Women | Rural | Ex-Servicemen | PwBD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | 2 |
| Category-1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Category-2A | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 3 |
| Category-3A | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| General Merit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 (LD) | 8 |
| Total | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
Group B – Audit Officer (53 Posts)
| Category | Others | Women | Rural | Ex-Servicemen | PwBD | Kannada Medium | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (Cat-A) | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 03 |
| Scheduled Caste (Cat-B) | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 02 |
| Scheduled Caste (Cat-C) | 1* | 1 | – | – | – | – | 02 |
| Scheduled Tribe | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 02 |
| Category-1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 (B, LV) | – | 03 |
| Category-2A | – | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | 08 |
| Category-2B | – | – | 1 | – | 1 (B, LV) | – | 02 |
| Category-3A | – | – | 1 | – | 1 (B, LV) | – | 02 |
| Category-3B | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 (B, LV) | – | 03 |
| General Merit | 6 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 1 (D, HH) | 1 | 26 |
| Total | 9 | 17 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 53 |
Note: One post in SC Category-C (Women) is reserved for the 59 most backward castes listed within SC Category-C, as per Government Order dated 08.05.2026. If a suitable candidate from these 59 castes is unavailable, the post will be filled from other candidates of SC Category-C.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates applying for Assistant Controller / Audit Officer must possess one of the following qualifications as prescribed for the Karnataka State Accounts and Audit Department: a Master’s degree in Commerce (M.Com), or MBA (Finance), or MBA (Financial Management), or MBA/M.Com (Financial Analysis), or any other Master’s degree recognized by the UGC with “Finance” as one of the subjects, from a university established by law in India. Alternatively, candidates may apply if they are a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, or an Associate member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
Age Limit
The age limit is as per the Karnataka Gazetted Probationers (Recruitment through Competitive Examinations) Rules, 1997. Candidates must have completed a minimum of 21 years of age as on the last date fixed for receipt of applications. The maximum age limits are 35 years for General category, 38 years for Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, and 40 years for SC, ST and Category-1 candidates.
Age relaxation: A one-time relaxation of 5 years has been granted to candidates of all categories participating in this recruitment as per Government Order No. ಸಿಆಸುಇ 262 ಸೇನೆನಿ 2025 dated 29.01.2026. With this relaxation, the revised maximum age limits are 40 years for General category, 43 years for Category 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, and 45 years for SC, ST and Category-1 candidates. Additional relaxations are also admissible for Ex-servicemen (years of service rendered + 3 years), Persons with Disability (up to 10 years), and Widows with a valid certificate (up to 10 years).
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General Merit Candidates | 600 |
| Category 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B Candidates | 300 |
| Ex-servicemen Candidates | 50 |
| SC, ST, Category-1 and PwBD Candidates | Exempted |
The application fee must be paid online after submitting the application form. Payment can be made only through Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI. Once paid, the fee cannot be refunded or adjusted against any other examination or recruitment conducted by the Commission. Applications with unsuccessful payment or unpaid fee will be treated as incomplete and rejected.
How to Apply
- Go to the official KPSC portal: https://kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in.
- Click on “New Registration” and complete the One Time Registration (OTR) if you are not already registered.
- Log in using your registered credentials (User ID and Password).
- Open “Applicant Details Registration” and fill in your complete profile details.
- Go to the “Apply to Post” tab and select the notified post for which you are eligible.
- Complete the online application form carefully by entering all required details.
- Upload a recent colour passport-size photograph (maximum 200 KB) and signature (maximum 70 KB) in JPEG/JPG format.
- Review all entered details before final submission, because no correction is allowed after submission.
- Pay the prescribed application fee online using Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI.
- Download and keep a copy of the submitted application and the payment receipt for future reference.
Only online applications submitted through the KPSC website will be accepted; no other mode of application will be considered. The notification also clarifies that candidates must complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the KPSC portal before applying.
Salary & Pay Scale
| Post Name | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| Assistant Controller (Group A) | ₹83700 - 155200 |
| Audit Officer (Group B) | ₹69250 - 134200 |
Selected candidates will receive the above pay scale along with other admissible allowances as per rules.
Selection Process
The selection for Assistant Controller and Audit Officer posts will be conducted in two stages under the Karnataka Gazetted Probationers (Recruitment through Competitive Examinations) Rules, 1997: a Preliminary Examination and a Main (written) Examination.
- Preliminary Examination: Objective type, Multiple Choice. Paper-1 (General Studies) carries 150 marks for a duration of 2 hours, and Paper-2 (Commerce and Management) carries 300 marks for a duration of 2 hours. The total is 450 marks. Candidates in the ratio of 1:20 of the notified vacancies will be shortlisted for the Main Examination based on marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination.
- Main Examination: Written descriptive type. Paper-1 (Kannada) 150 marks (3 hours), Paper-2 (English) 150 marks (3 hours), Paper-3 (General Studies) 300 marks (3 hours), Paper-4 (General Studies) 300 marks (3 hours), Paper-5 (Financial Accounting, Management and Analysis) 300 marks (3 hours), Paper-6 (Principles and Practice of Management, Organisation Behaviour, Training and Development) 300 marks (3 hours), Paper-7 (Corporate Finance, Business Economics and Taxation) 300 marks (3 hours), and Paper-8 (Principles and Practice of Auditing, Computer Concepts and E-Commerce) 300 marks (3 hours). The total is 2100 marks. Candidates must secure a minimum of 30% marks in the Kannada and English language papers and an average of 35% marks across Papers 1 and 2 to have the remaining papers evaluated.
Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements should complete their One Time Registration (OTR) and submit the online application before 26 September 2026 to avoid last-minute issues.
Important links
- Official Portal: https://kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in
- Official Notice PDF: https://www.kpsc.kar.nic.in/SAAD%20RPC%20Notification%20dt%2027-08-2026.pdf
Frequently asked questions
How many vacancies are announced for KPSC Assistant Controller and Audit Officer Recruitment 2026? +
A total of 68 vacancies are announced: 15 for Assistant Controller (Group A) and 53 for Audit Officer/Lekha Parishodhanadhikari (Group B).
What is the last date to submit the online application for KPSC Recruitment 2026? +
The last date to submit the online application is 2026-09-26.
Is One Time Registration (OTR) required before applying? +
Yes. The notification states that candidates must complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the KPSC portal before submitting the application.
What is the application fee for General Merit candidates and is it refundable? +
General Merit candidates must pay 600. The fee is paid online and, once paid, it cannot be refunded or adjusted against any other examination or recruitment.
What is the selection process for these posts? +
Selection is through two stages: a Preliminary Examination (objective type, multiple choice) and a Main Examination (written descriptive type). Candidates are shortlisted for the Main based on marks in the Preliminary Examination.
What educational qualification is required to apply for Assistant Controller/Audit Officer? +
Candidates must have a Master’s degree in Commerce (M.Com), or MBA (Finance)/MBA (Financial Management)/MBA-M.Com (Financial Analysis) or another UGC-recognised Master’s degree with Finance as a subject; or be a member of ICAI; or an associate member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.