KPSC KAS Recruitment 2026-27 (Gazetted Probationers)

The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) has released the KPSC KAS Recruitment 2026-27 notification for Gazetted Probationer vacancies under the Karnataka Government. The recruitment is being conducted to fill 319 Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts through the Karnataka Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examinations) Rules, 1997. Eligible candidates can apply online on the official portal and should check the notification details before submitting their application.

This recruitment covers 319 vacancies in total, comprising 117 Group ‘A’ posts and 202 Group ‘B’ posts. The notification was released on 2026-07-31, and online applications are open from 2026-08-01 until 2026-08-31. Candidates must apply online through the KPSC online portal. Selection is planned through a Preliminary Examination, followed by a Main Examination, and then a Personality Test (Interview) for shortlisted candidates.

Important Dates

Vacancy Details

The recruitment is for Gazetted Probationer posts across Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’. The notification includes vacancies under the Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka) local cadre as applicable. The highest number of Group ‘B’ openings is for Commercial Tax Officer (74 posts), and among Group ‘A’ posts, Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes has the highest number (50 posts).

KPSC KAS Group ‘A’ Vacancy 2026-27

KPSC KAS Group ‘B’ Vacancy 2026-27

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Under Rule 7 of the Karnataka Recruitment of Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examinations) Rules, 1997, a candidate is not eligible unless they possess a Bachelor’s Degree or a Master’s Degree awarded by a University established by law in India, or an equivalent qualification. For the KPSC KAS Recruitment 2026-27, the required qualification for Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Gazetted Probationer posts is a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree from a recognized University, or an equivalent qualification.

Candidates who have appeared for the qualifying examination but whose results are yet to be declared are eligible to appear for the Preliminary Examination. However, they must produce proof of passing the qualifying examination at the time of applying for the Main Examination.

Age Limit

The KPSC KAS Recruitment 2026-27 age limit requires a minimum age of 21 years for all candidates. The maximum age varies by category as on the cut-off date mentioned in the official notification. The category-wise age limits provided are: General Merit (GM/UR) candidates can apply between 21 and 40 years; candidates in Category 2A/2B/3A/3B can apply between 21 and 43 years; and SC/ST/Category-1 candidates can apply between 21 and 45 years. Ex-Servicemen are eligible for additional relaxation as per rules, over and above the category relaxation. Persons with Disabilities are eligible for an additional 10 years’ relaxation.

Application Fee

Once the fee is paid, it is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other examination or notification.

How to Apply

1. Go to the official KPSC online portal: kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in.
2. Complete One Time Registration (OTR) if you are not already registered.
3. Log in using your Enrollment Number, or Mobile Number, or Email ID, and complete OTP verification.
4. Click the “Apply to Post” tab and select the notified post you wish to apply for.
5. Fill in the Online Application Form and complete the profile details.
6. Upload the required photograph and signature in the specified formats: photograph in JPEG/JPG (size under 200 KB) and signature in JPEG/JPG (size under 70 KB).
7. Pay the application fee (if applicable) using Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI (if applicable).
8. Submit the application form.
9. Download the confirmation receipt with QR code showing that the application has been submitted, payment has been done, and the application is accepted.

Salary & Pay Scale

The provided notification text does not mention the salary or pay scale for the KPSC KAS 2026-27 posts. Please refer to the official notification PDF for pay details.

Selection Process

The selection process consists of three stages. First, candidates will be evaluated through a Preliminary Examination. This preliminary exam is objective type (multiple choice) and includes two papers of 200 marks each (400 marks total), with each paper of 2 hours duration. The papers are set in Kannada and English. Negative marking is applicable in the Preliminary Examination, with 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.

After the Preliminary Examination, candidates are shortlisted for the Main Examination. Admission to the Main Examination is based on merit in the Preliminary Examination, and the number of candidates admitted is in the ratio of 15 times the notified vacancies, subject to category-wise representation.

The Main Examination is conventional/descriptive in nature. It includes 2 qualifying papers (Kannada and English) and 5 compulsory papers (Essay and General Studies I to IV), totaling 1250 marks. Candidates must secure a minimum of 35% marks in each of the Kannada and English qualifying papers; these qualifying marks are not counted towards merit.

Finally, candidates who clear the Main Examination will be called for a Personality Test (Interview). The interview is conducted in the ratio of 1:3 against notified vacancies based on Main Examination merit. The Personality Test carries 25 marks. Final selection is based on the aggregate of Main Examination marks (1250) and Personality Test marks (25), totaling 1275 marks.

Eligible candidates should complete their online application between 2026-08-01 and 2026-08-31 and ensure all required documents and uploads are submitted correctly before the closing date.