The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), Bengaluru, has released Notification No. KPSCKA/EXA2/PRSL/11/2026-EXAM2/252 dated 27 August 2026 for direct recruitment to 15 Group B posts of Audit Officer in the Karnataka State Accounts Inspection and Accounts Department – 13 regular vacancies and 2 backlog vacancies. These posts are reserved exclusively for the Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka) cadre under Article 371(J) of the Constitution of India and the Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation to Hyderabad-Karnataka Region) (Recruitment) Rules, 2013. The online application window opens on 28 August 2026 and closes on 26 September 2026 at kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in. The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for 29 November 2026. Pay scale is Rs. 69,250 to Rs. 1,34,200 per month.
Important – Read Before You Apply: Four things that will eliminate your application before the examination. First, these posts are restricted exclusively to candidates who qualify as local candidates of the Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka) region under Article 371(J) – a local-candidate eligibility certificate in the Annexure format prescribed in the notification is mandatory, and candidates from outside this region are ineligible regardless of qualification; this is a cadre restriction, not a reservation preference. Second, a one-time 5-year upper-age relaxation has been applied to this specific notification – the standard upper limit of 35/38/40 years has been raised to 40/43/43 years respectively for this recruitment only, under Government of Karnataka Order No. ಸಿಆಸು 262 ಸೇನನಿ 2025 dated 29-01-2026; do not apply the standard age limits from older KPSC notifications. Third, completing One-Time Registration (OTR) on the KPSC portal is not the same as applying for this post – after OTR you must separately log in, go to “Apply to Post” and click Apply against this notification; candidates who only complete OTR have not submitted an application. Fourth, if you delete a submitted application, the fee paid for it is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted – verify all details thoroughly before final submission because post-submission corrections require deletion and a fresh application at the cost of another fee.
KPSC Audit Officer Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), Udyoga Soudha, Bengaluru – 560001 |
| Recruiting Department | Karnataka State Accounts Inspection and Accounts Department |
| Notification No. | KPSCKA/EXA2/PRSL/11/2026-EXAM2/252 dated 27 August 2026 |
| Post | Audit Officer, Group B |
| Cadre | Hyderabad-Karnataka (HK) Cadre exclusively |
| Constitutional Basis | Article 371(J) of the Constitution of India |
| Total Posts | 15 (13 regular + 2 backlog) |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 69,250 to Rs. 1,34,200 per month |
| Application Mode | Online only via kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in |
| Application Fee | Rs. 600 (General); Rs. 300 (Category 2A/2B/3A/3B); Rs. 50 (Ex-Servicemen); Nil (SC/ST/Category-1/PH) |
| Online Application Opens | 28 August 2026 |
| Online Application Closes | 26 September 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination (Tentative) | 29 November 2026 |
| Official Website | kpsc.kar.nic.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 27 August 2026 |
| Online application opens | 28 August 2026 |
| Online application closes | 26 September 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination (tentative) | 29 November 2026 |
| Main Examination | To be announced after Preliminary results |
The Preliminary Examination date is tentative. Candidates facing technical difficulties during application should contact KPSC helpline: 080-30574957 / 30574901 / 22356487 / 22200090. Requests for extension of last date due to technical error or delay will not be entertained.
Vacancy Details – Category-wise
Regular Vacancies – 13 Posts
| Category | Others | Women | Rural | PH | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 1 | 1 | – | – | 2 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| Category-1 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| Category-2A | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| Category-2B | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| Category-3B | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| General Merit (GM) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1* | 6 |
| Total | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
*PH post is Blind/Low Vision (B, LV).
Backlog Vacancies – 2 Posts
| Category | Physically Handicapped | Total |
|---|---|---|
| SC | 1# | 1 |
| Category-2A | 1# | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 2 |
#Hearing impairment or locomotor disability or old-age arthritis. All 15 posts are under the Hyderabad-Karnataka cadre exclusively.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification – any one of the following:
- Master’s degree in Commerce (M.Com) from a university established by law in India; OR
- MBA (Finance) or MBA (Financial Management) or MBA/M.Com (Financial Analysis) or any UGC-notified Master’s degree with Finance as one of the subjects, from a university established by law in India; OR
- Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI); OR
- Associate Member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI – CMA)
Candidates who have appeared in a qualifying examination whose result has not yet been declared are eligible for the Preliminary Examination. However, proof of having passed the qualifying examination must be produced at the time of applying for the Main Examination, failing which the candidature for the Main Examination will be cancelled.
Cadre Eligibility: Must be a local candidate of the Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka) region as defined under Article 371(J) and the Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation to Hyderabad-Karnataka Region) (Recruitment) Rules, 2013. The prescribed eligibility certificate (per the notification Annexure) is mandatory.
Age Limit
A one-time 5-year upper-age relaxation has been applied to this notification under Government of Karnataka Order No. ಸಿಆಸು 262 ಸೇನನಿ 2025 dated 29-01-2026.
| Category | Standard Upper Limit | Applicable to This Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 21 years | 21 years |
| General Merit | 35 years | 40 years |
| Category-2A/2B/3A/3B | 38 years | 43 years |
| SC/ST/Category-1 | 40 years | 43 years |
Additional relaxation: Ex-servicemen (military service years plus 3 years, up to a maximum of 3 years’ benefit); Physically Handicapped (10 years); Widows (10 years, with certificate of widowhood and non-remarriage). Age is reckoned as on the closing date of the application.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General category | Rs. 600 |
| Category-2A/2B/3A/3B | Rs. 300 |
| Ex-Servicemen | Rs. 50 |
| SC/ST/Category-1/Physically Handicapped | Nil |
Fee is paid online via net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI. Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted for any other examination or recruitment. Demand Drafts, Postal Orders and Money Orders are not accepted. Applications without fee payment will be rejected.
Exam Pattern and Selection Process
Selection is through two stages under Section-1 of Schedule-2 of the Karnataka State Public Services (Recruitment) Rules, 2011.
Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
| Paper | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Studies | 150 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | Commerce and Management | 300 | 2 hours |
| Total | 450 |
Papers are set in both Kannada and English. Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks – 30% for reserved categories and 35% for General Merit in each paper – to qualify for shortlisting. Preliminary marks are used only for shortlisting and are not counted in the final merit. Candidates are admitted to the Main Examination in the ratio of 1:20 against the number of vacancies notified per category.
Stage 2 – Main Examination (Written/Descriptive)
| Paper | Subject | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Kannada | 150 | 3 hours |
| Paper 2 | English | 150 | 3 hours |
| Paper 3 | General Studies | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper 4 | General Studies | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper 5 | Financial Accounting, Management and Analysis | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper 6 | Principles of Management, Organisational Behaviour, Training and Development | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper 7 | Corporate Finance, Business Economics and Taxation | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper 8 | Principles and Practice of Auditing, Computer Concepts and E-commerce | 300 | 3 hours |
| Total | 2,100 |
Papers 1 and 2 (Kannada and English) are set at SSLC standard. Papers 3 to 8 are at degree level. Candidates must answer entirely in Kannada or entirely in English (except the language papers). Final merit is based on Main Examination marks.
How to Apply
Step 1 – One-Time Registration (first-time applicants only)
- Visit kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in and click “New Registration.”
- Register with a valid personal email ID and mobile number.
- After logging in, complete your candidate profile under “Applicant Details Registration” with care – OTR details are reused for all future KPSC applications.
Step 2 – Applying for This Post
- Log in and go to the “Apply to Post” tab.
- Click “Apply Post” against this notification. The system will check your eligibility automatically.
- Ineligible candidates will see an alert; only eligible candidates can proceed.
- Read the notification fully, confirm eligibility, and fill in the application.
- Upload a passport-size photograph (under 200 KB, JPEG/JPG) and signature (under 70 KB, JPEG/JPG).
- Pay the applicable fee online and confirm payment.
- On successful submission, download the application from “Applied Post” – the acknowledgement must show QR confirmation of Application Submitted, Payment Done and Application Accepted. All three must be confirmed for the application to be complete.
Important Instructions
- Posts are exclusively for Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka) region local candidates under Article 371(J). Candidates from outside this region are not eligible.
- Completing OTR alone does not constitute an application for this post. Separately apply via “Apply to Post.”
- Post-submission corrections require deletion and a fresh application – the fee paid for a deleted application is not refunded or adjusted.
- Reservation certificates must be valid as on the closing date of application.
- Candidates in service must produce a No Objection Certificate from their employer when called.
- Married men with a living spouse who have remarried, and women who have married a man with a living spouse, are not eligible for appointment without prior Government exemption.
- Persons dismissed from Central, Karnataka or other State Government service, or debarred by any Public Service Commission, are not eligible.
- Impersonation, forged documents or malpractice at any stage leads to rejection and criminal action.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online – KPSC Portal | Apply Now |
| Official Notification PDF – Notification No. KPSCKA/EXA2/PRSL/11/2026-EXAM2/252 | Apply Now |
| KPSC Official Website | Apply Now |
Frequently Asked Questions – KPSC Audit Officer Recruitment 2026
Q1. How many posts are available in KPSC Audit Officer Recruitment 2026?
✅ 15 Group B posts – 13 regular and 2 backlog – in the Karnataka State Accounts Inspection and Accounts Department, exclusively for the Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka) cadre under Notification No. KPSCKA/EXA2/PRSL/11/2026-EXAM2/252 dated 27 August 2026.
Q2. Can candidates from outside the Hyderabad-Karnataka region apply?
✅ No. These posts are restricted exclusively to local candidates of the Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka) region under Article 371(J) of the Constitution of India and the Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation to Hyderabad-Karnataka Region) (Recruitment) Rules, 2013. A local-candidate eligibility certificate in the prescribed Annexure format is mandatory.
Q3. What is the last date to apply?
✅ 26 September 2026. The online application window opens on 28 August 2026 at kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in. The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for 29 November 2026.
Q4. What qualifications are accepted for this post?
✅ M.Com; MBA (Finance/Financial Management/Financial Analysis); any UGC-notified Master’s degree with Finance as a subject; membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India; or Associate membership of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India. Candidates awaiting final results may appear in the Preliminary Examination but must produce proof of passing before the Main Examination.
Q5. What is the age limit after the one-time relaxation?
✅ 21 to 40 years for General Merit; 21 to 43 years for Category-2A/2B/3A/3B; 21 to 43 years for SC/ST/Category-1, as applicable to this notification under the one-time 5-year relaxation. Additional relaxation applies for Ex-servicemen (up to 3 years), PH (10 years) and Widows (10 years).
Q6. What is the application fee?
✅ Rs. 600 for General category; Rs. 300 for Category-2A/2B/3A/3B; Rs. 50 for Ex-Servicemen; nil for SC/ST/Category-1 and Physically Handicapped candidates. Fee is paid online and is non-refundable.
Q7. What is the selection process?
✅ A two-stage written examination: an objective Preliminary Examination (450 marks, shortlisting only) followed by a descriptive Main Examination (2,100 marks across 8 papers, which determines the final merit list). There is no interview.
Q8. What is the pay scale for KPSC Audit Officer?
✅ Rs. 69,250 to Rs. 1,34,200 per month under the Karnataka Government pay structure for Group B gazetted posts.
Q9. If I delete my submitted application, will my fee be refunded?
✅ No. The fee paid for a deleted application is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted toward any other post or examination. Verify all details before final submission.
Q10. What is the difference between OTR and applying for this post?
✅ One-Time Registration (OTR) creates your candidate profile on the KPSC portal and is done only once. It does not constitute an application for any post. After OTR you must separately log in, go to “Apply to Post,” and click Apply against this specific notification to submit your application.
Disclaimer: This article is based on Notification No. KPSCKA/EXA2/PRSL/11/2026-EXAM2/252 dated 27 August 2026, released by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), Udyoga Soudha, Bengaluru, for 15 Group B Audit Officer posts (13 regular + 2 backlog) in the Karnataka State Accounts Inspection and Accounts Department, exclusively under the Hyderabad-Karnataka cadre under Article 371(J) of the Constitution. Online applications are accepted from 28 August to 26 September 2026 at kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in. A one-time 5-year upper-age relaxation is applied to this notification. The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for 29 November 2026. Fee paid is non-refundable. Candidates must read the official notification in full at kpsc.kar.nic.in before applying. JobShouter.com is not associated with the Karnataka Public Service Commission in any manner.
