The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), “Udyoga Soudha”, Bengaluru – 560 001, has released Notification No. KPSCKA/EXA1/EXMF/9/2026-EXAM-1/I/251710/2026 dated 31 July 2026 inviting online applications for 319 Gazetted Probationers posts (Group A and Group B) for the year 2026-27 under the Karnataka Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examinations) Rules, 1997 (as amended). The recruitment covers 5 Group A designations (117 posts) and 13 Group B designations (202 posts) across various Karnataka Government departments including Revenue, Commercial Taxes, Social Welfare, Rural Development, Prisons, Cooperative Societies, Agricultural Marketing, Excise, Urban Development, Treasury, Food and Civil Supplies, Secretariat, and KPSC itself. Candidates holding a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree from a university established by law in India, aged between 21 and 40 years (with category-wise relaxation up to 45 years plus a one-time additional 5-year relaxation for all categories), can apply online through the One Time Registration (OTR) portal at kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in from 1 August 2026 to 31 August 2026. The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled on 15 November 2026. The application fee is Rs. 600 for General Merit, Rs. 300 for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B, Rs. 50 for Ex-Military Personnel, and Nil for SC/ST/Category-1/PwD candidates.
Important Note: Five critical points that candidates routinely miss. First, this notification includes 22 posts reserved under the Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka) local cadre under Article 371(J) – only candidates who belong to the local area of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region can apply for these posts; other candidates compete only for the general cadre posts. Second, all candidates are entitled to a one-time special additional age relaxation of 5 years over and above the standard category age limits, as per Government Order No. ಸಕಇ 262 ಪಿಆರಇ 2025 dated 29-01-2026 – this is on top of the normal SC/ST (5 years) and OBC category (3 years) relaxation, not instead of it. Third, the Preliminary Exam marks are NOT counted in the final merit – it is a screening test only; the final merit is based on the Main Examination (1,250 marks) plus Personality Test (25 marks) = 1,275 marks. Fourth, Kannada and English qualifying papers in the Main Exam carry 150 marks each but are qualifying in nature only; candidates must score a minimum of 35% (52.5 marks) in each to proceed – failing either paper means all other Main Exam papers are not evaluated. Fifth, candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree are eligible for the Preliminary Exam but must produce proof of passing the qualifying exam before the Main Exam application – those who cannot do so will not be admitted to Mains.
Overview – KPSC Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026-27
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), Bengaluru |
| Notification No. | KPSCKA/EXA1/EXMF/9/2026-EXAM-1/I/251710/2026 |
| Notification Date | 31 July 2026 |
| Post Category | Gazetted Probationers 2026-27 (Group A and Group B) |
| Governing Rules | Karnataka Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examinations) Rules, 1997 (as amended) |
| Total Vacancies | 319 (Group A – 117 |
| Number of Designations | 18 (5 Group A + 13 Group B) |
| HK Local Cadre Posts | 22 posts (5 Group A + 17 Group B) under Article 371(J) |
| Minimum Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree from a university established by law in India |
| Application Mode | Online – One Time Registration (OTR) at kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in |
| Application Start Date | 1 August 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 31 August 2026 |
| Tentative Prelims Date | 15 November 2026 |
| Official Website | kpsc.kar.nic.in / kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 31 July 2026 |
| Online Application Start | 1 August 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 31 August 2026 |
| Tentative Preliminary Examination | 15 November 2026 (subject to change – confirm at kpsc.kar.nic.in) |
| Main Examination | To be announced separately on kpsc.kar.nic.in |
| Personality Test (Interview) | To be announced after Main Examination results |
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General Merit and other unreserved categories | Rs. 600/- |
| Category 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B | Rs. 300/- |
| Ex-Military Personnel | Rs. 50/- |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Persons with Disabilities | Nil (exempted) |
Payment mode: Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI – online only. Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other examination or notification. Applications with unsuccessful or incomplete payment will be rejected.
Age Limit
| Category | Maximum Age Limit | With One-Time Special 5-Year Relaxation (GO dated 29-01-2026) |
|---|---|---|
| General Merit (UR) | 40 years | 45 years |
| Category 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B | 43 years | 48 years |
| SC / ST / Category-1 | 45 years | 50 years |
Minimum age for all candidates: 21 years
Additional relaxations beyond the above:
- Ex-servicemen: relaxation equal to length of military service plus 3 years, subject to conditions
- Persons with Disabilities: 10 years relaxation
- Widowed/Divorced (not remarried): 10 years relaxation, subject to conditions in the notification
Note: Age, qualification, and all eligibility conditions are determined as on the last date for submission of the online application (31 August 2026). No age relaxation is available to SC/ST/OBC category candidates applying against General Merit (UR) vacancies.
Educational Qualification
As per Rule 7 of the Karnataka Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examinations) Rules, 1997 (as amended by the 8th Amendment Rules, 2010):
Essential: A Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree awarded by a University established by law in India, or an equivalent qualification.
Final-year students: Candidates who have appeared in an examination that would render them educationally qualified but whose results have not yet been declared are eligible to appear in the Preliminary Examination. However, they must produce proof of passing the qualifying examination along with their Main Examination application; failure to do so means they will not be admitted to Mains.
Medical/professional candidates: Candidates who have passed their final professional/medical examination but have not completed internship at the time of application are provisionally admitted, subject to submitting the required proof at the time of Interview.
No separate post-wise qualification is prescribed beyond the above general degree requirement for any of the 18 designations under this notification.
Vacancy Details – Group A Posts (117 Vacancies)
| S. No. | Post Name | Department | General Cadre | HK Cadre (Article 371-J) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assistant Commissioner (Junior Scale) | Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department | 36 | 3 | 39 |
| 2 | Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes | Commercial Tax Department | 50 | – | 50 |
| 3 | Assistant Director | Treasury Department | 2 | – | 2 |
| 4 | Executive Officer/Assistant Secretary | Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department | 13 | 2 | 15 |
| 5 | Assistant Director Grade-1 | Social Welfare Department | 11 | – | 11 |
| Group A Total | 112 | 5 | 117 |
Vacancy Details – Group B Posts (202 Vacancies)
| S. No. | Post Name | Department | General Cadre | HK Cadre (Article 371-J) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tahsildar Grade-2 | Revenue Department | 18 | 7 | 25 |
| 2 | Commercial Tax Officer | Commercial Tax Department | 74 | – | 74 |
| 3 | Assistant Superintendent | Prisons Department | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies | Co-operation Department | 19 | 2 | 21 |
| 5 | Assistant Director | Department of Agricultural Marketing (Co-operation Department) | 10 | 2 | 12 |
| 6 | Deputy Superintendent of Excise | Finance Department (Excise Department) | 5 | – | 5 |
| 7 | Employment Officer | Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department | 3 | – | 3 |
| 8 | Chief Officer Grade-1 | Urban Development Department | 18 | 2 | 20 |
| 9 | Assistant Treasury Officer | Finance Department (Treasury Department) | 12 | – | 12 |
| 10 | Assistant Director | Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 11 | Section Officer | Karnataka Government Secretariat | 5 | – | 5 |
| 12 | Section Officer | Karnataka Public Service Commission | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 13 | Assistant Director Grade-2 | Social Welfare Department | 11 | – | 11 |
| Group B Total | 185 | 17 | 202 |
Grand Total: 319 vacancies (297 general cadre + 22 Hyderabad-Karnataka local cadre)
The complete category-wise (General Merit, SC, ST, Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, Ex-Military, Kannada Medium, Physically Handicapped, Transgender) reservation break-up for each post is given in Annexure-1 of the official notification at kpsc.kar.nic.in. Candidates must refer to the official notification PDF for the exact category-wise vacancy count relevant to them.
Salary / Pay Scale
The official notification does not specify individual pay scales for each of the 18 designations – pay scales are governed by the respective service rules of each post. Based on the Karnataka Government Pay Matrix applicable to Gazetted Officers:
| Group | Starting Basic Pay (indicative) | Approximate In-Hand Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Group A (e.g. Assistant Commissioner, AC of Commercial Taxes) | Rs. 56,100/month (Level 10, Karnataka Pay Matrix) | Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1,20,000/month (approx., including DA, HRA, TA) |
| Group B (e.g. Tahsildar Grade-2, Commercial Tax Officer) | Rs. 43,100/month (indicative) | Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 90,000/month (approx.) |
In addition to basic pay, selected officers are entitled to Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Travel Allowance, medical benefits, and other Karnataka Government allowances as per service rules. For the exact pay scale applicable to each post, candidates should refer to the respective department’s service rules or contact the KPSC helpdesk at kpsc.kar.nic.in.
Selection Process – Three Stages
| Stage | Type | Marks | Counted in Merit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination | Objective (MCQ) | 400 | No – screening only |
| Stage 2 – Main Examination | Descriptive/Conventional | 1,250 (written) + 300 (qualifying, not counted) | Yes |
| Stage 3 – Personality Test (Interview) | Personal Interview | 25 | Yes |
| Grand Total (for merit ranking) | 1,275 |
Exam Pattern – Preliminary Examination
| Paper | Subject Area | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies – National and International importance (History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science and Technology, Environment, Current Affairs) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Paper II | General Studies – State importance, General Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology, General Mental Ability | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Total | 200 | 400 |
Negative Marking in Prelims: 0.25 marks (one-fourth) deducted for every wrong answer.
Prelims is screening only. Marks scored in the Preliminary Examination are not counted towards the final merit list. Candidates are admitted to the Main Examination in a ratio of 1:15 against notified vacancies, in order of merit, subject to category-wise representation.
Exam Pattern – Main Examination
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Paper 1 | Kannada (SSLC First Language standard) | 150 | 2 hours | Qualifying only – not counted in merit |
| Qualifying Paper 2 | English (SSLC First Language standard) | 150 | 2 hours | Qualifying only – not counted in merit |
| Paper 1 | Essay | 250 | 3 hours | Counted in merit |
| Paper 2 | General Studies – 1 | 250 | 3 hours | Counted in merit |
| Paper 3 | General Studies – 2 | 250 | 3 hours | Counted in merit |
| Paper 4 | General Studies – 3 | 250 | 3 hours | Counted in merit |
| Paper 5 | General Studies – 4 | 250 | 3 hours | Counted in merit |
| Total (merit-based) | 1,250 |
Kannada and English qualifying papers: Minimum 35% marks (52.5 out of 150) required in each. Candidates failing to secure 35% in either qualifying paper will not have their other Main Exam papers evaluated and will not be called for the Personality Test.
Medium: All Main Examination papers (except the qualifying language papers) can be answered entirely in Kannada or in English at the candidate’s choice.
Personality Test (Interview): 25 marks. Candidates are called for the Personality Test in a ratio of 1:3 against notified vacancies, based on Main Examination merit.
Final merit = Main Exam 5 papers (1,250 marks) + Personality Test (25 marks) = 1,275 marks.
Physical Standards – Posts with Field/Law-and-Order Duties
Candidates applying for Assistant Superintendent, Prisons and Deputy Superintendent of Excise posts must meet the minimum physical standards as prescribed in the notification. The physical standards include specifications for height, chest measurement (for male candidates), and an endurance/walking test for both male and female candidates. Candidates applying for these posts should refer to the detailed physical standards table in the official notification PDF at kpsc.kar.nic.in before applying.
Required Documents for Online Application
- Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree certificate or provisional pass certificate
- SSLC/10th standard marks card (for date of birth verification)
- Category certificate (SC/ST/Category-1/2A/2B/3A/3B) issued by the competent Tahsildar, valid for Central/State Government use
- Non-Creamy Layer certificate (for 2A/2B/3A/3B categories)
- Rural study certificate (if claiming rural candidate benefit)
- Kannada Medium study certificate (if claiming Kannada Medium candidate benefit)
- Ex-Military Person certificate/discharge certificate (if applicable)
- Disability certificate in the prescribed format (if applicable)
- Hyderabad-Karnataka (Article 371-J) local candidate proof (if applying for HK local cadre posts)
- Recent passport-size photograph (JPEG/JPG, below 200 KB)
- Scanned signature (JPEG/JPG, below 70 KB)
How to Apply for KPSC Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026-27
- Visit the official KPSC application portal: kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in
- If applying for the first time, complete the One Time Registration (OTR) by entering all personal, educational, and category details step by step. Once submitted, OTR details cannot be edited.
- Log in using your Enrollment Number/Mobile Number/Email ID and OTP.
- Go to the “Apply to Post” tab, select this notification (Gazetted Probationers 2026-27), and review the eligibility conditions and instructions.
- Complete the post-specific application form using details carried over from your OTR profile.
- Upload all required documents (photograph, signature, certificates) in the prescribed format and size.
- Click “Pay Now” and complete the application fee payment via UPI, Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking.
- After successful payment, verify submission status under the “Applied Post” tab and download the confirmation receipt containing a QR code.
- Do not close the browser or press the back/refresh button while payment is processing.
- If a payment shows “Processing” or “Pending,” wait for it to complete – no manual intervention is possible.
To edit a submitted application: Delete it under “Applied Post” and reapply before the last date. Any fee paid for a deleted application cannot be refunded or adjusted.
Important Instructions
- Apply only through kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in. Applications through any other website will not be accepted.
- Submit only one application per post/category combination. If more than one application is submitted for the same post, only the first valid registration is considered.
- Candidates claiming Hyderabad-Karnataka (Article 371-J) local cadre benefit must be from the notified local area – other candidates cannot compete for these reserved posts.
- Preliminary Exam marks are not counted in the final merit. Focus on the Main Examination and Personality Test.
- Candidates must score a minimum 35% in both Kannada and English qualifying papers in the Mains, failing which all other papers are not evaluated.
- For posts involving physical standards (Prisons, Excise), candidates must check and meet the prescribed height, chest, and endurance standards before applying.
- The syllabus for the Main Examination is published separately at kpsc.kar.nic.in/Syllabus.
- KPSC does not correspond by phone or letter about application/candidature status. Check the registered login and the website for all updates.
- Furnishing incorrect information, using unfair means, or submitting fabricated documents will lead to disqualification and debarment from KPSC examinations and Karnataka State Civil Services employment.
- The exact Prelims date, venue, and time will be published separately on kpsc.kar.nic.in closer to the exam. The date of 15 November 2026 is tentative.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF (GP 2026-27) | Click Here |
| Apply Online (OTR Portal) | Click Here |
| Main Exam Syllabus | Click Here |
| KPSC Official Website | Click Here |
KPSC KAS Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
Q1. What is KPSC KAS Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026?
✅ It is a recruitment notification (No. KPSCKA/EXA1/EXMF/9/2026-EXAM-1/I/251710/2026, dated 31 July 2026) by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) for 319 Gazetted Probationers posts (Group A and Group B) for the year 2026-27, covering 18 designations across various Karnataka Government departments, conducted under the Karnataka Gazetted Probationers Rules, 1997.
Q2. How many vacancies are there and how are they split?
✅ 319 total vacancies – 117 under Group A (5 designations) and 202 under Group B (13 designations), including 22 posts reserved under the Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana Karnataka) local cadre under Article 371(J) of the Constitution (5 Group A + 17 Group B). The remaining 297 posts are in the general cadre.
Q3. What is the last date to apply?
✅ 31 August 2026. Online applications are open from 1 August 2026 through kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in via One Time Registration (OTR).
Q4. What is the educational qualification required?
✅ A Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree from a University established by law in India (or an equivalent qualification) as per Rule 7 of the Gazetted Probationers Rules, 1997. Final-year students may appear in the Preliminary Exam but must produce proof of passing before the Main Exam application.
Q5. What is the age limit and the one-time special relaxation?
✅ Minimum 21 years. Maximum: 40 years (General Merit), 43 years (Category 2A/2B/3A/3B), 45 years (SC/ST/Category-1). Additionally, all candidates get a one-time special 5-year relaxation as per Government Order dated 29-01-2026, making the effective upper limits 45/48/50 years respectively. PwD and Ex-servicemen get further relaxation as per rules.
Q6. What is the application fee?
✅ Rs. 600 for General Merit; Rs. 300 for Category 2A/2B/3A/3B; Rs. 50 for Ex-Military Personnel; Nil for SC/ST/Category-1 and PwD candidates. Payment is online only via Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI.
Q7. Are the Preliminary Exam marks counted in the final merit?
✅ No. The Preliminary Examination is a screening test only and its marks are not counted in the final merit list. Final ranking is based on the Main Examination (1,250 marks) + Personality Test (25 marks) = 1,275 marks only.
Q8. What is the minimum qualifying mark in the Kannada and English papers in Mains?
✅ Candidates must score a minimum of 35% marks (52.5 out of 150) in each of the Kannada and English qualifying papers. Those who do not meet this threshold in either paper will not have their other Main Exam papers evaluated and will not be called for the Personality Test.
Q9. What is the tentative date of the Preliminary Examination?
✅ 15 November 2026 (tentative). The exact date, time, and exam centre details will be published separately on kpsc.kar.nic.in. Candidates must monitor the website as the date is subject to change.
Q10. What happens if I delete and resubmit my application?
✅ A submitted application can be deleted under the “Applied Post” tab and resubmitted through the OTR portal before the last date. However, any fee already paid for a deleted application cannot be refunded or adjusted. A fresh fee payment is required for the resubmitted application.
Disclaimer
The information above is compiled from the official KPSC Gazetted Probationers 2026-27 Notification (No. KPSCKA/EXA1/EXMF/9/2026-EXAM-1/I/251710/2026, dated 31 July 2026) published by the Karnataka Public Service Commission at kpsc.kar.nic.in, and verified from the official notification details as of 2 August 2026. All details – vacancy counts (319 total; Group A-117, Group B-202, HK cadre-22), application dates (1 to 31 August 2026), tentative Prelims date (15 November 2026), application fee, age limits (including the one-time 5-year special relaxation per GO dated 29-01-2026), exam pattern (Prelims: 400 marks screening; Mains: 1,250 marks + 300 marks qualifying; Personality Test: 25 marks; Grand Total: 1,275 marks), and Kannada/English qualifying threshold (35% minimum per paper) – are as stated in the official notification. The pay scale figures cited are indicative, based on Karnataka Government Pay Matrix norms, as the official notification does not specify individual post pay scales. Candidates are strongly advised to download the complete official notification PDF from kpsc.kar.nic.in and apply only through kpsconline.karnataka.gov.in. All links above point exclusively to the official KPSC website.
