KAS exam pattern

KAS exam pattern

The Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) exam is conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) in three stages: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Personality Test (Interview). Each stage is designed to test different aspects of a candidate’s knowledge, aptitude, and personality.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the KAS exam pattern:

1. Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

The Preliminary Exam is the first stage of the KAS selection process. It serves as a screening test to filter candidates for the Main Exam. The marks obtained in the Prelims are not counted towards the final ranking, but candidates must clear it to qualify for the Main Exam.

Structure of Prelims:

• Type of Exam: Objective (Multiple Choice Questions - MCQs)
• Number of Papers: 2
• Total Marks: 400
• Negative Marking: Yes (1/4th of the marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer)

Each paper carries 200 marks and the duration of each paper is 2 hours.

Details of Prelims Papers:

• Paper I: General Studies
• Marks: 200
• Duration: 2 hours
• Syllabus:
• General Knowledge
• Current Affairs (national and international)
• Indian History
• Indian Polity
• Indian Economy
• Geography
• Science & Technology
• Environment & Ecology
• Paper II: General Aptitude
• Marks: 200
• Duration: 2 hours
• Syllabus:
• General Mental Ability
• Logical Reasoning
• Comprehension
• Numerical Ability
• Data Interpretation
• Decision Making
• Interpersonal Skills
• English Language Comprehension

Qualifying Nature: The Prelims is qualifying in nature, and candidates must score above a certain cut-off to be eligible for the Main Exam. The cut-off marks vary based on the category (General, OBC, SC/ST, etc.).

2. Main Examination (Descriptive Type)

Candidates who clear the Preliminary exam move on to the Main Examination. The Main Exam is descriptive and is more in-depth, designed to test candidates’ subject knowledge, analytical skills, and writing abilities.

Structure of Mains:

• Type of Exam: Descriptive/Written (Essay-type answers)
• Number of Papers: 9 (7 are counted for ranking, 2 are qualifying papers)
• Total Marks (for merit): 1,750

Details of Mains Papers:

• Paper A: Kannada (Compulsory)
• Marks: 150
• Duration: 2 hours
• Syllabus: Kannada grammar, comprehension, essay writing, translation, etc.
• Qualifying Paper: Candidates must secure at least 35% marks.
• Paper B: English (Compulsory)
• Marks: 150
• Duration: 2 hours
• Syllabus: English grammar, essay writing, comprehension, précis, etc.
• Qualifying Paper: Candidates must secure at least 35% marks.

The marks obtained in these two compulsory language papers are not counted for ranking. However, candidates must clear them to proceed to the other papers.

Papers for Merit Ranking:

• Paper 1: Essay
• Marks: 250
• Duration: 3 hours
• Candidates are required to write two essays on topics related to current affairs, public policy, social issues, and national or international issues.
• Paper 2: General Studies 1
• Marks: 250
• Duration: 3 hours
• Syllabus:
• Indian History and Culture
• Modern Indian History (from the middle of the 18th century)
• Freedom Movement and Post-Independence Consolidation
• World History (events from the 18th century onwards)
• Geography of India and the World
• Indian Society (diversity, women’s issues, poverty, population)
• Paper 3: General Studies 2
• Marks: 250
• Duration: 3 hours
• Syllabus:
• Indian Constitution and Polity
• Governance
• Social Justice
• International Relations
• Current Affairs (related to polity and governance)
• Paper 4: General Studies 3
• Marks: 250
• Duration: 3 hours
• Syllabus:
• Indian Economy (planning, resource mobilization, growth)
• Agriculture, Science & Technology
• Environment, Biodiversity, and Disaster Management
• Internal Security and Disaster Management
• Paper 5: General Studies 4
• Marks: 250
• Duration: 3 hours
• Syllabus:
• Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
• Case studies related to public administration
• Ethics in Public Service and Society
• Emotional Intelligence
• Probity in Governance
• Paper 6 & 7: Optional Subject (2 Papers)
• Marks: 250 each (Total: 500)
• Duration: 3 hours each
• Candidates can choose one optional subject from a list provided by KPSC. The optional subject will have two papers:
• Optional Paper 1
• Optional Paper 2

The list of optional subjects includes subjects like Public Administration, Sociology, History, Geography, Political Science, Anthropology, and various others.

Total Marks for Mains:

• Marks for merit-based papers: 1,750 (7 papers)
• Marks for qualifying papers (Kannada and English): 300 (not counted towards merit but must be cleared)

3. Personality Test (Interview)

The final stage of the KAS exam is the Personality Test, also known as the Interview. Only candidates who clear the Main Examination are eligible for the interview.

Details of the Personality Test:

• Total Marks: 200
• The Personality Test assesses the overall personality, communication skills, leadership qualities, decision-making ability, and suitability of the candidate for administrative roles.
• Candidates’ knowledge of current affairs, general awareness, ethical behavior, and other attributes are also evaluated.

Key Areas of Focus in Interview:

• General Knowledge and Current Affairs: The panel tests candidates' awareness of current issues at the local, national, and international levels.
• Decision Making and Problem-Solving: Candidates may be given hypothetical administrative situations and asked how they would handle them.
• Personality Traits: Communication skills, confidence, ethical integrity, and leadership qualities are crucial in this round.

Final Merit List:

The final merit list is prepared based on the cumulative marks obtained in the Main Examination (1,750 marks) and the Personality Test/Interview (200 marks), bringing the total to 1,950 marks.

Summary of KAS Exam Pattern:

Conclusion:

The KAS exam is comprehensive, testing candidates' knowledge of a wide range of subjects, including current affairs, ethics, and administration. Success in the exam requires a strong command of diverse subjects, problem-solving ability, and communication skills. Proper preparation for each stage—Prelims, Mains, and Interview—along with a well-rounded understanding of Karnataka’s socio-political and economic landscape, is key to securing a position in the Karnataka Administrative Service.