Statistical overview of the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) exam

Oct 7, 2024 - 11:12 Updated: Oct 7, 2024 - 15:42

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Statistical overview of the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) exam

Statistical overview of the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) exam based on recent years' data, trends, and insights:

1. Number of Applicants and Success Rate

The KAS exam is highly competitive, attracting thousands of candidates every year. However, only a small percentage of candidates clear all stages of the examination.

Total Applicants: Approximately 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 candidates apply for the KAS exam annually.
Candidates Clearing Prelims: Roughly 10,000 to 12,000 candidates qualify for the Mains exam (around 5-6% of total applicants).
Candidates Clearing Mains: Out of those, 1,500 to 2,000 candidates are shortlisted for the interview round (about 12-15% of those who appear for the mains exam).
Final Selection: On average, only 300 to 400 candidates are selected for various administrative posts each year, which is around 0.2% to 0.3% of the total applicants.

Stage	Number of Candidates	Success Rate
Total Applicants	1,50,000 to 2,00,000	100%
Prelims Cleared	10,000 to 12,000	5-6%
Mains Cleared	1,500 to 2,000	12-15% of mains takers
Final Selection	300 to 400	0.2% to 0.3% overall

2. Gender Distribution

The participation of women in the KAS exam has been increasing, though men still form a majority of the applicants.

Male Candidates: Around 60-65% of total applicants.
Female Candidates: Around 35-40% of total applicants.

However, in terms of success rate, female candidates have been performing well and have secured top ranks in recent years.

3. Category-wise Applicants and Selections

The KAS exam follows the reservation policy mandated by the government, ensuring representation for various categories.

General Category: Around 40-45% of total applicants.
Other Backward Classes (OBC): Around 25-30% of total applicants.
Scheduled Castes (SC): Around 15-20% of total applicants.
Scheduled Tribes (ST): Around 8-10% of total applicants.
Physically Disabled (PWD): Around 2-3% of total applicants.

Final selection usually reflects these categories as per the government’s reservation policy, with a slight variation based on merit and category-wise cutoff marks.

4. Optional Subject Choice

Candidates have the option to choose from a list of subjects for their optional papers in the Mains exam. Here are some popular choices based on recent trends:

Public Administration: Chosen by around 25-30% of candidates due to its overlap with General Studies and ease of preparation.
Geography: Chosen by 15-20% of candidates because of its static and scoring nature.
Sociology: Preferred by around 10-15% of candidates, especially those with social science backgrounds.
History and Political Science: Chosen by 10-12% each, as they are considered comprehensive and offer relevance to other papers in the exam.
Other Popular Optional Subjects: Anthropology, Psychology, and Kannada Literature.

Optional Subject	Percentage of Candidates Choosing
Public Administration	25-30%
Geography	15-20%
Sociology	10-15%
History	10-12%
Political Science	10-12%
Other Subjects	5-10%

5. Success Rate by Category

The success rate in the KAS exam varies based on category, primarily due to reservation policies and category-wise cutoff differences.

Category	Success Rate
General	0.2 - 0.3%
OBC	0.3 - 0.4%
SC	0.5 - 0.6%
ST	0.5 - 0.7%
PWD	0.4 - 0.6%

The success rate tends to be slightly higher for reserved categories due to relaxed cutoffs and additional reserved seats.

6. Average Marks Required to Clear

The marks required to clear each stage of the KAS exam vary each year depending on the difficulty of the paper, the number of applicants, and the performance of the candidates. However, here’s an approximate range based on recent trends:

Preliminary Exam Cutoff:

General: 120-130 marks out of 400
OBC: 115-125 marks
SC/ST: 100-115 marks

Mains Exam Cutoff (aggregate):

General: 850-900 marks out of 1,750
OBC: 820-870 marks
SC/ST: 750-800 marks

Interview Marks: Candidates generally score between 120-160 marks out of 200 in the interview round.

7. Trends in Difficulty Levels

Preliminary Exam: The General Studies paper has become more current affairs-oriented in recent years, with a growing focus on environmental issues, international events, and government schemes.
Mains Exam: The descriptive nature of the Mains exam has seen a shift towards analytical and conceptual clarity. The essay paper, in particular, has moved toward asking candidates to present balanced views on socio-economic issues.
Interview Round: The interview process focuses more on personality assessment, ethical decision-making, and a candidate’s ability to handle administrative challenges. Knowledge of Karnataka-specific issues is crucial for scoring well.

8. Study Time and Preparation Strategies

Based on a survey of recent toppers and candidates, the average study time required to clear the KAS exam is as follows:

Daily Study Hours: Successful candidates typically study for 6-8 hours per day during the preparation phase.
Duration of Preparation: On average, candidates spend 12 to 18 months preparing for the KAS exam, including the prelims, mains, and interview stages.

Preparation Time	Percentage of Candidates
Less than 6 months	10%
6 to 12 months	30%
12 to 18 months	40%
More than 18 months	20%

Conclusion:

The KAS exam is a highly competitive exam with a low overall success rate, reflecting the difficulty and breadth of the syllabus. The number of applicants continues to rise each year, and understanding the weightage of different topics, success trends, and category-specific cutoffs is crucial for effective preparation. Candidates who succeed usually spend 1 to 2 years preparing, focusing on current affairs, core subjects, and practicing mock tests.