KAS preliminary exam date 2026 out: check important details for 319 posts

The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) has announced the tentative date for the Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) Preliminary exam 2026. The examination is provisionally scheduled for November 15, 2026, and aims to recruit candidates for Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts across various State Government departments.

This recruitment drive seeks to fill a total of 319 Gazetted Probationer posts. The official website, kpsc.kar.nic.in, is the designated portal for all related announcements and updates, including the upcoming release of admit cards for registered candidates.

KAS Preliminary Examination Structure and Schedule

The KAS Preliminary exam will be conducted in two distinct sessions on November 15, 2026. Paper I is scheduled from 10 am to 12 noon, followed by Paper II from 2 pm to 4 pm. Both papers will feature multiple-choice questions, with each paper comprising 100 questions.

Each question in the Preliminary Examination carries two marks, resulting in a total of 200 marks per paper. Candidates will be allotted two hours to complete each paper. The examination will be administered in both Kannada and English mediums.

Vacancy Details and Selection Process

The KPSC has announced 319 vacancies for this recruitment cycle. Of these, 117 positions are designated for Group ‘A’ posts, while 202 positions are for Group ‘B’ posts. These roles are within various State Government departments.

The selection process for the KAS exam is structured into three stages: Preliminary, Main, and an Interview round. Candidates who successfully qualify in the Preliminary Examination will proceed to the Main examination.

Main Examination and Interview Round Details

The Main examination consists of two qualifying papers and five merit-based papers. The question papers for the Main examination will be descriptive in nature, and it is mandatory to complete all five merit-based papers. The standard of questions for the Main exam is at an Honours degree level, with English and Kannada language papers being compulsory and qualifying, requiring 35% marks.

Following the Main examination, a personality test, or Interview Round, will be conducted for those who qualify. A total of 25 marks are allotted for the Interview round. These interview marks will be added to the Main examination marks to determine the final merit and selection of candidates.

Attempt Limits for KAS Exam

The KPSC has specified different attempt limits for candidates based on their category. General category candidates are permitted a maximum of 5 attempts for the KAS exam. OBC category candidates are allowed 7 attempts.

For SC/ST candidates, there is no restriction on the number of attempts, provided they meet the age limit criteria. The admit card for the KAS Preliminary exam 2026 is expected to be released soon for all successfully registered candidates.

Further reading

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Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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