KPSC Exam Pattern 2024 - Syllabus, Marking Scheme, and Subject Wise Pattern

Introduction

The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is responsible for recruiting public servants for various government positions in the state. It conducts exams to select candidates for different administrative roles in government departments. These exams are held twice a year, ensuring that opportunities for public service careers are regularly available to qualified candidates. The first exam session takes place between January and June, while the second session is held between July and December. This system allows candidates to prepare and appear for exams at different times, providing flexibility for those aiming for public sector jobs in Karnataka.

This guide provides essential information about the KPSC exam patterns and syllabi for the various exams conducted by the commission. It covers the structure and format of different exams, ensuring that candidates can understand what to expect in each stage of the selection process. The syllabi section details the subjects and topics that candidates need to study to be well-prepared for the exams. By following this guide, candidates can gain a clear understanding of the requirements for the KPSC exams and how to plan their preparation for success.

Some of the main posts for which this exam serves as a basis are –

• Karnataka Administrative Services,
• Group A, B, C, D postings,
• Assistant Controller of Forests (ACF),
• First Divisional Assistant (FDA),
• Second Divisional Assistant (SDA),
• Assistant Engineers (AE),
• Junior Engineers (JE), etc.

KPSC exam pattern is slightly different for different posts.

KPSC 2024 Highlights of the Exam

Here’s a summary of the KPSC KAS Recruitment 2024 highlights:

Particulars	Details
Name of the Board	Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC)
Website	www.kpsc.kar.nic.in
Name of the Post	KPSC Administrative Posts
Year	2024
Vacancies	384
Application Start Date	4th March 2024
Application End Date	15th April 2024
Selection Process	Prelims, Mains, Document Verification
Exam Center Location	Karnataka
Prelims Exam Date	Originally on 27th August 2024, now re-exam is scheduled for 29th December 2024
Exam Mode	Offline
Pay Scale	INR 28,100/-
Age Limit	21 to 38 years (with relaxations for certain categories)
Admit Card Release Date	To be announced
Mains Exam Date	To be announced
Contact Info	Helpline: 080-44554455; Email: kpsc.kar.nic.in

Key Updates:

• The re-exam for the KPSC KAS Prelims has been officially scheduled for 29th December 2024.
• The total number of vacancies has been confirmed at 384, including positions in both Group A and Group B.
• Candidates must adhere to the age limits and application deadlines specified above to be eligible for the recruitment process.

For more detailed information, you can visit the KPSC official website or check updates on platforms like Testbook and ABP News.

KPSC 2024 Exam dates

The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) has announced that the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) Prelims exam will take place on August 27, 2024. The exam will be conducted in two shifts: the first shift from 10 AM to 12 PM and the second shift from 2 PM to 4 PM. Candidates should be aware of the exam timings and plan accordingly to ensure they are well-prepared for the exam.

If you’re interested in applying for the KAS exam, the last date to submit your application is April 15, 2024, which has been extended. Make sure to complete the application process by the deadline. For detailed information about the exam structure, syllabus, and other important updates, visit the official KPSC website.

KPSC Exam Pattern for 2024

The KPSC exam follows a 3-stage evaluation process, which applies to most positions, including Grade A, Grade B, Grade C, and Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF). The stages typically involve a Preliminary Exam, a Main Exam, and an Interview. However, the syllabus for the exam may vary depending on the specific post you are applying for. It’s important for candidates to check the detailed syllabus for the particular position to ensure they are well-prepared for each stage.

The KPSC exam pattern for various posts is mentioned below –

Stage 1– Preliminary Exam

This is the first stage of the KPSC exam and is divided into two papers. Details about these papers are:

• Each paper has 100 questions and carries 200 marks.
• The duration of each prelim exam paper is two hours.
• All questions are multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
• According to the KPSC, a negative marking for each wrong answer is applicable.
• There will be a fixed deduction of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.

The purpose of this exam is to filter non-eligible candidates. KPSC does not count the marks obtained in this exam for the merit list of candidates who appear for the interview.

Stage 2– Mains Exam

This is the second stage of the KPSC exam and is a written and subjective test. The details are:

• This exam has a total of 9 descriptive papers.
• Candidates must pass a separate English and Kannada test before the Mains exams.
• This is the first and second exam of this stage. The following paper includes essay writing. Then there are four general papers. The last two papers are from an optional subject.
• The examination is conducted in English, except for the Kannada test.
• The total of marks for this stage of examination is 1,250.
• The English and Kannada language tests are two hours long. The maximum duration for the rest of the Mains papers is three hours.

KPSC considers only marks obtained in the general and optional exams for the final merit. All those who clear the cut-off of the KPSC Mains exam are selected for the final interview round.

Stage 3– Final Interview

This stage of the examination is a one-on-one personality test, conducted by a panel of experienced experts. The chairperson of KPSC leads the interview panel. The interview assesses the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and overall suitability for the role. It is an important part of the selection process for various positions in the Karnataka Public Service Commission.

KPSC ACF exam pattern:

The KPSC ACF exam pattern is designed for the Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) position. It includes multiple stages such as a written exam and an interview, with a specific syllabus tailored to test the candidate’s knowledge and skills related to forestry.

• The prelims stage is the same as the KAS exam pattern.
• The Mains stage consists of only four papers. The first two papers are descriptive papers based on English and Kannada language.
• The other two papers are Forestry 1 and Forestry 2 for BSc Forestry graduates. People who graduated in other subjects can choose from a list of optional subjects.
• All papers from the prelims as well as the Mains stage carry 100 marks.
• The interview stage is common for all categories of KPSC exams.

KPSC FDA exam pattern:

The KPSC FDA/SDA exam pattern is different from other posts. It has its own structure and requirements, tailored specifically for the First Division Assistant (FDA) and Second Division Assistant (SDA) positions. Candidates should review the specific pattern for these exams.

The KPSC FDA exam pattern is shown below:

• The exam comprises only three papers.
• The main paper is a Compulsory Kannada Paper. It is descriptive and carries 150 marks.
• The remaining two papers are General English/ General Kannada and General Knowledge. They are of objective types and carry 100 marks each.
• The duration of each FDA/SDA paper is 90 minutes.
• Candidates can choose an option between General English and General Kannada.

The KPSC FDA and SDA exam patterns are the same

For Group A, B, and C Exam:

KPSC Group A exam pattern:

• The first stage is the same: two MCQ-type papers of 200 marks.
• The second stage, or the Mains, comprises eight papers of descriptive type. Two of these are language tests for English and Kannada. The third and fourth papers are for General Studies.

KPSC Group B exam pattern:

• Candidates have to clear a Kannada language exam.
• A competitive exam of 400 marks follows this. This exam comprises two papers of 200 marks each and is of MCQ type.
• After this, there is a document verification followed by a personal interview.

KPSC Group C exam pattern:

• The exam consists of only two papers, the first being General Knowledge.
• The second paper is a general paper consisting of four subjects.
• A personal interview follows these two papers.

KPSC 2024 Syllabus

The syllabi of KPSC exams for various posts are as follows:

The syllabus for the KAS Prelims Exam is as follows:

Prelims Paper I Syllabus	Prelims Paper II Syllabus
National & international current affairs	Current affairs related to Karnataka
History of Karnataka, India, and the World	Various schemes of the Karnataka state government
Geography of Karnataka, India, and the World	Knowledge about general science and technology
Indian political system and economy	Environment, climate change
	Mental Ability

The syllabus for the KAS Mains Exam is as follows:

Papers	Syllabus
Paper 1: English	Comprehension, vocabulary, precis, grammar communication, short essay writing
Paper 2: Kannada	Same as above
Paper 3: Essay writing	Two essays (written either in Kannada or English)
Paper 4: General Studies 1	Modern history, cultural heritage, etc.
Paper 5: General Studies 2	Physical and natural resources, the Constitution of India, etc.
Paper 6: General Studies 3	Basics of the general sciences
Paper 7: General Studies 4	Aptitude, ethics, etc.
Paper 8: Optional subject 1	Agriculture, marketing, sericulture, and agriculture cooperation Animal husbandry, fisheries, and veterinary sciences Athropology, Geography, Geology, History, Law Political science and international relations Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology Management, Mathematics, Mechanical engineering· Botany, Chemistry, Civil engineering Commerce and accountancy, Economic Electrical engineering Physics, Statistics, Zoology Rural development and cooperation English, Hindi, Kannada, Urdu.
Paper 9: Optional Subject 2	Same as above

2. ACF Exam syllabus:

• The prelims syllabus is the same as the KAS exam for the prelims stage.
• The syllabus for Mains exam is as follows –

Paper 1	English
Paper 2	Kannada
Paper 3	Forestry 1
Paper 4	Forestry 2

Non-forestry graduates have to choose an optional subject from:

Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Civil engineering, Botany, Zoology, Agriculture, Animal husbandry & Veterinary science.

The syllabus for the KPSC FDA/SDA exam is as follows:

SUBJECT	SYLLABUS
Paper 1: Compulsory Kannada	Kannada grammar, spelling, vocabulary, short essay, etc.
Paper 2: General English/General Kannada	English/Kannada grammar, vocabulary, idioms and phrases, etc.
Paper 3: General Knowledge	Social sciences, general sciences, current affairs, etc.

Syllabus for the KPSC Group A, B, and C Exam:

Group A Prelims Syllabus:

Prelims Paper I (150 marks)	Prelims Paper II: Syllabus (300 marks)
General Studies	Commerce and management

Group A Mains Syllabus:

Paper 1	Kannada
Paper 2	English
Paper 3	General Studies 1
Paper 4	General Studies 2
Paper 5	Financial Accounting
Paper 6	Principles of management
Paper 7	Corporate finance, taxation, etc.
Paper 8	Auditing, eCommerce, etc.

Group B Syllabus:

Paper 1	English, mental ability, general awareness
Paper 2	Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering

Group C Syllabus

Paper 1	General knowledge
Paper 2	General Kannada, English, Computer knowledge

Preparation Tips

Preparing for the KPSC exam requires a well-planned approach to ensure success. By focusing on key strategies, candidates can effectively manage their time and study efficiently. Here are five essential preparation tips to help you perform your best in the exam.

• Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus:
  Familiarize yourself with the KPSC exam pattern and syllabus for the specific post. Knowing the structure, subjects, and topics will help you focus your preparation and avoid wasting time on irrelevant material.
• Create a Study Schedule:
  Plan a detailed study timetable to cover all subjects in the syllabus. Allocate time for each subject based on its weightage and your strengths and weaknesses, ensuring a balanced approach and avoiding last-minute cramming.
• Practice Previous Year Papers:
  Solve previous year’s question papers to get a sense of the exam’s difficulty level and question types. This will help you manage time effectively and identify areas where you need improvement, boosting your exam confidence.
• Focus on Current Affairs:
  Stay updated with current events, especially in areas like politics, economics, and social issues. Reading newspapers, watching the news, and following relevant online sources will enhance your general knowledge for the exam’s general studies section.
• Take Regular Mock Tests:
  Regular mock tests are crucial for assessing your progress. They simulate exam conditions, helping you practice time management, improve accuracy, and identify weak areas. Use these tests to track your preparation and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the KPSC exam pattern is a well-structured process aimed at selecting the most qualified candidates for public service roles in Karnataka. The pattern is designed to assess candidates on various important qualities such as intelligence, integrity, and their commitment to serving the community. By following a multi-stage examination process, the KPSC ensures that only the best candidates are chosen for important government positions. This rigorous selection process reflects the state’s dedication to maintaining high standards of governance and public service.

For those looking for more detailed information about the KPSC exam pattern, including updates and notifications, the official KPSC website is the best source. It provides comprehensive information about the exam structure, syllabus, and important dates. Candidates are encouraged to refer to the official recruitment notifications for accurate and up-to-date details on the selection process, eligibility criteria, and application procedures. Staying informed through official channels ensures that candidates are well-prepared and aware of any changes or new developments related to the KPSC exams.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)