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KAS Syllabus 2019 – KPSC Gazetted Probationers Exam Syllabus (Prelims, Mains)

In this article, you will find the complete KAS Syllabus 2019 for the Gazetted Probationers Exam conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

You can also download the detailed KAS Syllabus PDF for Mains for easy reference.

The Karnataka Public Service Commission recruits for several Group A and Group B posts via the Gazetted Probationers Exam (GPE). For a career in the Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS), the KPSC GPE is the entry point. With an exemplary performance record, the KAS officers can also be promoted to IAS officers.

The KPSC sets the KAS syllabus for the Gazetted Probationers exam. This KPSC syllabus is common for posts of Assistant Commissioner, Dy. Superintendent of Police, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Tehsildar etc.

Download KAS Syllabus PDF.

The KPSC KAS exam is conducted in three stages:

  • Stage 1: Preliminary Exam – 2 papers – objective type (MCQs)
  • Stage 2: Mains – 9 papers – essay/descriptive type
  • Stage 3: Interview

It is important to carefully go through the entire syllabus for the KAS exam, so as to not waste time on reading irrelevant things from exam point of view.

KAS Prelims Syllabus

The Gazetted Probationers (Preliminary) Exam filters candidates for the Mains exam. As per the Karnataka Recruitment of Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examination), 9th Amendment Rules, 2011, the KAS Prelims exam consists of two papers.

The KAS syllabus for Prelims is given below:

Paper 1

Paper 2
  • 100 objective type questions – 2 marks each
  • 0.25 marks Negative Marking
  • 2-hour exam duration
  • 100 objective type questions – 2 marks each
  • 0.25 marks Negative Marking
  • 2-hour exam duration

Syllabus:

  • General Studies (National and International) – 40 questions
  • Humanities – 60 questions

Syllabus:

  • General Studies (State) – 40 questions
  • Science and Tech. Environment and Ecology – 30 questions
  • General Mental Ability – 30 questions

In the KAS Prelims Syllabus, the level of Mental Ability questions will be of 10th standard (SSLC level) and remaining questions will be of Degree level.

Check your eligibility for the KPSC KAS exam.

The detailed KAS syllabus of Prelims Paper 1 is:

  1. Current Affairs
    1. National and International Importance
    2. Check out BYJU’S Current Affairs page for notes from The Hindu, PIB, and Yojana Magazine.
  2. Indian History
    1. Broad understanding of Cultural, Social, Political and Economic aspects
    2. Special Emphasis on Karnataka State
    3. Focus on the Indian National Movement
    4. Download NCERT Notes on Modern Indian History here.
  3. Indian and World Geography
    1. Focus on Karnataka
    2. Download NCERT Geography notes here.
  4. Polity and Indian Economy
    1. Indian Political System
    2. Economic Reforms
    3. Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation
    4. Social Sector initiatives etc.
    5. Download NCERT books PDF here.

The detailed KAS syllabus of Prelims Paper 2 is:

  1. Current events (State)
  2. Important State Government schemes.
  3. General Science and Technology
    1. broad understanding as may be expected of a well-educated person
    2. Contemporary issues/developments and implications
  4. Environment and Ecology
    1. Broad understanding of general issues on biodiversity, climate change, ecology, health that do not require a subject specialisation
  5. General Mental Ability
    1. Basic numeracy
    2. Data interpretation (data sufficiency, charts, tables, graphs etc.)
    3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability
    4. Comprehension

Get the KPSC KAS recruitment details here.

KAS Mains Syllabus

As per the KPSC KAS Exam Pattern, the candidates who successfully clear the KAS Prelims are eligible for the Main exam. The Main exam consists of 9 theory papers out of which 2 (Kannada and English Language) papers are qualifying in nature.

There is significant overlap of the UPSC Syllabus with the KPSC KAS Syllabus apart from sections specific to Karnataka state.

The KAS syllabus for KPSC Gazetted Probationers (Main) exam is as follows:

Qualifying Papers:

  1. Kannada
  2. English

Kannada Language

  • 150 marks
  • Duration – 2hrs
  • 35% qualifying criteria

English

  • 150 marks
  • Duration – 2hrs
  • 35% qualifying criteria

Syllabus

  • Comprehension – 25 marks
  • Precis – 25 marks
  • Usage- 25 marks
  • Vocabulary – 25 marks
  • Short Essay – 25 marks
  • Communication Skills – 25 marks

Syllabus

  • Comprehension – 25 marks
  • Precis – 25 marks
  • Usage- 25 marks
  • Vocabulary – 25 marks
  • Short Essay – 25 marks
  • Communication Skills – 25 marks

Both the qualifying papers aim to test the candidate’s ability to read, understand and express in the given language.

Merit-ranking Papers:

  1. Essay
  2. General Studies 1
  3. General Studies 2
  4. General Studies 3
  5. General Studies 4
  6. Optional Paper 1
  7. Optional Paper 2

For the Essay paper, the exam duration is of 3 hrs and maximum marks are 250.

  • There will be two essays (Kannada or English) of 125 marks each
  • The first topic will be on national or international issues
  • The second topic will on state or local issues

Find free study material and all KAS Preparation related information here.

The KAS syllabus for the General Studies papers in the Main exam is given in the table below:

GS 1

Maximum Marks – 250

Exam Duration – 3 hours

3 Sections:

  1. Cultural Heritage and History of Karnataka and India
  2. Political and Social Perspective
  3. Planning, Indian Economy, Rural Development- Data Collection, Analysis and Interpretation

Syllabus:

  1. Cultural Heritage of India (select areas and topics)
  2. Modern History of India (beginning of the 19th century onwards)
  3. Kadambas – Hoysalas
  4. The Vijaynagar Empire (1336-1799)
  5. Modern Mysore (1799-1947)
  6. Karnataka Freedom movement and Unification (1885-1956)
  7. Post-Independence Karnataka
  8. Social Change & Movements
  9. Social Change & Modernisation
  10. Political System and Government
  11. Decentralization of Power
  12. Socio-economic system
  13. Rural social system and Rural dev
  14. Indian Economy
  15. India and International Economic Relations
  16. Development Patterns
  17. Planning and Planning Goals
  18. Decentralisation
  19. Rural Dev
  20. Rural Development Initiatives
  21. Data Collection Analysis & Interpretation

GS 2

Maximum Marks – 250

Exam Duration – 3 hours

3 Sections:

  1. Natural Resources and Physical Features
  2. Indian Constitution – Overview
  3. International Relations, Public Administration and Management

Syllabus:

  1. Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere
  2. Continental physiography and demographic distribution
  3. Indian Physiography
  4. Industrial Planning & Development
  5. Physiographic divisions (Karnataka)
  6. Urban land use policy and Urbanisation (Karnataka)
  7. Nature of the Indian Constitution
  8. Fundamental Rights
  9. Distribution of Powers (Legislative)
  10. Unicameral and Bicameral legislatures
  11. Important Amendments
  12. Welfare machinery in India
  13. Union and State services
  14. Public and Private Administration
  15. Organisation structure
  16. Organisational behaviour and concepts of management
  17. Informal and formal organisation
  18. Management techniques and tools
  19. Administrative Reforms
  20. UN and Specialised agencies

GS 3

Maximum Marks – 250

Exam Duration – 3 hours

3 Sections:

  1. Role/impact of Science & Technology in Indian Development, Information Technology in Public Domain
  2. Modern trends and advancements in Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, Agriculture Science, Hygiene and Health
  3. Issues/Challenges of development on Ecology and Environment

Syllabus:

  1. Basics of Science and Tech
  2. Space Tech & Science
  3. Energy Resources
  4. Disasters, Pollution and Pests
  5. Related Perception
  6. Knowledge society
  7. Rural upliftment and Science & Tech
  8. Natural Science
  9. Agriculture Science
  10. Sericulture and Horticulture
  11. Biotechnology initiatives
  12. Animal Husbandry (dairy, fishery and veterinary sciences)
  13. Development policies (Agriculture), programmes and trade
  14. Hygiene & health
  15. Environment Conservation
  16. Natural Resources
  17. Biodiversity & Ecosystem
  18. Solid Waste Management & Environmental Pollution
  19. Role of Information Tech in Environment and Human Health
  20. State-community-civil society interface

GS 4

Maximum Marks – 250

Exam Duration – 3 hours

3 Sections:

  1. Ethics
  2. Integrity
  3. Aptitude

Syllabus:

  1. Ethics – determinants, essence and consequences
  2. Ethics in public administration
  3. Accountability and ethical governance
  4. RTI and concept of public service
  5. Human values
  6. Impartiality, integrity and non-partisanship
  7. Aptitude and foundational values for civil service
  8. Emotional intelligence and contribution of social thinkers

(case studies on above)

Download the updated and detailed KAS Syllabus 2019 PDF

For optional papers, candidates have to choose one of the subjects from the list below:

  1. Agriculture, Sericulture, Agri Marketing and Cooperation
  2. Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Veterinary Sciences
  3. Anthropology
  4. Botany
  5. Chemistry
  6. Civil Engineering
  7. Commerce and Accountancy
  8. Economics
  9. Electrical Engineering
  10. Geography
  11. Geology
  12. History
  13. Law
  14. Management
  15. Mathematics
  16. Mechanical Engineering
  17. Philosophy
  18. Physics
  19. Political Science and International Relations
  20. Psychology
  21. Public Administration
  22. Sociology
  23. Statistics
  24. Zoology
  25. Rural Development and Cooperation
  26. Literature of any one of the following languages:
    1. English
    2. Hindi
    3. Kannada
    4. Urdu