About KAS

The Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) exam, conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), is a competitive exam for recruiting gazetted officers in the state’s government. The exam is conducted in three stages: Preliminary exam, Mains exam, and an Interview. The final merit list is based on performance in the Mains and Interview stages.

PATTERN OF PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

SL NO	SUBJECT AREA	NUMBER OF QUESTIONS	MARKS
PAPER I
1	General studies related to National and International importance.	40	80
2	Humanities	60	120
TOTAL		100	200
PAPER II
1	General studies related to state importance.	40	80
2	General science and technology. Environment & Ecology	30	60
3	General mental ability	30	60
TOTAL		100	200

 

DETAILED SYLLABUS FOR PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

 Paper 1: General Studies, Humanities    (200 Marks 2 Hours)

1) Current Affairs- National and International Importance
2) INDIAN POLITY & CONSTITUTION: Political systems: concepts, forms and types, Political system as established by the Constitution, Indian Constitution: Historical Background, Evolution & Making of the Constitution, Features, Significant Provisions, The Preamble, The Union and its Territory, Citizenship, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles & Fundamental Duties, Amendment of Constitution, Basic Structure of the Constitution, Emergency Provisions, Constitutional & Non Constitutional, Central Government: President, Vice President, Prime minister, Central Council of Ministers, Parliament and State Legislature, State Government: Governor, Chief Minister, State Council of Ministers, Indian Federalism and Centre-State Relations, Local Government: Panchayati Raj, Local Urban Government, Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Courts, Subordinate Courts, Elections.
3) INDIAN ECONOMY: National Income Accounting: Definition, Concepts: GDP, GNP etc., Measurement of National Income Money and Banking, Function of Money, Evolution of Money etc., Banking: Need of Banks, Functions, Types, Banking Reforms, Central Bank and its role, Inflation and Employment, Definition, types etc, Government Budgeting and Fiscal Policy, Budgeting, types, its evolution in India, Process, Component etc., Public finance, Revenue and Expenditure, Deficits, Taxes, Debts etc., External Sector and Currency Exchange rates, BoP, BoT, International trade, IMF, WTO, Trade policies, issues and challenges etc. Capital Market, Terms and Concepts Agriculture, Industry, Services, Infrastructure and Communication, Five year Plans, Economic Reforms since 1991, Foreign Trade India and IMF, WTO, WIPO, India and, International Institutions IPRs.
4) GEOGRAPHY: Physical Geography of the world: Solar System & the Earth and basics of latitude and longitude, Geomorphology, Climatology, Oceanography, Soils, Natural Hazards and Disasters, Continents (Land, Climate, Resources etc.): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia Physical Geography of India: Introduction: Location, Area and Boundaries, Structure and Relief: Physiographic Divisions, Drainage System, Weather, Climate and Seasons, Soils, Natural Vegetation, Plant and Animal Life. Economic and Human Geography: World Economic Geography of the world: primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary and quinary activities. Human Geography of world: World Population, Distribution & Density, Races & Tribes, Settlement & Migration, Economic and Human Geography – India, Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, Mineral and Energy Resources, Industries, Transport and Communication, Foreign Trade, Population, Migration, Settlements.

KARNATAKA GEOGRAPHY: Physical setting, Relief features, Climate, Drainage System, Soils, Natural Vegetation, Irrigation, Land Utilization, Agriculture, Fishing and Animal husbandry, Power sector, Mineral Resources, Industries, Transportation, Human Resources, Demographic Composition.

5) HISTORY:

ANCIENT HISTORY: Prehistoric period, Harappan / Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Age, Mahajanapadas, Religious Reforms, Mauryan Age & Post Mauryan Age, Sangam Age, Guptas Age & Post Guptas Age, Art & Culture, Architecture and Sculptures, Religion and Philosophy, Indian paintings, Indian Music, Indian Dances, Indian Theatres, Indian cinema, Indian Language & Literature, Arts & Crafts, Science and Technology in Ancient India, Indo- Islamic Culture

MEDIEVAL INDIA: Early Medieval Period, North India, South India, Sultanate Period, The Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagar & other Kingdoms, Religious Movements, Bhakti Movement, Sufi Movement, Mughal Period, Maratha Confederacy.

MODERN HISTORY: India in the late Eighteenth Century, The Advent of the Europeans and British Conquest of India, The British Administrative Structure, Reform, Impact and Organization of Government of India, Social – Religious Movements in 19th – 20th centuries, Freedom Struggle, The Revolt of 1857 & change after 1857, Moderate Phase (1885 – 1905) Extremist Phase (1905 – 17), Emergence of Extremist & Leaders, The Partition of Bengal, Morley-Minto Reforms, Swadeshi Movement, Home Rule Movement etc, The Gandhian Era (1917– 47): Gandhi – Advent and Achievement, Rowlatt Act, Jallianawala Bagh Massacre and Khilafat Movement, Non- Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and Quit India Movement, British Response and Negotiations, INA and Subhash Chandra Bose, Miscellaneous & Other Dimensions, Reforms / Acts / Committee, Congress Session, Governor –General Viceroys, Policies, Tribal & Peasant Movements etc.

KARNATAKA HISTORY: Introduction, Early History and the Shatavahanas, The Kadambas and the Gangas, The Chalukyas of Badami, The Rashtrakutas, The Chalukyas of Kalyana and the Kalachuris, The Hoysalas and the Seunas, The Four Acharyas and Their Teachings, The Vijayanagara Empire, The Muslim Dynasties, the Portuguese, Keladi, Mysore, Chitradurga.Yelahanka and Marathas, Modern Mysore, the Nizam, Violent Resistance, Renaissance and Backward Classes’ Movement, Movement for Freedom and Unification, Karnataka Today.

 

Paper 2: General Studies (State), Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology,General Mental Ability  (200 Marks 2 Hours)

1) Current affairs and current events related to the state of Karnataka Important schemes of the Karnataka State Government

2) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
PHYSICS: Standards and units, Mechanics and properties of matter, Heat, Sound, Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, Atomic and Nuclear physics, Modern Physics, Astronomy and Space Science.
CHEMISTRY: Matters and its nature, Chemical Reactions and Equations, Structure of the Atom, Periodic classification of elements, Chemical Bonding, Carbon and its compound, Acid, Bases and Salts, Metals and Non-metals, Thermodynamics, Nanotechnology, Agricultural, Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Bio Chemistry, Polymers and Plastics.
BIOLOGY: Introduction, Cell Biology, Life processes, Biocommunication, Diseases and
Defence Mechanism, Nutrition, Origin and Evolution of life, Genetics, Plant Biology.
Applied Science and Modern Day Technology / Latest Research
3) ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY: Basic Concepts & Components of the Ecology
and ecosystem, Global warming, Climate change and Ozone depletion, Environmental Issues
and Pollution, Biodiversity, flora and fauna, Conservation efforts – India and World,
Sustainable Development, Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment
4) General Mental Ability: Basic numeracy, Data interpretation (data sufficiency,
charts, tables, graphs etc.) Logical reasoning and analytical ability, Comprehension,
Decision making and Problem solving.

PATTERN OF MAIN EXAMINATION

Qualifying Papers		KANNADA	150 Marks	2 Hours
		ENGLISH	150 Marks	2 Hours
Papers	No. of Section Kannada/English	Total Marks per Section	Total marks per Paper	Duration
Paper I: Essays Two Essays (in Kannada/English) Essay -1: Topic of International National Importance Essay -2: Topic of state Importance Local Importance	Two Essays	125 Each Essay	250	3 Hrs
Paper II: General Studies 1 1. History & Cultural Heritage (India and Karnataka). 2. Social & Political Perspective. 3. Indian Economy Planning. Rural Development Data Collection Analysis. Interpretation.	Three Section	80/85	250	3 Hrs
Paper III: General Studies 2 1.Physical Features and Natural Resources. 2. Overview of Indian Constitution 3. Public Administration & Management, International Relations	Three Section	80/85	250	3 Hrs
Paper IV: General Studies 3 1. Role and Impact of Science and Technology in Development of India, Information Technology in Public Domain. 2.Advantage and Modern Trends in Natural Science, Agriculture, Science, Health and Hygiene 3. Challenges and Issues of Development on Environment and Ecology	Three Section	80/85	250	3 Hrs
Paper V: General Studies 4 1.Ethics 2.Integrity 3.Aptitude	Three Section	80/85	250	3 Hrs
Personality Test			25
TOTAL			1275

DETAILED SYLLABUS FOR MAINS EXAMINATION

PAPER – I Essay (250 Marks) 3 Hours

Two Essays (in Kannada/English Language) 125 marks each

Essay – 1: Topics of International / National Importance

Essay – 2: Topic of State Importance / Local Importance

PAPER –II General Studies 1 (250 Marks )-3 Hours

Section – I: History and Cultural Heritage (India & Karnataka) – (6 Units)

Unit 1: Cultural Heritage of India (select areas and topics)

(i) Indus Civilization – Distinction between Indus Civilization and Vedic Civilization– Evolution of Varna, Jathi/caste system – Religious condition – emergence of religious movements.

(ii) Literature: Sanskrit Literature (Ancient): Vedic Literature, the epics and the Puranas: their impact on the life and culture of the Indian People; Prose works on polity, ethics (neeti), popular stories and Pancha Tantra (only important works); Mughal contributions to literature.

(iii) Science and Technology: Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Physiology and Medicine (including Surgery), Ship-building, Mining and Metallurgy, Engineering and Architecture.

(iv) Arts (Excluding Karnataka): The Maurya and Gupta periods; The Khajuraho temples; Jain temples at Mount Abu and the Odishyan temples; Pallava, Chola and Pandyan contributions. The Mughal architecture; Cathedral architecture: Bom Jesus-Old Goa, St. Paul’sKolkata and St. Thomas- Chennai. Painting: Ajanta frescoes; Mughal and Rajput schools of painting. Dance and Music: Classical music and dance; Mughal contributions to music. Folk arts of India.

(v) India’s cultural contributions to the outside world: Central Asia, China, Japan, South-East Asia and Sri Lanka.

(vi) Religions of India

1. Hindu Dharma: General characteristics and some common beliefs – Purusharthas– rituals and ethics – festivals and sacred days – pilgrimage and fairs. Hindu sects: Hinduism as a federation of various sects – Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta. Philosophy of the Upanishad and the BhagavadGita – Yoga Philosophy of Pathanjali.

2. Jainism: Principles – Ratnatraya, code of morals, Equality (samana), Ahimsa,. Sects: Digambara and Swethambara.

3. Buddhism: Principles – Four noble truths, The Eight – fold path, Nirvana, Moral doctrines. Sects: Hinayana and Mahayana. 4. Christianity: Teachings of Jesus Christ. Christian doctrines and theology. Groups in Christianity – The Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern orthodox churches and the Protestants churches. Missionary activities in India

5. Islam: Principles and practices – God, Confession of Faith, Five “Pillars of Islam”, sacred places and days, the family system and the shariah, Sufis of Karnataka, Sects: Shia and Sunni.

6. Sikhism: Principles and practices and its Evolution.