KPSC Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026

The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) has released the notification for Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026-27, inviting applications for 319 Group A and Group B vacancies across various departments of the Karnataka Government. The recruitment is being conducted under the Karnataka Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examinations) Rules and offers candidates an opportunity to enter several prestigious administrative and departmental services.

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The original application deadline was 31 August 2026. However, KPSC has extended the last date to 7 September 2026, giving eligible candidates additional time to complete their applications. The extension was issued after candidates faced difficulties related to obtaining certain certificates through Karnataka’s online government service portals.

The recruitment covers 117 Group A vacancies and 202 Group B vacancies, making it one of the important state-level competitive examinations for graduates seeking administrative careers in Karnataka. The vacancies include posts such as Assistant Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Tahsildar Grade-2, Commercial Tax Officer, Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Chief Officer Grade-1 and several other positions.

The selection process is conducted through a Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test. Candidates who qualify through the stages are considered for appointment to the notified services according to merit, category and applicable recruitment rules.

KPSC Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026: Overview

The original notification was dated 31 July 2026, while online applications began on 1 August 2026. The application deadline has subsequently been extended to 7 September 2026.

KPSC Gazetted Probationers Vacancy 2026

A total of 319 vacancies have been announced under the KPSC Gazetted Probationers recruitment.

The vacancies are divided into:

• Group A – 117 posts
• Group B – 202 posts

The recruitment covers 18 different designations across various Karnataka Government departments.

Group A Vacancies

The major Group A posts include:

The Group A vacancies include positions in the regular state cadre as well as the Hyderabad-Karnataka cadre where applicable.

Group B Vacancies

The Group B recruitment includes:

The detailed category-wise reservation and cadre-wise distribution should be checked in the official notification before applying for a particular service.

KPSC Gazetted Probationers Eligibility Criteria 2026

The basic educational requirement is a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree awarded by a university established by law in India, or an equivalent qualification recognized under the applicable rules.

Candidates should ensure that their degree satisfies the conditions mentioned in the recruitment notification.

Since the recruitment covers multiple Group A and Group B services, applicants should also carefully read the post-specific provisions in the notification, particularly where any additional requirements or physical standards apply.

Candidates should not wait until the last day to verify eligibility because incorrect educational or category information can create problems during document verification.

Age Limit for KPSC Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026

The minimum age prescribed for candidates is 21 years.

The upper age limit varies according to the candidate’s category:

The recruitment also provides a one-time additional five-year age relaxation under the applicable Karnataka Government order for this recruitment cycle. Other relaxations, including provisions applicable to persons with disabilities, ex-servicemen and certain other eligible categories, are governed by the relevant rules.

Candidates claiming age relaxation should keep the required supporting documents ready.

KPSC Gazetted Probationers Application Fee 2026

The prescribed application fee varies by category.

The fee is paid online through the prescribed KPSC application system. Fees once paid are generally non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another recruitment.

Candidates should complete the payment within the extended application period.

KPSC Gazetted Probationers Selection Process 2026

The KPSC Gazetted Probationers recruitment follows a multi-stage competitive examination system.

The major stages are:

1. Preliminary Examination
2. Main Examination
3. Personality Test/Interview

The Preliminary Examination is a screening examination. Its marks are not counted toward the final merit list.

Candidates who qualify the preliminary stage are shortlisted for the Main Examination according to the prescribed ratio and category-wise representation.

Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers, with a total of 400 marks.

Each paper carries:

• 100 questions
• 200 marks
• Two hours duration

Therefore, the total Preliminary Examination is worth 400 marks.

The preliminary syllabus covers areas such as General Studies, state-specific topics, science and technology, environment and ecology, and mental ability.

Negative marking is applicable for incorrect answers, with 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.

Candidates should therefore focus not only on attempting a large number of questions but also on maintaining accuracy.

Main Examination

Candidates who qualify for the Main Examination have to appear for a descriptive examination.

The Main Examination includes:

• Kannada qualifying paper – 150 marks
• English qualifying paper – 150 marks
• Essay – 250 marks
• General Studies-1 – 250 marks
• General Studies-2 – 250 marks
• General Studies-3 – 250 marks
• General Studies-4 – 250 marks

The five compulsory merit papers account for 1,250 marks. The Kannada and English papers are qualifying in nature and their marks are not added to the final merit. Candidates must secure the prescribed minimum qualifying marks in both language papers.

Personality Test

Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for the Personality Test/Interview.

The Personality Test carries 25 marks.

Candidates are called for the Personality Test according to the prescribed ratio based on their Main Examination performance. The final merit is prepared using the marks obtained in the Main Examination and Personality Test.

Thus, the final merit component is 1,275 marks, comprising 1,250 marks from the Main Examination and 25 marks from the Personality Test.

KPSC Gazetted Probationers Exam Date 2026

The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for 15 November 2026. The date is subject to the Commission’s final examination schedule and candidates should check the official KPSC website for the admit card and examination instructions.

The Main Examination and Personality Test dates will be announced separately by KPSC.

Candidates should begin preparation well before the preliminary examination because the recruitment process is highly competitive and candidates must clear multiple stages to reach final selection.

KPSC Gazetted Probationers Salary 2026

The recruitment notification covers several different Group A and Group B services, and the applicable pay scale is governed by the respective service rules.

The notification does not provide one common salary figure for all 319 posts because the posts belong to different services and departments. Candidates should therefore avoid relying on a single salary figure for the entire recruitment.

The actual pay, allowances and service benefits depend on the post to which the candidate is finally appointed and the applicable Karnataka Government service rules.

KPSC Gazetted Probationers Important Dates 2026

The important dates are:

The application deadline was extended from 31 August to 7 September 2026. Candidates who had not completed their applications before the original deadline should use the extended window to submit their forms.

How to Apply for KPSC Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026

Eligible candidates can submit the application online through the KPSC application portal.

Step 1: Visit the KPSC Website

Open the official KPSC website and access the online application section.

Step 2: Complete One-Time Registration

Candidates who do not already have a valid KPSC registration should complete the required One-Time Registration (OTR) process.

Step 3: Find the Gazetted Probationers Notification

Select the recruitment for Gazetted Probationers 2026-27 and carefully read the notification before beginning the application.

Step 4: Check Your Eligibility

Verify your:

• Educational qualification
• Age
• Category
• Relevant certificates
• Other eligibility conditions

Step 5: Fill the Application Form

Enter personal information, educational details and other required information accurately.

Candidates should ensure that the information entered in the application matches their original certificates.

Step 6: Upload Required Documents

Upload the photograph, signature and other certificates required by KPSC.

Candidates claiming reservation or age relaxation should upload valid supporting documents in the prescribed format.

Step 7: Pay the Application Fee

Pay the applicable fee online according to the candidate category.

Step 8: Submit the Application

Review the complete form carefully before final submission.

After submitting the application, candidates should download and save a copy of the application form and payment receipt for future reference.

Documents Required for KPSC Gazetted Probationers Application

Candidates should keep the following documents ready where applicable:

• Recent passport-size photograph
• Signature
• Aadhaar or other valid identity proof
• Degree certificate
• Degree marksheets
• Date-of-birth proof
• Category certificate
• Income/caste certificate where applicable
• PwD certificate, if applicable
• Ex-serviceman certificate, if applicable
• Hyderabad-Karnataka cadre eligibility documents, where applicable
• Other certificates specified in the notification

Candidates should ensure that reservation and other certificates are valid according to the dates and formats prescribed by KPSC.

Physical Standards for Certain KPSC Posts

Although the recruitment is primarily based on competitive examinations, candidates applying for certain posts involving field or law-and-order duties may have to satisfy additional physical requirements.

The notification includes specific physical standards for certain services such as Karnataka Police Service (Junior Scale), Karnataka Prisons Service and Deputy Superintendent of Excise. These requirements can include height, chest measurements and endurance/walking tests, depending on the post and candidate category.

Candidates interested in such posts should carefully read the relevant physical-standard provisions before selecting their preferences.

Who Should Apply for KPSC Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026?

This recruitment is particularly suitable for graduates and postgraduates who want to build a career in the Karnataka State Government.

Candidates interested in administrative and departmental positions such as:

• Assistant Commissioner
• Commercial Tax Officer
• Tahsildar
• Assistant Registrar
• Chief Officer
• Assistant Treasury Officer
• Employment Officer
• Section Officer
• Assistant Director

can consider applying if they satisfy the prescribed requirements.

Because the selection process includes Preliminary and Main Examinations followed by a Personality Test, candidates should be prepared for a long-term competitive examination process rather than a single written test.

KPSC Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026: Important Points

Before submitting the application, candidates should remember the following:

1. KPSC has announced 319 Gazetted Probationer vacancies.
2. There are 117 Group A and 202 Group B vacancies.
3. The recruitment covers 18 different designations.
4. The basic educational requirement is a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree as prescribed.
5. The minimum age is 21 years.
6. The maximum age varies by category.
7. A one-time additional five-year age relaxation is applicable for this recruitment cycle under the relevant government order.
8. The original application deadline was 31 August 2026.
9. The extended application deadline is 7 September 2026.
10. The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for 15 November 2026.
11. The Preliminary Examination carries 400 marks.
12. Preliminary marks are used for screening and are not counted in final merit.
13. The Main Examination carries 1,250 merit marks.
14. Kannada and English papers are qualifying papers in the Main Examination.
15. The Personality Test carries 25 marks.
16. The final merit component totals 1,275 marks.
17. Negative marking applies in the Preliminary Examination.
18. Certain posts have additional physical standards.
19. Candidates should carefully verify category and certificate requirements.
20. Applicants should retain a copy of their final application and payment receipt.

Conclusion

The KPSC Gazetted Probationers Recruitment 2026-27 is an important opportunity for graduates seeking prestigious Group A and Group B government positions in Karnataka. With 319 vacancies across administrative, revenue, commercial tax, social welfare, co-operation, urban development and other departments, the recruitment provides candidates with multiple career options under the Karnataka State Government.

The most important update for applicants is that the application deadline has been extended to 7 September 2026. Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements should use the extended window to complete their online application rather than waiting until the final day.

The selection process is comprehensive, beginning with a 400-mark Preliminary Examination, followed by the descriptive Main Examination and Personality Test. Since the preliminary stage is only a screening test, candidates who qualify must also perform strongly in the Main Examination because the final merit is based on the Main Examination and Personality Test.

Applicants should carefully read the official notification before selecting their preferred services, particularly candidates interested in posts that carry additional physical standards. They should also ensure that all educational, category and other supporting documents are accurate and valid.

With the Preliminary Examination tentatively scheduled for 15 November 2026, eligible candidates should complete the application process promptly and begin structured preparation for both the Preliminary and Main Examination stages.