Preparing for the KPSC KAS 2025 exam? You’re in the right place! The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) conducts the Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) exam to recruit officers for state civil services. With a three-stage selection process (Prelims, Mains, Interview), cracking it requires a solid understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern. In this guide, we’ll break down the KPSC KAS 2025 syllabus, highlight key changes, and share expert tips to help you strategize effectively. Let’s dive in!
Key Highlights of KPSC KAS 2025 🚀
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) |
| Exam Name | Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) Exam |
| Stages | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Prelims Papers | 2 (General Studies & CSAT) |
| Mains Papers | 7 (Essay, GS, Optional Subjects) |
| Total Marks | Prelims (400), Mains (1750) |
| Negative Marking | Yes (0.25 marks per wrong answer) |
| Official Notification | Expected in March 2025 |
| Official Website | kpsc.kar.nic.in |
KPSC KAS Exam Pattern 2025: Prelims & Mains 📝
Preliminary Exam (Objective Type)
The Prelims is a screening test—only qualifying marks are considered for Mains.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Studies | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper 2 | CSAT (Qualifying) | 200 | 2 Hours |
🔹 Key Points:
- Negative marking applies (0.25 deduction per wrong answer).
- CSAT is qualifying (33% marks needed).
- General Studies covers History, Polity, Economy, Science, etc.
Mains Exam (Descriptive Type)
The Mains stage tests in-depth knowledge and writing skills.
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Essay (Kannada/English) | 250 |
| Paper 2 | General Studies 1 | 250 |
| Paper 3 | General Studies 2 | 250 |
| Paper 4 | General Studies 3 | 250 |
| Paper 5 | General Studies 4 | 250 |
| Paper 6 | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper 7 | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 |
🔹 Must-Know:
- Total marks: 1750
- Optional subjects: History, Geography, Public Administration, etc.
- Language papers (Kannada & English) are qualifying.
Detailed KPSC KAS Syllabus 2025 📖
Prelims Syllabus
General Studies (Paper 1)
✅ History – Ancient, Medieval, Modern India, Karnataka History
✅ Polity – Constitution, Panchayati Raj, Governance
✅ Economy – Budget, Five-Year Plans, Karnataka’s Economy
✅ Geography – Physical, Indian & Karnataka Geography
✅ Science & Tech – Current Developments, Space Tech
✅ Environment – Biodiversity, Climate Change
✅ Current Affairs – National & International (Last 1 Year)
CSAT (Paper 2)
✅ Comprehension (Kannada/English)
✅ Logical Reasoning
✅ Data Interpretation
✅ Basic Numeracy
Mains Syllabus
General Studies Papers
| Paper | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| GS 1 | History, Culture, Society |
| GS 2 | Polity, International Relations |
| GS 3 | Economy, Agriculture, Science |
| GS 4 | Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude |
Optional Subjects
Candidates can choose one optional subject from:
| Subject | Relevance |
|---|---|
| History | High scoring, vast resources |
| Public Administration | Practical, overlaps with GS |
| Geography | Conceptual, map-based |
| Sociology | Analytical, current trends |
Expert Tips to Crack KPSC KAS 2025 🎯
🔹 Focus on Karnataka-specific topics (History, Economy, Schemes).
🔹 Practice answer writing daily (Mains demands structured responses).
🔹 Revise current affairs monthly (Yojana, Karnataka Govt. Reports help).
🔹 Solve previous year papers (Identifies repeated questions).
Real-Life Success Story
Rahul S., KAS 2023 Topper, says:
“I focused on Karnataka’s budget and welfare schemes—they asked 10+ questions from these. Also, writing practice was key for Mains.”
Recommended Books & Resources 📚
| Subject | Best Books |
|---|---|
| History | India’s Struggle for Independence (Bipan Chandra) |
| Polity | Indian Polity (Laxmikant) |
| Economy | Indian Economy (Ramesh Singh) |
| Kannada | Samagra Karnataka Adhyayana |
Aarav Singh is a content strategist focusing on recruitment notifications and exam updates. He holds a degree in Economics and has 6+ years of experience. Aarav loves analyzing job market trends and playing cricket.
