Kerala Administrative Service
Kerala's equivalent to the IAS. The state's most prestigious civil service recruitment.
What this role actually involves
The Kerala Administrative Service is Kerala's equivalent to the IAS: the state's most prestigious civil service recruitment, decided across three tiers culminating in a maximum of 345 marks.
Eligibility runs through three separate streams: direct recruitment for any graduate aged 21 to 32, government department employees in a regular, non-gazetted approved post up to age 40, and approved probationers already holding a gazetted post up to age 50.
Stage by stage
Tier 1: Preliminary Examination
- Format
- OMR or CBT
- Marks
- 200 across two papers of 100 marks each. Screening only, not counted toward the final rank.
- Duration
- 90 minutes per paper
- Negative marking
- 0.33 marks deducted per incorrect answer
Screening stage only; Prelims marks do not carry forward to the final rank.
Tier 2: Main Examination
- Format
- Descriptive, written, in English or Malayalam
- Marks
- 300 across three papers of 100 marks each
- Duration
- 2 hours per paper
Determines the bulk of the final rank.
Tier 3: Interview and Personality Test
- Marks
- 45
Assesses intellectual traits, emotional balance, leadership capability, and fitness for state administration. Final rank formula: Mains 300 plus Interview 45, maximum 345 marks.
Mark-wise topic distribution
Tier 1, Paper I
- History
Ancient, medieval, modern, world, and Kerala history.
- Cultural Heritage of Kerala
- Indian Constitution and Polity
- Reasoning and Mental Ability
- Geography
Tier 1, Paper II
- Economy and Planning
- Science and Technology
- Environment
- Current Affairs
- English Proficiency20 Marks
- Regional Language30 Marks
Tier 2, Paper I
- History of India and the World
- Kerala History and Cultural Heritage
- Geography
Tier 2, Paper II
- Indian Constitution and Governance
- Public Administration
- Science and Technology
- Administrative Law and Ethics
Tier 2, Paper III
- Indian Economy and Planning
- Economy of Kerala
- Current Issues and Governance Applications
Who can apply
| Stream | Who can apply | Age limit |
|---|---|---|
| Stream 1, Direct Recruitment | Any graduate. | 21 to 32 years |
| Stream 2, Government Department Employees | Graduate in a regular approved post, not a Gazetted Officer. | Up to 40 years |
| Stream 3, Gazetted Officers | Approved probationer holding a Gazetted post. | Up to 50 years |
Start preparing for Kerala Administrative Service
KAS Prelims and Mains Program
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