How to prepare for KAS

From 1998 KPSC KAS Exams are conducted in the lines of UPSCs IAS Exams. There will be 3 levels of Exams conducted. Except a 300 Marks Essay writing in IAS, Most of the methods, guidelines and procedures used in IAS are used in KAS also.
KPSC will conduct KAS exams in 2010 for recruitment of 268 posts vacant in various departments of Karnataka government.
Eligibility :
Candidates must have passed any degree
Students studying in final Year/Semester of their degree can also apply for the exam provided they must produce the marks card at the time of main exams
General Category candidates can attempt for max. 5 times and OBC category candidates for max. 7 times. SC/SC can write any no. of times.
Age Limit : General : Max. 35 Years. OBC : Max. 38 Years and SC/ST : Max. 40 Years
There are 3 levels in KAS
1. Preliminary Exam
2. Main Exam
3. Personal Interview
Preliminary Exam (Prelims in short) :
There will be two compulsory Question Papers in Prelims. First paper will be General Studies with 150 Marks. Second Paper for 300 Marks Specific Paper. Candidates can choose the specific subject that they want to write exam. The KAS syllabus for this exam will be of degree level.
Each paper will be given 2 hours of duration. Usually Exams for both the papers will be conducted on the same day. Prelims exam will be of Objective type questions where you have to choose the write answer from the four options given.
Paper 1 : General Paper (General Studies / General Knowledge)
This paper is set based on the general science, State, National, International current affairs, Indian History, Geography, Constitution, Economy, Indian National Movement, Mental Ability etc. The question paper will be in both Kannada and English.Candidates has choose one language to write exam.
Paper 2 : Specific paper / Elective Paper
The subjects for Specific Paper are as follows
1. Agriculture, Sericulture, Agricultural Marketing And Co-Operation
2. Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Sciences And Fisheries
3. Botany
4. Chemistry
5. Civil Engineering
6. Commerce, Accounting:, Business Organisation & Secretarial Practice:
7. Criminology
8. Economics, Karnataka Economy
9. Electrical Engineering
10. Geography
11. Law
12. Mathematics
13. History
14. Mechanical Engineering
15. Philosophy
16. Geology
17. Physics
18. Political Science And International Relations
19. Psychology
20. Public Administration.
21. Sociology
22. Statistics
23. Zoology
24. Rural Development
25. Hindi
26. Anthropology.
27. Urdu Syllabus
28. Kannada
29. English
30. Management
After the prelims exam the candidates will be selected on 1:20 ratio for the Main Exam. A separate Application has to be submitted for Main Exam with the degree marks cards. In case if the candidate successfully crack the Prelims exam and fail in the degree exam he/she will be disqualified for Main Exam.
Main Exam (Mains in short)
There will be total 8 papers in Main Exam.
Paper 1 – Kannada (150 Marks)
Paper 2 – English (150 Marks)
Papers 3 & 4 – General Knowledge (300 Marks each)
Papers 5,6,7 & 8 : Four Papers on Two Elective Subjects (300 Marks each)
Kannada & English Papers are Eligibility papers means you have to score minimum of 35 marks in order to be eligible. The scores in these two papers will not be considered for the calculation of percentage. These papers are descriptive type. Syllabus for Kannada and English Papers are of SSLC Level and Mains exams will be ofDegree level.
Personal Interview
Those candidates who successfully cracked the Main exam will be shortlisted for the Personal Interview on a 1:3 Ratio. Here the candidates Leadership Qualities, Mental Stability, Decision taking abilities are measured.
Preparation
The final and important question How to prepare for KAS?
The General Knowledge paper in prelims will contain questions from various fields and will be vast in nature. So preparing with any one book is not sufficient. You have to read at least two Kannada, two English news papers, Magazines on a daily basis to gain more knowledge and up-to-date about the current affairs across the globe. With that you need to make important points and notes for revision at the later stage. Don’t depend on the books which comes to market atthe time of exam. Instead of that keep reading the books write now.
Joining the KAS training institutes are another best option. Where you will be given a structured, organized way of preparing for the exams. But before joining such institutions query about the quality of Materials, Teaching staff and resources provided.