improvam
KARNATAKA · POLICE

Karnataka State Police Civil Police Constable Recruitment: syllabus and eligibility

← All Karnataka exams
KSP Police Constable key facts
Conducting bodyKarnataka State Police (KSP). Official website ↗
PostsPolice Constable (Civil)
QualificationA pass in PUC (Class 12) or an equivalent qualification. The notification lists the accepted equivalents, such as CBSE/ICSE Class 12 and NIOS senior secondary, and some diploma and ITI routes covered by government orders.
Age limit18–33 years on Last date for online applications (3 July 2026 in the notification; KEA later extended applications to 8 July 2026) (general category)
DomicileSee the notification
Selection stagesWritten test (offline OMR) of 100 marks; you need at least 30 marks to qualify → Compulsory Kannada test for candidates who are not exempt → Physical Standard Test and Endurance Test for candidates called in a 1:5 ratio from written test merit (qualifying only) → Provisional selection on written test marks, then medical examination and document and character verification
Latest notificationPolice Constable (Civil) Recruitment 2026-27, non-Kalyana-Karnataka cadre · 3,395 vacancies

Last checked . Sources

About KSP Police Constable

Karnataka State Police recruits Civil Police Constables, and the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) runs the written test. For 2026-27 there are two notifications: 3,395 posts for the non-Kalyana-Karnataka districts and a separate 596-post notification for the Kalyana-Karnataka cadre. The 3,395 posts are split into 2,266 for men, 755 for women, 35 for transgender candidates, and 339 for serving police personnel. The pay scale is Rs 37,500-76,100.

Eligibility

Age limit

General category: 18–33 years, counted on Last date for online applications (3 July 2026 in the notification; KEA later extended applications to 8 July 2026).

Age relaxation

  • OBC: 2 years
  • SC: 2 years
  • ST: 2 years
  • Upper age limit is 33 for general merit, 35 for SC, ST, Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, and 38 for tribal candidates living in Karnataka's forest areas.
  • These limits already include a one-time 5-year relaxation under a government order dated 29 January 2026.
  • Serving police personnel have separate limits: 38 for general merit and 40 for the reserved categories.
  • Ex-servicemen get their period of service plus 3 years.

Qualification

A pass in PUC (Class 12) or an equivalent qualification. The notification lists the accepted equivalents, such as CBSE/ICSE Class 12 and NIOS senior secondary, and some diploma and ITI routes covered by government orders.

Other conditions

  • Minimum height is 168 cm for men and 157 cm for women and transgender candidates. For tribal candidates from forest areas it is 155 cm for men and 150 cm for women.
  • Men need a chest of at least 86 cm with 5 cm expansion (75 cm with 5 cm expansion for tribal men from forest areas). Women and transgender candidates must weigh at least 45 kg.
  • Candidates who are not exempt under the notification must also pass a compulsory Kannada test.

Selection process

  1. Written test (offline OMR) of 100 marks; you need at least 30 marks to qualify
  2. Compulsory Kannada test for candidates who are not exempt
  3. Physical Standard Test and Endurance Test for candidates called in a 1:5 ratio from written test merit (qualifying only)
  4. Provisional selection on written test marks, then medical examination and document and character verification

Exam pattern

Written test

Mode: Offline OMR, objective · Duration: 90 minutes · Negative marking: One-fourth of a mark deducted for each wrong answer

SUBJECTQUESTIONSMARKS
General studies: general knowledge and science, geography, history, Indian Constitution, national freedom movement, mental ability and moral education100100

Endurance Test (qualifying)

SUBJECT
Men: 1,600 m run in 6 minutes 30 seconds
Men: high jump 1.20 m or long jump 3.80 m (3 chances)
Men: shot put 7.26 kg to 5.60 m (3 chances)
Women, transgender and ex-servicemen candidates: 400 m run in 2 minutes
Women, transgender and ex-servicemen candidates: high jump 0.90 m or long jump 2.50 m (3 chances)
Women, transgender and ex-servicemen candidates: shot put 4 kg to 3.75 m (3 chances)

KSP Police Constable syllabus

General studies (written test)

  • General knowledge and general science
  • Geography
  • History
  • Indian Constitution
  • National freedom movement
  • Mental ability
  • Moral education

What they ask

There is one objective paper: 100 questions in 90 minutes, one mark each. It covers general knowledge, science, geography, history, the Constitution, the freedom movement, mental ability and moral education. Each question has four options, and a wrong answer costs a quarter mark. You need at least 30 marks to qualify, and only five candidates per post move on to the physical tests.

How to prepare

  • The physical tests are pass or fail and the merit list follows written test marks, so give the 100-question paper most of your study time.
  • Practise full papers of 100 questions in 90 minutes on OMR sheets. That is less than a minute per question, and each wrong answer costs a quarter mark.
  • Start running months ahead. Men must finish 1,600 m in 6 minutes 30 seconds and women 400 m in 2 minutes, and these are pass-or-fail events.
  • Before you pay the fee, check your height and chest against the notification: 168 cm for men and 157 cm for women. Lower limits apply only to tribal candidates from Karnataka's forest areas.
  • Daily topic-wise quizzes on the free Improvam app can help with the history, Constitution and mental ability questions.
FREE ON ANDROID & IOS

Practise KSP Police Constable syllabus topics a few minutes a day with short quizzes in the Improvam app.

KSP Police Constable FAQs

The notification requires at least 30 marks out of 100 in the written test to qualify.

Sources

Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.

Related exams

MORE KARNATAKA EXAMS

POLICE EXAMS ELSEWHERE