Last Updated: 24 June 2026
Status as of today: Two official notifications for Civil Police Constable (3,991 posts) were released by Karnataka State Police on 5 June 2026. Applications are open until 3 July 2026. A separate notification for Armed Police Constable (1,600 posts) was released on 19 June 2026 with applications open until 24 July 2026. The written exam for Civil Police Constable is scheduled for 2 August 2026. Admit cards, cut-offs, and results have not been released yet.
Karnataka Police Constable vacancy overview
Karnataka State Police (KSP) has launched one of the largest police recruitment drives in the state in recent years. Two separate processes are running simultaneously — one for Civil Police Constable under the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), and another for Armed Police Constable (CAR/DAR). This article covers the Civil Police Constable recruitment in detail, with the Armed Constable details noted where they differ.
| Organization Name | Karnataka State Police (KSP) |
| Recruitment Name | Civil Police Constable (CPC) Recruitment 2026 |
| CEN Number | KSP CPC Recruitment Notification 2026 |
| Post Name | Civil Police Constable (CPC) |
| Total Vacancies | 3,991 |
| Application Mode | Online Mode |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Official Website | Karnataka State Police Official Portal |
Both Civil and Armed Constable notifications were issued by the Central Recruitment and Promotion Department, Karnataka State Police, Bengaluru, and are available on the KEA portal: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
Notification Details
Two separate official notifications have been released for the Civil Police Constable post:
| Notification | Advertisement No. | Cadre | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notification 1 | 01/Recruitment-4/2026-27 | Kalyana-Karnataka / Article 371(J) cadre | 596 |
| Notification 2 | 02/Recruitment-4/2026-27 | Mikkilida / Okkalida (General) cadre | 3,395 |
| Total | 3,991 |
Source: Official KSP notifications dated 5 June 2026, available on the KEA recruitment portal.
The Kalyana-Karnataka cadre is reserved under Article 371(J) of the Constitution, which means those posts are exclusively for residents of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. If you are not from that region, your application goes under Notification 2. Candidates can apply for only one notification at a time — pick the one applicable to your domicile.
| important links | |
| Apply Online | click here link activate on activated now |
| Download notification kk | click here |
| Download notification rpc | click here |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 5 June 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | 8 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 3 July 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 4 July 2026 |
| Written Examination Date | 2 August 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | Not announced yet |
| Result Date | Not announced yet |
| Cut-off Publication | Not announced yet |
Source: KSP official notifications, Advertisement No. 01 and 02/Recruitment-4/2026-27, dated 5 June 2026.
The application window closes in about 9 days from today. Do not wait until 3 July — the KEA portal slows significantly in the last 48 hours of any major recruitment window. Apply by 28–29 June if possible.
Vacancy Details
A total of 3,991 vacancies have been released under the KSP Recruitment 2026. 3,395 vacancies are under the Mikkilida/Okkalida (General) cadre and 596 are under the Kalyana-Karnataka (Article 371-J) cadre.
Category-wise vacancy breakdowns for each cadre are available in the respective official notification PDFs. The notifications include separate allocation for Male, Female, Third Gender, Ex-Servicemen, and backlog candidates within each category. ICSI does not publish a single summary table covering all of these — candidates must refer to the PDF for the cadre they are applying under.
Armed Police Constable (separate recruitment): Karnataka State Police released two notifications dated 19 June 2026 for 1,600 Armed Police Constable (Civil/DIAR) posts — 1,421 for General Karnataka and 179 for Kalyana-Karnataka. Applications for these are open until 24 July 2026.
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Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have passed Class 12 (PUC) or an equivalent qualification from a recognised board and must have studied Kannada as a first or second language up to 10th/SSLC, or pass a Kannada language test conducted by KEA.
The Kannada language condition is enforced seriously. Candidates must have studied Kannada as a first or second language up to 10th/SSLC, or pass a Kannada language test (150 marks, minimum 50 to qualify) conducted by KEA. Candidates from other states who did not study Kannada in school must clear this test — it is not waived just because you qualify otherwise. Factor this into your preparation plan if it applies to you.
Age Limit
The age limit is 18 to 33 years for general candidates. Reserved categories (SC, ST, Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) get relaxation up to 35 years.
Additionally, as per Government Order No. 262/2025 (dated 29 January 2026), a one-time relaxation of 5 years in the upper age limit has been provided. This brings the effective upper age limit to 38 years for General category and 40 years for reserved categories, though candidates should verify the exact category-wise limits in the official notification, as this relaxation interacts differently with each category.
Ex-servicemen receive age relaxation of 3 years in addition to the length of military service rendered, as per the official notification.
Nationality
Indian citizenship is mandatory. Candidates from other states can apply but will be treated as General/Unreserved category regardless of their category certificate from their home state — Karnataka reservation benefits apply only to Karnataka domicile holders.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee (Civil Police Constable) |
|---|---|
| General / OBC (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) | Rs. 750 |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / Ex-Servicemen / Transgender | Rs. 500 |
Fee payment is accepted only through the KEA portal via Canara Bank / Post Office using Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI. The last date for fee payment is 4 July 2026 — one day after the application deadline. If you submit the form on 3 July but forget to pay, your application will not be processed.
Physical Standards
Physical eligibility is tested after the written exam. Candidates who clear the written exam are called for the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Endurance Test (PET).
Physical Standard Test (PST)
| Category | Height (Male) | Chest (Male) | Height (Female / Third Gender) | Weight (Female) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 168 cm | 86 cm (min. 5 cm expansion) | 157 cm | 45 kg minimum |
| Tribal area candidates | 155 cm | 75 cm | 150 cm | 45 kg minimum |
Source: Physical standard figures sourced from toppersexam.com citing KSP recruitment norms, corroborated by indianpaycalculator.in (verified 11 June 2026 against official notification).
Physical Endurance Test (PET)
Male candidates: 1600 metres run in 6 minutes 30 seconds; Long Jump 3.80 metres or High Jump 1.20 metres (3 chances); Shot put (7.26 kg) — 5.60 metres (3 chances). Female candidates: 400 metres run in 2 minutes; Long Jump 2.50 metres or High Jump 0.90 metres (3 chances); Shot put (4 kg) — 3.75 metres (3 chances).
The PET is qualifying in nature. Failing even one event eliminates the candidate, regardless of how well they did in the written exam. Most candidates who lose out at this stage fail the running event — not because they can’t run the distance, but because they haven’t trained specifically for the time standard. Six and a half minutes for 1,600 metres requires consistent running practice, not just general fitness. Start timing your runs from today.
Selection Process
The selection happens in four stages, each eliminatory:
Stage 1 — Written Examination (2 August 2026)
Objective type, OMR-based. 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes. Negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. Conducted in Kannada and English. Minimum qualifying marks are set by KSP in the official notification — commonly reported as 30–35% but candidates should verify the exact figure in the notification PDF.
Stage 2 — Physical Standard Test (PST)
Height, chest, and weight measurements as per the table above. Conducted by KSP officials. Failing any measurement means immediate disqualification.
Stage 3 — Physical Endurance Test (PET)
Running, long jump/high jump, and shot put. All events mandatory.
Stage 4 — Medical Examination
Shortlisted candidates (in a 1:2 ratio per vacancy) undergo a comprehensive medical examination by a Medical Board. This includes vision testing, hearing assessment, and musculoskeletal evaluation to ensure candidates are physically fit for active police duty.
Stage 5 — Document Verification
Final stage. Original documents are verified. Discrepancy at this stage leads to cancellation of candidature.
There is no interview in this recruitment. The final merit list is prepared based on written exam marks after clearing all physical and medical stages.
Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Written Exam Pattern
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Mode | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks per wrong answer |
| Language | Kannada and English |
Syllabus
The exam includes subjects such as General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Science, History, Geography, and Mental Ability, with questions generally based on 10th to 12th standard level knowledge.
Subject-wise breakdown:
General Knowledge and Current Affairs: National and international events, Karnataka state GK (history, geography, important personalities, festivals), government schemes, appointments, and awards. Focus on the last 12 months. Karnataka-specific current affairs carry separate weight — a candidate who reads only national news misses a meaningful chunk of the paper.
Science: Basic Physics, Chemistry, and Biology at SSLC/10th standard level.
History and Geography: Indian history (ancient, medieval, modern), Indian independence movement, Karnataka history, physical and political geography of India and Karnataka.
Indian Constitution and Polity: Fundamental rights, directive principles, constitutional bodies, local governance.
Mental Ability / Logical Reasoning: Number series, analogies, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, and basic arithmetic.
Kannada Language: Grammar, comprehension, and usage — assessed within the paper. Candidates who studied Kannada through SSLC are exempt from the separate Kannada test but still need to answer Kannada-language questions in the written exam.
Salary
The Karnataka Police Constable salary pay scale is Rs. 37,500 to Rs. 76,100 per month. Candidates are also eligible for Government of Karnataka allowances and benefits including the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
Karnataka constables are placed at Pay Level 7 under the 7th Pay Commission. The starting basic pay sits at the lower end of the band (Rs. 37,500), and annual increments push it upward. In-hand salary after deductions depends on the posting location and applicable city/rural allowances. NPS applies — there is no old pension scheme benefit for direct recruits joining from this cycle.
Selected candidates undergo 9 months of basic police training at designated Police Training Schools. Candidates are on probation for 2 years and 6 months after formal appointment. Candidates who fail during training may be removed from service.
Documents Required
At the time of document verification, candidates must carry originals and self-attested copies of:
- SSLC / 10th standard marks card and certificate
- PUC / 12th standard marks card and certificate
- Date of birth proof (SSLC certificate is accepted)
- Domicile / residence certificate (Karnataka)
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/Category-1 etc.) in the prescribed Karnataka government format — issued by the competent authority
- Kannada study certificate or Kannada language test pass certificate (if applicable)
- Physical fitness certificate (if required by the notification)
- Recent passport-size photographs
- Application confirmation printout with registration number
- ID proof (Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport, etc.)
One thing candidates frequently overlook: the category certificate must be in the Karnataka government’s prescribed format and issued by the correct competent authority. A certificate issued by a revenue officer below the rank specified in the notification will be rejected. Check the accepted formats listed in the official notification before getting your certificate made.
How to Apply
The online applications are accepted through the KEA portal. Candidates can follow these steps to complete the application process.
- Go to cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Click on the Civil Police Constable 2026 recruitment link for your cadre (General/RPC or Kalyana-Karnataka/KK)
- Register with your mobile number and email ID — keep these active through the entire recruitment process
- Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, and physical information accurately
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature in the specified format and size
- Pay the application fee via Canara Bank / Post Office using Card or UPI
- Submit the form before 3 July 2026 and save the confirmation page as a PDF
Do not enter approximate or estimated information in the application form. If your height is 167 cm, do not enter 168 cm hoping it will be accepted at the PST. The measurement at the physical test is final — mismatches between your application and actual measurement during the PST create complications that can delay or void your selection even after you clear the written exam.
What Is Not Yet Released
The following are pending as of 24 June 2026:
- Admit cards for the 2 August 2026 written examination (not released; no official release date announced)
- Category-wise cut-off for the written exam (will be released after results)
- Result date (not announced)
- Final merit list
- Category-wise vacancy breakdowns in a single summary format (candidates must refer to individual notification PDFs)
FAQs
Q1. I belong to a reserved category in another state. Will I get age or fee relaxation in KSP Constable 2026?
No. Karnataka State Police reservations and relaxations apply only to candidates who hold valid Karnataka domicile and have category certificates issued by Karnataka’s competent authorities. If you are from outside Karnataka and belong to SC/ST/OBC in your home state, you will be treated as a General/Unreserved category candidate for this recruitment.
Q2. I applied under Notification 2 (General cadre). Can I also apply under Notification 1 (Kalyana-Karnataka cadre)?
Only if you are a bona fide resident of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region as defined under Article 371(J). The Kalyana-Karnataka cadre is constitutionally reserved for residents of that specific region. Applying for it without fulfilling the domicile condition will result in disqualification at the document verification stage, even if you clear all earlier rounds.
Q3. My height is 167 cm and I am applying for a male General category post. Am I eligible?
Based on the physical standards cited in the official notification, the minimum height for General male candidates is 168 cm. At 167 cm, you would not meet the PST requirement. The 1 cm difference is not treated as a rounding margin — measurements are taken in centimetres and the standard is applied strictly. Verify this against the official notification PDF before applying.
Q4. The written exam has negative marking of 0.25. Is it better to leave a question blank or guess?
Leaving a question blank gives 0 marks and causes no deduction. Guessing with a 1-in-4 chance of being correct means an expected value of exactly 0 as well (0.25 marks gained × 1/4 probability, minus 0.25 marks lost × 3/4 probability). So blind guessing neither helps nor hurts on average — but if you can eliminate even one option, attempting the question becomes statistically worth it. The general advice of “never leave a question blank” from some coaching centres is mathematically incorrect for a 0.25 negative marking scheme.
Q5. The Armed Police Constable notification came out on 19 June. Can I apply for both Civil and Armed Constable simultaneously?
Yes. The two recruitments are separate processes with separate notification numbers, separate application forms, and different exam dates. Applying for both is permitted — there is no restriction mentioned in either notification that bars a candidate from applying to both simultaneously.
Disclaimer: Vacancy figures (3,991 Civil and 1,600 Armed), notification numbers, application dates, exam date (2 August 2026), salary scale (Rs. 37,500–76,100), and fee structure are sourced from official KSP notifications Adv. No. 01 and 02/Recruitment-4/2026-27 (dated 5 June 2026) and Adv. No. 04/Recruitment-5(A)/(B)/2026-27 (dated 19 June 2026), available on the KEA portal. Physical standard figures are corroborated across multiple sources but must be verified against the official notification PDFs before applying. Admit card release dates, cut-offs, and results are pending as of 24 June 2026.
Official portal for all updates and application: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
