Kerala Administrative Service (KAS)

The Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) is the administrative cadre of the Government of Kerala and was started in 2018. The Kerala Public Service Commission conducts exams to recruit candidates for the service. A three- stage examination and 18 months of training follow selection. It aims to build a cadre of public servants as a second line of managerial talent for the effective implementation of government services in Kerala.

The declared objective of the Kerala Administrative Service is to create a new generation of officers to utilize the potential of modern technology to make governance more efficient. By identifying and hiring talented candidates through a rigorous three-stage examination process and then providing them with 18 months of training, the government hopes to increase the effectiveness of middle-level management in the government service. The first year of 18 months of training is pre-service training, and the subsequent six months of training must be done after entering service but before completing probation. Through KAS, the government is looking for a way to avoid hindering the realization of the objectives of government projects due to the significant shortage of professionals in the second tier of the government system.

The rank of first appointee in KAS is equivalent to the rank of undersecretary in the State Secretariat. Initially, the second-gazetted posts in 30 government departments were reserved for KAS. Officers in KAS, which is considered the feeder category for IAS, can enter the IAS cadre subject to satisfying conditions of promotion under the Indian Administrative Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955, after completing 8 years of service.

KAS officers are the higher-level administrative officers of Kerala government departments. The duties of KAS officers include administration, supervising government projects, filing approvals, and coordinating the departments.

KAS and IAS are both administrative service posts. The difference is that KAS is a state administrative post and IAS is a central administrative post. The state's public service commission conducts the KAS exam, and the UPSC conducts the IAS.

The Kerala Administrative Service Examination is considered the highest-level examination conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission.

KAS: Constitutions

The Kerala Administrative Service shall consist of the following categories of officers:

• KAS Officer (Junior Time Scale) Trainee
• KAS Officer (Senior Time Scale)
• KAS Officer (Selection Grade Scale)
• KAS Officer (Super Time Scale)

An Officer joining the KAS shall start his career in the Junior Time Scale Trainee in the State Service.

Selection is done through any of the three streams described below:

• Stream 1: Direct recruitment
• Stream 2: Direct recruitment from approved probationers or full members who have successfully completed probation in various departments of the Government of Kerala.
• Stream 3: Direct recruitment from government employees holding the first gazetted post or above in the government departments mentioned in Schedule 1 of the Kerala Administrative Service Special Rules published in 2018 or holding the equivalent post in the general categories mentioned in Schedule 1.

Age Limits and Conditions

Method of appointment and qualification

A candidate shall be appointed to KAS specified in Column – 2 and shall possess the qualification prescribed in the corresponding entry in Column - 3 in table below.

Promotion

Based on seniority, performance, and experience, KAS officers can reach the level of principal secretary. The principal secretary is a senior position in the state government and is responsible for overseeing the functioning of various departments.

Pay and scale

The pay scale will be Rs.77,200-1,40,500. The total pay will come to Rs 98,044 initially after adding other benefits.

Training

1. Every person appointed to KAS (Junior Time Scale) shall undergo training for a period of 18 months or for such duration as may be prescribed by Government from time to time.
2.  Such Person shall during the period of training draw allowances/pay as many be decided by the Government time to time.
3.  The period of training shall count for increment and probation.
4.  The training will be partly or fully residential and shall be provided at such institutions and places as Government may decided from time to time of which not less than 15 days of training shall be in a premier national institute specializing in development or planning and not less than 15 days of training shall be in a premier national institute of management.
5.  The training shall be arranged by the Institute of Management in Government, Thiruvananthapuram in accordance with these rules and in the manner decided by Government from time to time.
6.  Government may by general or special order specify the number of candidates for every batch of training, training curriculum and methodology and matters related to such training and may also specify training programmes that must be mandatorily completed by an officer for promotion to the next scale.

Probation

Every person appointed to KAS (Junior Time Scale) shall from the date on which he/she joins duty be on probation for a total period of 2 years on duty within a continuous period of 3 years inclusive of the period of training.

Probation Tests

A. Officers at the Junior Time Scale shall have passed the followings tests for satisfactory completion of probation.

1. The Revenue Tests
2. The Criminal Judicial Test including Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.PC)
3. Manual of Office Procedure (MOP)
4. Kerala Secretariate Office Manual(KSOM)

Candidates who have not studied Malayalam language in the metric level shall have to qualify the Malayalam Proficiency Test conducted by Kerala Public Service Commission except where

5.  Malayalam has been prescribed as a qualifying paper for the selection to the KAS.

Note:- A candidate who possesses a degree in law shall not be required to pass Criminal Judicial Test.

B. Officers at the Junior Time Scale shall have passed the followings tests for their promotion.

1. Account Test (Lower)
2. Miscellaneous Acts (Right to Information Act-2005, Right to Service Acts-2012 and such other acts as may be prescribed from time to time).

C. Government may prescribe tests, as it deems fit for any Scale in the KAS as a recruitment for promotion to the next scale.

Examination
1. Preliminary Examination

The preliminary examination is the first stage in the selection process for Kerala PSC KAS recruitment.

This test is made up of two objective-type papers. Candidates who pass the preliminary examination advance to the next level of the recruiting process, the mains.

PAPER - I

GENERAL STUDIES - I

(A) History (India and Kerala)

1)Ancient and Medieval Period:-

1. Salient features and major landmarks of ancient and medieval India
2. Art, culture, literature and Architecture
3. Major Dynasties, their administrative system, social, religious and economic conditions prominent movements

2) Modern Period :-

4. Modern Indian History (from the 18th century up to the present) significant events, personalities and issues
5. India – Struggle for independence
6. Social and religious reform movements in the 19th and 20th century
7. India after Independence, Post independent consolidation and reorganisation
8. Independent India and her neighbours.

3) Kerala History (from 18th century):-

1. Pre-Independence socio-political movements. Formation of Kerala State, Political parties, movements, Governments, Landmark legislations and policies.

(B) History of the World (from mid 18th century)

1. Industrial revolution
2. World wars
3. Redrawal of National boundaries
4. Colonialisation and decolonialisation
5. Globalisation
6. Communism, Capitalism, Socialism – their forms and effects in society.

(C) Cultural Heritage of Kerala

1. Cultural Heritage of Kerala Art Forms, literature, sculpture, architecture, salient features of society
2. Kerala Tribal culture, Pilgrimage, Tourist places, Folk Culture, Cinema, Theatre
3. History and revolution of Malayalam language and literature.

(D) Indian Constitution, Public Administration, Political System, Governance, Social Justice and International Relations

1. Indian Constitution and its salient features
2. Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, function, power and privileges. Issues and challenges pertaining to Federal Structure – Devolution of Power and Finances up to local levels and challenges therein
3. Constitutional Authorities – Powers, Functions and Responsibilities
4. Panchayati Raj, Public Policy and Governance, Impact of L.P.G on Governance
5. Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial bodies
6. Rights Issues (Human rights, Women rights, SC/ST rights, Child rights, etc.), Important Acts
7. India's Foreign Policy, International Organisations, International Treaties and Forums, their structure and mandate
8. Judiciary in India – Structure and functions, important provisions relating to Emergency and Constitutional amendments, Judicial review, Public Interest Litigation, Land Revenue Laws
9. Fundamental rights, fundamental duties and Directive Principles
10. Principles of Administrative Law.

(E) Reasoning, Mental Ability & Simple Arithmetic

Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability, Number series, Coding – Decoding, problems related to Relations, Shapes and their sub- sections, Venn Diagram, problems based on Clock, Calendar and Age, Simple Arithmetic.

(F) Geography

1. General Geography: Solar system, Motion of Earth, Concept of time, Seasons, Internal structure of the Earth, Major Landforms and their features. Atmosphere – Structure and Composition, elements and factors of Climate, Airmasses and Fronts, atmospheric disturbances. Oceans: Physical, Chemical and Biological characteristics, Hydrological Disasters, Marine and Continental Resources
2. Physical, Social, Economic Geography of World, India and Kerala
3. Geophysical phenomena like Earthquake, Tsunami, Volcanoes, Cyclone, Flood, Landslides.

PAPER - II

GENRAL STUDIES - II

(A) Economy and Planning

1. Indian economy on the eve of independence. Indian economy in post reform period – new economic reforms, NITI Aayog, National Income and Per Capita Income, Sectoral Composition (Output and Employment) – Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. Development under different policy regimes (including Five Year Plans) – Goals, Constraints, Institutions and Policy framework.
2. Agriculture Sector, Land Reforms in India, Technological change in Agriculture – Major Crops and Cropping patterns in various parts of the Country, Irrigation, Pricing of agriculture inputs and outputs, Agricultural Finance Policy and Marketing, Issues in Food Security and Public Distribution System, Green Revolution, Policies for sustainable agriculture and organic farming.
3. Industrial Policy, Public Sector enterprises and their performance, Growth and pattern of industrialization, Small-scale sector, Productivity in industrial sector, SEZ and industrialization, foreign investment and competition policy, e-Commerce, Effects of liberalisation on the economy.
4. Infrastructure in Indian Economy, Meaning and importance of infrastructure – Water Supply and Sanitation- Energy and Power – Science and Technology – Rural and Urban Infrastructure, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, Telecommunication, Dams, Inland Waterways. Social Impact Assessment.
5. Trends and Patterns in structure of population over time – Growth rate, Gender Rural-Urban Migration, Literacy, Regional Structure and trends of Poverty and Inequality, Unemployment – trends, Structure and National Rural Employment policies. Indicators of development – Physical Quality of Life Index, Human Development Index, Human Poverty Index, Gender Development Index, National Happiness Index.
6. Indian Public Finance, Government Budgeting, Indian Tax System, Public Expenditure, Public Debt, Deficit and Subsidies in the Indian Economy. Centre State financial relation. Recent fiscal and monetary policy issues and their impact, structure of Indian Banking and Non- Banking Financial Institutions and reforms, GST: Concept and Implications. Stock exchange and share market.
7. Trend, Composition, Structure and direction of India's Foreign Trade. India's Balance of payments situation in post reforms period.
8. Economy of Kerala State-an overview, Population, Major agriculture, Industry, Service sector issues. Infrastructure and resources, Major Developmental Projects, Programmes and Schemes. Co-operative Sector. History and relevant policies in traditional industries, IT Sector, Pravasi and Foreign remittance.
9. Kerala model development – (Land reforms, Social security, devolution of Power, Decentralised Planning, Housing, Tourism, Women Empowerment, Social Welfare Schemes, Disaster Management. Role and Function of Kerala Planning Board, Achievements of Kerala in Health and Education Sector: Policies, Programmes, Initiatives and Impacts.

(B) Science and Technology

1. Science and Technology: Nature and scope of Science and Technology, Relevance of S&T, National policy on S&T and innovations, Basics of everyday science, Human body, Public Health and Community Medicine, Food and Nutrition, Health Care.

Institutes and Organization in India promoting integration of S&T and Innovation, their activities and contributions, Contribution of Prominent Indian Scientists.

2. ICT : Nature and Scope of ICT, ICT in day today life, ICT and industry, ICT and Governance – various Government schemes promoting use of ICT, e-Governance Programmes and Services, Netiquettes, Cyber Security concerns – National Cyber Crime Policy. MIS. Artificial Intelligence – benefits and impacts, Robotics.
3. Technology in Space and Defence: Evolution of Indian Space Programme, ISRO – it's activities and achievements, various Satellite Programmes – DRDO-vision, mission and activities.
4. Energy requirement and efficiency: India's existing energy needs and deficit, India's energy resources and dependence, Renewable and Non-renewable energy resources, Energy Policy of India – Govt. Policies and Programmes, Energy Security and Nuclear Policy of India.
5. Environmental Science : Issues and concerns related to environment, its legal aspects, policies and treaties for the protection of environment at the National and the International level, Environment protection for sustainable development.

Biodiversity – its importance and concerns, Climate change, International initiatives (Policies, Protocols) and India's commitment, Western Ghats, Features, Characteristics and issues.

Forest and wildlife – Legal framework for Forest and Wildlife Conservation in India.

Environmental Hazards, Pollution, Carbon Emission, Global Warming. National action plans on climate change and Disaster Management.

Developments in Biotechnology, Green Technology and Nanotechnology.

(C) Current Events

(D) Language Proficiency - English

1) Tenses 2) Synonyms 3) Phrasal Verbs 4) Antonyms 5) Error Correction 6) Adjectives 7) Adverbs 8) Reported Speech 9) Active Voice 10) Passive Voice 11) Auxiliary Verb 12) Question Tag 13) Degrees of Comparison 14) Punctuation 15) Idioms and Phrases 16) Simple Compound Complex Sentences 17) Connectives 18) Prepositional Verbs 19) Prepositions 20) Concord 21) Pronouns – 9 types  22) Word Order and Sentence Order.

(E) – E I or E II or E III

(E I) Language Proficiency – Malayalam

1) പദശുദ്ധി  2) വാക്യശുദ്ധി  3) പരിഭാഷ   4) ഒറ്റപ്പദം  5) പര്യായം  6) വിപരീത പദം  7)  ശൈലികൾ പഴഞ്ചൊല്ലുകൾ  8) സമാനപദം  9) ചേർത്തെഴുതുക  10) സ്ത്രീലിംഗം പുല്ലിംഗം   11) വചനം  12)  പിരിച്ചെഴുതൽ   13) ഘടകപദം (വാക്യം ചേർത്തെഴുതുക)     14) ഭരണഭാഷയുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട് ഒരു ഖണ്ഡിക നൽകി അതിനെ ആധാരമാക്കി ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ           15) ഔദ്യോഗിക ഭാഷാ പദാവലി, വിപുലനം,സംഗ്രഹം.

OR

(E II) Language Proficiency - Kannada

1) Word Purity / Correct Word  2) Correct Sentence  3) Translation  4) One Word / Single Word / One Word Substitution  5) Synonyms  6) Antonyms  7) Idioms and Proverbs  8) Equivalent Word  9) Join the Word  10) Feminine Gender, Masculine Gender  11) Number  12) Sort and Write  13) Add Phrases  14) Comprehension

OR

(E III) Language Proficiency - Tamil

1) Correct Word  2) Correct Structure of Sentence  3) Translation  4) Single Word  5) Synonyms  6) Antonyms / Opposite  7) Phrases and Proverbs  8) Equal Word  9) Join the Word  10) Gender Classification – Feminine, Masculine  11) Singular, Plural 12) Separate 13) Add Phrases 14) Comprehension

015/2020 KAS Prelims Paper 1

016/2020 KAS Prelims Paper 2

065/2020 KAS (Supplimentary Exam for Gazetted Teaching Staff in Education Department) Paper I

066/2020 KAS (Supplimentary Exam for Gazetted Teaching Staff in Education Department) Paper I

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