The Karnataka State Police Department has rolled out one of its biggest recruitment drives of the year, inviting applications for 2,314 Special Reserve Police Constable (KSRP) and allied posts across the state. The recruitment is being carried out through two separate notifications issued by the Office of the Director General of Police, Karnataka, with the written examination to be conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). Candidates who have completed their 2nd PUC (12th standard) and meet the physical standards laid down for police service can apply online through the official KEA portal. This article breaks down everything a candidate needs to know — from vacancy distribution to the exact steps for submitting the online application.
1. Recruitment Overview
The Karnataka State Police, through the Directorate General of Police (Recruitment Wing), Bengaluru, has notified direct recruitment to the post of Special Reserve Police Constable (KSRP), along with related posts in the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF) and the India Reserve Battalion (IRB).
- Notification No. 03/Recruitment-3(B)/RPC/2026-27, dated 10.07.2026 — 1,455 KSRP Constable posts in the general (Non-Kalyana-Karnataka) cadre. View Notification
- Notification No. 07/Recruitment-3(B)/KK/2026-27, dated 10.07.2026 — 859 posts (KSRP, KSISF, IRB) reserved for the local cadre under Article 371(J) in the Kalyana-Karnataka region. View Notification
Together, these two notifications account for 2,314 vacancies. Key points at a glance:
- Written examination is conducted offline in OMR format, though the application itself is fully online.
- Recruitment is managed by the SRPC (KSRP), IRB & KSISF Recruitment Committee, Carlton House, Bengaluru.
- Applications open on 13 July 2026 and close on 10 August 2026.
- Eligible qualification: 2nd PUC (12th standard) or equivalent.
2. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification release date | 10 July 2026 |
| Online application start date | 13 July 2026 |
| Last date to submit online application | 10 August 2026 |
| Last date to pay application fee | 11 August 2026 |
| Written examination date | 20 September 2026 |
| Exam timing — Non-KK cadre candidates (Notification 03) | 10:30 AM – 12:00 Noon |
| Exam timing — Kalyana-Karnataka cadre candidates (Notification 07) | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM |
Apply well before 10 August 2026 — the notification does not indicate any provision for late submissions.
3. Vacancy Details
Notification No. 03 — General / Non-Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre (1,455 Posts)
| Post | Pay Scale (₹) | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Reserve Police Constable (KSRP) | 37,500 – 76,100 | 1,382 | 73 | 1,455 |
Notification No. 07 — Kalyana-Karnataka Local Cadre, Article 371(J) (859 Posts)
| Post | Pay Scale (₹) | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Reserve Police Constable (KSRP) | 37,500 – 76,100 | 284 | 50 | 334 |
| Police Constable (KSISF) | 37,500 – 76,100 | 274 | 90 | 364 |
| Special Reserve Police Constable (IRB) | 37,500 – 76,100 | 161 | – | 161 |
Combined Total: 2,314 Posts
- Category-wise and unit-wise detailed breakup will be published separately by the recruiting authority.
- Candidates in the Kalyana-Karnataka notification may apply for more than one post (KSRP/KSISF/IRB) using a single application — see the Application Fee section for details.
4. Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have passed 2nd PUC (12th standard) or an equivalent qualification. The following are accepted as equivalent:
- 12th standard/PUC from CBSE or ICSE boards
- 12th standard from any other state education board recognised by that state government
- Advanced vocational courses/diplomas conducted under the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
- A two-year ITI course along with a pass in one SSLC subject (minimum aggregate 35%)
- Three-year diploma holders (Govt. Order dated 30.09.2021) — only for departmental/in-service quota candidates, who must additionally clear a Kannada language test if the diploma was completed before 2015
Age Limit
- Minimum age: 18 years as on the last date for receiving applications (no relaxation permitted)
- Maximum age, by category:
| Candidate Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General Merit | 33 years |
| SC / ST / Category-1 / 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B | 35 years |
| Tribal candidates from notified forest areas of Karnataka | 38 years |
- Ex-servicemen get age relaxation equal to their length of military service, plus 3 years.
Kannada Language Requirement
Candidates who have not studied Kannada as a first or second language up to SSLC (10th standard), or not passed Kannada at PUC level, must clear a compulsory Kannada language test conducted by KEA, scoring a minimum of 50 out of 150 marks.
5. Selection Process
Selection involves the following sequential stages — candidates must clear each stage to proceed to the next:
- Written Examination — offline, OMR-based objective test at district-level centres
- Physical Standard Test (PST) — for candidates shortlisted in a 1:5 ratio to vacancies (extendable to 1:10) based on written exam marks
- Physical Endurance Test (PET) — timed run, jump, and shot put, cleared in sequence
- Medical Examination — conducted by a Medical Board
- Document Verification — original certificates checked before the final merit list
Candidates clearing PST and PET are shortlisted in a 1:2 ratio to vacancies for medical exam and document verification. Final selection is purely merit-based on the written exam score, subject to clearing all physical and medical requirements.
Written Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Test | General Studies & Mental Aptitude | 100 | 100 | 1.5 hours (90 min) |
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer (4 options per question).
- Special OMR correction rules apply if a candidate marks a 5th option while attempting to change an earlier answer; incorrectly handled corrections also attract the 0.25 mark penalty.
Physical Standard Test (PST) Requirements
| Category | Minimum Height | Minimum Chest / Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Male & Ex-servicemen | 168 cm | Chest 86 cm (unexpanded), min. 5 cm expansion |
| Female | 158 cm | Minimum weight 45 kg |
| Tribal male (notified forest areas) | 155 cm | Chest expansion min. 5 cm; fully expanded not less than 75 cm |
| Tribal female (notified forest areas) | 150 cm | Minimum weight 45 kg |
Physical Endurance Test (PET) Requirements
| Category | Run | Long Jump / High Jump | Shot Put |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 1,600 m in 6 min 30 sec | Long jump min. 3.80 m OR High jump min. 1.20 m (3 attempts each) | 7.26 kg, min. 5.60 m (3 attempts) |
| Female & Ex-servicemen | 400 m in 1 min 30 sec | Long jump min. 2.50 m OR High jump min. 0.90 m (3 attempts each) | 4 kg, min. 3.75 m (3 attempts) |
- All PET events must be cleared in the prescribed order.
- Failure in any single event, or disqualification for unfair means, ends participation regardless of performance elsewhere.
Medical Examination Standards
- Vision: better eye 6/9, weaker eye up to 6/12 (distant vision)
- Hearing: Rinne’s Test, Weber’s Test, Vertigo Test
- Automatic disqualification for: knock knees, flat foot, bow legs, cubitus valgus, cubitus varus, varicose veins, or speech impediment
6. Salary & Pay Structure
Selected candidates will be placed on the following pay scale:
- ₹37,500 – ₹76,100 per month
- Detailed pay band: 37500-900-39300-1000-43300-1125-47800-1250-52800-1375-58300-1500-64300-1650-74200-1900-76100
- Additional benefits:
- Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and other admissible government allowances
- Pension under the National Pension Scheme (NPS), per Govt. Order dated 31.03.2006
Training & Probation
- Training: 9 months of basic foundation training at a designated Police Training School, with departmental exams to clear (one repeat attempt allowed; failing twice leads to removal from service)
- Probation: 2 years and 6 months, as per the Karnataka Civil Services (Probation) Rules, 1977
7. Application Fee
Fees are payable online only and are non-refundable.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General Merit and Category 2A / 2B / 3A / 3B | ₹750 |
| SC, ST, Category-1, and Ex-servicemen | ₹500 |
For Kalyana-Karnataka cadre applicants (Notification No. 07) applying to more than one post:
- Full fee applies to the first post selected.
- An additional ₹100 is charged per extra post added within the same application.
- Since the written exam is common across KSRP/KSISF/IRB, the score is considered for every post applied for in that single application.
8. How to Apply
- Visit the official KEA website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Locate the notification relevant to your cadre — Notification No. 03 (General cadre, PDF) or Notification No. 07 (Kalyana-Karnataka cadre, PDF)
- Register with your basic details to generate login credentials.
- Fill in the online application form with personal, educational, and category details.
- Upload:
- Recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, 50KB–200KB)
- Signature (JPEG, 50KB–70KB)
- Review all entered details carefully — no corrections are allowed after submission.
- Pay the applicable fee online before the deadline.
- Download and save a copy of the submitted application and fee payment receipt/challan.
Important:
- Only one application per post/category combination is allowed.
- False information, duplicate applications, or fake certificates will lead to rejection — even after selection, if discovered later — and possible legal/disciplinary action.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many total vacancies are there in the KEA KSRP Recruitment 2026?
A total of 2,314 vacancies — 1,455 under the General/Non-Kalyana-Karnataka cadre (Notification No. 03) and 859 under the Kalyana-Karnataka local cadre (Notification No. 07, covering KSRP, KSISF, and IRB posts).
Q2. What is the educational qualification required?
2nd PUC (12th standard) or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Karnataka government.
Q3. What is the age limit for this recruitment?
Minimum 18 years; maximum 33 years (General), 35 years (SC/ST/Cat-1/2A/2B/3A/3B), 38 years (tribal candidates from notified forest areas).
Q4. What is the last date to apply online?
10 August 2026, with fee payment permitted until 11 August 2026.
Q5. When is the written examination?
20 September 2026 — 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon for Non-Kalyana-Karnataka cadre candidates, and 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM for Kalyana-Karnataka cadre candidates.
Q6. What is the application fee?
₹750 for General Merit/2A/2B/3A/3B; ₹500 for SC, ST, Category-1, and Ex-servicemen.
Q7. What is the selection process?
Written Exam → Physical Standard Test (PST) → Physical Endurance Test (PET) → Medical Examination → Document Verification → Final Merit List.
Q8. What is the salary for KSRP Constable?
₹37,500 – ₹76,100 per month, plus allowances and NPS pension benefits.
Q9. Is there negative marking in the written exam?
Yes — 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer.
Q10. Where can I apply for this recruitment?
Only online, through the official KEA portal.
10. Official Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification — Non-Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre (1,455 KSRP Posts) | Download PDF |
| Official Notification — Kalyana-Karnataka Cadre (859 KSRP/KSISF/IRB Posts) | Download PDF |
| Official Application Portal | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
| Helpdesk (written exam & score queries) | 080-23460460 (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM) |
Candidates are advised to read the complete official notification carefully before applying and to rely only on the official KEA website for updates related to admit cards, exam centres, and results.
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