Understanding State PSCs
What are State Public Service Commissions?
State Public Service Commissions (PSCs) are constitutional bodies established under Article 315-323 of the Indian Constitution to conduct recruitment for state government services. Each state has its own PSC responsible for:
- Conducting competitive examinations
- Direct recruitment to state services
- Advising the state government on personnel matters
- Ensuring fair and transparent selection processes
Key Functions:
- Conduct examinations for appointments to state services
- Assist in framing recruitment rules
- Advise on promotion and disciplinary matters
- Ensure merit-based selection
State PSC Exam Calendar
YET TO BE RELEASED
Date of Notification - STATE PSC 2026
Services/Posts Conducted by State PSCs:
| State PSC | Major Services/Posts Conducted |
|---|---|
| KPSC (Karnataka) | Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS), Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), First Division Assistant (FDA), Second Division Assistant (SDA), Commercial Tax Inspector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Assistant Commissioner, Tahsildar, Group A, B, C, D services |
| APPSC (Andhra Pradesh) | Group-I (Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Commercial Tax Officer), Group-II (Municipal Commissioner, Assistant Section Officer), Group-III (Junior Accountant, Junior Assistant), Group-IV (Village Revenue Officer), Forest Services, Engineering Services |
| TNPSC (Tamil Nadu) | Group-I (Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police), Group-II (Sub-Registrar, Municipal Commissioner), Group-III (Junior Inspector, Assistant), Group-IV (Village Administrative Officer, Junior Assistant), Combined Engineering Services, Combined Medical Services |
| Kerala PSC | Kerala Administrative Service (KAS), Police Sub-Inspector, Excise Inspector, Sales Tax Officer, Assistant Engineer, Civil Excise Officer, Village Extension Officer, Last Grade Servant, University Assistant, Lower Division Clerk |
Comparative Analysis - Tabular Format
1. Eligibility Criteria Comparison
| Parameter | KPSC (Karnataka) | APPSC (Andhra Pradesh) | TNPSC (Tamil Nadu) | Kerala PSC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recent Notification | KAS 2024-25 | Group-I Services 2024 | Group-I Services 2024 | KAS 2024 |
| Nationality | Citizen of India | Citizen of India + Local candidate | Citizen of India | Citizen of India + Kerala resident |
| Minimum Age | 21 years | *18 years this varies by post (like Group 1 DSP being 21-28 | 21 years | 21 years |
| Maximum Age (General) | 35 years | 42 years | 32 years | 32 years |
| SC/ST Age Relaxation | 5 years | 3 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| OBC Age Relaxation | 3 years | 3 years | 5 years | 3 years |
| PWD Age Relaxation | 10 years | 8 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Ex-servicemen Relaxation | 5 years | 8 years | 16 years | 15 years |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Language Requirement | - | Studied in AP for 4 years | Tamil knowledge essential | Malayalam in SSLC or KPSC test |
| Number of Attempts | General: 5, OBC: 7, SC/ST: No limit | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
2. Compulsory Papers Comparison
Preliminary Examination:
| State PSC | Papers | Marks | Duration | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KPSC | Paper-I: General Studies Paper-II: General Studies |
150 150 |
2 hours 2 hours |
Current events, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science Comprehension, Reasoning, Aptitude, Numeracy, Data interpretation |
| APPSC | Paper-I: General Studies Paper-II: General Studies |
150 150 |
150 min 150 min |
Current events, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science Comprehension, Reasoning, Aptitude, Numeracy, Data interpretation |
| TNPSC | Single Paper: General Studies | 300 | 3 hours | General Science, Current Events, Geography, History, Polity, Economy, TN-specific topics |
| Kerala PSC | Paper-I: General Studies Paper-II: General Studies |
100 100 |
2 hours 2 hours |
Kerala History, Indian History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Current Affairs General Science, Environment, IT, Aptitude, Reasoning |
Main Examination (Compulsory Papers):
| State PSC | Paper | Marks | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPSC | Essay | 250 | General essay writing |
| GS-I | 250 | Indian Heritage, Culture, History, Geography | |
| GS-II | 250 | Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice | |
| GS-III | 250 | Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security | |
| APPSC | General Essay | 150 | Essay writing skills |
| History, Culture & Geography | 150 | India with AP emphasis | |
| Polity, Constitution, Governance | 150 | Law and Ethics | |
| Economy & Development | 150 | India with AP emphasis | |
| TNPSC | General Studies | 300 | Modern History, Indian Culture, Social Issues, Aptitude |
| General Tamil/English | 300 | Comprehension, Precis, Vocabulary, Essay, Letter writing | |
| Kerala PSC | Essay | 200 | General essay writing |
| GS-I | 200 | History and Culture of Kerala | |
| GS-II | 200 | Indian Polity and Governance | |
| GS-III | 200 | Indian Economy and Kerala Economy |
3. Language Papers Comparison
| State PSC | Compulsory Language Papers | Marks | Minimum Passing % | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KPSC | Kannada Language Paper English Language Paper |
150 150 |
35% 35% |
Qualifying Qualifying |
| APPSC | Telugu Language Paper English Language Paper |
150 150 |
40% 40% |
Compulsory Compulsory |
| TNPSC | General Tamil/General English | 300 | 40% | Compulsory |
| Kerala PSC | Malayalam Language Paper English Language Paper |
100 100 |
30% 30% |
Compulsory Compulsory |
4. Optional Subjects Availability
| State PSC | Number of Optional Papers | Examples of Optional Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| KPSC | 2 papers (Choose one subject) | Agriculture, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce, Economics, Geography, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology, Literature |
| APPSC | 2 papers (Choose one subject) | Similar to KPSC with state-specific variations |
| TNPSC | 1 paper | Limited optional subjects compared to others |
| Kerala PSC | 1 paper | Limited optional subjects with Kerala focus |
5. Physical Standards (for certain posts)
| State PSC | Height (Men) | Height (Women) | Chest (Men) | Vision Standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KPSC | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | As per post requirements |
| APPSC | 167.6 cm | 152.5 cm | 86.3 cm (expansion 5 cm) | As specified |
| TNPSC | 168 cm | 155 cm | 79 cm (expansion 5 cm) | 6/6 or 6/9 with/without glasses |
| Kerala PSC | 160 cm | 150 cm | 81 cm (expansion 5 cm) | As specified |
6. Examination Pattern Summary
| State PSC | Total Stages | Prelims Type | Mains Type | Interview Marks | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KPSC | 3 | Objective | Descriptive | 200 | 1950 (1750+200) |
| APPSC | 3 | Objective | Descriptive | 75 | 1575 (1500+75) |
| TNPSC | 3 | Objective | Descriptive | 120 | 870 (750+120) |
| Kerala PSC | 3 | Objective | Descriptive | 50 | 1050 (1000+50) |
7. Application Process Details
| Parameter | KPSC | APPSC | TNPSC | Kerala PSC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Mode | Online | Online | Online | Online |
| Application Fee (General) | ₹500-1000 | ₹500-1000 | ₹500-1000 | ₹500-1000 |
| SC/ST Fee | Exempted/Reduced | Exempted/Reduced | Exempted/Reduced | Exempted/Reduced |
| Payment Modes | Online banking, Cards, UPI | Online banking, Cards, UPI | Online banking, Cards, UPI | Online banking, Cards, UPI |
| Documents Required | Photo, Signature, Educational certs, Caste cert, Domicile | Photo, Signature, Educational certs, Caste cert, Local cert | Photo, Signature, Educational certs, Caste cert | Photo, Signature, Educational certs, Caste cert, Residence proof |
| Application Timeline | 30-45 days | 30-45 days | 30-45 days | 30-45 days |
8. Expected Schedule (2024-2025 Cycle)
| State PSC | Notification | Preliminary Exam | Main Exam | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KPSC | March 2025 | June 2025 | September 2025 | December 2025 |
| APPSC | February 2025 | May 2025 | August 2025 | November 2025 |
| TNPSC | January 2025 | April 2025 | July 2025 | October 2025 |
| Kerala PSC | December 2024 | March 2025 | June 2025 | September 2025 |
9. Official Websites
| State PSC | Official Website |
|---|---|
| KPSC | https://kpsc.kar.nic.in |
| APPSC | https://psc.ap.gov.in |
| TNPSC | https://www.tnpsc.gov.in |
| Kerala PSC | https://www.keralapsc.gov.in |
10. Key Focus Areas in Syllabus
| State PSC | State-Specific Focus | National Focus | Current Affairs Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPSC | Karnataka history, culture, geography | High | 25-30% |
| APPSC | Andhra Pradesh history, culture, economy | High | 20-25% |
| TNPSC | Tamil Nadu history, culture, administration | Moderate | 15-20% |
| Kerala PSC | Kerala history, culture, economy | High | 20-25% |
Important Notes for Candidates
- Reservation Policy: Each state follows its own reservation policy based on local requirements
- Local Candidate Status: Crucial for APPSC and beneficial for other state PSCs
- Physical Fitness: Required for police, forest, and certain administrative services
- Language Proficiency: Essential for all state services; minimum passing marks must be secured
- Multiple Attempts: Check specific rules for each PSC as they vary
- Document Verification: Original documents must be produced during verification process
- Negative Marking: Present in preliminary examinations of all state PSCs
- Regional Language: Strong emphasis on state language in all PSC examinations
Preparation Strategy Recommendations
Common Preparation Elements:
- State Board Textbooks: 6th to 12th standard for state-specific knowledge
- NCERT Books: For foundational concepts in all subjects
- Current Affairs: Daily newspaper reading and monthly magazines
- Previous Year Papers: Essential for understanding pattern and difficulty level
- Mock Tests: Regular practice for time management
- State-Specific Preparation:
- KPSC: Focus on Karnataka history, culture, and current affairs
- APPSC: Emphasis on Andhra Pradesh development and local issues
- TNPSC: Strong Tamil language preparation and TN-specific topics
- Kerala PSC: Kerala history, culture, and Malayalam language proficiency
Disclaimer
The information provided in this comparative analysis is based on recent notifications (2024-2025) and examination patterns. Candidates are advised to:
- Regularly check official PSC websites for latest updates
- Verify eligibility criteria from official notifications
- Confirm examination dates and patterns from official sources
- Check for any changes in syllabus or examination structure
Last Updated: Based on 2024-2025 notification patterns and examination trends.