KAS News

Test

Applications are invited online only from qualified candidates for selection to the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS).

Before applying for the post candidates should register as per One Time Registration through the official website of Kerala Public Service Commission. Candidates who have already registered can apply through their profile.

Last Date to Apply: 04-12-2019

• Extraordinary Gazette Date: 01.11.2019
• Last Date: 04.12.2019

The Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) will come into force from January 1. KAS is meant to streamline government services and to mould an efficient second-rung officer rank. The KAS will offer better opportunities at the higher levels of government for efficient officers.

Recruitment into KAS

For the recruitment to KAS, there will be three streams.

Direct recruitment under Stream 1 will be made to the post of KAS officer (Junior Time Scale). The age of entry is between 21 and 32 years of age. Relaxation of upper age limit for Other backward communities will be three years and for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be five years. The basic qualification will be degree.

Recruitment under Stream 2 will be from regular employees or approved probationers in any Government department. The prospective candidate must not be a 1st gazetted officer and must have been regularised in service in any of the Government cadre as per Rule 10 (b) in the Kerala State Subordinate Services Rules, 1958 or must have served for a period of not less than two years in a supernumerary post in Government. Candidates between 21 and 40 years of age can apply. Relaxation of upper age for OBC will be three years and SC/ST is five years.

Recruitment under Stream 3 will be by transfer appointment from candidates holding 1st gazetted post or above in government departments with the age limit of 50 years.

KAS will be the feed category for IAS Kerala Cadre

According to the new rules, the KAS will now be the feeder category for IAS Kerala cadre.

Kerala Public Service Commission had approved the special draft rules submitted by the state government regarding Kerala Administrative Service (KAS).

Suggestions and Recommendations of Kerala PSC

Kerala PSC had made some suggestions and recommendations regarding KAS.

It suggested the government to consider three per cent reservation for the differently abled.

Similarly, the government should also consider the transgender demand for quota in line with its transgender policy.

The PSC recommended special language test in Malayalam for the successful candidates who have not studied Malayalam till Matriculation. The candidates will have to qualify the test before the declaration of their probation.

KAS Pattern

KAS will have OMR, descriptive exam, followed by an interview. It will be along the lines of the IAS preliminary, main and interview.

As per draft special rules (Rule 15-A), four tests have been recommended for candidates who get selected for assessing their aptitude in the criminal judiciary, revenue, accountancy and office procedures.

Qualification

The candidates should have obtained bachelor degree including professional courses from any university established by the Kerala government, central government or those recognised by the UGC or the central or state governments.

It is up to the government to accept or reject the recommendations

The special draft rules were given final approval at the PSC board meeting and sent to the government along with the recommendations.

It is for the government to accept or reject the recommendations.

For additional reading:

• Manorama

The state cabinet today approved the draft special rules for the proposed Kerala Administrative Service (KAS). The state administrative service proposes to build a second line of dedicated and efficient offices committed to implement government policies and programmes in more effective manner.

The KAS is being formed by setting aside 10% of the second gazetted posts in 29 select departments and that of common category posts.

Entry into KAS would be from three streams

Entry to the cadre would be from three streams.

The first steam would be the direct recruitment of candidates with a degree in any subject. Upper age limit for this stream would be 32.

Under the second stream, government employees with below 40 years and a university degree would be considered.

In the third stream, government employees in second gazetted posts in 29 select department and common category posts would be considered. The upper age limit for candidates from this category would be 50 years.

Rules regarding cadre strength and promotions

The government would reserve the right to prescribe the total cadre strength of the service by creating additional posts and also by including or dropping any department in the schedule from time to time. The cadre strength would be reviewed once in five years, but the government would hold the right to review it at will.

The quinquennial cadre strength would be reviewed by a panel headed by the senior-most Additional Chief Secretary as chairman and comprising the Secretaries of Home, Finance, Law and General Administration and Personnel and Administrative Reforms Secretary as convener. The committee, which has powers to summon any officer or call any documents, should complete the review in three months on initiating the process.

Promotions would be subject to the cadre strength fixed by the government and also on completion of the specified number of years of service. Every fresher would have to undergo an 18-month training conducted by the Institute of Management in Government and would then be placed on probation.

The new cadre is expected to provide opportunities for the growth and development of bright, talented committed officers in civil service.

Draft Special Rules to be sent to KPSC

The cabinet has also decided to hold discussions with the representatives of government employees’ organizations on the draft special rules. The special rules would be sent to Kerala Public Service Commission for its consideration.