Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) is the state’s own civil service similar to the centre run Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Kerala Administrative Service is constituted to absorb young and meritorious applicants into the senior posts in state civil service. This will allow direct ascent of bright young candidates into senior official posts which would otherwise take them years to attain.
Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) will come into force from January 1, 2018.
How can one get selected into Kerala Administrative Service (KAS)?
A three-tier recruitment system has been cleared for constituting the KAS.
- Recruitment of freshers by PSC – by KAS exam.
- Recruitment from serving government staff
- Promotions and Transfers from serving government staff.
1. Direct recruitment of freshers by PSC for KAS
- Direct recruitment by Kerala State Public Service Commission (KPSC) 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.
- This scheme of recruitment is also known as lateral entry into KAS.
- 33% of total vacancies are expected to be filled by open recruitment.
2. Direct recruitment from serving government staff for KAS
- This will be from regular employees or approved probationers in any Government department.
- Candidates between 21 and 40 years of age can apply. Relaxation of upper age for OBC will be three years and SC/ST five years.
- The prospective candidate must not be a 1st gazetted officer.
- The prospective candidate must have been regularised in service in any of the Government cadres 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.
- 33% of total vacancies are expected to be filled by direct recruitment from serving staff.
3. Promotions and Transfers from serving government staff for KAS
- Recruitment under Stream 3 will by transfer appointment from candidates holding the 1st gazetted post or above in government departments.
- The age limit for prospective candidates under this steam is 50 years
- 33% of total vacancies are expected to be filled by transfers and promotions from serving staff.
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.