Prior to 1921, there was no Central Authority constituted in the State to advise Government and other Appointing Authorities in the matters of recruitment to the state civil services. Government and Appointing Authorities were making appointments in accordance with the principles laid down by Government from time to time. Through order No. 1827:80 E.A.G.308, dated:16-05-1921, the Government constituted for the first time a central agency for recruitments, named “Central Recruitment Board”. This Board was attached to the office of the Government Secretariat till 1940. Government appointed a Public Service Commissioner for the State in its Order No. 3685-3735-C.B. 103-39-1, dated: 19-01-1940.The Public Service Commission was constituted under the provisions of the Constitution of India on 18-05-1951. In accordance with the provisions of clause 14 of the Public Service Commission Regulations 1950, the staff of the Public Service Commissioner as it stood on 18-05-1951, was continued as the nucleus of the staff of the Public Service Commission.
The Office of the Central Recruitment Board which was a part of Mysore (Now Karnataka) Government Secretariat followed the Government Secretariat Manual, for office procedures. This was continued even in the office of the Public Service Commissioner and later in the office of the Public Service Commission with necessary notifications to carry out recruitment and conduct of Competitive Examinations, Departmental Examinations etc.,In accordance with clause-III of the Mysore Public Service Commission, Regulations 1950, His Highness was pleased to appoint Sri. H.B. Gundappa Gowda, as Chairman, Sri George Matthan, and Sri H.M. Mallikarjunappa, as Members of the Commission. The Chairman and Members assumed charge on the 19th, 23rd and 25th May 1951, respectively. Since then, 13 Chairmen and 67 Members have been appointed to the Commission by Government.
Under Article 320(1) of the Constitution, it is the duty of the State Public Service Commission to conduct Examinations and Recruitment for appointments to the services of the State.Discharging the aforesaid function is the Constitutional obligation of the State Service Commission.Under Clause 3 of Article 320, the Commission should be consulted by the Government on matters described in clause (3) B to (e) of the Constitution.
In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Karnataka has made the following rules/regulations for making selections to various categories of posts in the State Civil Services on the basis of
1) Both Competitive Examination and Personality test.
2) Only by Interview
3) Only by Competitive Examination
The following Rules/ Regulations framed by the State Government are being followed by the KPSC while recruiting candidates to various categories of posts and services.
(1) Te Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules 1977.
(2) The Karnataka Recruitment of Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examination) Rules , 1997.
(3) The Karnataka Public Works Engineering Department Services (Recruitment of Assistant Executive Engineers Division-I by Competitive Examination) Rules 1973 and the Karnataka Recruitment of Assistant Executive Engineers- Division-I (Special ) Rules, 1979.
(4) The Karnataka Education Department Services (Department of Public Instruction) (Recruitment) Rules, 1967.
(5) The Karnataka State Civil Services (Direct Recruitment by Selection) Rules, 1973.
(6) The Karnataka Civil Services (Recruitment to the Ministerial Post) Rules,1978.