KPSC FDA SDA Syllabus 2026

Karnataka FDA and SDA Recruitment Examination 2026: Syllabus Overview

The Karnataka First Division Assistant (FDA) and Second Division Assistant (SDA) recruitment examination is one of the most sought-after state government exams for graduates in Karnataka. The recruitment is conducted for clerical and administrative posts across government departments, boards, and corporations. Candidates should check the official notification for the conducting body, total vacancies, and exam schedule, as details can differ by department and cycle.

Exam Overview

Conducting body: The recruitment is listed under the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) and Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) channels, so candidates should confirm the body named in the latest notification.
Frequency: FDA and SDA recruitments are held periodically, depending on departmental requirements.
Total vacancies: These are announced in the official notification and vary by cycle.
Importance: FDA and SDA posts offer stable government employment, structured pay scales, and a clear path to higher administrative roles.

Exam Pattern

The table below shows the indicative structure. Confirm all values against the official notification before you begin.

Subject-wise Syllabus

General English

• Reading comprehension and passage-based questions
• Grammar: tenses, voice, narration, articles, prepositions
• Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases
• Sentence improvement, error spotting, and sentence rearrangement
• Cloze test and fill in the blanks

General Kannada

• Kannada grammar, word formation, and sandhi
• Vocabulary, synonyms, and antonyms in Kannada
• Comprehension of Kannada passages
• Literature and cultural references from Karnataka

General Awareness

• History: Ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history, freedom movement, and Karnataka history (Kadamba, Chalukya, Hoysala, Vijayanagara, Mysore Kingdom)
• Geography: Physical geography of India and Karnataka, rivers, climate, soil, and natural resources
• Polity: Indian Constitution, fundamental rights and duties, Parliament, state legislature, and local self-government in Karnataka
• Economy: Basic economic concepts, five-year plans, Karnataka economy, agriculture, and banking
• Science: General science, physics, chemistry, biology, and everyday applications
• Current Affairs: National and Karnataka government schemes, awards, sports, and events from the past year

Reasoning

• Analogy, classification, and series completion
• Coding and decoding, blood relations, and direction sense
• Syllogism, logical venn diagrams, and puzzles
• Data sufficiency and statement-based reasoning

Quantitative Aptitude

• Number system, HCF and LCM, and simplification
• Percentage, profit and loss, simple and compound interest
• Ratio and proportion, averages, and partnership
• Time and work, time and distance, and speed problems
• Data interpretation through tables, bar graphs, and pie charts

Previous Year Cut-off Trends

Cut-offs for FDA and SDA exams have generally fallen within a broad band, with general category candidates needing higher scores than reserved category candidates. Exact figures differ by year, post, and department, so candidates should refer to official cut-off lists published after each cycle.

Recommended Books

• General English: Wren and Martin, High School English Grammar and Composition
• General Awareness: Lucent's General Knowledge, and M. Laxmikanth for Indian Polity
• History: Bipin Chandra, India's Struggle for Independence
• Economy: Ramesh Singh, Indian Economy
• Geography: Majid Husain, Geography of India
• Karnataka GK: Karnataka history and geography textbooks from the Karnataka State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT)
• Reasoning: R.S. Aggarwal, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Aptitude: R.S. Aggarwal, Quantitative Aptitude

Preparation Strategy

Duration: Most candidates need 4 to 6 months of consistent preparation, depending on their existing background.

Daily study hours: Plan 3 to 4 focused hours on weekdays and 5 to 6 hours on weekends.

Priority topics: Give extra time to Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning, since they carry strong weight and need regular practice. Keep General Awareness and Current Affairs updated through daily reading.

Mock test schedule: Start topic-wise practice in month one, move to sectional tests in months two and three, and take full-length mocks every week from month four. Analyse every mock to find weak areas.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Ignoring Kannada: Many candidates neglect the language section. Practise it daily, even for 20 minutes.
• Studying without practice: Reading theory without solving questions leads to poor speed. Solve at least 30 questions daily.
• Skipping current affairs: Karnataka-specific news is often tested. Read a Karnataka-focused newspaper or monthly digest.
• Ignoring negative marking: Guessing blindly can lower your score. Attempt only questions you can answer with reasonable confidence.
• No revision plan: Without regular revision, topics are forgotten quickly. Revise every topic at least twice before the exam.