Karnataka Public Service Commission was set up in the year 1951 under the provisions of the Constitution of India. Karnataka Public Service Commission till date follows the Government Secretariat manual for all the office procedures. Karnataka Public Service Commission has one Chairman and 55 members appointed by the Government. The first chairman of Karnataka Public Service Commission was Sri HB Gundappa Gowda.
Karnataka Public Service Commission has shifted many offices before settling down at Park House on the north west side of Vidhana Soudha. In the beginning it was situated in the United India buildings at Bangalore but due to small accommodation, it had to shift base to Balabrooie in Palace Road at Bangalore from where it was again shifted to the north wing of Atarakacheri, a part of the High Court building.
As per the Article 320(I) of the Constitution, it is the duty of Karnataka Public Service Commission to conduct examination and recruitment for appointments to the services of the state. Karnataka Public Service Commission has to abide by the following rules or regulations as composed by the Karnataka State Government :
- The Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules 1977.
- The Karnataka Recruitment of Gazetted Probationers (Appointment by Competitive Examination) Rules , 1997.
- 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.
- The Karnataka Education Department Services (Department of Public Instruction) (Recruitment) Rules, 1967.
- The Karnataka State Civil Services (Direct Recruitment by Selection) Rules, 1973.
- The Karnataka Civil Services (Recruitment to the Ministerial Post) Rules,1978.
