(Sub code 72 – AIS officers)

By Saurabh Kumar, IFS 2019 batch officer of Karnataka cadre, currently serving as DCF Mysuru Wildlife.  

After landing into Karnataka, the first precious advice I received, was to focus on Kannada departmental exam. Advices and resources by seniors were quite helpful, but all the advices were available verbally and all documents only on whats app forwards. This article is an attempt to let aspirants have the same at one place in one go, so that aspirants attempt the exam in a structured way, unlike haphazard hard way of mine (and many others).             

Index of the article (total article read time ~ 17 minutes)

#1: Why do we need to pass the exam?

#2: Official notification and qualifying criteria

• Text extract from KPSC notification
• Cut off
• Exam centre

#3: Common mistakes and how to avoid them.

a)      Applying on time and correctly

b)      Handling different inputs

c)      Prioritizing aspect of overall Kannada learning

#4: Examination pattern and reference book.

#5: Previous year question papers 

#6: Simplified resources on Tilli Kannada book

#7: General plan for both papers

#8: Paper I specific inputs

#9: Paper II specific inputs

#10: Inputs for other than Kannada exam   

#11: Motivation for article and concluding remarks

This article is written only in personal capacity to help upcoming AIS probationers and author is not responsible for any errors or omissions. The article is meant for a person, who has got little exposure to Kannada, hence the medium is English and language is prescriptive. One should not get perplexed with content of this article or suggestions, the idea of this article is let probationers have all bunch of experiences and resources with requirements at one place for customization.

#1: Why do we need to pass the exam?

An officer of Nth (E.g., 2019) batch becomes eligible for Senior Time Scale (first promotion after joining the service) on 1^st January of Year N+4 (e.g., 2023). Passing specific departmental exam papers (specifically prescribed for IAS/IPS/IFS) is mandatory for being eligible for DPC. List of the subjects for all three services given below for reference.

This article mainly gives input for Kannada departmental exam Subject code 72. Some input for other papers is provided at end.

#2: Official notification and qualifying criteria

Like UPSC notification for CSE/IFS, first thing is to know what official KPSC notification takes about the exam and what is the qualifying criteria.

Text extract from KPSC notification

Cut off

Email snapshot of KPSC communication (Thanks – Shri Sahil Bagla, IPS)

Both Kannada papers are of 75 marks. Hence, passing marks for individual papers is 26.25 and overall, 60 marks total (out of 150) for both the papers. 

Exam centre

While applying, it shows options for exam centres at Delhi and Mussoorie, but in my knowledge Kannada exams have been conducted in Bangalore only for last few years.

#3: Common mistakes and how to avoid them.

a)      Applying on time and correctly:

Don’t think that you will be in Karnataka/elsewhere during exam time, just apply. Applying will just cost around 500 and you never know that exams may be postponed or you may reach cadre by that time or even you can plan to come Bangalore for at least Kannada exam. This is just to increase your probability of having mandatory departmental exam passing certificate before DPC and to reduce stress in initial years of service, when other things are also in line.

My example –

– After completing IGNFA training, I reported to cadre on 12 July 2021, just missed the last Kannada exam (conducted on 7 July 2021).

– Next Departmental Exam was conducted in Feb/Mar 22

– Kannada paper 1 re-exam (due to wrong paper set by KPSC in March 22 exam) was conducted on 30 June, 22

– Viva conducted in Nov 22 and final result declared just on the eve before DPC (14^th Dec 22). Promotion on 31^st Dec, 22.

Above example was just to demonstrate that though the exam is scheduled to be conducted twice a year, you may get even just one chance for clearing. Hence, one should be proactive in applying.

While applying for Departmental exam, DO CHECK EXAM PAPER CODE 72. There are many other Kannada subject codes for different rank employee and there have been instances of officers applying to different code by mistake, leading to loss of time.

              Hence, just applying for any chance of appearing in exam is a wise calculated decision. Also, appearing even if you have less preparations is alright. No one knows that you will be able to clear cut off in less preparations only. Someone told me that if you write Kannada second time, your cut off will be higher. There is no evidence for the same and it is just a rumour.

Applications are be made on www.kpsc.gov.in

b)      Handling different inputs:

When an AIS probationer lands into Karnataka cadre, there are several advices rendered to him/her, some solicited and unsolicited:

• Watch Kannada movies, watch Rajkumar movies/OTT movies without understanding
• Sing Kannada songs
• Married or any chance of CBM or Marry a Kannadiga
• Talk to everyone in Kannada only
• Some will scold you even for a single work of Hindi/English
• Someone will gift you Kannada dictionary, and someone Kannada literature books
• Leave everything and focus on Departmental Kannada exam
• Not even started practicing answers of Tilli Kannada, very bad   
• Many will suggest different books, WhatsApp classes, YouTube channels
• abc officer had failed in written and xyz failed in viva despite and pyq did not get senior time scale in time
• Someone will advise to prioritise reading and someone speaking
• Don’t write in English, write in Kannada only
• Kannada newspapers daily  
• Someone will quickly compare you with your batchmates in Kannada learning

To add on all above, someone comes and says, this is North Karnataka word, South Karnataka word for the same is different. All these advices are very precious and came really handy to me also, but again they all at once and that too when I just landed to Karnataka, made journey a bit haphazard. It is PERFECTLY alright to start slow, but BE CONSISTENT. The first step is to quantify the amount of work, we have and then resource planning (most important resource in this case is time).  Inputs in next section.

c)      Prioritizing aspect of overall Kannada learning:

I have tried to decode and list the aspects. Accept the fact that we cannot do everything at once and the same is not even advised:

1. Reading and writing basic alphabets
2. Passing Departmental exam
3. Understanding others words/sentences  
4. Expressing yourself (Basic, like need food, do this etc)
5. Speaking sentences
6. Reading printed Kannada
7. Understanding the read sentences (role of vocabulary and sentence formations)
8. Reading/Writing Kannada numerals (especially needed for viva stage of departmental exam)
9. Reading handwritten Kannada (especially for note sheets)

The decision that which aspect is to focus upon, totally depends on your condition e.g., whether you are in the academy, when is the next departmental exam expected to happen, whether you have any previous exposure to any of the mentioned factors, do you have any good Kannada teacher now, which may not be available after district training/OJT etc. But, of all the aspects listed above, departmental exam comes with a condition where immediate testing is done, for all others you get relatively breathing space. Hence, plan of focusing on departmental exam and doing overall plan as per same is fine.

#4: Examination pattern and reference book.

Reference book

Changes over original pdf:

Original available pdf is having 2 pages in one sheet and it gets little difficult to read in small font. Hence, above pdf has split pages and single sheet in one A4 print makes it easier to read (especially for newcomers). Also, page numbers are added in pdf which helps initially when we don’t know reading Kannada numerals.  

#5: Previous year question papers 

#6: Simplified resources on Tilli Kannada book

For IFS officers’ of 2019 batch, an orientation course was conducted by Karnataka Forest Academy, Dharwad. Mr. Yogesh is a primary school teacher in Sampaje, Madikeri. He prepared below simplified resources for the course, but could not take classes due to some reason.

(Word file has been provided above so that one can prepare own workbook/customise them. E.g. you can segregate all grammar at one place, all sandarbha questions at one place.

Somethings I had segregated and marked them. Pdf files are below for reference.

#7: General plan for both papers:  

• There are three steps for answering any question:
  • Understanding the question
  • Knowing what is the answer and
  • writing the answer.

(Vocab is most needed for first, as we will be unable to understand if words are not clear. Hence, words in the question are to be remembered. In other parts, such as writing the answer, we can even try to answer in our own known words or use Sanskrit word, if Kannada word is not known. In many cases, Sanskrit/Hindi word knowledge helps, as there are many similar words in both the languages).

• Reading and writing basic alphabets, samyuktakshara etc

First of all, get a basic command over reading and writing alphabets. Do not worry too much if you are getting confused in some of them again and again, it is alright. It will come with time and also do not worry about speed in beginning. Practice practice practice…. Also, do not worry, if you are able to cover only one paragraph in start or even one line only. It happens initially when we have to recall each alphabet and read, we may be able to read even single sentence only. The idea is to have continuous effort and improvement over time.

• Tutor

If possible, appoint a tutor. The basic idea is to have CONSISTENCY (When you know someone is coming 7 PM, you sit else gets difficult in busy schedule) and someone to be there, when you are reading Kannada paragraphs, trying to write answers etc. It would be preferrable to have any Kannada primary school teacher, but no worries if you get anyone who can read and write Kannada proficiently.

• Planning the preparations

When we compare both the papers, there are generalised things in paper II. i.e. essay, translation etc. Whereas paper I has around 55 marks specific text from Tilli Kannada book. Hence, there is more to work in paper I than paper II. It would be better to start the preparations from paper I. Also, by the time you appear in the exam, consciously or subconsciously, the work being executed in office will give you basic exposure to translation, paragraph (Paper II part) etc type questions, where paper I questions (55 marks) can be answered only when you have covered the textbook and revised the answer to question such as ‘what did fire tell Rajkumar?’

• Writing speed – One of the issues, you may face in the exam hall will be regarding speed. Writing 6 hours Kannada in a day may be little tough if not practiced before. Hence, one can try writing one set paper to have a feel of the exam. Will be helpful to gain speed also.

#8: Paper I specific inputs:  

1. 55 marks of the paper is purely from Tilli Kannada book. 1 liner, 3-4 liners, 5-6 liners, 15 liners and Sandarbha questions. Out of all these, 1 liner and Sandarbha questions are relatively easily doable.

• Inputs for covering the book:

A major portion of the exam is based on Tilli Kannada book. In fact, many of the questions of grammar portion of the papers are also asked from the questions at the end of chapters. Inputs for covering the book:

• In the index of the book, there is a list consisting chapter names and author/poets. Take a xerox of the same and paste it on wall or keep it with you. Try remembering/recalling all through any means including mnemonics. It is not only helpful in Sandarbha/Context questions, but also be used in other questions based on Tilli Kannada book.
• Before starting any chapter, cover the vocabulary of the chapter (Link in Simplified section). It will help in understanding and going along. There is another vocabulary in the book at last few pages, it may have limited use as it is in Kannada to Kannada only.
• Chapter coverage may be of two types (Both the methods have their own advantages):
  • First covering and then answering questions at the end. This helps to get a holistic idea of the chapter story. But, again each chapter takes significant time (especially for beginners). Making progress to the full book gets difficult.
  • Check questions in the start and then read chapters to focus target areas. You can just tell the tutor to tell the brief summary in 2-3 minutes. One can check questions in the workbook (word file has been provided so that one can give spacing, translate them as per convenience and take print for practice as well as revision). Understand meaning of all questions, ask your tutor if any of the words was not available in the vocab. Write down those meanings in the workbook. Now, start covering the chapter line by line. (you can even check my QA marked pdf, where I have mentioned meaning of the question in Hindi/English at many of the places). As you have seen the questions, you will know the lines where answer questions lie. (or tell tutor to highlight). Write the answer to one liner simultaneously and 2-5 liners after the end of paragraph or as convenient.
• Try to answer the question in basic form. E.g. there may a question to be answered in 5 lines, but the book consist only 2 lines. Some tutors will start giving extra lines out of book to complete number of sentences from outside of the chapter text. Tell your tutor to just focus on what is available in chapter. The idea is to complete the syllabus, as much as possible and to reproduce in the exam hall. In such cases, no worries, remembering just two lines in that case and answering same (or even elaborating on understanding of chapter) in exam is alright. Afterall, cutoff is just 26.25 (35%) out of 75 in individual paper.
• If you are unable to cover 1-2 chapters, it is fine. Always keep an eye on cut off. It is better to prepare chapters in a way that we can answer in the exam hall, rather than covering all and not remembering them in exam hall.
  • For Sandarbha type questions, just get one standard line prepared from your tutor. E.g. This is taken from this chapter —–, authored by ——. —— told this to —- in the context of ——. Fill the dashes with relevant context.
  • Regarding 3-4 liners, 5-6 liners, 15 liners – One can just cover the basic of the answer and then elaborate based on summary of the chapter/own ideas. Also, there may be repetition of content for different answers in a chapter itself.  E.g. Multiple liner question ask ‘what did fire, water and wind tell to Rajkumar’, whereas one liner will ask about any one of the three.
  • While covering specific chapters Kannada ennuvudu jeevnadi (Chapter 10) and Bhagyada Balegara (Chapter 12), following YouTube videos can been watched to related things.
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBo7ZUA5zOU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgSFp38_v2g

#9: Paper II specific inputs:  

1. Input for Proverbs (Gade matu) are available in the Tilli Kannada book page pdf page number 109. All these proverbs have parallel proverbs in Hindi/Other languages. Hence, understanding basic meaning of the Kannada text and one standard line (like This is a famous proverb, it has deep meaning, Ved can be false but not proverbs etc) will be helpful. E.g. Mansiddare marg has similar proverb, when there is will, there is a way. Similarly others. You can refer previous year papers, mostly one or more of these will be available in the options to answer.
2. Input for letter writing are available on 110-112 pages of Tilli Kannada book pdf. Some practice of this can be helpful.
3. Translation and passage– This is one of the most doable part of the paper and practicing a bit will be helpful.
4. Grammar – For this part, my handmade notes may be referred to start and then expanded as per need.

Paper II content is something, which will come along with you in longer run. Like translation, passage etc. Hence, practicing more in this has is helpful.

#10: Inputs for other than Kannada exam:   

– Objective type papers

– low cut off

– open book exam

– index of the books will come handy in answering the questions (for answering any question, check in index first).

– Check if your reference sources are having proper index, before the exam itself. Flagging the book for different acts/index before the exam may come handy.

– If time permits, solving one previous year KPSC paper beforehand may be helpful (at least for Accounts Higher paper). Please find one question paper of some of the papers (as available with me) at below links.

#11: Motivation for article and concluding remarks

My own journey for this exam has been round and round where re exam was conducted not because of probationer’s faults. Hence, I had to do this multiple times. Also, like many of us, multiple things like marriage, knowledge of act/rules etc kept cropping in. This made the journey a little haphazard. This article is an attempt to simplify the journey a bit for newcomers.  

I have given a detailed input on Kannada exam cut off as well as detailed plan (I got to know both very late).  You can customize your time and energy, as required. The exhaustive way suggest in the article is for how to go about preparation. But, how much to go is decided by your own factors and cut off. You customize your inputs, and after customization, you can even channelize your energy into more resourceful things like reading office notifications, talking in Kannada etc. rather than rote reading/remembering of chapters/answers (after duly ensuring that you will clear cut off). Also, in initial six months, you can very well practice by writing Kannada words in English also. Sometimes, we try to mix both learning new word and reading Kannada alphabets, which reduces our efficiency.

At the end, I would like to thank Yogesh Sir and Sonal Vrishni ma’am, who gave A LOT OF TIME for my Kannada experiments. I would also like to thank my seniors Yashpal sir, Nilesh Shinde sir, Bhanwar Lal Meena sir and other seniors/friends including Mona, who all gave input for my initial Kannada journey and people of Karnataka, who welcomed me. Also, the article would be incomplete without thanking Karnataka Forest Academy, Dharwad team especially Director sir Shri Vijay Lal Meena, IFS and Kattimani were really helpful in getting the orientation course for IFS officers done, which proved really helpful. As Yogesh sir (9632658141) has prepared above workbooks and covered the book in detail, probationers may connect with him over phone for any clarity in workbook.

              Any feedback regarding this article will be welcomed. Also, any input for improving this article or adding any resource pdf/image e.g. additional previous year paper, may kindly be sent to my whatsapp or ifssaurabhkumar@gmail.com