Kerala PSC Civil Excise Officer Syllabus, Exam Pattern

OMR, 100 marks in 1 hour 30 minutes. Part IV is set in English; the other parts in your chosen regional language.

Part VI is set in six modules plus the IT Act:

1. Abkari Act 1 of 1077: common offence sections (4 marks)
2. NDPS Act: classes of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including those seized in Kerala (2)
3. Distillery and Warehouse Rules 1968 and spirit terms such as proof spirit, blending and rectification (3)
4. Foreign Liquor Rules (3)
5. COTPA, the tobacco control law, including public smoking (3)
6. Campaign against alcoholism (3)
7. IT Act offence sections (2)

See the Civil Excise Officer syllabus for every section number.

• Age: 19 to 31; for 564/2025, born 02.01.1994 to 01.01.2006. OBC and SC/ST relaxation as per the General Conditions, never beyond 50.
• Education: Plus Two or equivalent.
• Physique: at least 165 cm tall, chest 81 cm with 5 cm expansion. SC/ST: 160 cm and 76 cm, expansion still 5 cm.
• Eyesight without spectacles: 6/6 distant and 0.5 near in each eye, full field, no colour blindness or squint.
• Women and differently abled candidates cannot apply under this category. Ex-servicemen get preference.
• Anyone already holding the post in a district cannot apply again for it.

After the OMR test the PSC short-lists candidates for each district. Those on the list go through physical measurement, an endurance run of 2.5 km within 13 minutes, and a physical efficiency test where you must clear five of eight one-star events (100 m in 14 s, high jump 132.2 cm, long jump 457.2 cm, shot put 609.6 cm, cricket ball 6096 cm, rope climb 365.8 cm, 8 pull-ups, 1500 m in 5:44). Then come document checks and the district ranked list.

NCC A, B and C certificates carry 2, 3 and 5 per cent weightage. SPC certificate holders and sportspersons also get extra marks.

₹27,900–63,700. You are not confirmed in the post until you finish basic training of at least six months (180 working days); during training a stipend is paid.

Through One Time Registration on the PSC portal, no fee. Remember the confirmation step: its window is announced in the monthly exam programme, and missing it ends the application.

Candidates scheduled for the 23 May 2026 test, by district:

You can apply in one district only, and once appointed you cannot move district for five years.

Ranked lists lapse a year after they are finalised. The last two notifications came in December 2024 and December 2025.

Check Short Lists and later Ranked List for your district.

• Learn the Abkari Act offence sections and the spirit terms (proof litre, bulk litre, gauging). They are easy marks if you have read them and impossible to guess.
• The 2.5 km run is longer than the police run. Time yourself regularly.

• Notification, Cat. No. 564/2025 and 565/2025 (by transfer)
• Previous notification, Cat. No. 743/2024
• Syllabus
• May 2026 exam programme
• Short list, Thiruvananthapuram
• Kerala PSC notifications, question papers

Can women apply?

Not under 564/2025. There is a separate Women Civil Excise Officer recruitment.

What is the minimum height?

165 cm, or 160 cm for SC/ST.

When was the 2026 exam?

23 May 2026.

Is there a fee?

No.