RPSC: Rajasthan Public Service Commission Exam

RPSC RAS selection process consists of three major stages. These three stages comprise of:

1. Preliminary Exam
2. Mains exam
3. Interview or Viva-voce.

RPSC RAS exam is held in three stages – Preliminary, Main and Interview/ Personality Test, Preliminary exam is a screening test that includes objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs) of 200 marks. Screening test principally means that marks obtained by candidates in the preliminary exam are not considered at the time of preparation of the final RPSC RAS exam merit list. The preliminary exam is a first filter of the RPSC RAS Exam.The standard of questions asked in the RAS Pre exam is of graduation level.

The detailed RPSC RAS exam pattern for each stage

1. RPSC RAS PRELIMINARY EXAM PATTERN

2. RPSC RAS Main Exam Pattern 

The Main exam of RPSC RAS comprises of a total of four papers of 200 marks each. It is obligatory for an aspirant to appear for all the four papers. Each paper has descriptive/ analytical (brief, medium, long answer and descriptive type questions) questions. Candidates need to complete each paper in time duration of three hours.

Standard of questions followed in General Hindi and General English is of class 12th level.

3. RPSC RAS Interview Pattern

Candidates who are shortlisted basis of the scores earned in RPSC RAS Main exam finally needs to appear for the interview session. It has a weightage of 100 marks.

In the RAS interview session, candidates are evaluated on the basis of the following:

1. Character           
2. Personality
3. Physique            
4. Knowledge of Rajasthani culture

The RPSC Syllabus for RAS Prelims exam is providedbelow:

RPSC syllabus for the prelims exam is the combination of all the significant topics from the general studies syllabus. The candidates are required to focus on the topics related to Rajasthan state affairs as there are quite a few questions related to the state-level issues.

RPSC Syllabus is exceptional in the sense that there is only one paper in the RAS prelims exam and the candidates need to focus on one paper only. The RPSC syllabus for the RAS prelims exam is divided into various sections. The details are as follows

History, Art, Culture, Literature, Tradition & Heritage of Rajasthan

• Major Landmarks in the History of Rajasthan, Major Dynasties, their Administrative and Revenue System. Socio-cultural Issues.
• Freedom Movement, Political Awakening and Integration
• Salient features of Architecture –Forts and Monuments
• Arts, Painting sand Handicrafts.
• Important Works of Rajasthani literature. Local Dialects
• Fairs, Festivals, Folk Music and Folk Dances.
• Rajasthani Culture, Traditions and Heritage.
• Religious Movements, Saints&Lokdevtas of Rajasthan.
• Important Tourist Places.
• Leading Personalities of Rajasthan.

Indian History Ancient & Medieval Period

• Salient features and Major Landmarks of Ancient and Medieval India.
• Art, Culture, Literature and Architecture.
• Major Dynasties, Their Administrative System. Socio-Economic Conditions, Prominent Movements.

Modern Period

• Modern Indian history (from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present)-significant events, personalities and issues.
• The Freedom Struggle & Indian National Movement-its various stages and important contributors and contributions from different parts of the country.
• Social and Religious Reform movements in the 19th and 20th century.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country

Geography of World and India World Geography

• Broad Physical features.
• Environmental and Ecological Issues.
• Wildlife and Bio-diversity.
• International Waterways.
• Major Industrial Regions.

Geography of India

• Broad physical features and Major physiographic divisions.
• Agriculture and Agro-based Activities.
• Minerals –Iron, Manganese, Coal, Oil & Gas, Atomic minerals.
• Major Industries and Industrial development.
• Transportation–major transport corridors.
• Natural Resources.
• Environmental Problems and Ecological Issues.

Geography of Rajasthan

• Broad physical features and Major physiographic divisions.
• Natural Resource of Rajasthan
• Climate, Natural Vegetation, Forests, Wildlife and Bio-diversity
• Major irrigation projects.
• Mines and Minerals.
• Population.
• Major Industries and Potential for Industrial Development.

Indian Constitution, Political System & Governance

• Constitutional Development & Indian Constitution
• Government of India Acts: 1919 and 1935, Constituent Assembly,
• Nature of Indian Constitution; Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State, Fundamental Duties, Federal Structure, Constitutional Amendments, Emergency Provisions,
• Public Interest Litigation (P.I.L.) and Judicial Review.

Indian Political System and Governance:

• Nature of Indian State, Democracy in India, Reorganization of States, Coalition Governments, Political Parties, National Integration.
• Union and State Executive; Union and State Legislative, Judiciary.
• President, Parliament, Supreme Court, Election Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General, Planning Commission, National Development Council, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Central Information Commission, Lokpal, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
• Local Self Government &Panchayati Raj.

Public Policy & Rights

• National Public Policy as a welfare state.
• Various Legal Rights and Citizen Charter.

Political and Administrative System of Rajasthan

• Governor, Chief Minister, State Assembly, High Court, Rajasthan Public Service Commission, District Administration, State Human Rights Commission, Lokayukta, State Election Commission, State Information Commission.
• Public Policy, Legal Rights and Citizen Charter.

Economic Concepts and Indian Economy

• Basic Concepts of Economics
• Basic Knowledge of Budgeting, Banking, Public Finance, National Income, Growth and Development
• Accounting-Concept, Tools and Uses in Administration
• Stock Exchange and Share Market
• Fiscal and Monetary Policies
• Subsidies, Public Distribution System
• E-Commerce
• Inflation-Concept, Impact and Control Mechanism

Economic Development & Planning: -

• 5 Year Plans -Objectives, Strategies and Achievements.
• Major Sectors of Economy-Agriculture, Industry, Service and Trade-Current Status, Issues & initiatives.
• Major Economic Problems and Government Initiatives. Economic Reforms and Liberalization. Human Resource and Economic Development:-
• Human Development Index

Poverty and Unemployment:

• Concept, Types, Causes, Remedies and Current Flagship Schemes. Social Justice and Empowerment:-Provisions for Weaker Sections.

Economy of Rajasthan

• Macro overview of Economy.
• Major Agricultural, Industrial and Service Sector Issues.
• Growth, Development and Planning.
• Infrastructure & Resources.
• Major Development Projects.

Programmes and Schemes-Government Welfare Schemes for SC/ST/Backward Class/Minorities/Disabled Persons, Destitute, Women, Children, Old Age People, Farmers &Labourers

Science & Technology

• Basics of Everyday Science.
• Electronics, Computers, Information and Communication Technology.
• Space Technology including Satellites.
• Defence Technology.
• Nanotechnology.
• Human body, Food and Nutrition, Health care.
• Environmental and Ecological Changes and its Impacts.
• Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering.
• Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Animal Husbandry with special reference to Rajasthan. Development of Science and Technology in Rajasthan. Reasoning & Mental Ability, Logical
• Reasoning (Deductive, Inductive, Abductive):
• Statement and Assumptions, Statement and Argument, Statements and Conclusion, Courses of Action.

Analytical Reasoning. Mental Ability

• Number series, Letter series, Odd man out, Coding-Decoding, Problems relating to Relations, Shapes and their sub-sections.
• Basic Numeracy
• Elementary knowledge of Mathematical and Statistical Analysis.
• Number System, Order of Magnitude, Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Simple and Compound Interest, Data Analysis (Tables, bar diagram, Line graph, Pie chart).

Current Affairs

• Major Current Events and Issues of State (Rajasthan), National and International Importance
• Persons and Places in recent news
• Games and Sports related Activitie

General English

• Part A - Grammar and Usage
  • Sentence Correction
  • Prepositions
  • Tenses
  • Sequence of Tenses
  • Modals
  • Active and Passive Voice
  • Direct and Indirect Narration
• Part B - Comprehension, Translation and Precis Writing
  • Comprehension of an Unseen Passage
  • Translation of Five Sentences from Hindi to English
  • Precis Writing (A short passage of approximately 150-200 words)
• Part C - Composition and Letter Writing
  • Paragraph Writing
  • Elaboration of a Given Theme
  • Letter Writing or Report Writing

The basic eligibility criteria for RPSC RAS exam is that candidates must obtain a bachelor's degree from a recognized university. He or she must have attained a minimum 21 years and maximum 40 years in age as on the date of application.

The age relaxation is applicable in the following cases-

SC/ST/BC/SBC Male candidates of Rajasthan: 5 years

SC/ST/BC/SBC Female candidates of Rajasthan: 10 years

General Women Candidates:5 years

Widow and Divorced Women Candidates: No maximum age limit

Persons with Disabilities:  

1. General -10
2. SC/ST -15
3. OBC/SBC - 13

In the Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS), there are 20 state services, 15 subordinate services. Each of these has diverse grade pay scales according to the posts.

Table showing the salary structure of RPSC RAS