RPSC RAS Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The Rajasthan Public Service Commission’s State and Subordinate Services Combined Competitive Examination (RAS) runs in three stages: a Preliminary screening test, a four-paper Main examination and an interview. Here’s the structure and what each stage tests, with a link to the official notification for this cycle’s exact marks, timing and vacancies.
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The stages
Preliminary examination
One objective paper on General Knowledge and General Science, at Bachelor’s degree level. It is a screening test only: the marks of those who qualify for the Main examination are not counted in the final order of merit.
Main examination
Four descriptive and analytical papers, all compulsory: General Studies-I, General Studies-II, General Studies-III, and General Hindi and General English.
Personality and viva-voce examination
Candidates who reach the minimum marks in the Main examination are called for an interview, which also gives marks for knowledge of Rajasthani culture. These marks are added to the Main examination marks.
What’s tested
Preliminary: Rajasthan history, art and culture
Pre-historic sites and sources of Rajasthan’s history, major dynasties and rulers, administrative and revenue systems, peasant, tribal and Praja Mandal movements, the integration of Rajasthan, architecture, paintings and folk arts, language and literature, religious life, fairs and festivals, and leading personalities.
Preliminary: Indian history
Ancient and medieval India (the Indus and Vedic age, major dynasties, art and architecture, the Bhakti and Sufi movements, the Sultanate and Mughal periods) and modern India up to 2000 (British rule, the revolt of 1857, the freedom struggle and post-independence nation building).
Preliminary: Geography
World and India: physical features, rivers, vegetation, agriculture, industry, transport and environmental issues; and Rajasthan: location, physiography, rivers and lakes, climate, soil, agriculture, livestock, irrigation, population, tribes, minerals and tourism.
Preliminary: Polity, governance and economy
The Indian Constitution, political system and governance, with Rajasthan’s institutions; economic concepts and the Indian economy; and the economy of Rajasthan.
Preliminary: Science, reasoning and current affairs
Everyday science, computers and ICT, defence and space technology, biotechnology, health, environment and biodiversity; reasoning and mental ability with basic numeracy and data analysis; and current affairs with special reference to Rajasthan.
Main: General Studies-I
History, art, culture, literature, tradition and heritage of Rajasthan; Indian history and culture; history of the modern world up to 1991; economics (the Indian, world and Rajasthan economies); and sociology, management, accounting and auditing.
Main: General Studies-II
Administrative ethics; general science and technology; and earth science (geography and geology) of the world, India and Rajasthan.
Main: General Studies-III
Indian polity, governance, India and international affairs and current affairs; concepts, issues and dynamics of public administration; and behaviour and law.
Main: General Hindi and General English
General Hindi; General English (grammar and usage, comprehension, translation and précis writing, composition and letter writing); and an essay.
The exact marks, number of questions, timing and negative marking are set by each cycle’s own notification and scheme (the 2026 scheme and syllabus are dated 9 January 2026) and can change. Treat the subjects above as the stable shape to study toward, and check RPSC’s own website.
See the exact marks, timing, negative marking, age limit and cut-offs for this exam →
What RAS recruits for
The 2026 notice (Advt. No. 02/2026-27) lists 21 State Services, including the Rajasthan Administrative Service, Rajasthan Police Service and Rajasthan Accounts Service, and 26 Subordinate Service lines, including the Tehsildar, Cooperative, Excise and Labour Welfare Subordinate Services. The service-wise vacancy table is in the notice.
What Pariksha Saathi offers for RPSC
Free topic-wise lessons and practice for the General Knowledge and General Science paper: history, polity, geography, economy, environment, general science, art and culture, plus Rajasthan General Knowledge. They do not cover the reasoning, mental ability and numeracy part.
Official source & latest updates
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