RAS Prelims Syllabus 2026
As per RPSC's updated syllabus, January 2026Exam date: Sunday, 6 December 2026
The RAS/RTS Preliminary Examination is a single General Knowledge and General Science paper. It is a screening test: it decides who goes on to the Mains. Below is the complete unit-wise syllabus, what RPSC changed in 2026, and a free subject test for each unit so you can check where you stand.
RAS Prelims exam pattern
- Questions
- 150
- Marks
- 200
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Negative marking
- 1/3
Every question has a fifth option, E: "Question not attempted". If you skip a question you must mark E. Leaving more than 10% of the questions with none of the 5 options marked disqualifies the candidate.
What changed in 2026
Added
- Sources of Rajasthan history
- Indian knowledge systems
- Scientific development in ancient India
- Modern India up to 2000
- Fiscal federalism and the Finance Commission
- Social audit and grievance redressal
- Specific commissions (NHRC, NCW, NCPCR and others)
- Union–State relations and emergency provisions
- Board of Revenue
- Ranking and sitting arrangement
- Profit and loss
- Inheritance and variation
- Urbanisation
- Livestock
- Indigenisation
- Government science and technology programmes
- Rajasthan Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2022 (under current affairs)
Unit 1
History, Art, Culture, Literature, Tradition & Heritage of Rajasthan
- Pre-historic sites (Palaeolithic to Bronze Age), their society and culture
- Sources of history: archaeological, archival, literary and numismatic
- Major dynasties; cooperation and resistance with the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals
- Medieval administration and revenue system
- Conditions in the 18th and 19th centuries; peasant and tribal movements
- Praja Mandal movements and the integration of Rajasthan
- Architecture: temples, forts, palaces, monuments and water structures
- Schools of painting and handicrafts
- Performing arts: folk dances, classical and folk music
- Language and literature: dialects, Rajasthani literature and folk literature
- Religious communities, saints, sects, folk deities and practices
- Social customs, fairs and festivals, attire and ornaments
- Leading personalities of Rajasthan
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 15 · 2023 – 16
Unit 2
Indian History
Ancient and Medieval India
- Indus Valley Civilisation and the Vedic age
- Religious ideas of the 6th century BC: Ajivakas, Buddhism and Jainism
- Major dynasties: Maurya, Kushan, Satavahana, Gupta, Chalukya, Pallava and Chola
- Art, architecture and scientific development in ancient India
- Indian knowledge systems: Varna-Ashram, Purushartha, Sanskara, philosophy and education
- The Sultanate period and the Vijayanagara empire
- Mughal administration and policies; the Marathas
- Medieval art, architecture, literature, painting and music
- Bhakti and Sufi movements
Modern India (early 19th century to 2000)
- British imperialism and resistance to it (Marathas, Mysore, Sikhs); the revolt of 1857
- British policies in India
- Rise of nationalism; socio-religious reform movements
- Stages and events of the freedom struggle; revolutionary movements; partition
- Nation building up to 2000: reorganisation of states, institution building, planning, economic reforms, science and technology
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 11 · 2023 – 10
Unit 3
Geography of the World and India
World
- Mountains, plateaus, plains and deserts
- Major rivers and lakes
- Natural vegetation
- Agriculture: types, distribution and crops
- Industrial regions and industries
- Transport
- Environmental issues: desertification, deforestation, climate change and ozone depletion
India
- Physiographic divisions
- Climate
- Rivers and lakes
- Irrigation
- Crops
- Metallic and non-metallic minerals
- Industrial regions and industries
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 9 · 2023 – 8
Unit 4
Geography of Rajasthan
- Location, extent and physiography
- Rivers and lakes
- Climate
- Natural vegetation, biodiversity and its conservation
- Soils
- Agriculture
- Livestock
- Irrigation
- Population: growth, density, literacy and sex ratio
- Urbanisation
- Tribes
- Minerals: metallic and non-metallic
- Tourism
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 11 · 2023 – 9
Unit 5
Indian Constitution, Political System & Governance
- Making of the Constitution and the Preamble
- Citizenship, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties
- Union executive, legislature and judiciary
- Union–State relations and emergency provisions
- Urban and rural local government
- Election Commission, UPSC, NHRC, NCW, NCPCR and NITI Aayog
- Public policy, citizen charter, social audit and grievance redressal
- Lokpal, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Central Information Commission (CIC)
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 9 · 2023 – 10
Unit 6
Political and Administrative System of Rajasthan
- Governor, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and the Legislative Assembly
- High Court, subordinate courts and the Advocate General
- Chief Secretary and the State Secretariat
- Divisional Commissioner, District Collector and District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, SDO and Tehsildar
- RPSC, State Election Commission, State Information Commission and State Women Commission
- Board of Revenue and Lokayukta
- Panchayati Raj and municipal administration
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 13 · 2023 – 13
Unit 7
Economic Concepts and Indian Economy
- Growth and development; environmental degradation and sustainable development
- Measuring development: Human Development Index and related indices
- Monetary and fiscal policy; recent Union budgets; resource mobilisation
- Fiscal federalism, centre–state financial relations and the Finance Commission
- Agriculture: institutional and technological aspects, reforms, challenges and initiatives
- Industry: growth, pattern, policy and reforms
- Liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation (LPG) reforms
- Services sector
- Infrastructure: energy, transport and communication
- Skill development, employment generation, social justice and empowerment
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 11 · 2023 – 8
Unit 8
Economy of Rajasthan
- Macro-economic overview and the state budget
- Agriculture, industry and services: status, issues and initiatives
- Infrastructure: energy, transport and communication
- Rural development, Panchayati Raj and the State Finance Commission
- Education and health services
- Major welfare schemes
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 15 · 2023 – 15
Unit 9
Science & Technology
- Everyday science
- Computers and information and communication technology (ICT)
- Defence and space technology, with focus on India
- Inheritance and variation, genetic engineering, biotechnology and nanotechnology
- Human health, food and nutrition, diseases and public health programmes
- Environmental and ecological changes and their impact assessment
- Biodiversity, conservation of natural resources and sustainable development
- Agriculture, horticulture, forestry and animal husbandry, with reference to Rajasthan
- Government science and technology programmes and policies
- Recent developments, Indian contributions and indigenisation
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 15 · 2023 – 20
Unit 10
Reasoning & Mental Ability
Reasoning (deductive, inductive and abductive)
- Statements and assumptions
- Statements and arguments
- Statements and conclusions
- Statements and courses of action
- Analytical and critical reasoning
Mental ability
- Number and letter series
- Coding–decoding
- Relations
- Direction sense
- Logical Venn diagrams
- Ranking and sitting arrangement
- Shapes and their sub-sections
Basic numeracy
- Ratio and proportion, partnership, profit and loss
- Percentage
- Simple and compound interest
- Perimeter and area
- Data analysis: tables, bar diagrams, line graphs and pie charts
- Mean (arithmetic, geometric and harmonic), median and mode
- Permutation and combination
- Simple probability
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 20 · 2023 – 20
Unit 11
Current Affairs (with special reference to Rajasthan)
- Important personalities, places and contemporary issues
- Newly launched schemes, programmes and initiatives
- Major economic and political developments
- Sports and games
- Awards, books and authors
- Rajasthan Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2022
Questions in RPSC papers: 2024 – 21 · 2023 – 21
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in RAS Prelims?
Yes. One third (1/3) of the marks of a question are deducted for every wrong answer. The paper has 150 questions for 200 marks, so each question carries 1.33 marks.
What is option E in the RAS Prelims paper?
Every question has a fifth option, E: "Question not attempted". If you do not want to answer a question, you must mark E. If more than 10% of the questions are left with none of the 5 options (A, B, C, D or E) marked, the candidate is disqualified.
How many questions are asked in RAS Prelims?
150 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks, to be done in 3 hours. It is a single paper on General Knowledge and General Science.
Is the RAS Prelims syllabus the same in Hindi and English?
Yes. RPSC publishes the same syllabus in Hindi and English, and the question paper is bilingual. This page is also available in Hindi.
What is the standard of the RAS Prelims questions?
Questions are set at the level of a bachelor's degree. You need a graduate's general awareness across all 11 units, not specialist knowledge of any one subject.
Are RAS Prelims marks counted in the final merit?
No. The Prelims is only a screening test to shortlist candidates for the Mains. Its marks are not added to the final merit, which is made from the Mains and the interview.
Where can I get the official RAS Prelims syllabus?
The official syllabus is published by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission on its website, rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in. Always check it there before the exam.