RPSC – Rajasthan Public Service Commission Exam Details
Every year, lakhs of graduates in Rajasthan dream of becoming an RAS officer. The road to that job runs through RPSC, the Rajasthan Public Service Commission. Many people, though, get their facts from social media, and the facts are often wrong. The commission itself has warned about this on its home page.
This guide gives you the plain facts about RPSC exam details for the RAS exam: who conducts it, who can apply, the age limit, the exam pattern, the syllabus and the dates. Everything about the 2026 round comes from RPSC’s own pages, its exam scheme documents and news reports on the notification. Check the official notice before you fill any form.
Table of Contents
What Is RPSC?
RPSC is the body that picks people for state government jobs in Rajasthan. It was set up on 22 December 1949. It is a constitutional body, which means the Constitution of India itself creates such commissions, under Articles 315 to 323. Its first chairman was Sir S. K. Ghosh.
The office is in Ajmer, at Ghooghara Ghati, Jaipur Road. The helpline numbers on its site are 0145-2635200 and 0145-2635212. The commission runs many exams, for posts such as sub-inspector, school lecturer, assistant professor and deputy jailor. The biggest and best known is the Rajasthan State and Subordinate Services Combined Competitive Examination, called the RAS exam for short.
What is the RAS exam?
RAS means Rajasthan Administrative Service. Officers picked through this exam fill senior state service posts. The same exam also fills subordinate service posts. It is the state-level cousin of the UPSC civil services exam. If you are also thinking about the national exam, see our time table for UPSC preparation.
RAS 2026 at a Glance
The details below come from news reports on RPSC’s advertisement dated 27 May 2026 and from the commission’s exam dates page. Please confirm each one on the official notice.
| Item | Detail | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| Total posts | 607 (192 State Services and 415 Subordinate Services) | News reports on the notice |
| Application period | 4 June to 3 July 2026 | News reports on the notice |
| Prelims date | 6 December 2026 | RPSC exam dates page |
| Mains dates | 1 and 2 May 2027 | RPSC exam dates page |
The Prelims used to be planned for 29 November. RPSC’s press note of 2 July 2026 moved it to 6 December. The application window has closed. On 23 September 2026, the commission also put out a press note about editing or withdrawing applications for this exam. If you already applied, read that note on the RPSC site.
Eligibility for RAS
Education
You need a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. Reports on the 2026 notice say that final-year students can apply if the result is awaited, but they must have the degree before the Mains. RPSC has warned that anyone who applies without the needed qualification can be barred from its exams.
Age limit
For 2026 the age range was 21 to 40 years as on 1 January 2027. Employees in non-gazetted posts of the state were listed at 25 to 45. Reports on the notice also list extra years for some groups:
- Men from SC, ST, OBC, MBC and EWS groups of Rajasthan: 5 years.
- Women from those groups: 10 years.
- Women from the general category: 5 years.
- Persons with disabilities: 5 years.
- Widows and divorced women: no upper age limit.
These rules can differ by category and domicile, so read the exact clause in the advertisement.
Fee
Reports say the 2026 fee was Rs 600 for General and OBC creamy layer candidates. It was Rs 400 for reserved categories and persons with disabilities. Reserved-category candidates from outside Rajasthan pay the general fee. The last RAS notice, for 2024, had the same amounts. Fees can change, so check the official notice.
How to Apply
All RPSC forms are online. Here is the usual path.
- Create or open your SSO ID on the Rajasthan government’s single sign-on portal.
- Complete your One Time Registration (OTR). It stores your basic details and papers so that you do not fill them again for each exam.
- Find the RAS advertisement on the RPSC website and start the form.
- Fill in your details, upload your photo and signature, and pay the fee.
- Submit the form and save a copy.
Many people take help from an e-Mitra kiosk. Our guide to the e-Mitra portal in Rajasthan explains what these centres do. RPSC has also advised e-Mitra operators to fill forms only for eligible candidates, so bring your own papers.
Exam Pattern
The exam has three stages: Prelims, Mains and an interview.
Stage 1: Prelims
The Prelims is a screening test. Its marks do not count in your final merit. Its job is to pick who goes on to the Mains.
- One paper on General Knowledge and General Science.
- 150 multiple-choice questions, 200 marks in all.
- Time allowed is 3 hours.
- One-third of a mark is cut for each wrong answer.
- The level is that of a bachelor’s degree.
According to the Mains scheme, the number of candidates called for the Mains is 15 times the number of vacancies, with ties at the last mark included.
Stage 2: Mains
The Mains has four written papers, and each has 200 marks and lasts 3 hours. The answers are descriptive. That means you write short, medium and long answers and not tick boxes.
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | General Studies I | 200 |
| II | General Studies II | 200 |
| III | General Studies III | 200 |
| IV | General Hindi and General English | 200 |
Paper IV is split into Hindi (90 marks), English (70 marks) and an essay of about 600 words (40 marks). The essay can be in Hindi or English. The language level is that of senior secondary school.
Stage 3: Interview
Candidates who clear the Mains face an interview, also called the personality test. Reports put it at 100 marks. The panel looks at your character, personality and knowledge, including knowledge of Rajasthan’s culture. Check the advertisement for how the final list is made.
Syllabus
RPSC’s current scheme and syllabus papers are dated 9 January 2026. These are the main heads.
Prelims syllabus
- History, art, culture, literature, tradition and heritage of Rajasthan.
- Indian history, from ancient times up to the year 2000.
- Geography of the world, India and Rajasthan.
- Indian Constitution, political system and governance, and the same for Rajasthan.
- Economic concepts, the Indian economy and the economy of Rajasthan.
- Science and technology.
- Reasoning, mental ability and basic maths such as ratio, percentage, averages and probability.
- Current affairs, with a focus on Rajasthan. This includes the Rajasthan Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2022.
Mains syllabus
- Paper I: history and culture of Rajasthan and India, modern world history up to 1991, Indian and world economy, Rajasthan’s economy, sociology, management, and accounting and auditing.
- Paper II: administrative ethics, general science and technology, and earth science, which covers geography and geology.
- Paper III: Indian polity, governance and international affairs, public administration, and behaviour and law.
- Paper IV: Hindi grammar and writing, English grammar and comprehension, and the essay.
Because Rajasthan appears in every stage, read up on the state itself. Our page on Rajasthan’s history, geography, economy and tourism is a good place to start.
Tips for Preparation
- Read the syllabus first and cut out what is not there.
- Solve past papers to see the style of questions.
- Do not skip Rajasthan topics. They carry a heavy share.
- Practise writing answers by hand for the Mains.
- Follow only the RPSC site for notices, dates and results.
If you are still weighing this career against other options, our comparison of government jobs vs private jobs may help.
Mistakes That Cost Candidates
- Applying without the required degree. RPSC has said such candidates can be barred.
- Trusting posts on social media about dates, syllabus or results. The commission asks candidates to follow only its own website.
- Leaving the form for the last day, when the site runs slowly.
- Not saving a copy of the submitted form and the fee receipt.
- Ignoring press notes. Dates, answer keys and corrections all come as notes on the site.
Final Thoughts
The RAS exam is a long race. The process is fair and open, but the competition is big, and every stage has its own skill. Start early, stay steady and stay away from rumours. Whenever a date, fee or age limit matters to you, check it on the RPSC website first.
FAQs
What is the full form of RPSC?
RPSC stands for Rajasthan Public Service Commission. It was set up in 1949 and is based in Ajmer.
What is the age limit for RAS 2026?
Reports on the notice say 21 to 40 years as on 1 January 2027, with extra years for some categories. Read the advertisement for your category.
When is the RAS Prelims 2026?
RPSC’s exam dates page lists 6 December 2026 for the Prelims. The Mains is listed for 1 and 2 May 2027.
Do Prelims marks count in the final merit?
No. The Prelims only decides who moves on to the Mains.
Is there negative marking in the RAS Prelims?
Yes. One-third of a mark is cut for each wrong answer.