RPSC RAS New Syllabus 2026 — Complete Prelims & Mains Syllabus
Last updated: March 2026 · Based on RPSC official syllabus notification
The RAS Prelims exam covers 13 subjects under General Knowledge and General Science. The exam has 150 MCQs worth 200 marks, to be completed in 3 hours. Below is the complete topic-by-topic breakdown of each subject along with its approximate weightage based on previous year question (PYQ) analysis from 2018 to 2024.
Use this syllabus as your preparation checklist. For preparation strategy and study plans, see our RAS preparation guide. For a general overview of the exam, see What is RAS Exam?
What Changed in the 2026 Syllabus?
RPSC revised the RAS syllabus for the 2026 cycle (notified for 3,725 vacancies). Key changes to be aware of:
- Sports & Yoga topics removed from Prelims — these are no longer part of the General Knowledge paper.
- Essay added to Mains Paper IV — Paper IV (General Hindi & General English) now includes an essay component alongside grammar, comprehension, and translation.
Prelims Exam Pattern
150
Questions
200
Total Marks
3 hrs
Duration
-1/3
Negative Marking
| # | Subject | PYQ % | ~Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rajasthan History, Art & Culture | 18% | 27 |
| 2 | Indian History (Ancient & Medieval) | 8% | 12 |
| 3 | Indian History (Modern) | 7% | 11 |
| 4 | World Geography | 5% | 8 |
| 5 | Geography of India | 8% | 12 |
| 6 | Geography of Rajasthan | 9% | 14 |
| 7 | Indian Constitution & Governance | 12% | 18 |
| 8 | Rajasthan Political & Administrative System | 6% | 9 |
| 9 | Indian Economy | 7% | 11 |
| 10 | Economy of Rajasthan | 5% | 8 |
| 11 | Science & Technology | 6% | 9 |
| 12 | Reasoning & Mental Ability | 4% | 6 |
| 13 | Current Affairs | 5% | 8 |
| Total | 100% | 150 | |
* Weightage percentages are approximate, based on PYQ analysis from 2018-2024 papers. Actual distribution varies each year.
Subject-wise Detailed Syllabus
Rajasthan History, Art & Culture
PYQ Weightage: 18% (~27 questions)
- Pre-historical sites and ancient civilizations of Rajasthan
- Major dynasties of Rajputana — Chauhans, Rathores, Sisodias, Kachwahas
- Medieval Rajasthan — Bhakti movement, Rajput-Mughal relations
- Modern Rajasthan — 1857 revolt, Praja Mandal movements, merger of princely states
- Architecture — forts, palaces, havelis, temples, step-wells
- Painting schools — Kishangarh, Mewar, Marwar, Bundi, Jaipur
- Handicrafts — block printing, tie-dye (Bandhej), pottery, stone carving
- Fairs and festivals — Pushkar, Teej, Gangaur, Desert Festival
- Folk music, dance, and theatre — Ghoomar, Kalbeliya, Khayal, Maand
- Language, literature, and dialects of Rajasthan
- Leading personalities and social reformers of Rajasthan
Indian History (Ancient & Medieval)
PYQ Weightage: 8% (~12 questions)
- Indus Valley Civilization and Vedic Age
- Buddhism, Jainism, and other religious movements
- Maurya Empire — Ashoka, administration, Arthashastra
- Post-Mauryan — Kushanas, Satavahanas, Gupta Empire
- South Indian dynasties — Cholas, Chalukyas, Pallavas
- Indian knowledge system — science, mathematics, astronomy
- Delhi Sultanate — administration, economy, society
- Vijayanagar Empire and Bahmani Kingdom
- Mughal period — administration, art, architecture
- Bhakti and Sufi movements
Indian History (Modern)
PYQ Weightage: 7% (~11 questions)
- European trading companies and establishment of British rule
- Governor Generals and their policies
- Social and religious reform movements (19th century)
- Revolt of 1857 — causes, course, and impact
- Indian National Congress and freedom movement
- Gandhian era — Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India
- Revolutionary movements and tribal movements
- Constitutional development under British rule
- Partition and Independence
- Post-independence consolidation — integration of princely states
World Geography
PYQ Weightage: 5% (~8 questions)
- Major landforms — mountains, plateaus, plains
- Oceans and ocean currents
- Climate zones and weather patterns
- Major rivers and lakes of the world
- Natural vegetation and soil types
- Population distribution and migration
- Major natural hazards and disaster management
Geography of India
PYQ Weightage: 8% (~12 questions)
- Physical features — Himalayas, peninsular plateau, coastal and island groups
- Drainage systems — Himalayan and peninsular rivers
- Climate — Indian monsoon mechanism
- Soil types and their distribution
- Natural vegetation and forests
- Mineral and energy resources
- Agriculture — food crops, cash crops, irrigation
- Major industries and industrial regions
- Transport and communication networks
- Population — distribution, growth, urbanization
Geography of Rajasthan
PYQ Weightage: 9% (~14 questions)
- Physical divisions — Aravalli, Thar Desert, Eastern Plains, Hadoti Plateau
- Climate — arid, semi-arid zones, rainfall distribution
- Drainage — Chambal, Luni, Banas, Mahi and their basins
- Soils of Rajasthan — types and distribution
- Natural vegetation, forests, and wildlife sanctuaries
- Mineral resources — marble, sandstone, zinc, copper, lead
- Agriculture — major crops, irrigation projects (IGNP, Bisalpur, Chambal)
- Population — growth, literacy, urbanization trends
- Energy resources — solar, wind, thermal, nuclear
- Major industries and economic hubs
Indian Constitution & Governance
PYQ Weightage: 12% (~18 questions)
- Making of the Constitution — Constituent Assembly, key debates
- Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Union Executive — President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers
- Parliament — Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, legislative process
- State Executive — Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature
- Judiciary — Supreme Court, High Courts, judicial review
- Federalism and Centre-State relations
- Constitutional amendments — important amendments (42nd, 44th, 73rd, 74th)
- Panchayati Raj and local self-government
- Election Commission, CAG, UPSC, Finance Commission
- Fundamental Rights vs Directive Principles
- Emergency provisions
Rajasthan Political & Administrative System
PYQ Weightage: 6% (~9 questions)
- Governor — role, powers, and constitutional position
- Chief Minister and Council of Ministers
- Rajasthan State Legislature — Vidhan Sabha
- Rajasthan High Court — jurisdiction and organization
- District administration — Collector, SP, and their roles
- Panchayati Raj in Rajasthan — three-tier system
- Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)
- State Human Rights Commission
- State Women's Commission
- State Election Commission
- Administrative reforms and e-governance in Rajasthan
Indian Economy
PYQ Weightage: 7% (~11 questions)
- National income and GDP measurement
- Five Year Plans and NITI Aayog
- Monetary policy — RBI, banking sector, inflation
- Fiscal policy — Union Budget, taxation, GST
- Poverty, unemployment, and inequality
- Agriculture sector — Green Revolution, MSP, food security
- Industrial policy and Make in India
- Foreign trade and balance of payments
- International institutions — IMF, World Bank, WTO
- Government flagship schemes
Economy of Rajasthan
PYQ Weightage: 5% (~8 questions)
- Rajasthan State Budget and fiscal indicators
- Agriculture — major crops, livestock, dairy cooperatives
- Major industries — textile, cement, mining, IT
- Tourism industry and its economic impact
- Mineral resources and mining sector
- Infrastructure development — roads, rail, airports
- Poverty and unemployment in Rajasthan
- State government schemes and programs
- Demographic indicators — HDI, literacy, gender ratio
Science & Technology
PYQ Weightage: 6% (~9 questions)
- Basic physics — mechanics, optics, electricity, magnetism
- Basic chemistry — elements, compounds, acids and bases
- Biology — cell biology, genetics, human body systems
- Space technology — ISRO missions, satellite programs
- Defense technology — DRDO, missiles, nuclear program
- Information technology — Digital India, e-governance
- Biotechnology and its applications
- Nanotechnology and robotics (basics)
- Environmental science and ecology
- Everyday science — household chemicals, nutrition, diseases
Reasoning & Mental Ability
PYQ Weightage: 4% (~6 questions)
- Logical reasoning — deductive and inductive
- Analytical reasoning — puzzles, seating arrangement
- Number series, letter series, and coding-decoding
- Data interpretation — tables, graphs, charts
- Blood relations and direction sense
- Venn diagrams and syllogisms
- Mathematical operations and basic numeracy
Current Affairs
PYQ Weightage: 5% (~8 questions)
- National events and government policies (last 12 months)
- Rajasthan state events, schemes, and governance (last 12 months)
- International events and India's foreign relations
- Sports — major tournaments and Indian achievements
- Awards — Padma awards, Nobel Prize, national awards
- Science and technology developments
- Environment and ecology — climate change, biodiversity
- Books, authors, and important reports
Mains Syllabus Overview
The RAS Mains exam has 4 papers, each of 200 marks (total 800 marks). The Mains is descriptive, requiring written long-form answers. Here is a brief overview of each paper:
Paper I — General Studies I (200 marks)
History of India (with emphasis on Rajasthan), Art, Culture, Literature, Tradition & Heritage of Rajasthan.
Paper II — General Studies II (200 marks)
Indian Constitution, Governance System, Social Justice, International Relations. Political & Administrative System of Rajasthan.
Paper III — General Studies III (200 marks)
Economic Concepts & Indian Economy, Economy of Rajasthan, Science & Technology, Reasoning & Data Analysis.
Paper IV — General Hindi & General English (200 marks)
Hindi: Grammar, comprehension, precis writing, essay, translation. English: Grammar, comprehension, precis writing, essay, translation. This paper is qualifying for some services and counted for final ranking for others.
How to Use This Syllabus Effectively
Print or save this page as your preparation checklist. Tick off topics as you complete them.
Focus on high-weightage subjects first. Rajasthan History (18%), Constitution (12%), and Geography of Rajasthan (9%) together cover nearly 40% of the paper.
Practice MCQs topic-by-topic as you study. Use the links above to jump directly into practice for each subject on Aspirant Academy.
Read our preparation strategy guide for subject-wise tips, study plans, and recommended books for each subject.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the RAS 2026 syllabus different from 2024?
Yes. RPSC made two notable changes for 2026: Sports and Yoga topics have been removed from the Prelims paper, and an Essay component has been added to Mains Paper IV (General Hindi & General English). The rest of the syllabus structure and 13 subject areas remain the same.
How many questions come from each subject in Prelims?
The 150 questions are distributed unevenly. Rajasthan History alone accounts for ~27 questions (18%), followed by Indian Constitution (~18 questions, 12%) and Geography of Rajasthan (~14 questions, 9%). Check the weightage table above for all 13 subjects.
Is the Mains syllabus the same as Prelims?
There is significant overlap, but Mains goes deeper. The Prelims syllabus covers all 13 subjects at an MCQ level, while Mains requires detailed, descriptive answers across 4 papers. Mains also includes topics like essay writing, comprehension, and translation in Paper IV.
Which subjects should I start with?
Start with the three highest-weightage subjects: Rajasthan History, Art & Culture (18%), Indian Constitution & Governance (12%), and Geography of Rajasthan (9%). Together these cover nearly 40% of the Prelims paper. See our preparation strategy guide for a detailed study plan.
Are NCERT books enough for the RAS syllabus?
NCERTs (Class 6-12) provide a solid foundation for History, Geography, Polity, Economics, and Science. However, for Rajasthan-specific subjects you will need additional resources like Rajasthan Studies by L.P. Sharma and Rajasthan GK by Rai Publications. For current affairs, daily practice is essential.
How many vacancies are there in RAS 2026?
RPSC has announced 3,725 vacancies for the RAS/RTS 2026 cycle, which is significantly higher than previous cycles (typically 400-900). Check the RAS 2026 notification page for full vacancy breakdown by service and category.
Practice Subject-wise MCQs
16,000+ expert-curated MCQs covering every topic in the RAS syllabus, with detailed explanations for each answer.