PYQ Pattern Analysis

Questions Asked

No verbatim PYQ questions exist for Topic #86. This topic has appeared in 0 of 5 recent RAS Mains exams (2013, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023/2024). Soil resources of Rajasthan as a standalone question category is completely absent from PYQ data.

Adjacent PYQ questions that covered soil tangentially:

• Soil as a sub-component has appeared within broader agriculture or land use questions, but never as the primary focus.
• Questions on the Chambal ravines and land degradation in the 2018 and 2021 exams touched on gully erosion without specifically asking about soil types.

What RPSC is Likely to Test

Since no PYQ pattern exists, the analysis shifts to syllabus intent and adjacent topic patterns:

1. Factual identification questions (5-mark): "Name the main soil types of Rajasthan and their distribution." / "What is regur soil? In which districts of Rajasthan is it found?" / "What is the Soil Health Card Scheme? When was it launched?"
2. Analytical questions (10-mark): "Discuss the soil erosion problems of Rajasthan and the conservation measures undertaken." / "Explain the impact of IGNP on soil quality in western Rajasthan." / "Describe the soil types of the Hadoti region and their agricultural significance."

RPSC's question-setting trend across Tier 5 topics is to ask one straightforward identification + distribution question (5-mark) and occasionally one problem-solution format question (10-mark). The Soil Health Card Scheme (2015 launch, Rajasthan) is a particularly safe prediction given its national significance and Rajasthan connection.

Frequency and Trend

• Appearances: 0 out of 5 recent exams
• Trend: Rising probability — the 2026 revised syllabus explicitly names soil resources; zero prior coverage combined with syllabus inclusion = classic pattern for surprise questions
• Marks range when it appears: Likely 5–10 marks (one or two questions maximum given unit weight distribution)

2026 Prediction

Given the revised syllabus emphasis and the Tier 5 gap status, the highest-probability 2026 question is:

1. (5-mark): "Name and describe the black (regur) soils of Rajasthan. In which districts are they found and what crops are grown on them?" — Tests distribution + agricultural linkage (connects to Topic #87).
2. (5-mark): "What is the Soil Health Card Scheme? State its objectives and Rajasthan's achievements under it." — Tests a specific government scheme with exact data (launched Suratgarh 2015).
3. (10-mark): "Discuss the major soil degradation problems faced by Rajasthan and the measures adopted for soil conservation." — Broad analytical question covering wind erosion, IGNP waterlogging, salinization, and conservation measures — typical RPSC 10-mark format.

---