The four written papers

The four written papers

Use this lesson for the RPSC scheme dated 9 January 2026, listed under Exam 2026. All four papers are compulsory and descriptive/analytical. The written total is 800 marks; this is not a statement of the entire selection-process total.

Paper / प्रश्नपत्र	Subject / विषय	Marks / अंक	Time / समय
I	General Studies I / सामान्य अध्ययन I	200	3 hours / घंटे
II	General Studies II / सामान्य अध्ययन II	200	3 hours / घंटे
III	General Studies III / सामान्य अध्ययन III	200	3 hours / घंटे
IV	General Hindi and General English / सामान्य हिन्दी एवं सामान्य अंग्रेजी	200	3 hours / घंटे

Paper	Course subject map / पाठ्यक्रम-विषय मानचित्र
I	History; Economy; Sociology, Management, Accounting & Auditing इतिहास; अर्थव्यवस्था; समाजशास्त्र, प्रबंधन, लेखांकन एवं अंकेक्षण
II	Administrative Ethics; Science & Technology; Earth Science प्रशासनिक नैतिकता; विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी; पृथ्वी विज्ञान
III	Polity, Governance & International Affairs; Public Administration; Behaviour & Law राजव्यवस्था, शासन एवं अंतरराष्ट्रीय संबंध; लोक प्रशासन; व्यवहार एवं विधि
IV	Hindi 90 + English 70 + Essay 40 हिन्दी 90 + अंग्रेजी 70 + निबंध 40

Marks, words and time

The separate RPSC question scheme uses 5-mark questions with a 50-word limit and 10-mark questions with a 150-word limit in General Studies. The table below is indicative: the official note says unit-wise marks and question numbers may vary. Follow the actual question-paper instructions.

Paper / प्रश्नपत्र	Unit I / इकाई I	Unit II / इकाई II	Unit III / इकाई III
I	8×5 + 3×10 = 70	6×5 + 3×10 = 60	14×5 = 70
II	7×5 + 3×10 = 65	14×5 = 70	7×5 + 3×10 = 65
III	11×5 + 3×10 = 85	6×5 + 3×10 = 60	11×5 = 55

Paper IV

Hindi and English are at senior-secondary level. The essay is about 600 words, in either Hindi or English. Its six thematic areas cover language/culture; society/governance; science/environment; economy/agriculture/industry; current affairs/disasters/development; and Rajasthan tourism/culture/contemporary issues. Practise relevance and structure, not a memorised essay for every topic.

A planning calculation

Available writing time ÷ total marks = a planning rate. If you reserve 20 of 180 minutes for reading and review, 160 ÷ 200 = 0.8 minute per mark: about 4 minutes for 5 marks and 8 minutes for 10 marks. This is a practice heuristic, not an RPSC rule; adapt it to question difficulty.

Common traps / सामान्य भूलें: using the old 2-mark pattern; treating the indicative unit split as guaranteed; confusing the course's 11 subject folders with 11 examination papers; assuming the language paper is only a qualifying exercise. पुराने 2-अंकीय पैटर्न को लागू करना; संकेतात्मक विभाजन को निश्चित मानना; पाठ्यक्रम के 11 विषयों को 11 प्रश्नपत्र समझना; भाषा-प्रश्नपत्र को केवल अर्हकारी मानना।

Write to the demand

Worked 5-mark example

Question (50 words): Distinguish impartiality from indifference in public service.

Model answer: Impartiality means deciding by relevant, public criteria rather than personal or political preference. Indifference means ignoring people’s needs. A fair relief officer may prioritise households facing greater risk under published criteria, while hearing every applicant respectfully. Equal concern can therefore require different, justified assistance, not identical treatment.

Worked 10-mark approach

Question (150 words): Explain how transparency can improve public trust while protecting privacy. Start by defining transparency. Explain published eligibility criteria, reasons for decisions and aggregate performance data. Then identify privacy risks in publishing names, health details or identity numbers. Propose redaction, limited access, a grievance route and review. Conclude that meaningful reasons, rather than indiscriminate disclosure, support trust.

Self-review rubric

For a 10-mark practice answer / 10 अंक का अभ्यास	Marks / अंक
Addresses every demand / प्रत्येक माँग का उत्तर	2
Accurate concepts / सही अवधारणाएँ	2
Reasoning and relevant example / तर्क और उदाहरण	3
Balanced, workable conclusion / संतुलित व्यावहारिक निष्कर्ष	2
Clear organisation and word discipline / स्पष्ट क्रम और शब्द-सीमा	1

This is a teaching rubric, not the Commission’s marking key. For a 5-mark answer, use demand 1, accuracy 2, example/reason 1, clarity 1. Practice: (1) Name the four papers and calculate the written total. (2) Locate ethics and essay in the correct papers. (3) Draft a 50-word explanation of why examples must answer the question. Answers: four papers above, 800; ethics II, essay IV; assess question 3 with the 5-mark rubric.

Sources: RPSC 09-01-2026 syllabus, pp.1,5,12-13; 09-01-2026 question scheme; official syllabus index. Checked 30-09-2026. No later RAS Mains syllabus revision was found in the index checked; candidates should check their examination notice and any corrigendum.

Analogy

Think of the papers as four rooms with different tasks. All four must be entered: I society through history and economy; II ethical judgement, science and Earth; III governance, administration, behaviour and law; IV expression. This is only a memory aid.

Quick reference

• RPSC scheme dated 09-01-2026; Exam2026 listing
• 4 compulsory descriptive papers × 200 = 800 written marks; 3 hours each
• GS practice: 5 marks/50 words and 10 marks/150 words
• Unit-wise distribution is indicative and may vary
• Paper IV: Hindi90 + English70 + essay40; essay about600 words in Hindi or English
• Time heuristic: available minutes ÷ marks, not an official rule