Short answer: the RAS Prelims scheme is the same in 2026 as in 2024: one paper, 150 questions, 200 marks, 3 hours, one-third negative marking. The syllabus was rewritten on 9 January 2026. Some areas gained topics, such as modern history now running to 2000 and the Indian knowledge system. Others stopped naming specific items, such as the CAG, the stock market and mirror images.

We compared the two official English documents line by line: RPSC's Prelims syllabus dated 9 January 2026 and the Prelims syllabus for the 2024 exam. "Added" means a topic named in 2026 but not in 2024. "No longer named" means the reverse. It does not mean a question is impossible, because broad headings still cover a lot.

For the complete 2026 topic list, see RAS Prelims Syllabus 2026: subject-wise topics and official PDF.

What stayed the same

  • One objective paper, General Knowledge and General Science, of bachelor's degree standard.
  • 150 questions of equal marks, 200 marks in total, 3 hours.
  • One-third negative marking for a wrong answer.
  • Prelims is a screening test; its marks do not count in the final merit.
  • The same ten subject headings, from Rajasthan history to current affairs.

History, art and culture of Rajasthan

  • Added: sources of Rajasthan history (archaeological, archival, literary and numismatic); the dynasties' "cooperation and resistance with central power"; political and social conditions in the 18th and 19th centuries; monuments; religious practices.
  • No longer named: the list of dynasties (Guhila, Pratihar, Chauhan, Parmar, Rathore, Sisodiya and Kachhwaha); "historical centres of the early Christian era"; the role of newspapers and political institutions in political awakening; classical dance.
  • Reworded: music now reads "Music (Classical and Folk) and Instruments".

What it means: the dynasties have not disappeared. They are now tested through their relations with the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. Sources of history, such as inscriptions, coins and archival records, are worth a dedicated revision session because they are newly named.

Indian history

  • Added: scientific development in ancient India; the Indian knowledge and value system (varna-ashram, purushartha, sanskara, philosophy and the education system); British imperialism and resistance (Maratha, Mysore, Sikh); the revolt of 1857; British political, economic and administrative policies; regional and revolutionary movements and partition; planning and economic reforms after independence.
  • Extended: the modern period now runs from the early 19th century to 2000 (it was to 1964).
  • No longer named: development of language and literature in ancient India (Sanskrit, Prakrit and Tamil); political challenges of the Mughal period with Afghan, Rajput and Deccan states.

What it means: post-independence India up to 2000 is the biggest expansion in this section, covering the reorganisation of states, planning, the 1991 reforms and science institutions.

Geography of the world, India and Rajasthan

  • World, added: natural vegetation; agriculture by type, distribution and important crops; industries alongside industrial regions; the transport network.
  • India, reworded: "physiographic division", "climate", "irrigation" and "minerals, metallic and non-metallic" replace the 2024 lists of named crops (wheat, rice, cotton…) and minerals (iron ore, manganese, bauxite, mica).
  • India, no longer named: power resources; national highways and major transport corridors.
  • Rajasthan, added: location and extent; livestock; urbanisation. Soil and tribes are now listed as topics of their own (in 2024 they were paired with vegetation and population).
  • Rajasthan, no longer named: major industries; power resources; water conservation techniques (the heading is now "irrigation").

Indian Constitution, political system and governance

  • Added: framing of the Constitution; citizenship; Union–State relations; emergency provisions; urban and rural local government; UPSC; National Commission for Women; National Commission for Protection of Child Rights; social audit; grievance redressal.
  • No longer named: the Comptroller and Auditor General; "federalism, democratic politics in India, coalition governments, national integration"; "philosophical postulates" and constitutional amendments as separate headings.

Political and administrative system of Rajasthan

  • Added: subordinate courts and other judicial bodies; the Advocate General; the Chief Secretary, state secretariat and directorates; Divisional Commissioner, District Collector and Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, SDO and Tehsildar; the Rajasthan State Women Commission; the Board of Revenue. (Local self-government and Panchayati Raj were already in 2024.)
  • No longer named: the State Human Rights Commission. It was asked in the 2021, 2023 and 2024 papers, so keep revising it under "other bodies" and rights.

Economy of India and Rajasthan

  • Added: environmental degradation and sustainable development; measurement of development and related indices; the recent Union Budget and resource mobilisation; fiscal federalism and the Finance Commission; agricultural reforms and institutions; industrial policy; energy, transport and communication; skill development and employment programmes. Growth and development, fiscal and monetary policy and the HDI were already listed in 2024.
  • Rajasthan, added: the state budget; rural development and the State Finance Commission; basic social services (education and health).
  • No longer named: banking and GST as named items; accounting in administration; the stock exchange and share market; e-commerce; subsidies and the public distribution system; inflation; the Happiness Index; poverty and unemployment as a named topic; the list of welfare-scheme target groups (it now reads "major welfare schemes of the Government of Rajasthan").

What it means: budgets (Union and state), the Finance Commission and the state's own schemes are now explicit. In past papers they already produced several questions a year.

Science and technology

  • Added: inheritance and variation; public health programmes; key government science and technology programmes and policies in Rajasthan and India; recent scientific advances; contributions of Indians; indigenisation of technology.
  • No longer named: blood groups and the Rh factor; infectious, non-infectious and zoonotic diseases as a list (now "diseases and public health programs").

Reasoning, mental ability and basic numeracy

  • Added: critical reasoning; ranking and seating arrangement; profit and loss.
  • No longer named: mirror and water images. It was asked in 2023 and 2024, so a quick revision is still cheap insurance.

Current affairs

  • Added: "with special reference to Rajasthan" in the heading; newly launched welfare schemes; major economic and political developments; awards, publications and authors; the Rajasthan Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2022.
  • Reworded: "games and sports related activities" became "significant events and achievements related to sports and games".

Some websites say a "Sports and Yoga" unit was removed from Prelims. Neither official Prelims document has such a unit. Sports sits under current affairs in both.

How to adjust your revision in the last weeks

  1. Read the new lines once, briefly. The Indian knowledge system, sources of Rajasthan history, the administrative hierarchy, Finance Commissions and the 2022 Unfair Means Act are small topics. A first, easy question on a newly named topic usually goes to those who simply read it.
  2. Don't delete the "no longer named" topics. SHRC, mirror images and blood groups were asked in recent papers and fit under broader headings. Lower their priority, but don't drop them.
  3. Spend most of the time where the marks are. Rajasthan-specific static content has produced about 52 questions a year. See our previous-year paper analysis.
  4. Test the whole syllabus at once with a free full-length mock test, then use the score-analysis method to see which changed areas actually cost you marks.

Compared on 11 November 2026 from the RPSC documents linked above. RASTestSeries.com is not affiliated with RPSC; the official syllabus is the final authority.