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The RPSC RAS exam has three stages — Preliminary, Main and Interview. The Prelims is only a screening test (its marks do not count in the final merit); the final merit is made from the Mains (800 marks) plus the Interview (100 marks) = 900 marks. Here is the full RAS 2026 exam pattern, paper by paper, with the marking scheme and negative marking.
| Stage | Papers | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | 1 — GK & General Science | 200 (150 Q) | Objective (MCQ), 1/3 negative; qualifying only |
| Main | 4 — GS I–III + Hindi/English | 800 | Descriptive (3 hours each) |
| Interview | — | 100 | Personality test |
| Final merit | Main + Interview | 900 | Prelims marks NOT counted |
The RAS Preliminary examination is a single objective paper titled 'General Knowledge and General Science' — 150 questions for 200 marks, to be done in 3 hours. There is 1/3 negative marking for every wrong answer. The Prelims is purely a screening stage: you must clear it to reach the Mains, but its marks are not added to your final merit.
Candidates who clear the Prelims sit the Main examination — four descriptive papers of 200 marks each (800 total), three hours per paper. Papers I–III are General Studies; Paper IV tests language and essay writing. Every paper counts towards the final merit.
The last stage is a personality test (interview) of 100 marks. The final merit list is prepared from the Main examination (800) plus the Interview (100) — a total of 900 marks. This is why the Mains, not the Prelims, decides your rank: a strong Prelims score buys you nothing beyond entry.
Three — Preliminary (objective screening), Main (four descriptive papers) and the Interview / personality test.
Yes, in the Prelims — 1/3 of a mark is deducted for every wrong answer. There is no negative marking in the descriptive Mains papers.
No. The Prelims is only a qualifying/screening stage. The final merit is made from the Mains (800 marks) and the Interview (100 marks) — 900 in total.
The final merit is out of 900 marks — Mains 800 plus Interview 100. The Prelims (200 marks) is separate and does not add to this.
Four descriptive papers of 200 marks each — General Studies I, II and III, plus a fourth paper of General Hindi, General English and Essay.