RPSC APO Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims and Mains Guide

The RPSC APO exam pattern has two written stages: an objective preliminary exam that only decides who goes forward, and a descriptive main exam that decides the merit list. The Rajasthan Public Service Commission set out this scheme in the 2026 Assistant Prosecution Officer advertisement and the syllabus released on 19 June 2026.

This page explains the marks, timing, negative marking and qualifying rules for each stage, then turns them into strategy. The rule to watch is the 40% minimum in each mains paper: in the 2024 cycle it left almost every post unfilled, so it shapes how you should divide your time.

Table of Contents

RPSC APO exam pattern at a glance

Key changes to know

• New criminal codes in the law papers: Both stages now test the BNS, BNSS and BSA as well as the IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act, so the same marks cover a larger body of law.

• Extra time for the OMR: RPSC allows 10 minutes beyond the 2 hours so that you can fill option 5 for questions you skip.

• Strict unmarked-question rule: Leaving more than 10% of questions with no bubble filled leads to disqualification, not just a penalty.

• Separate lists by area: Scheduled Area and Non-Scheduled Area posts have separate cut-offs and lists at every stage.

RPSC APO prelims exam pattern

RPSC gives 70% weightage to law and 30% to language proficiency. The 2026 prelims was held on 2 September 2026 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm, with 10 extra minutes allowed to fill the fifth option on the OMR sheet.

Candidates are called to the mains at 15 times the category-wise vacancies, and everyone tied at the last qualifying mark is also included. In 2026 that meant 5,555 Non-Scheduled Area and 225 Scheduled Area candidates qualified provisionally.

RPSC APO mains exam pattern

• Every paper is compulsory: Missing either paper means you cannot be selected.

• Law paper focus: RPSC states that it tests practical knowledge of criminal law and procedure, including framing charges in criminal cases.

• Language paper level: Paper II is set at Senior Secondary level and includes translation, precis, official drafting, essay, comprehension and notice writing.

• Relaxation: Ex-servicemen and persons with disabilities get relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks as per the Rajasthan rules.

• 2026 date: The mains is scheduled for 27 December 2026.

Marking scheme and negative marking

In the prelims, each question carries one mark and has five options. Options 1 to 4 are answers, and option 5 means you are not attempting the question.

This rule is enforced. In the 2026 prelims, 178 candidates were disqualified for leaving more than 10% of questions without any option filled, and 88 were disqualified on the same ground in 2024.

What the pattern means for you

• A blind guess gains nothing: With four real options and a one-third penalty, a pure guess averages zero. Once you can rule out even one option, attempting becomes worth it.

• Never leave a bubble empty: An empty row costs the same as a wrong answer and risks disqualification, so always mark option 5 when you skip.

• Law is three-quarters of the mains: Law carries 300 of 400 mains marks, so it gets most of your preparation time.

• The language paper can stop you alone: You need 40 out of 100 in Paper II even if your law score is high, so give it steady weekly practice.

How the mains shortlist works

The 15-times rule is applied separately for each area, category and sub-category, such as General, women, widow and divorcee seats. That is why one category can show a much lower prelims cut-off than another: the shortlist size depends on how many posts that slot has and how many candidates competed for it.

Qualifying the prelims is provisional. RPSC checks eligibility against the advertisement at later stages and can cancel a candidature at any point if a condition is not met.

How mains answers are judged

RPSC does not publish a marking rubric for the mains. The syllabus does say the law paper tests practical knowledge, including framing charges, so a sound answer usually states the rule, cites the correct section in the relevant code, applies it to the facts and ends with a clear conclusion. In the language paper, word limits, format and accuracy of translation matter as much as content.

Is there an interview?

No. The 2026 advertisement provides for a preliminary exam and a main written exam only. After the mains result, shortlisted candidates go through document verification by the Home Department before the final list.

In the 2024 cycle, candidates on the provisional list filled a detailed online application form between 16 and 22 December 2025 and then attended document verification with the Home Department in Jaipur. Expect a similar step after the 2026 mains result.

Final merit calculation

The merit list is based only on the total of the two mains papers, out of 400. Prelims marks are not added. RPSC can apply scaling, moderation or normalisation to answer-book marks where needed.

This example uses the General category 40% rule: 120 marks in Paper I and 40 in Paper II. Candidate B shows why a strong law score cannot cover a weak language paper. In the 2024 mains, only four candidates met these minimums, and the General (UR) cut-off for the Non-Scheduled Area was 163.50 out of 400.

Time management and exam-day strategy

Prelims

• Language first: Aim to finish the 30 language questions in about 20 to 25 minutes, which leaves around 95 minutes for 70 law questions.

• Two rounds for law: Answer sure questions first, then return to those where you can eliminate options.

• Use the extra 10 minutes: Check that every row has one bubble, including option 5 where you skipped.

• Reach early: Entry closes 60 minutes before the exam starts, and you need an original photo ID such as Aadhaar.

Mains

• Plan the law paper: Divide 180 minutes in proportion to marks and keep 10 minutes to review section numbers.

• Quote both codes: Where the syllabus covers both, cite the BNS, BNSS or BSA section with its old equivalent.

• Language paper discipline: Respect word limits for precis, essay, paragraph and notice; they are part of the task.

Older pages may still show a law syllabus without the 2023 criminal codes, so follow the official RPSC APO 2026 advertisement and the syllabus on the RPSC website.