RAJASTHAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, AJMER

SYLLABUS FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION

FOR THE POST OF RESEARCH OFFICER IN
ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT
Part-A - 40 Questions
Unit-I: History, Culture & Heritage of Rajasthan -
Pre & early history of Rajasthan. Age of Rajputs: Major dynasties of Rajasthan and the
achievements of prominent rulers. Emergence of Modern Rajasthan: factors of socio-
political awakening of 19th century; Peasants and tribal movements of 20 th century;
Political struggle of 20th century and the integration of Rajasthan.
Visual Art of Rajasthan - Architecture of forts and temples of Rajasthan; Sculpture
traditions of Rajasthan and various schools of painting of Rajasthan.
Performing Arts of Rajasthan - Folk music and musical instruments of Rajasthan; folk
dance and folk drama of Rajasthan.
Various religious cults, saints and folk deities of Rajasthan.
Various dialects and its distribution in Rajasthan; literature of Rajasthani language.
Unit-II: Geography, Natural Resource & Socio-Economic Development of Rajasthan
Geography of Rajasthan: Broad physical features- Mountains, Plateaus, Plains & Desert;
Major rivers and lakes; Climate and Agro-climatic regions; Major soil types and
distribution; Major forest types and distribution; Demographic characteristics;
Desertification, Droughts & Floods, Deforestation, Environmental Pollution and
Ecological Concerns.
Economy of Rajasthan: Major Minerals- Metallic & Non- Metallic; Power Resources-
Renewable and Non Renewable; Major agro based industries- Textile, Sugar, Paper &
Vegetable oil; Poverty and Unemployment; Agro food parks.
Unit-III: Current Events and Issues of Rajasthan and India -
Important Persons, Places and Current events of the State. National and International
events of importance. New Schemes & Initiatives taken recently for welfare &
development in Rajasthan.
Part- B 110 Questions

Unit-I:
Major Historical Approaches: Colonial- James Mill, Colonel Tod; Evangelical- Charles
Grant; Orientalist- William Jones; Nationalist: R C Dutt.
Main sources of the history of India up to 1200 CE: Literary Sources – Religious
(Vedic, Pauranic, Jain, Buddhist) and non-religious (Epics, Dramas, Grammars, Historical
Texts); Archaeological Sources – Inscriptions, Coins, Sculpture, Excavated sites.
Prominent Rulers of Ancient India: Sources, Policies & Achievements of Kanishka,
Asoka, Samudragupta, Harshavardhana.
Sources of Medieval India: Indo-Persian History Writing - Siraj, Abul Fazl, Badayuni,
Gulbadan Begum; Translations, Vernacular histories; Epigraphy.
Foundation, expansion, and consolidation of the Sultanate of Delhi: The Khaljis, the
Tughluqs and the Lodis.
Establishment and Consolidation of Mughal Rule: From Babur to Aurangzeb;
Integration of Rajputs in Mughal nobility; Development of Political and Religious Ideals:
Bhakti Movement, Sufism.
Unit-II:
Sources of Modern Indian History: Archival sources, Travellers and Gazetteers,
Newspapers, Oral history & narratives, Folklore and traditions.
Establishment of British rule in Bengal 1757-1772: Circumstances leading to the Battle
of Plassey and its consequences, Causes and Consequences of the Battle of Buxar,
Administration of Bengal under Diwani.
Expansion of the British Empire: Maratha Polity under the Peshwas. The debacle at
Panipat and its consequences; Anglo-Mysore Relations - Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, Four
Anglo-Mysore Wars. British Policy towards the Indian Princely States – nature and
instruments of Paramountcy; Anglo-Sikh relations under Ranjit Singh. Anglo-Sikh Wars
and Annexation of Punjab; Revolt of 1857.
Agitation against British Imperialism: Conceptual Approach to Nationalism: With
special reference to Tagore, Rabindranath. Nationalism and Gandhi, M.K., Hind Swaraj;
Early Phase of the National Movement- Role and Ideology of Moderates, Dadabhai
Naoroji and Economic Nationalism.
New Trends in the National Movement- Birth of the Extremist Movement & New
Strategies of Dissent and Protest; Swadeshi Movement; Gandhi and the emergence of
mass movements- Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit
India Movement.
Other Major Trends: Genesis and growth of the Militant Revolutionary Movement.
Emerging Voices of the Peasant, Labour and Women. Home Rule League Movement:
Subash Chandra Bose and I.N.A.
Unit-III:
Sources of Rajasthan History: Archival, bardic and oral sources- Arsatta records; Dastur
Komwar, Khyat; Vigat (Marwar Pargana ri Vigat); Kagda Bahi; Sawa; Haqiqat. Private
Collection- Podhar collection.
Evolution of Rajput Polity: King–clan relations and the system of Bhaibant, Pattadari
and Chakri. Advent of Turks -Their impact in Rajasthan; Mughal -Rajput Relations from
Akbar to Aurangzeb- Policy of Resistance and Collaboration with special reference to the
states of Mewar, Marwar and Jaipur.
Changing Political Scenario in the 18th and the 19th centuries: Maratha incursions in
the Rajputana states: factors, nature and consequences; British treaties with the Rajputana
states (1817-1818); British policies towards the nobility- Assertion of the jagirdars and the
nobility.
British Paramountcy in the Rajputana States: A.G.G., the Residency system and the
operation of the Paramountcy; Evolution of British policy towards the Rajputana States-
Succession disputes, Border disputes; The Uprising of 1857.
Political awakening in Rajasthan: Bijoliya Peasant movement; Bhil revolts; Formation
of Praja Mandals and their role in the integration of Rajasthan.
Unit-IV:

Structure of Home Government in England during Company’s Rule: with special

reference to powers of the Court of Directors, Court of Proprietors and the Board of
Control.
Changing Structure of Governance and Administration in India till 1857: with
reference to the Regulating Act of 1773, Pitts India Act of 1784, Charter Acts of 1813,
1833 and 1853.
Changing Contours of Constitutional Development after 1857: Indian Councils Act
1861; Indian Councils Act 1892; Indian Councils Act 1909.
Constitutional Development and Problem of Communal Representation: Lucknow
Pact; Government of India Act of 1919 - Dyarchy and its failure; Round Table
Conferences and the White Paper; Communal Award of 1932 & Poona Pact; Government
of India Act of 1935 – Provincial Autonomy in the Provinces – Federal scheme and the
Dyarchy at the Centre.
Constitutional Imagination of the Indians: Commonwealth of India Bill 1925; Nehru
Report 1928; Karachi Resolution 1931; Sapru Committee Report 1944
Constitution of India: Making of the Indian Constitution of 1950- Formation of the
Constituent Assembly-its structure and procedures; Distinctive Features of the Indian
Constitution- Preamble, Federal Structure; Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive
Principles.
Unit-V:
a) : Records and Archives Management-
1. Uses of Archives.
2. Access to Archives.
3. Life cycle of Records and stages of record management.
4. Appraisal of Records.
5. Finding Aids - file register, transfer list, subject list, cataloguing.
6. Archival Outreach Program- exhibitions, language workshops, archives
museum, archives week, seminar and publication.
7. Duties and Responsibilities of Archivist.
8. Origin and Development of Archives in India with special reference to
Rajasthan.
9. International Council of Archives, National Archives of India and National
council of Archivist.
10.Archival Legislation in India- Public Record Act, 1993 and Public Record Rules,
1997.
b) : Conservation and Reprography -
1. Preservation of Records- methods and requirements.
2. Common problem regarding storage of records.
3. Basics precautions/Remedial majors in repositories.
4. Basics of reprography- methods and requirements.
 5. Basics of Digitization, online depiction of records and search system.
6. Information Management System in Archives.
7. Preparation of metadata.
8. Disaster Management regarding archives.

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Scheme of Examination
S. No. Subject No. of Total Examination
Questions Marks Duration
Part-A General Knowledge of Rajasthan 40 40
2.30 Hours
Part-B Concerned Subject 110 110
Total 150 150
1. The competitive examination shall carry 150 marks and 150 questions of Multiple Choice Type questions.
2. There shall be one paper. Duration of Paper will be Two hours and Thirty Minutes.
3. Negative marking shall be applicable in the evaluation of answers. For every wrong answer one-third of the marks
prescribed for that particular question shall be deducted.
Explanation :- Wrong answer shall mean an incorrect answer or multiple answers.
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1. Each question has five options marked as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. You have to darken only one circle (bubble) indicating the correct
answer on the Answer Sheet using BLUE BALL POINT PEN.
2. It is mandatory to fill one option for each question.
3. If you are not attempting a question then you have to darken the circle ‘5’. If none of the five circles is darkened, one
third (1/3) part of the marks of question shall be deducted.
4. After solving question paper, candidate must ascertain that he/she has darkened one of the circles (bubbles) for each of
the questions. Extra time of 10 minutes beyond scheduled time, is provided for this.
A candidate who has not darkened any of the five circles in more than 10% questions shall be disqualified.