RPSC APO Syllabus 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Start Preparing

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The RPSC APO 2026 notification came out on May 27, 2026. Prelims is September 2, 2026. Applications close July 7, 2026. If you are a law graduate in Rajasthan and this is not already on your radar, it should be.

But here is the thing nobody tells you upfront — the Rajasthan APO exam is not like most state government law exams. It is genuinely difficult. The law paper in mains carries 300 marks and is descriptive. Not MCQs. You write answers. Long, section-cited, factually applied answers, the same way a prosecution officer actually argues a case. The exam is designed that way deliberately, because the person who clears it will be standing in a Rajasthan criminal court representing the state.

This guide covers the complete RPSC APO syllabus 2026, the exam pattern, what the papers actually demand, and where most candidates go wrong.

The Exam Structure First — Before Anything Else

Two stages. Preliminary examination, main examination.

Prelims is qualifying. Marks you score in prelims are not added to your final merit. You clear it or you do not. If you clear it, your mains score determines your rank.

Preliminary Examination

One hundred questions. Five options per question — options 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. You darken one circle on the answer sheet using a blue ball point pen. Option 5 means you are not attempting that question. A candidate who has not darkened any of the five circles in more than 10% questions shall be disqualified.

Here is the part that matters: if you leave any question with no circle darkened at all — not even option 5 — one third of the marks for that question are deducted.

This is not a standard negative marking system. You are being asked to actively declare when you are skipping a question. Leaving bubbles entirely empty is what costs you marks. Read the instructions carefully before you sit for prelims.

Seventy percent of the paper is law — 70 questions. Thirty percent is language — 30 questions in Hindi and English. The paper is bilingual. Marks from prelims do not count toward final selection. But if you do not clear it, there is no mains.

Main Examination

Two papers. Paper I is Law. 300 marks. Three hours. Descriptive answers. This is the paper that decides your rank. Paper II is Language. 100 marks. Two hours. General Hindi — 50 marks. General English — 50 marks. Both descriptive. Forty percent minimum qualifying mark per paper, thirty-five percent for SC/ST.

The RPSC APO Syllabus 2026 — Paper I Law, Subject by Subject

The official notification lists thirteen subjects. Here they are, with enough context to understand what each actually demands.

The Indian Penal Code, 1860 — Still on the syllabus because cases registered before July 1, 2024 are still prosecuted under IPC. An APO in a Rajasthan court today handles both old and new cases. IPC does not disappear because BNS arrived.

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 — Same reason. BSA replaced it for new cases. Old cases still run under the Evidence Act. Know both.

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 — BNSS replaced it for new cases. CrPC still governs ongoing pre-July 2024 matters in Rajasthan courts.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) — Replacement for IPC from July 1, 2024. Section numbers changed completely — Section 302 IPC is now Section 103 BNS, Section 420 IPC is now Section 318 BNS. New provisions: organised crime under Section 111, terrorism under Section 113, mob violence provisions, amended hit-and-run provisions. A candidate who only knows IPC and has not worked through BNS is half prepared.

The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) — Replacement for Evidence Act. New provisions around electronic records and digital evidence that the old Evidence Act did not contemplate in the same way. Critical for modern criminal prosecution involving cybercrime and financial fraud.

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) — Replacement for CrPC. Arrest, remand, bail, charge framing, trial procedures, appeals — familiar framework, reorganised sections, some genuinely new provisions.

The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 — Special courts, special presumptions, specific offences not in ordinary criminal law, mandatory reporting requirements. In Rajasthan, SC/ST Act cases are a significant part of criminal court work. This needs serious preparation, not a quick read.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) — Child-friendly courts, special public prosecutors, specific evidence rules around child complainants, in-camera proceedings. The Act is detailed and the exam tests that detail.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 — Both sides — when a child is a victim and when a juvenile is alleged to have committed an offence. Juvenile Justice Board, Children’s Court, specific procedural protections. Not a subject that can be covered in an afternoon.

The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 — Probation as alternative to custodial sentences. Conditions under which it applies, courts’ discretion, implications for the accused.

The Arms Act, 1959 — Licensing requirements, offences relating to unlicensed arms, possession, manufacture. Routine work for a prosecution officer in Rajasthan.

The Rajasthan Excise Act, 1950 — State-specific legislation. Excise offences — illicit liquor, possession, transport, manufacture — are among the most commonly prosecuted matters in Rajasthan district courts. Candidates using general APO material from other states often find this undercovered. It should not be.

The Rajasthan Public Examination Acts (1992 and 2022) — Two acts covering unfair means in public examinations. High-profile paper leak cases in Rajasthan have made these genuinely significant in criminal law practice. Their inclusion is not tokenistic.

Paper II — Language Syllabus

General Hindi — 50 marks — Grammar, comprehension, letter and report writing, precis, translation.

General English — 50 marks — Grammar, comprehension, letter and report writing, precis. Senior Secondary level.

The Dual Law Reality — The Thing That Trips Most Candidates Up

Right now, in Rajasthan criminal courts, cases under IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act are running alongside cases under BNS, BNSS and BSA. This is not a transitional phase that will end soon. Cases registered before July 2024 will run for years. The law that applies to a case is determined by when the offence occurred and was reported — not when the trial is happening.

What this means for the APO exam: both sets of laws are testable.

A mains question might give you a factual situation from 2023 and ask you to frame charges — that requires IPC and CrPC. Another question might give a 2025 situation — that requires BNS and BNSS. Preparing only one set is not enough. Preparing both without understanding when each applies is also not enough.

This is a subject that benefits from guidance by someone who actually practices in Rajasthan courts today — where both frameworks are operating simultaneously and the practical distinctions matter. At Jyoti Judiciary, this dual-law complexity is not treated as a footnote. It is central to how APO preparation is structured.

What the Mains Law Paper Actually Demands

Three hundred marks. Three hours. Descriptive.

The notification says the paper tests practical knowledge in criminal law and procedure and framing charges in criminal cases. That sentence is worth reading twice. Framing charges. Not reciting law. Not defining sections. Applying law to facts and structuring a prosecution argument.

A good APO mains answer cites the relevant section, states the applicable provision clearly, applies it to the given factual situation, addresses procedural requirements, and where relevant refers to judicial interpretation. That is how a prosecution brief is structured. That is what the paper rewards.

Answer writing for APO mains is a specific skill. Reading law and writing structured legal answers under time pressure are not the same activity.

Candidates who read the syllabus thoroughly but never practice writing timed answers consistently underperform. Regular answer writing practice — specifically on BNS offences, POCSO and SC/ST Act procedural questions — should start before prelims, not after.

Language paper is 100 marks of a 400-mark mains. Moving from 60 to 75 in Paper II while staying the same in Paper I moves a candidate meaningfully in the merit list. Letter writing and report writing have specific formats. They improve with practice, not with passive reading.

Questions People Are Asking About RPSC APO 2026

What is the RPSC APO syllabus 2026 for the law paper?

Thirteen subjects: IPC 1860, Evidence Act 1872, CrPC 1973, BNS 2023, BSA 2023, BNSS 2023, SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act, Probation of Offenders Act, Arms Act, Rajasthan Excise Act, and two Rajasthan Public Examination Acts. Both old laws and new criminal codes are on the syllabus because both operate simultaneously in Rajasthan courts.

What is the Rajasthan APO exam pattern 2026?

Prelims: 100 objective questions with 5 options each, qualifying only. Mains: Paper I Law — 300 marks, 3 hours, descriptive. Paper II Language — 100 marks, 2 hours, descriptive. Final merit comes on mains.

Is there negative marking in RPSC APO prelims?

The paper has five options — option 5 means you are not attempting that question. If any question is left with no circle darkened at all — not even option 5 — one-third of the marks for that question is deducted. Actively mark option 5 for questions you are skipping. Do not leave any question with all five circles blank.

Why are IPC and BNS both on the APO syllabus 2026?

IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act were replaced by BNS, BNSS and BSA from July 1, 2024. But cases registered before that date continue under the old laws. A Rajasthan APO appearing in criminal courts today works with both frameworks simultaneously. The exam syllabus reflects this real working reality.

What is the total marks for RPSC APO mains 2026?

Paper I Law carries 300 marks for 3 hours. Paper II Language carries 100 marks for 2 hours — 50 for Hindi and 50 for English. Total mains marks: 400. Minimum qualifying: 40 percent per paper, 35 percent for SC/ST.

What is the RPSC APO prelims date 2026?

Preliminary examination is scheduled for September 2, 2026 (Wednesday). Application window: June 8 to July 7, 2026. Apply at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in.

What is the APO syllabus 2026 for Paper II language?

General Hindi — 50 marks: grammar, comprehension, letter and report writing, precis, translation. General English — 50 marks: grammar, comprehension, letter and report writing, precis. Senior Secondary level. Both are descriptive papers.

Is the Rajasthan Excise Act important for RPSC APO?

Yes — and it is consistently underweighted by candidates using generic APO preparation material. Excise offences are among the most commonly prosecuted matters in Rajasthan district courts. The exam reflects this. Prepare it specifically.

For APO Coaching in Jaipur

For RPSC APO 2026 preparation in Jaipur — covering prelims and mains both, with complete Rajasthan-specific law content and updated BNS preparation:

Contact: 9929096546

Jyoti Judiciary — Jaipur. APO coaching available in Jaipur and online across Rajasthan.

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Based on the official RPSC APO 2026 notification dated May 27, 2026. Verify all current details at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in. Syllabus and exam schedule are subject to revision by RPSC.