RPSC Assistant Fisheries Development Officer (AFDO) Syllabus 2025

Syllabus Overview

The RPSC Assistant Fisheries Development Officer (AFDO) examination is conducted by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) to recruit candidates for the Fisheries Department. The exam consists of a single paper divided into two parts:

• Part-A: General Knowledge of Rajasthan (40 questions, 40 marks)
• Part-B: Concerned Subject (Fisheries Science & IT Fundamentals) (110 questions, 110 marks)

The total duration of the exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes, with 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) carrying 150 marks. Negative marking is applicable, with one-third of the marks deducted for each wrong answer.

RPSC AFDO Exam Pattern

Key Points:

• The exam is offline/online (OMR-based).
• Each question has five options (1-5).
• Candidates must darken only one circle for each question using a blue ballpoint pen.
• If a question is unattempted, circle ‘5’ must be darkened to avoid negative marking.
• Failure to darken any circle in more than 10% of questions leads to disqualification.

Subject-wise Syllabus

Part-A: General Knowledge of Rajasthan

Unit-I: History, Culture & Heritage of Rajasthan

1. Pre & Early History of Rajasthan

   • Archaeological findings and ancient civilizations in Rajasthan.

2. Age of Rajputs

   • Major dynasties (e.g., Chauhans, Guhilas, Rathores) and achievements of prominent rulers.

3. Emergence of Modern Rajasthan

   • Socio-political awakening in the 19th century.
   • Peasant and tribal movements in the 20th century.
   • Political struggles and integration of Rajasthan.

4. Visual Art of Rajasthan

   • Architecture of forts and temples (e.g., Mehrangarh, Dilwara, Ranakpur).
   • Sculpture traditions and schools of painting (e.g., Mewar, Marwar, Kishangarh).

5. Performing Arts of Rajasthan

   • Folk music and instruments (e.g., Sarangi, Ravanahatha).
   • Folk dances (e.g., Ghoomar, Kalbelia) and folk drama (e.g., Khyal, Tamasha).

6. Religious Cults, Saints & Folk Deities

   • Prominent saints (e.g., Mirabai, Sant Ravidas) and folk deities (e.g., Pabuji, Tejaji).

7. Dialects & Literature of Rajasthan

   • Distribution of dialects (e.g., Marwari, Mewari, Dhundhari).
   • Contributions to Rajasthani literature.

Unit-II: Geography, Natural Resources & Socio-Economic Development of Rajasthan

1. Geography of Rajasthan

   • Physical features: Mountains (Aravalli), Plateaus (Hadoti), Plains (Marusthali), and Desert (Thar).
   • Major rivers (Chambal, Luni) and lakes (Pushkar, Sambhar).
   • Climate and agro-climatic regions.
   • Soil types and distribution.
   • Forest types and distribution.
   • Demographic characteristics.

2. Environmental Challenges

   • Desertification, droughts, floods, deforestation, and environmental pollution.

3. Economy of Rajasthan

   • Major minerals: Metallic (copper, zinc) and non-metallic (limestone, gypsum).
   • Power resources: Renewable (solar, wind) and non-renewable (coal, petroleum).
   • Agro-based industries: Textile, sugar, paper, and vegetable oil.
   • Poverty, unemployment, and agro-food parks.

Unit-III: Current Events and Issues of Rajasthan and India

1. Important Personalities and Places

   • Current events and notable figures in Rajasthan.

2. National & International Events

   • Key events of national and global importance.

3. Recent Schemes & Initiatives

   • Welfare and development schemes launched in Rajasthan (e.g., Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan).

Part-B: Concerned Subject (Fisheries Science & IT Fundamentals)

1. Taxonomy and Biology of Freshwater Fishes & Shellfishes

• External characters of freshwater food fishes and shellfishes:
  • Fishes: Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo calbasu, L. bata, Mystus seenghala, M. aor, Tor khudri, Oreochromis mossambicus, O. nitoticus, Wallago attu, Ompok pabda, Notopterus notopterus, Notopterus chitala, Channa marulius, C. striatus, Mastacembelus armatus.
  • Shellfishes: Freshwater prawn, shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).
• Modern taxonomic tools: Cryotaxonomy and DNA fingerprinting.

2. Biology and Culture of Commercially Important Species

• Indian Major Carps (IMC): Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala.
• Exotic carps, Tilapia, Pangas, freshwater prawn, and L. vannamei.
• Food and feeding habits of commercially important fishes and shellfishes.

3. Fish Hatcheries: Operations and Management

• Types of fish hatcheries and their operations.
• Selection and identification of IMC brooders.
• Brood-stock management.
• Gonadal development of fishes.
• Induced breeding techniques:
  • Hypophysation and synthetic hormones.
  • Dosage and methods of hormonal injection.
• Traditional breeding methods: Wet and dry bundh breeding.
• Environmental factors affecting spawning.

4. Spawn, Fry, and Fingerling Management

• Counting and care of spawn, fry, and fingerlings.
• Identification of freshwater culturable fish seed.
• Transportation of live fish and use of anaesthetics.

5. Fish Farm Design and Construction

• Survey and selection of sites for freshwater fish farms.
• Layout of fish farms.
• Water and soil quality in relation to pond construction.
• Physical, chemical, and biological factors affecting pond productivity.
• Types of fish farm ponds and their characteristics.

6. Soil and Water Quality Management for Aquaculture

• Techniques for maintaining optimal soil and water quality in aquaculture systems.

7. Fish Nutrition and Feed Formulation

• Types of natural and supplementary feeds.
• Feeding methods and fish feed formulation.

8. Diseases of Fish and Prawn

• Pathogenic, parasitic, nutritional, and environmental diseases.
• Disease management and treatments.

9. Reservoir Fisheries in Rajasthan

• Fisheries of important reservoirs (e.g., Rana Pratap Sagar, Jaisamand).
• Conservation measures in reservoir fisheries.
• Fish stocking in reservoirs.

10. Ornamental Fish Trade

• Biology and breeding of common ornamental fishes.
• Fabrication and maintenance of aquaria and accessories.

11. Aquatic Plants and Their Control

• Common aquatic plants in freshwater pond ecosystems.
• Methods for controlling aquatic plants.

12. Pre and Post Stocking Management

• Management practices in nursery, rearing, and stocking ponds.

13. Fishing Crafts and Gears

• Common freshwater fishing crafts and gears used in Rajasthan.
• Materials and maintenance of fishing gears.

14. Handling and Preservation of Fish

• Handling techniques for freshwater fishes and shrimps.
• Methods of fish preservation for marketing.

15. Recent Advances in Aquaculture

• Cage culture, pen culture, biofloc technology.
• Integrated aquaculture systems, Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS), and aquaponics.

16. Fisheries Administration and Policies

• Central and state responsibilities for fisheries development.
• Organizational setup of fisheries administration in Rajasthan.
• Recent policies and schemes in Rajasthan’s fisheries sector.
• Functions and powers of the Department of Fisheries, corporations, and cooperatives.
• Central and Rajasthan fisheries institutions.

17. Fisheries Legislation

• Salient features of the Rajasthan Fisheries Act, 1953 and Rajasthan Fisheries Rules, 1958.
• Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.

Fundamentals of IT & Computer Applications

1. Information Technology

   • Importance of IT in fisheries and governance.

2. Computer Fundamentals

   • Hardware and software.
   • Input and output devices.

3. Operating Systems

   • Introduction to Windows and Linux.

4. Networking

   • Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN).
   • Internet and World Wide Web.
   • HTML and IP addresses.

5. MS Office

   • Introduction to MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

6. Audio-Visual Aids

   • Definition, advantages, classification, and selection of A.V. aids.

7. Web Browsing and Email

   • Creation and operation of email accounts.

Important Topics (High Weightage)

Part-A: General Knowledge of Rajasthan

1. History & Culture

   • Major dynasties and their contributions.
   • Folk music, dance, and drama.
   • Religious cults and folk deities.

2. Geography & Economy

   • Physical features and agro-climatic regions.
   • Major minerals and power resources.
   • Agro-based industries and environmental challenges.

3. Current Affairs

   • Recent schemes and initiatives in Rajasthan.
   • National and international events of importance.

Part-B: Concerned Subject (Fisheries Science)

1. Taxonomy and Biology

   • Identification and external characters of freshwater fishes and shellfishes.
   • Modern taxonomic tools.

2. Aquaculture Techniques

   • Biology and culture of Indian Major Carps (IMC), exotic carps, and tilapia.
   • Fish hatchery operations and management.
   • Induced breeding techniques.

3. Fish Farm Design and Management

   • Site selection and layout of fish farms.
   • Water and soil quality management.
   • Pond productivity factors.

4. Fish Nutrition and Diseases

   • Types of feeds and feeding methods.
   • Pathogenic, parasitic, and environmental diseases.

5. Fisheries Administration and Legislation

   • Organizational setup of fisheries administration in Rajasthan.
   • Rajasthan Fisheries Act, 1953, and Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.

6. IT Fundamentals

   • Computer fundamentals and MS Office.
   • Networking and web browsing.

Preparation Approach

Part-A: General Knowledge of Rajasthan

1. History & Culture

   • Focus on major dynasties, rulers, and their achievements.
   • Study folk arts, music, and dance forms with examples.
   • Memorize important saints, folk deities, and dialects.

2. Geography & Economy

   • Understand physical features, rivers, and lakes of Rajasthan.
   • Learn about soil types, forest distribution, and agro-climatic regions.
   • Study major minerals, power resources, and agro-based industries.

3. Current Affairs

   • Stay updated with recent schemes and initiatives in Rajasthan.
   • Follow national and international events through newspapers and magazines.

Recommended Resources:

• Books: Rajasthan Adhyayan by Dr. Suresh Sharma, Lucent’s General Knowledge.
• Online: RPSC official website, PIB Rajasthan, and current affairs portals.

Part-B: Concerned Subject (Fisheries Science & IT)

1. Taxonomy and Biology

   • Memorize external characters of key freshwater fishes and shellfishes.
   • Understand modern taxonomic tools like DNA fingerprinting.

2. Aquaculture Techniques

   • Study biology and culture of IMC, exotic carps, and tilapia.
   • Learn hatchery operations, brood-stock management, and induced breeding.

3. Fish Farm Design and Management

   • Focus on site selection, pond construction, and water quality management.
   • Understand factors affecting pond productivity.

4. Fish Nutrition and Diseases

   • Study types of feeds, feeding methods, and disease management.

5. Fisheries Administration and Legislation

   • Learn organizational setup, policies, and key acts (e.g., Rajasthan Fisheries Act, 1953).

6. IT Fundamentals

   • Practice MS Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
   • Understand basic networking concepts and web browsing.

Recommended Resources:

• Books: Fish and Fisheries by S.S. Giri, Aquaculture: Principles and Practices by T.V.R. Pillay.
• Online: ICAR-CIFE publications, FAO fisheries resources, and RPSC official syllabus.

Preparation Resources

Books

Online Resources

• RPSC Official Website: https://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in
• ICAR-CIFE Publications: https://cife.edu.in
• FAO Fisheries Resources: http://www.fao.org/fishery/en
• Current Affairs: PIB Rajasthan, Rajasthan Patrika, The Hindu.

Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers

• Solve previous year question papers to understand the exam pattern.
• Take mock tests to improve time management and accuracy.
• Analyze weak areas and revise accordingly.

Exam Day Instructions

1. OMR Sheet Guidelines

   • Use a blue ballpoint pen to darken circles.
   • Darken only one circle per question.
   • Darken circle ‘5’ for unattempted questions to avoid negative marking.

2. Documents to Carry

   • Admit card (printout).
   • Photo ID proof (Aadhar card, PAN card, or voter ID).
   • Passport-sized photograph (same as uploaded in the application).

3. Prohibited Items

   • Electronic gadgets (mobile phones, calculators).
   • Study materials or notes.

Final Tips for Success

1. Create a Study Plan

   • Allocate time for each subject and stick to the schedule.
   • Include regular revisions and mock tests.

2. Focus on High-Weightage Topics

   • Prioritize Part-B (Fisheries Science) as it carries 110 marks.
   • Revise taxonomy, aquaculture techniques, and fisheries legislation thoroughly.

3. Stay Updated with Current Affairs

   • Follow Rajasthan-specific schemes and national events.

4. Practice Time Management

   • Solve previous year papers within the time limit.
   • Aim to complete the exam 10-15 minutes before the deadline for review.

5. Health and Well-being

   • Maintain a balanced diet and sleep schedule.
   • Take short breaks during study sessions to avoid burnout.

Conclusion

The RPSC Assistant Fisheries Development Officer (AFDO) exam is a competitive examination that tests candidates on General Knowledge of Rajasthan and Fisheries Science. By following a structured study plan, focusing on high-weightage topics, and utilizing recommended resources, candidates can enhance their preparation and increase their chances of success. Stay updated with the latest notifications from the RPSC official website and practice regularly to ace the exam.