RPSC Research Assistant Eligibility Criteria 2024

RPSC Research Assistant Age Limit

The age limit for the RPSC Research Assistant examination is strictly defined as follows:

• Minimum Age: 18 years as of 01.01.2025
• Maximum Age: 40 years as of 01.01.2025

Candidates exceeding the maximum age limit as of the specified date are not eligible to apply. However, age relaxation is applicable for reserved categories as per government norms (see Age Relaxation section).

Note: Candidates who were within the age limit on 01.01.2017 for the previously advertised posts (2018) but exceed the age limit on 01.01.2025 are eligible for a 3-year additional relaxation in the maximum age limit.

RPSC Research Assistant Educational Qualification

To be eligible for the RPSC Research Assistant post, candidates must fulfill the following mandatory educational qualifications as of the last date of application (13.11.2024):

Postgraduate Degree Requirement

Candidates must possess at least a First Class Postgraduate Degree in one of the following disciplines:

• Economics
• Economics and Public Administration
• Public Administration
• Sociology
• Mathematics
• Commerce
• Statistics

Special Provision for Mathematics/Statistics Postgraduates: Candidates with a Postgraduate Degree in Mathematics or Statistics must have studied Economics or Sociology as one of the subjects at the Bachelor’s (B.A.) level.

Additional Certifications

1. RS-CIT Certificate:

   • A certificate from the RS-CIT course conducted by Rajasthan Knowledge Corporation Limited (RKCL).
   • OR any equivalent certificate recognized by the Department of Information Technology and Communication, Government of Rajasthan.

2. Language and Cultural Knowledge:

   • Working knowledge of Hindi written in Devanagari script.
   • Knowledge of Rajasthani culture.

Provisional Eligibility for Final Year Students

Candidates appearing for the final year examination of the required Postgraduate Degree are provisionally eligible to apply. However, they must:

• Provide proof of acquiring the required qualification before the RPSC Research Assistant written examination.
• Submit the final degree certificate during the document verification stage.

RPSC Research Assistant Nationality and Domicile Requirements

Nationality

Candidates must be:

• Indian citizens.

Domicile Requirements for Reservation Benefits

• Reservation benefits (e.g., age relaxation, fee concessions) for the following categories are exclusively available to candidates who are native residents of Rajasthan:

  • Scheduled Castes (SC)
  • Scheduled Tribes (ST)
  • Other Backward Classes (OBC)
  • More Backward Classes (MBC)
  • Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)
  • Ex-Servicemen

• Non-Rajasthan candidates (including women married to Rajasthan natives) must apply under the General (Unreserved) category and are not eligible for reservation benefits.

Legal Reference:

• Supreme Court of India judgment in C.A. No. HIRS/2013 (30.08.2018).
• Rajasthan High Court judgment in D.B.S.A.W. No. 1116/2018 (18.09.2018).

RPSC Research Assistant Age Relaxation

The following table outlines the age relaxation applicable to various reserved categories and special groups for the RPSC Research Assistant examination:

Key Notes on Age Relaxation:

1. Non-Cumulative Relaxation:

   • Candidates can avail only one type of age relaxation (e.g., either as an Ex-Serviceman or as a PwBD, but not both).

2. Additional Relaxation for PwBD:

   • PwBD candidates are eligible for an additional 5 years on top of any other applicable relaxation.

3. Ex-Servicemen Rules:

   • Age relaxation for Ex-Servicemen is governed by the Rajasthan Civil Services (Absorption of Ex-Servicemen) Rules, 1988.
   • If the permissible age after relaxation exceeds 50 years, the upper age limit is capped at 50 years (or 55 years for posts requiring lower-level experience).

4. PwBD Rules:

   • Age relaxation for PwBD candidates is governed by the Rajasthan Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2018.

RPSC Research Assistant Other Requirements

In addition to age and educational qualifications, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

Character and Conduct

• Candidates must submit a character certificate from their last attended educational institution, stating that their conduct was "Good" or better.
• A police verification certificate must be submitted post-selection, confirming no criminal record that would disqualify them from government service.

Medical Fitness

• Candidates must be medically fit as per the standards prescribed by the Rajasthan Government.
• A medical certificate from a competent authority must be submitted post-selection, confirming fitness for the role.

Marital Status and Family Planning

• Candidates with more than two children born on or after 01.08.2002 are ineligible for appointment.
  • Exception: If the third child is born due to multiple births (e.g., twins) in a single delivery, it will be counted as one unit.
  • Exception: Children with benchmark disabilities are not counted toward the limit.
  • Exception: This rule does not apply to widows, divorced, or deserted women.

Government Employees

• Rajasthan State Government employees are eligible for age relaxation and other benefits as per state rules.
• Central Government or other state employees are treated as General category candidates and are not eligible for reservation benefits.
• Government employees must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer if selected.

Ex-Servicemen Specific Requirements

• Ex-Servicemen must submit:
  • Discharge certificate from the Armed Forces.
  • No Objection Certificate (NOC) if still serving in the reserve forces.
  • Retirement proof if retired within one year of the application deadline.
• Ex-Servicemen who have already availed reservation benefits for a Rajasthan Government post are not eligible for further reservation.

Sports Persons

• Outstanding sports persons recognized by the Rajasthan Government are eligible for age relaxation and reservation as per:
  • Personnel Department Notification (15.03.2013 and 21.11.2019).
• Candidates must submit relevant certificates to avail of this benefit.

Document Verification

Selected candidates must submit original and self-attested copies of the following documents during verification:

1. Educational Certificates:

   • Postgraduate Degree certificate and mark sheets.
   • RS-CIT or equivalent certificate.
   • Secondary (10th) certificate for age verification.

2. Category Certificates (if applicable):

   • Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC/MBC/EWS) issued by a competent authority in Rajasthan.
   • Income certificate for EWS candidates.
   • Non-Creamy Layer certificate for OBC/MBC candidates (updated annually).
   • Disability certificate for PwBD candidates (40% or more disability).
   • Ex-Servicemen certificate.
   • Widow/Divorced/Deserted women must submit:
     • Husband’s death certificate (for widows).
     • Divorce decree or court order (for divorced/deserted women).

3. Domicile Certificate:

   • Proof of Rajasthan domicile for reservation benefits.

4. Other Certificates:

   • Character certificate from the last educational institution.
   • Medical fitness certificate.
   • NOC from employer (for government employees).
   • Marriage certificate (if applicable).
   • Affidavit for family planning norms compliance.

Note: All certificates must be valid as of the last date of application (13.11.2024) unless otherwise specified.

Important Notes for Candidates

1. Application Withdrawal:

   • Candidates can withdraw their application online until the last date for corrections (10 days after the application deadline).

2. False Information:

   • Providing false or misleading information in the application may lead to:
     • Disqualification from the current and future examinations.
     • Legal action under Section 217 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

3. One-Time Registration (OTR):

   • Candidates must complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the SSO Rajasthan portal before applying.
   • Details such as name, father’s name, date of birth, and gender cannot be modified after OTR submission.

4. Application Fee:

   • General/OBC (Creamy Layer)/EBC (Creamy Layer): ₹600
   • SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS/Saharia: ₹400
   • PwBD Candidates: ₹400
   • Note: Non-Rajasthan candidates must pay the General category fee.

5. Exam Centers:

   • The exam center and date will be announced later on the RPSC website.
   • Candidates must regularly check the RPSC website for updates.

6. Admit Card:

   • Admit cards will be available for download from the RPSC website.
   • Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card and a valid photo ID to the exam center.

RPSC Research Assistant Selection Process

The selection process for the RPSC Research Assistant post consists of the following stages:

1. Written Examination:

   • Objective-type questions covering:
     • General Knowledge of Rajasthan (180 marks, 2 hours).
     • Statistics, Planning, and Computer Knowledge (210 marks, 3 hours).
   • Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each incorrect answer.
   • Minimum qualifying marks:
     • General Category: 40% aggregate (29% in each paper).
     • SC/ST Category: 35% aggregate (24% in each paper).

2. Document Verification:

   • Shortlisted candidates must submit original documents for verification.
   • Failure to produce valid documents will result in disqualification.

3. Final Merit List:

   • Prepared based on written exam performance.
   • Candidates are selected in order of merit as per vacancies.

Contact Information

For further queries, candidates may contact:

• Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC):
  • Address: Ghooghara Ghati, Jaipur Road, Ajmer - 305001
  • Phone: 0145-2635212, 2635200
  • Website: https://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in
  • SSO Portal: https://sso.rajasthan.gov.in