RPSC Technical Assistant (Geophysics) Exam 2024: Complete Guide

Overview of RPSC Technical Assistant (Geophysics) Exam

The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) conducts the Technical Assistant (Geophysics) examination for recruitment to the Ground Water Department under the Rajasthan Subordinate Ground Water Services. This exam aims to fill 3 permanent positions (as per the 2024 notification) with qualified geophysics professionals who possess expertise in groundwater exploration and management.

The selection process involves a single competitive written examination with 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) divided into two parts:

• Part-A: General Knowledge of Rajasthan (40 questions, 40 marks)
• Part-B: Geophysics (Concerned Subject) (110 questions, 110 marks)

The exam duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes, and negative marking is applicable (1/3rd mark deducted for each wrong answer).

RPSC Technical Assistant (Geophysics) Exam: Highlights

• Educational Qualification: II Class M.Sc./M.Tech. in Geophysics from a recognized university.
• Language Proficiency: Working knowledge of Hindi (Devanagari script) and knowledge of Rajasthani culture.
• Age Limit (as of 01.01.2025): Minimum 20 years, Maximum 40 years (relaxations applicable as per rules). | | Application Mode | Online (via RPSC website or SSO portal) | | Application Fee |
• General/OBC (Creamy Layer)/EWS: ₹600
• Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/MBC-NCL/EWS): ₹400
• Persons with Disabilities: ₹400 | | Selection Process | Written Examination (No interview) |

Quick Links

• Important Dates
• How to Apply
• Exam Pattern and Syllabus
• Age Limit and Relaxations
• Reservation Details
• Document Verification

Important Dates for RPSC Technical Assistant (Geophysics) Exam

How to Apply for RPSC Technical Assistant (Geophysics) Exam

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Read the Official Notification:

   • Visit the RPSC official website and download the detailed advertisement and instructions for applicants.
   • Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria (educational qualification, age limit, and language proficiency).

2. One-Time Registration (OTR):

   • Register on the RPSC Recruitment Portal via the SSO portal.
   • Provide details such as name, father’s name, date of birth, gender, secondary exam details, and ID proof (Aadhar/PAN/Voter ID/Driving License).
   • Upload the required documents and complete the OTR process.
   • Note: OTR details (name, father’s name, DOB, gender) cannot be modified later.

3. Fill the Online Application Form:

   • Log in to the RPSC Recruitment Portal using your SSO credentials.
   • Select the Technical Assistant (Geophysics) exam and fill in the required details:
     • Personal information
     • Educational qualifications
     • Category (General/SC/ST/OBC/EWS/etc.)
     • Language proficiency details
   • Upload a live photograph and signature (in prescribed format).
   • Preview the application form to ensure all details are correct.

4. Pay the Application Fee:

   • Pay the fee online using net banking, credit card, or debit card.
   • Fee details:
     • General/OBC (Creamy Layer)/EWS: ₹600
     • Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/MBC-NCL/EWS): ₹400
     • Persons with Disabilities: ₹400
   • Note: Candidates from states other than Rajasthan must apply under the General category and pay ₹600.

5. Submit the Application Form:

   • After successful payment, submit the application form.
   • Note down the application number for future reference.
   • Take a printout of the submitted application form for your records.

6. Application Correction (if required):

   • Candidates can edit their application form within 10 days of the application end date by paying a fee of ₹500.
   • Note: Corrections to name, father’s name, date of birth, and gender are not allowed.

7. Download Admit Card:

   • Admit cards will be available on the RPSC website before the exam.
   • Download and print the admit card for the examination.

Important Instructions for Applicants

• Eligibility: Ensure you meet all eligibility criteria before applying. Applications of ineligible candidates will be rejected.
• Document Verification: Candidates must provide original documents for verification at the time of selection. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
• False Information: Providing false information or hiding facts may lead to disqualification and legal action under the Indian Justice Code (BNS) Section 217.
• Multiple Applications: Only one application per candidate is allowed. Multiple applications will lead to rejection.
• Category Change: Candidates cannot change their category (e.g., SC/ST/OBC) after the application deadline.
• Scribe Facility: Candidates with benchmark disabilities (40% or more) can avail of a scribe by submitting the required medical certificates.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Exam Pattern

Syllabus Overview

Part-A: General Knowledge of Rajasthan

1. Unit-I: History, Culture & Heritage of Rajasthan

   • Pre and early history of Rajasthan.
   • Age of Rajputs: Major dynasties and achievements of prominent rulers.
   • Emergence of Modern Rajasthan: Socio-political awakening, peasant and tribal movements, and integration of Rajasthan.
   • Visual Art of Rajasthan: Architecture of forts and temples, sculpture traditions, and schools of painting.
   • Performing Arts of Rajasthan: Folk music, musical instruments, folk dance, and folk drama.
   • Religious cults, saints, and folk deities of Rajasthan.
   • Dialects and literature of the Rajasthani language.

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

   • Broad physical features: Mountains, plateaus, plains, and desert.
   • Major rivers and lakes.
   • Climate and agro-climatic regions.
   • Major soil types and distribution.
   • Major forest types and distribution.
   • Demographic characteristics.
   • Environmental concerns: Desertification, droughts, floods, deforestation, and pollution.
   • Economy of Rajasthan: Major minerals (metallic and non-metallic), power resources (renewable and non-renewable), and agro-based industries.
   • Poverty, unemployment, and agro-food parks.

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

   • Important persons, places, and current events of Rajasthan.
   • National and international events of importance.
   • New schemes and initiatives for welfare and development in Rajasthan.

Part-B: Geophysics (Concerned Subject)

1. Mathematical Methods in Geophysics

   • Properties of scalars, vectors, and tensors.
   • Vector analysis: Gradient, Divergence, Curl, Gauss’s Divergence Theorem, Stokes theorem, Green’s theorem.
   • Eigenvalues and eigenvectors and their applications in geophysics.
   • Laplace Transform: Definition, properties, and applications.
   • Complex variables and numerical techniques.

2. Solid Earth Geophysics

   • Introduction to geophysics and its branches.
   • Formation of the solar system and characteristics of planetary members.
   • Earth: Rotation, figure, and age determination methods.
   • Plate tectonics and geodynamic processes.
   • Thermal history and temperature variation in the Earth.
   • Gravity, isostasy, and geomagnetism.
   • Internal structure of the Earth and variation of physical properties.

3. Geophysical Signal Processing

   • Types of signals, sampling theorem, and aliasing effect.
   • Fourier series, Fourier transform, and their properties.
   • Discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT).
   • Auto and cross-correlations, power spectrum, and digital filters.

4. Earthquake Seismology

   • Introduction to seismology and phenomena of earthquakes.
   • Intensity and magnitude scales, energy of earthquakes.
   • Elastic rebound theory, fault plane solutions, and seismicity of India.
   • Seismic ray theory, seismic networks, and earthquake prediction.

5. Remote Sensing and GIS Applications

   • Fundamental concepts of remote sensing and electromagnetic radiation spectrum.
   • Photographic systems, reflectance, and emittance.
   • Satellite remote sensing, multispectral scanners, and thermal scanners.
   • Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Spatial data structures and analysis.

6. Geophysical Well Logging

   • Objectives of well logging and borehole geophysics.
   • Principles and interpretation of various geophysical logs (SP log, resistivity logs, nuclear logs, acoustic log, etc.).
   • Application of well-logging in groundwater.

7. Gravity and Magnetic Methods

   • Principles of gravity and magnetic methods.
   • Geophysical potential fields and inverse square law.
   • Gravity anomalies, rock densities, and magnetic anomalies.
   • Interpretation of anomalies.

8. Electrical Methods

   • Electrical properties of rocks and resistivity method.
   • Self-Potential (SP) method and Induced Polarization (IP) method.
   • Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT).

9. Geohydrology

   • Types of water-bearing formations and aquifers.
   • Porosity, permeability, and Darcy’s Law.
   • Groundwater movement and quality.

10. Electromagnetic and Magnetotelluric Methods

    • Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic wave equations.
    • Principles of EM prospecting and various EM methods.
    • Magnetotelluric (MT) fields and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).

11. Seismic Method

    • Basic principles of seismic methods and seismic velocities in rocks.
    • Fermat’s principle, Snell’s Law, and seismic data acquisition.
    • Interpretation of seismic data.

12. Geophysical Inversion

    • Fundamental concepts of inverse theory and linear inverse problems.
    • Formulation of inverse problems and matrix theory.

13. Geophysical Equipment

    • Principles and operations of gravity meters, magnetometers, resistivity meters, and seismographs.
    • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and geophones.

Age Limit and Relaxations

Age Limit (as of 01.01.2025)

• Minimum Age: 20 years
• Maximum Age: 40 years

Age Relaxations

Reservation Details

Horizontal Reservation

• Ex-Servicemen: 0 posts
• Persons with Disabilities (PwD):
  • Blindness/Low Vision: 0 posts
  • Hearing Impairment: 0 posts
  • Locomotor Disability: 1 post (Both Arms)

Notes on Reservation

• Reservation benefits are applicable only to Rajasthan state domiciles.
• Candidates from other states must apply under the General category.
• If suitable candidates are not available in a reserved category, the vacancies will be carried forward for three recruitment years before being filled under the General category.
• Women candidates (widows, divorcees, and deserted women) have horizontal reservation within their respective categories.

Document Verification

Candidates must submit the following documents for verification at the time of selection:

1. Educational Certificates:

   • II Class M.Sc./M.Tech. in Geophysics from a recognized university.
   • Secondary examination certificate (for age verification).

2. Category Certificates (if applicable):

   • Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC/MBC/EWS) issued by the competent authority.
   • Note: Certificates must be issued on or before the application deadline.
   • For OBC/MBC women, the certificate must be based on father’s income and residence.

3. Age Relaxation Certificates (if applicable):

   • Ex-servicemen certificate.
   • Disability certificate (40% or more) issued by a competent medical authority.
   • Widow/divorcee/deserted women certificate (with supporting documents).

4. Language Proficiency Certificates:

   • Proof of working knowledge of Hindi (Devanagari script) and Rajasthani culture.

5. Other Documents:

   • Character certificate from the last educational institution.
   • Police verification certificate (post-selection).
   • Medical fitness certificate (post-selection).
   • No Objection Certificate (NOC) for government employees.
   • Marriage certificate (if applicable).
   • Affidavit for widow/divorcee/deserted women (no remarriage).

Final Notes

• Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.
• OMR Instructions: Candidates must darken only one circle for each question using a blue ballpoint pen. If a question is unattempted, the 5th circle must be darkened to avoid negative marking.
• Disqualification: Candidates who do not darken any circle in more than 10% of questions will be disqualified.
• Result: The final result will be based on the written examination merit list. No interview will be conducted.
• Scaling/Normalization: RPSC reserves the right to use scaling, moderation, or normalization methods for evaluation if required.

For the latest updates, visit the RPSC official website.