Rajasthan Police SI Exam: Pattern, Physical Test, Eligibility and Preparation

Some posts, such as SI (Telecom), have their own subject requirements. The post list, vacancies and qualifications are given in each notification.

• Investigation - registering FIRs, collecting evidence, recording statements and filing charge-sheets.
• Law and order - patrolling, handling crowds and protests, and keeping the peace during festivals and elections.
• Station work - managing constables, records and the daily work of a police station or outpost.
• Court duty - presenting evidence and appearing as a witness in trials.

The job carries responsibility and authority from the first posting. It also means long hours, transfers and field work in all seasons.

The written exam has had two objective papers:

• Paper I - General Hindi: grammar, vocabulary, sandhi, samas, muhavare, sentence correction, and comprehension.
• Paper II - General Knowledge and General Science: history, art, culture and geography of Rajasthan and India, Indian polity, the economy, current affairs, general science, and topics linked to policing such as basic computer knowledge.

Each paper has a minimum qualifying mark. Negative marking has applied in RPSC objective exams, usually one-third of the marks of a question per wrong answer.

The marks, time and detailed syllabus are given in the notification. Read the syllabus carefully, because Rajasthan GK carries heavy weight.

Candidates who clear the written exam go through:

• Physical Standard Test (PST) - height and, for men, chest measurement. There are relaxed standards for some categories and regions.
• Physical Efficiency Test (PET) - a timed run, with separate standards for men and women.

Both are qualifying; they do not add marks to the merit. The exact height, chest and running standards are given in the notification. Start running practice early, since the run is timed and strict.

Candidates who clear the physical tests are called for an interview by RPSC. The board checks the candidate's personality, awareness, and suitability for police work. Questions often cover Rajasthan, law and order, current issues and the candidate's background.

The final merit is drawn from the written exam and the interview together, followed by document verification and a medical exam.

Selected candidates are sent for training at the Rajasthan Police Academy and are placed on probation.

For the interview, read about the structure of the Rajasthan Police, recent changes in criminal law, cyber crime and community policing. Be ready to explain why you chose police service and how you would handle a tense situation calmly and fairly.

The academic requirement has been a bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Candidates must also have a working knowledge of Hindi in Devanagari script and knowledge of Rajasthani culture.

Some posts have asked for extra qualifications, such as a science or technical degree for SI (Telecom). Holders of an NCC certificate have sometimes received preference.

The age limit is counted on a date stated in the notification. There are wide relaxations for reserved categories, women, and government employees of Rajasthan.

The qualification, age band, physical standards and relaxations are set in each notification. Check them before applying.

• Formation - Rajasthan was formed in seven stages from 1948 to 1956. 30 March is celebrated as Rajasthan Diwas. Jaipur is the capital.
• History - the Indus sites of Kalibangan, the Rajput kingdoms, Maharana Pratap and the Battle of Haldighati (1576), and the 1857 revolt in Rajasthan.
• Geography - the Aravalli range, the Thar desert, the Chambal and Luni rivers, and lakes such as Sambhar.
• Culture - folk dances such as Ghoomar and Kalbelia, fairs such as Pushkar, and forts such as Chittorgarh and Kumbhalgarh.
• Polity and economy - the state legislature, panchayati raj (Nagaur, 1959), state schemes and the budget.
• State symbols - the state bird is the Great Indian Bustard (Godawan), the state tree is Khejri, the state flower is Rohida, and the state animals are the Chinkara and the camel.

Scheme names and district counts change. Verify them from official state sources close to the exam.

Hindi grammar first. Paper I is a full paper on Hindi. Revise vyakaran topic by topic and solve previous papers.

Rajasthan GK. Keep a separate notebook for Rajasthan history, art, culture and geography. Revise it every week.

General science and current affairs. Use NCERT science books and follow national and Rajasthan news daily.

Fitness. Run every day from the start of your preparation, not after the written result.

For other Rajasthan exams, see the RPSC RAS, Rajasthan Police Constable and Rajasthan CET guides.

After the written result, shift focus to the physical test and the interview. Keep revising Rajasthan GK, because the interview often returns to it.

1. Ignoring Hindi. It is a full paper with its own cut-off.
2. Thin Rajasthan GK. It carries heavy weight in Paper II.
3. Late fitness training. The run cannot be prepared in a few weeks.
4. Guessing freely. Negative marking turns guesses into lost marks.
5. Missing documents. Keep caste, domicile and NCC certificates ready.