Essential Study Materials for RAS Preparation
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- 28 Nov 2024
The Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS) exam is a prestigious gateway to a promising career in the state administration. With its vast syllabus, Rajasthan exam preparation can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to choosing the Best Books for RAS preparation. For aspirants, selecting the right resources is a crucial step in ensuring success. This blog will guide you through the Essential study materials for RAS needed to crack the RAS 2024 exam.
With RAS 2024 prelims coming up soon, now is the time to focus and get organized. Aspirants often find themselves lost in the sea of books, online resources, and notes, unsure of where to focus. This blog not only helps streamline your preparation but also ensures that you cover the entire syllabus in a structured and effective manner. With the right resources, you can avoid wasting time on irrelevant content and instead focus on the key areas that will help you score well.
RAS Study Material
1. History, Art & Culture of Rajasthan and India
- Expected Number of Questions: 30-35
- Key Areas: Historical events, rulers, art and culture, literature, heritage, festivals, traditional practices, socio-religious movements – both Rajasthan and India specific, Indian National Congress and Indian Independence Movements.
- Drishti Books – RAS Series: History of Rajasthan, India & World and Art & Culture.
- This book provides a thorough and concise coverage of Indian and World History, with a dedicated focus on Rajasthan’s rich history and vibrant Art & Culture.
- The book also includes a curated selection of previous years’ examination questions to familiarize aspirants with the pattern and difficulty level.
- Rajasthan Board’s Class 11 and 12 History textbooks:
- Rajasthan Adhyayan
- Bhag 1 (Class 9th)
- Bhag 2 (Class 10th)
- Bhag 3 (Class 11th)
- Bhag 4 (Class 12th)
- Rajasthan Adhyayan
- Standard Books for Indian History
- Modern History of India – A brief History of Modern India Spectrum Publication
- Ancient History – Old NCERT of Ancient History
- Medieval History – History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
- Attempt NCERT based Quiz available on Drishti IAS
2. Geography of the Rajasthan, India & World
- Expected Number of Questions: 25-30
- Key Areas:
- India’s physical environment, geographical features, and regional aspects.
- Desert regions, rivers, agricultural practices, and industrial geography in Rajasthan.
- Drishti Books – RAS Series: Geography of Rajasthan, India & World and Environment & Ecology.
- The book provides a comprehensive yet concise overview of Indian and World Geography, ensuring clarity and thorough understanding of key concepts.
- A special emphasis is laid on the Geography of Rajasthan, offering in-depth insights into the region's physical, economic, and cultural landscape.
- Additionally, the book covers critical topics related to Environment and Ecology, catering to the needs of competitive exam aspirants by aligning with current trends and requirements.
- NCERT Geography
- Fundamentals of Physical Geography – Class – 11
- India Physical Environment – Class – 11
- Fundamentals of Human Geography – Class – 12
- India People & Economy – Class –12
- Atlas for Mapping
- Maps of Rajasthan (Rajasthan Manchitravali)
3. Indian & Rajasthan Polity
- Expected Number of Questions: 15-20
- Key Areas: Parliamentary system, federal structure, elections, political parties, and important amendments.
- Drishti Book – RAS Series: Indian Polity, World Politics and Public Administration.
- This book offers an in-depth exploration of Indian Polity, Public Administration, and International Relations, with a special emphasis on Rajasthan-specific aspects of governance and administration.
- Incorporating current updates and recent developments in governance and international affairs, the book equips candidates to stay ahead in their preparation.
- Special attention is given to Rajasthan’s unique administrative framework, making it a vital resource for state-focused sections.
- NCERT Class-11
- Constitution of India – BARE ACT 2024
- Indian Polity by Laxmikant (Focus on chapters like Fundamental Rights, DPSPs, Emergency Provisions, Parliament, Judiciary, Panchayati Raj, State Executive, and Constitutional Bodies)
4. Economic Concepts and Indian & Rajasthan Economy
- Expected Number of Questions: 20-25
- Key Areas: GDP, poverty, planning, Indian economic structure, banking, and government schemes, Agriculture, mining, manufacturing, infrastructure, and state-specific economic policies.
- Drishti Book – RAS Series: Economy of Rajasthan, India & World
- The book includes comprehensive coverage of the macroeconomic scenario of India and Rajasthan with latest updates.
- Major economic developments including latest schemes, projects and budget of Governments of India and Rajasthan have been incorporated in relevant segments.
- Selected questions of previous years have been provided at the end of the book. Besides, practice questions for Prelims and Mains have also been added.
- NCERT Class 11&12th
- Economic Survey: Read the Gist of Economic Survey 2023-24 by Drishti IAS.
- Rajasthan Economic Survey (State GDP trends, major industries, and Rajasthan-specific schemes like the Mukhyamantri Rajshree Yojana, social indicators such as literacy, health, and employment trends)
- Indian Economy – By Ramesh Singh (Focus on chapters like Economic Growth, Planning, Agriculture, Industry, Inflation, Public Finance, Money and Banking, External Sector, and Sustainable Development)
5. Science & Technology
- Expected Number of Questions: 5-10
- Key Areas: General science, environmental science, space, and technological advancements.
- Drishti Book – RAS Series: General Science and Science & Technology
- This book delves into essential concepts from Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, ensuring conceptual clarity for foundational topics.
- The Science & Technology segment provides detailed insights into critical advancements in areas like space exploration, defence technologies, biotechnology, and more, keeping you updated on relevant developments.
- To aid in effective preparation, selected questions from previous years’ RAS exams are included, along with well-crafted practice questions for both Prelims and Mains.
- NCERT Class 6-10th
6. Maths & Reasoning
- Expected Number of Questions: 20
- Key Areas: Data interpretation, series, puzzles, coding-decoding, arithmetic, and algebra.
- Drishti Book – RAS Series: Reasoning & Mental Ability
- This book offers a detailed and systematic coverage of all the topics related to Reasoning and Mental Ability as per the syllabus. With a focus on building conceptual clarity, it tackles a wide range of reasoning topics and associated problems to help aspirants develop a strong foundation.
- Each chapter includes topic-specific practice questions, enabling students to test their understanding and improve their problem-solving skills.
- In addition, selected previous years’ questions are provided at the end of the book to help students familiarize themselves with the exam pattern and level of difficulty.
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning- R.S. Aggarwal
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations- R.S. Aggarwal
7. Current Affairs
- Around 20–30% of the RAS Prelims questions are based on current affairs, including both Rajasthan-specific and national topics. Online Resources for RAS offer concise updates and analysis.
- Current Affairs Monthly Compilation and Magazine:
- “Rajasthan Current Affair Today Magazine” by Drishti PCS
- Daily news updates and Monthly consolidation available on Drishti State PCS
- Rajasthan state-specific portals
- You can also refer to Youtube videos of Drishti PCS for news updates and revision of important topics.
8. Mock Test
- Mock tests help you simulate the exam environment, improve time management, and identify weak areas.
- Enroll in Drishti RAS Prelims Test Series 2024 –
- Accurate synthesis of current affairs and traditional subjects in the question paper according to the latest pattern.
- Question papers are being prepared after thorough research of standard books, authentic websites and newspapers.
- Detailed model answers to provide comprehensive information and analysis to the candidates for content enrichment.
- Suitable gap between tests to ensure adequate preparation.
- Flexi format - Students can appear for the exam on any day (after the scheduled date) and at any time as per their convenience.
- PCS Parikshan - Drishti PCS
- The PCS Parikshan provides comprehensive full-length practice tests for key state civil services exams.
- These practice tests are crafted to replicate the structure and difficulty level of the actual PCS exams, providing candidates with a realistic and effective practice experience.
Conclusion
While the RAS syllabus is vast, choosing the right study materials can significantly reduce the overwhelming nature of the preparation. It’s important to focus on quality over quantity. Stick to a few trusted sources and avoid hopping from one book to another. Regular revisions, solving mock tests, and staying updated with current affairs are essential to crack the exam. Remember, success is not about how many books you read, but about how well you understand and retain the knowledge. With the right resources and a disciplined approach, you can be well on your way to cracking the RAS 2024 exam and moving closer to your dream career in Rajasthan administration.
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