RPSC APO Recruitment 2026

The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) conducts the Agricultural Production Officer (APO) recruitment examination to select candidates for the position of Agricultural Production Officer in the Agriculture Department of Rajasthan Government. This is a state-level competitive examination that recruits qualified candidates to work in various agricultural extension and advisory roles across rural Rajasthan. APOs are responsible for implementing agricultural schemes, providing technical guidance to farmers, promoting modern farming techniques, and facilitating government welfare programs at the grassroots level. The position offers a Group-B gazetted officer status with substantial responsibilities in rural development and agricultural administration. Selected candidates will be posted across various districts of Rajasthan to support the state's agricultural growth and farmer welfare initiatives.

Typical / Indicative Timeline

Typical / Indicative Distribution

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture / Horticulture / Agricultural Engineering from a recognized university
• OR Bachelor's degree in Science with at least two subjects from: Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Geology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Agriculture
• Degree must be recognized by UGC/AICTE
• Candidates appearing in final year are NOT eligible to apply

Age Limit

Age as on 01 January 2026:

Nationality

• Candidate must be a citizen of India
• Must be a resident of Rajasthan (domicile certificate required)

1. Visit the official RPSC website at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in
2. Click on 'Apply Online' link for APO Recruitment 2026
3. Click on 'New Registration' if you are a first-time user and complete one-time registration with basic details, email ID, and mobile number
4. Login using your registration credentials (Application ID and Password)
5. Fill the online application form carefully with personal details, educational qualifications, category, exam centre preference
6. Upload scanned copies of recent photograph (10-40 KB, JPG format), signature (5-20 KB), and relevant certificates as per specifications
7. Select your preferred exam centre from the available options
8. Pay the application fee online through Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking/UPI or visit e-Mitra/Jan Seva Kendra for offline payment
9. Submit the application form and note down the Application ID for future reference
10. Download and print the application form for your records

Application Fee

Note: Application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

1. Preliminary Examination (Screening): An objective-type computer-based test covering General Knowledge, General Science, Mathematics, and Mental Ability. This is a screening exam and marks are not counted for final merit. Candidates are shortlisted (10-15 times the vacancies) for the Mains examination based on Prelims performance.

1. Main Examination (Written): A comprehensive written examination consisting of two papers - Paper I on General Knowledge, General Science, Agriculture, and Current Affairs, and Paper II on Agriculture and related subjects in depth. This carries substantial weightage in final merit calculation.

1. Interview/Personality Test: Shortlisted candidates from Mains (usually 3 times the vacancies) are called for interview by RPSC. The interview panel assesses personality, communication skills, subject knowledge, awareness of agricultural issues, and suitability for field postings. Interview carries 100 marks.

1. Document Verification: Candidates recommended after interview undergo thorough document verification where original certificates of age, educational qualification, category, domicile, and other claims are verified by the commission.

1. Medical Examination: Finally selected candidates must undergo medical fitness examination as per Rajasthan government norms. Medical unfitness can lead to disqualification even after selection.

Preliminary Examination Pattern

Negative Marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer

Qualifying Nature: Prelims is only for screening; marks not counted in final merit

Main Examination Pattern

Negative Marking for Mains: 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer

Final Merit: Based on Mains (600 marks) + Interview (100 marks) = 700 marks total

General Knowledge & Current Affairs

• Indian History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India
• Indian National Movement and Freedom Struggle
• Geography of India and Rajasthan
• Indian Polity and Constitution
• Economic Development in India
• Current National and International Events
• Sports and Games
• Major Personalities and Awards

General Science

• Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Light, Sound, Electricity, Magnetism
• Chemistry: Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, Acids-Bases-Salts, Metals and Non-metals
• Biology: Cell Biology, Human Physiology, Genetics, Ecology, Biodiversity
• Environmental Science and Ecology

Agriculture (Main Focus)

• Crop Production and Management
• Soil Science: Soil Types, Soil Health, Soil Conservation
• Agricultural Economics and Farm Management
• Plant Breeding and Genetics
• Seed Production Technology
• Plant Pathology and Disease Management
• Agricultural Entomology and Pest Management
• Weed Science and Weed Management
• Agricultural Extension and Communication
• Irrigation and Water Management
• Agricultural Meteorology and Climate
• Dry Land Agriculture
• Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture

Horticulture

• Principles of Horticulture
• Fruit Cultivation: Tropical, Subtropical, and Temperate fruits
• Vegetable Cultivation: Seasonal vegetables, Protected cultivation
• Floriculture and Ornamental Plants
• Spices and Plantation Crops
• Post-Harvest Management and Value Addition
• Nursery Management

Animal Husbandry & Dairy

• Livestock Breeds and Breeding
• Animal Nutrition and Feed Management
• Animal Health and Disease Management
• Dairy Technology and Milk Production
• Poultry Farming
• Sheep and Goat Rearing

Agricultural Engineering

• Farm Machinery and Equipment
• Farm Power Sources
• Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
• Post-Harvest Technology

Mathematics & Mental Ability

• Number System and Simplification
• Percentage, Ratio and Proportion
• Average, Profit and Loss
• Time and Work, Time and Distance
• Simple and Compound Interest
• Algebra and Geometry basics
• Data Interpretation and Statistics
• Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
• Series, Coding-Decoding, Puzzles

Rajasthan Specific Topics

• Geography, History, Culture, and Economy of Rajasthan
• Agricultural scenario of Rajasthan
• Major crops, irrigation projects, and agricultural schemes in Rajasthan
• Livestock and animal husbandry in Rajasthan
• Rural development programs in Rajasthan

Typical / Indicative Salary Structure (7th Pay Commission)

Additional Benefits:

• Grade Pay as per Rajasthan government norms
• Medical facilities for self and dependents
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• Pension benefits under National Pension System (NPS) with 14% employer contribution
• Government accommodation or HRA
• Annual increment of approximately 3%
• Performance-related incentives

Agricultural Production Officers start at Level 10 in the pay matrix and have a structured career progression path within the Rajasthan Agriculture Department. With good performance and experience, APOs can be promoted to positions such as Senior Agricultural Officer, Deputy Director (Agriculture), Joint Director, and eventually to Director-level positions in the state agricultural administration. Promotions are based on seniority-cum-merit, departmental examination performance, and availability of vacancies, typically occurring every 4-6 years.

Admit cards for the RPSC APO examination are released approximately 10-15 days before the scheduled exam date on the official RPSC website. Candidates must download their admit cards by logging into the RPSC portal using their Application ID and Date of Birth. The admit card contains important details including candidate's name, photograph, exam centre address, reporting time, and exam day instructions. No physical admit cards are sent by post; candidates must carry a printout of the downloaded admit card along with a valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar/Voter ID/Driving License) to the examination centre.

RPSC declares results in multiple stages - Preliminary exam results are typically announced 4-6 weeks after the exam date, followed by Mains results within 8-10 weeks of the Mains examination. Interview results and final merit lists are published within 3-4 weeks after completion of all interviews. All results are published on the official RPSC website (rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in) and candidates can check their results by entering their roll number or Application ID. The commission publishes merit lists showing roll numbers, marks obtained, and category-wise cutoff marks for transparency.

Typical / Indicative Cutoff Marks (out of 300 in Prelims):

Cutoff marks vary annually based on difficulty level, number of vacancies, and candidate performance. For RPSC APO, General category cutoff typically ranges between 160-180 marks (53-60%), OBC cutoff is around 150-165 marks (50-55%), SC cutoff ranges from 140-155 marks (47-52%), and ST cutoff is usually 130-145 marks (43-48%). Mains examination cutoffs (out of 600) are generally higher with General category requiring 320-360 marks (53-60%). Cutoffs for female candidates and PwBD candidates are often slightly lower within their respective categories.

RPSC APO examination is conducted across multiple cities in Rajasthan:

Major Exam Centres:

• Zone 1: Jaipur, Ajmer, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa, Sikar, Tonk
• Zone 2: Jodhpur, Bikaner, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Pali, Sirohi
• Zone 3: Udaipur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Rajsamand, Banswara
• Zone 4: Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar

Note: Candidates can select their preferred exam centre during application, but final allotment is subject to availability and RPSC's discretion. In some cases, exam centres may be established in smaller district towns depending on the number of applicants. Candidates are advised to select centres nearest to their location as no change requests are entertained after submission.