
If you are preparing for the Rajasthan APO exam, you already know the syllabus is long. It covers old and new criminal laws, minor laws, local Rajasthan laws, and two language papers. Trying to cover everything with equal focus is not a smart plan. This is where subject wise weightage helps. It tells you which subjects are likely to bring more questions, so you can plan your study hours accordingly.
The Rajasthan Public Service Commission does not release an official subject wise weightage. But based on past exam trends and pattern analysis, aspirants can get a fairly reliable idea of where to focus. This blog breaks down the Rajasthan APO 2026 exam structure, prelims weightage, important topics, exam pattern, and a detailed subject wise question distribution.
Rajasthan APO 2026 Key Details at a Glance
Feature | Details |
Exam Stages | Prelims (Objective) and Mains (Descriptive) |
Prelims Weightage Ratio | 70% Law subjects, 30% Language subjects |
Language Papers | Hindi and English (basic school level) |
Options per Question | 5 (fifth option for not attempting) |
Negative Marking | 1/3 mark if a question is left fully unattempted |
Rajasthan APO Exam Structure
The Rajasthan APO exam is held in two stages.
• Prelims Exam: An objective type paper made up of multiple choice questions.
• Mains Examination: A subjective paper that tests descriptive answer writing and deeper legal understanding.
Both stages draw from the same syllabus, but the way you attempt them is different. Prelims rewards quick and accurate recall. Mains rewards structured writing and application of law.
Rajasthan APO 2026 Prelims Exam Weightage
The prelims paper follows a clear 70:30 split between law and language subjects.
• 70% or 70 marks: Law subjects, mainly criminal law and minor local laws.
• 30% or 30 marks: Hindi and English, covering basic grammar, vocabulary, and sentence correction.
This means law subjects carry more than double the weight of the language papers. Aspirants who are comfortable with basic grammar should spend most of their time on law, since that is where the bulk of the marks come from.
Rajasthan APO 2026 Important Topics for Prelims and Mains
The syllabus stays the same for both prelims and mains. Here are the key laws you need to cover.
Old and New Criminal Laws
• Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
• Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)
• Indian Evidence Act and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)
Minor Laws
• SC/ST Act
• POCSO Act
• Juvenile Justice Act, 2012
• Probation of Offenders Act
• Arms Act
Rajasthan Local Laws
• Rajasthan Excise Act
• Rajasthan Public Examination Act, 1992
• Rajasthan Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2022
Rajasthan APO 2026 Prelims Exam Pattern
The prelims paper has one feature that catches many candidates off guard. Instead of the usual four options, each question carries five options.
Exam Feature | Details |
Five Options per Question | Every question has five options instead of the usual four. |
When You Know the Answer | Mark the correct option from 1, 2, 3, or 4. |
When You Do Not Know the Answer | Mark the fifth option if you are unsure or do not wish to attempt. |
Negative Marking | A question left completely unattempted, including the fifth option, gets a 1/3 negative mark. |
Key Takeaway | Never leave a question fully blank. Always mark an option to avoid losing marks. |
Rajasthan APO 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage
This table gives an approximate idea of how many questions each subject may carry in the prelims exam, based on past exam trends. The actual distribution in the official exam may vary slightly.
Subject / Law | Expected Questions (Approx.) | Weightage |
BNSS and CrPC | 15 | 15% |
Hindi Language | 15 | 15% |
English Language | 15 | 15% |
BNS and IPC | 13 to 15 | 13 to 15% |
BSA and Indian Evidence Act | Up to 10 | Up to 10% |
POCSO Act | 6 | 6% |
Arms Act | 5 | 5% |
Rajasthan Excise Act | 5 | 5% |
Juvenile Justice Act | 4 | 4% |
Probation of Offenders Act | 3 | 3% |
SC/ST Act | 3 | 3% |
Rajasthan Public Examination Act, 1992 | 2 | 2% |
Rajasthan Public Examination Act, 2022 | 2 | 2% |
Two things stand out from this table. First, BNSS/CrPC, Hindi, and English are the three heaviest scoring areas, each worth around 15 marks. Second, the new criminal codes (BNS, BNSS, BSA) sit right alongside their older versions (IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act), so you cannot skip either set. Questions can come from both.
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Aashayein Judiciary's POV: How to Prepare Stage-Wise
The Rajasthan APO exam has two stages, prelims and mains, and the preparation strategy for both needs to be a little different. Here is how the team at Aashayein Judiciary looks at it.
For Prelims
• Give BNSS/CrPC, Hindi, and English your first priority since they carry the highest weightage.
• Do not ignore BNS/IPC and BSA. Together with BNSS and BSA they make up a big chunk of the law section.
• Practice regular Mock Test papers to get used to the five option pattern and avoid losing marks to negative marking.
• Revise minor laws like POCSO Act and Arms Act through short notes rather than full length reading.
• Solve PYQ papers to understand how questions are usually framed from Rajasthan local laws.
For Mains
• Mains demands descriptive answer writing, so practice writing full answers, not just reading theory.
• Focus on the same core laws from prelims, but go deeper into sections, provisions, and their application.
• Use structured Judiciary Notes to revise legal provisions quickly before the exam.
Nitesh Sir, who founded Aashayein Judiciary, has always maintained that a candidate who understands the weightage pattern studies smarter, not just harder. Aashayein Judiciary's Online Judiciary Coaching is built around this idea, with structured Judiciary Study Material and mentorship designed for exams like the Rajasthan APO Exam.
Rajasthan APO 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage: FAQs
What are the two stages of the Rajasthan APO exam?
The Rajasthan APO exam has two stages. The Prelims is an objective exam with multiple choice questions. The Mains is a subjective exam that requires descriptive answer writing.
How is the prelims exam weightage divided between subjects?
The prelims weightage follows a 70:30 ratio. Law subjects carry 70 marks and language subjects, Hindi and English, carry 30 marks.
What is unique about the question pattern in Rajasthan APO Prelims?
Each question in the prelims has five options instead of the usual four. Candidates must mark the fifth option if they do not know the answer or do not wish to attempt the question.
Is there negative marking in the Rajasthan APO Prelims exam?
Yes. A question left completely unattempted, meaning no option including the fifth one is marked, attracts a 1/3 negative mark. It is best to never leave a question fully blank.
Which subjects are considered most important based on the prelims weightage?
Hindi and English, along with the criminal law set (BNSS/CrPC, BNS/IPC, and BSA/Evidence Act), carry the most weight. Minor laws like POCSO Act and Arms Act, along with the Rajasthan Excise Act, are also important.
Conclusion
The Rajasthan APO 2026 subject wise weightage gives you a clear roadmap for preparation. Law subjects dominate the prelims paper, but Hindi and English together are just as important as any single law subject. Once you know where the marks are concentrated, you can plan your revision without wasting time on low weightage areas.
Aashayein Judiciary has been guiding judiciary and APO aspirants since 2018 under the mentorship of Nitesh Sir. With bilingual recorded lectures, structured Judiciary Preparation material, and one on one mentorship, Aashayein Judiciary helps candidates convert this kind of exam insight into an actual study plan they can follow every day.

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