RPSC RAS 2026 Recruitment: Process to Take 12–16 Months, New RAS Officers by End of 2028; Why Past Recruitments Got Delayed
The RPSC's RAS-2026 recruitment too looks set to be completed late. The prelims, mains, interview and final result are expected to take 12 to 16 months. As per the report, the government may get new RAS officers only by the end of 2028.
The Commission has already taken online applications for 607 posts from 4 June to 3 July. The preliminary exam is fixed for 6 December this year and the mains for 1 and 2 May 2027. (Source: Patrika in-depth story)
At a Glance: Key Points
- The full RAS-2026 process is expected to take 12 to 16 months.
- Applications for 607 posts were taken from 4 June to 3 July.
- Prelims on 6 December 2026 and mains on 1–2 May 2027.
- The report says new RAS officers may be available by the end of 2028.
RAS 2026: Schedule
| Stage | Status / Date |
|---|---|
| Total posts | 607 |
| Online application | 4 June to 3 July 2026 (completed) |
| Preliminary exam | 6 December 2026 |
| Mains exam | 1 and 2 May 2027 |
| Interview and final result | Dates not announced; whole process estimated at 12–16 months |
A Long-Drawn Process
- In the last 15 years the Commission has completed only the 2010-11 RAS recruitment in one year.
- For 2013 to 2024, interviews have been delayed by 4 to 8 months after prelims and mains.
- On average all recruitments have taken 20 to 25 months.
How Past Recruitments Got Delayed
| Recruitment | Reason for delay |
|---|---|
| RAS 2012 | Dispute over scaling formula; reached High Court |
| RAS 2013 | Held under new pattern without scaling; cancelled after paper leak; completed in 2017 |
| RAS 2016 | Matter of keeping candidates beyond 15x posts out of mains went to High Court and SLP in Supreme Court |
| RAS 2018 | Single bench ordered removal of Q11 and Q22 and a fresh result; mains on 25–26 June 2019 on division bench order; mains result on 9 July 2020 |
| RAS 2021 | Petition on 21 prelims questions; mains date shifted, mains held on 20–21 July 2024 |
| RAS 2023 | Agitation to push the exam date |
| RAS 2024 | Not much dispute, but 15 months from prelims and mains to interview |
UPSC Comparison and Expert View
- UPSC held the IAS prelims on 24 May 2026 and declared the result on 15 June.
- UPSC recruitment is completed within a year.
- As per the report, UPSC recruitments do not see disputes over rules, answer keys and questions, whereas in RPSC these disputes dominated most recruitments except 2024.
- Prof. Shivdayal Singh (former head of Economics, MDS University): the Commission handles DPCs, exams-interviews, paper setting and other work, yet it should try to complete recruitments on time.
Suggestions for Candidates
- Focus on the 6 December prelims and keep watching the Commission's website for admit card updates.
- The process is likely to be long, so keep preparing for mains (1–2 May 2027) alongside.
- Treat only notices on the Commission's website as final.
Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is the RAS 2026 preliminary exam?
On 6 December 2026.
When is the RAS 2026 mains?
On 1 and 2 May 2027.
How many posts are in RAS 2026?
607 posts.
How long will the entire recruitment take?
12 to 16 months as per the report; new officers likely by end of 2028.
When were applications taken?
From 4 June to 3 July 2026.
Note: This is based on news reports and public government information. Dates, amounts and rules can change, so please confirm with the official website or the concerned office before acting. Emitrawala.com is not a government website.
