Curator

Rajasthan Public Service Commission — RPSC Curator (Archaeology & Museum Department) Screening Test Syllabus

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Job Details

Qualification

Graduate Degree - History

Location

Rajasthan, Rajasthan

Category

State Government

Description

Qualification: Graduate Degree - History, Graduate Degree - Archaeology, Graduate Degree - Museology. Department: Archaeology & Museum Department.

Required Skills

Archaeology & Museum Department

Application Fee

Category	Fee
PH / Ex-Servicemen	Free

Related Updates (5)

Answer Key

21 Jul 2025

Rpsc Archaeology 2023 Answer Key

The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) released the final answer key for the Curator (Archaeology and Museums Dept.) Competitive Exam 2023. The exam was held on 19-06-2024, and the final answer key was published on the website on 21-07-2025, with some questions marked as deleted.

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Last date to apply: Invalid Date

Additional Information

Post

Curator

Department

Archaeology & Museum Department

Syllabus

Exam Pattern

Max Marks

150

Negative Marking

✓ Yes

Negative Marking Ratio

0.33

Total Questions

150

Marks Per Question

Parts

Units

Title
Unit-I: History, Culture & Heritage of Rajasthan
Topics
- Pre & early history of Rajasthan
- Age of Rajputs: Major dynasties of Rajasthan and the achievements of prominent rulers
- Emergence of Modern Rajasthan: factors of socio-political awakening of 19th century; Peasants and tribal movements of 20th century; Political struggle of 20th century and the integration of Rajasthan
- Visual Art of Rajasthan - Architecture of forts and temples of Rajasthan; Sculpture traditions of Rajasthan and various schools of painting of Rajasthan
- Performing Arts of Rajasthan - Folk music and musical instruments of Rajasthan; folk dance and folk drama of Rajasthan
- Various religious cults, saints and folk deities of Rajasthan
- Various dialects and its distribution in Rajasthan; literature of Rajasthani language
Title
Unit-II: Geography, Natural Resource & Socio-Economic Development of Rajasthan
Topics
- Geography of Rajasthan: Broad physical features- Mountains, Plateaus, Plains & Desert; Major rivers and lakes; Climate and Agro-climatic regions; Major soil types and distribution; Major forest types and distribution; Demographic characteristics; Desertification, Droughts & Floods, Deforestation, Environmental Pollution and Ecological Concerns
- Economy of Rajasthan: Major Minerals- Metallic & Non- Metallic; Power Resources- Renewable and Non Renewable; Major agro based industries- Textile, Sugar, Paper & Vegetable oil; Poverty and Unemployment; Agro food parks
Title
Unit-III: Current Events and Issues of Rajasthan and India
Topics
- Important Persons, Places and Current events of the State
- National and International events of importance
- New Schemes & Initiatives taken recently for welfare & development in Rajasthan
Title
Unit I - Sources, Vedic Period and Mahajanapadas
Topics
- Sources of ancient history
- Vedic society and culture
- The political organization of the vedic tribes- Caste and other social institutions-Vedic religion
- Sixteen Mahajanapadas; The political disintegration of northern India
- The Sunga dynasty, Western Kshatrapas, Kharavela of Kalinga, Indo-Greek kings, the Sakas, Kushana and Satavahanas
Title
Unit II - Second Urbanisation
Topics
- Emergence of second urbanisation: causes and results
- the rise of Heterodox sects - Jainism and Buddhism. Charvakas & Aajivikas
- Rise of the Kingdom of Magadha
- Haryank & Sishunaga. The rule of the Nandas-North Western India, contacts with Persia; Alexanders invasion and its impact
Title
Unit III - Mauryan Period
Topics
- The Mauryan kings- Mauryan contacts with neighbouring states, society and economic activities- Mauryan administration
- Ashoka and policy of Dhamma- Ashoka and his successors, the decline of the Mauryas
- Kalinga war & administrative change made by Ashoka, Ashoka's relations with neighbouring countries
Title
Unit IV- Guptas and Post Gupta Period
Topics
- Early history and political expansion of Gupta dynasty
- Cultural developments in the Gupta-Vakataka period
- Important rulers such as Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, Skandgupta
- Education and Literature- Buddhist art and architecture- Mahayan Buddhism & Huna invasion; post-Gupta dynasties; social and political structure of later Guptas, Maukharis and Chalukyas of Badami; Harshvardhan – his conquest and rise, Administration, Religious policy and personality; Changing agrarian relation-trade; the pattern of living, education and learning
Title
Unit V - Architecture, Science and Trade and contacts
Topics
- Architecture in ancient India
- Science and technology in ancient India
- South Indian kingdoms- trade routes and communications
- Rise of the mercantile community 200 BCE to 300 CE; roman Trade with south India, Interaction and hellenic ideas in northern India
- India's contacts with China and Southeast Asia
Title
Unit VI- Beginning of Medieval India, Delhi Sultanate and Rajput
Topics
- An overview of the Geopolitical contexts of Arabian Peninsula - continuities and changes (7th to 11th centuries) and major dynasties (750-1200 CE) of Early medieval india
- Early muslim invasions; Political geography of the sultanate; concept of state and kingship
- Political trajectories under the Sultans- Ilbaris (1206-1290) – expansion under Qutbuddin Aibak and Iltutmish – the Chalisa (the new regime under Balbans) – Khaljis (1290-1320)– Mongol invasions– Tughluqs (1320-1414)– Sayyids and Lodhis (1414-1526)
- disintegration of the sultanate and regional reconfiguration; state formation and evolution of rajput polity with special focus on Mewar, Jodhpur, Jaipur
- Urbanization– The growth of cities and towns, Urban life; Agrarian economy; The system of land holding and revenue assessment and collection (Iqta, Mansabdari, Jagirdari, Zamindari, Nayankara, Poligar and Paik system)
- Trade and commerce; social Structure- nobility and social hierarchy, stratification within zamindars and peasants; position of castes and tribes; vibrant medieval composite culture
Title
Unit VII - Mughals, Maratha and North-East
Topics
- Establishment of Mughal rule in India - Babur and Humayun
- Second afghan empire: - Sher Shah
- Process of consolidation of mughal empire under Akbar, Jahangir and Aurangzeb
- Mughals and other regional power centres- Sikh, Rajput, Maratha and other Deccan States
- Disintegration of mughal empire; the rise of Marathas under Shivaji – mughal ‘decline’
- Vijaynagar and Bahmani kingdoms- polity, society, art and religion
- Foreign policy of mughals
- North-East polity and administrative structure: - Ahom and Kachari rule in Assam, Jaintia kingdom; The hill-valley relations in medieval period; Northeast states and the mughals
Title
Unit VIII- Religion, Architecture, Science and Technology in Medieval India
Topics
- Bhakti and Sufi Movements
- Indo-islamic architecture, Persian wheel, Textile Mining and Metallurgy- iron/steel, copper, use of composite metal, zinc; wood, bamboo and ivory work, paper making, medical system- unani and ayurveda - Swai Jai Singh hydrology and conservation practices
Title
Unit IX - Monuments of Rajasthan
Topics
- Forts and fortified towns: Jaisalmer, Chittor, Ranthambor, Kumbhalgarh, Bharatpur, Junagarh
- Palaces- Mehrangarh, Deeg, Lalgarh, City Palace (Jaipur), Gajner Palace
- Religious monuments: Temples- Osian, Dilwara, Kiradu, Ranakpur, Kumbhashyam Temple, Kalika Mata Temple, Menal, Ramgarh, Bijolia
- Cenotaphs- cenotaphs of Digambar Jain saints at Ajmer, Moosi rani ki chhatri at Alwar, cenotaphs of rulers of Udaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Alwar, Jaipur, Kota, Jaisalmer
- Havellis of Shekhawati, Jaisalmer
- Mughal architecture with special reference to tombs of Abdulla Khan and his wife at Ajmer, Mughal gate at Bairat
Title
Unit X - Museums and Museology
Topics
- Origin, meanings and definitions of museum. Role and responsibilities of a museum in contemporary society
- Concept and definition of museology and museography
- History of museums in global context
- Functions of museum, Types of museums, Eco-museums, Community museums, site museums
- History and development of museums in India with special reference to Rajasthan
- Prominent museums in India particularly in Rajasthan
- Professional organizations (Government and Non-government): UNESCO, ICOM, Museums Association of India
Title
UNIT XI - Collection Management
Topics
- Purposes of collections; Types of museum collections; Ethics of collection
- Collection management policy: scope, acquisition, collection records, deaccessioning and disposal, accommodation, loans, insurance, appraisals, authentication, ethics, etc
- Methods of collecting: Field work, purchase, exchange, gifts and donations etc. Loan agreements – terms and conditions of loans. Methods of disposal
- Documentation of collections: purposes, policies and procedures. Types of documents: entry, accession, classified, and movement registers; index and catalogue cards. Digital documentation
- Marking and labelling the objects and specimen: numbering systems, procedure of applying numbers on objects
- Collection storage: Purpose, care, access, retrieval, and storage systems
Title
UNIT XII - Preventive Conservation
Topics
- Preventive Conservation: meaning and significance. Role of curator in preventive conservation
- Nature and properties of material of collections – organic, inorganic and composite. Causes of decay of damage to museum collections
- Monitoring and control of air pollution, temperature, humidity, light and micro-organisms
- Integrated Pest Management meaning, purpose and strategy. Common pests found in museums
- Housekeeping- meaning, scope and significance. Principles of housekeeping
- Principles and rules of handling of museum collections. Guidelines for packing and transportation of museum collections
Title
UNIT – XIII: Museum Communication
Topics
- Museum Exhibitions- meaning, significance and types. Exhibition policy. Ethics of exhibition
- Exhibition planning and design- stages and strategies, exhibition team, exhibition brief; using principles of design, colour, and texture. Exhibition layouts. Exhibition furniture- showcases, pedestals, display boards, etc
- Exhibition lighting- sources of light and their characteristics; different types of lamps and their characteristics features; Exhibition text types of labels and their purpose
- Role of museum education and interpretation; Characteristics of learning in museums. Ethics of museum education
- Educational programmes and provisions for different audiences such as children, adults, families, tourists and people with disabilities. Extension services: community programmes, school loan services, mobile and travelling exhibitions. Museum publications: significance and types
- Marketing communication: publicity and advertising through different media