Rajasthan Lab Assistant Syllabus

This is the official syllabus published by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board, Jaipur. The same document covers three separate Laboratory Assistant recruitments — Science, Geography and Home Science. All three are given below. You can download the original PDF above.

All three : objective questions · minimum 40% compulsory · one-third (1/3) negative marking.

A. Lab Assistant (Science) — 400 marks

Paper-I : General Knowledge — 200 marks

(i) Geographical, historical and cultural general knowledge of Rajasthan

History, culture and general knowledge of Rajasthan

• Major sources of the history of Rajasthan.
• Major prehistoric civilisations of Rajasthan.
• Major dynasties of Rajasthan and their achievements.
• Mughal–Rajput relations.
• Salient features of architecture.
• Important forts, monuments and structures.
• Religious movements and folk deities of Rajasthan.
• Fairs, festivals, folk music, folk dance, musical instruments and ornaments.
• Rajasthani culture.
• Important historical tourist places.
• Eminent personalities of Rajasthan.
• Princely states of Rajasthan and British treaties; the mass movement of 1857.
• Peasant and tribal movements; the Prajamandal movement.
• Integration of Rajasthan.
• Political awakening and development of Rajasthan — with special reference to women.

Geography of Rajasthan

• Location and extent.
• Main physical divisions — desert region, Aravalli hill region, plains region, plateau region.
• Drainage system.
• Climate.
• Soil.
• Natural vegetation.
• Forest and wildlife conservation.
• Environmental and ecological issues.
• Desertification.
• Agro-climatic regions and major crops.
• Livestock.
• Multipurpose projects.
• Irrigation projects.
• Water conservation.
• Transport.
• Mineral wealth.

(ii) Current affairs of Rajasthan

(iii) General knowledge of the world and India

(iv) Educational Psychology

Paper-II : Science — 200 marks

I. Science at Secondary level

II. Biology (Senior Secondary level) — Part A

• General characters of Algae, Fungi, Lichens, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
• Morphology of Angiosperms — structure and modification of root, stem and leaf; structure of flower and seed.
• Plant Anatomy — tissue and tissue system; secondary growth.
• Plant Physiology — osmosis, water absorption, ascent of sap, transpiration, photosynthesis, respiration, plant growth and movement.
• Environmental Studies — structure and type of ecosystem, energy flow, biogeochemical cycle, ecological adaptations, environmental pollution, population ecology, biodiversity.
• Biotechnology — general account, recombinant DNA technology, transgenic plants and animals, ethical issues, application of biotechnology in agriculture and the medical field.
• Economic importance of plants.
• Cell — structure (prokaryotic and eukaryotic), cell theory and cell division.

Biology — Part B

• Genetics — Mendel's law, general terminology, structure of DNA and RNA, molecular basis of heredity, structure of chromosome, sex determination and genetic disorders in man.
• Classification of the animal kingdom — up to phyla in non-chordates and up to class in chordates.
• Digestion, respiration and excretion in humans — protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamin and digestive enzymes, exchange of gases, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, Krebs cycle, glycolysis, excretory substances, structure and physiology of the kidney.
• Circulatory and endocrine system of humans — structure of the heart, composition of blood, blood groups, blood clotting, lymph glands, antigen and antibodies, endocrine glands and their hormones.
• Nervous system of humans — structure of brain, eye and ear, structure of neuron, nerve impulse.
• Muscular system — types of muscles and muscle contraction.
• Reproductive system in humans and human diseases — structure and reproductive health; diseases caused by bacteria, virus, protozoa, fungi and helminths.
• Biological evolution; economic importance of animals.

III. Physics (Senior Secondary level)

• Dynamics of rigid body — torque, conservation of angular momentum, moment of inertia of simple geometrical objects.
• Thermodynamics — first and second law of thermodynamics, heat engines and refrigerators.
• Oscillations — simple harmonic motion and its examples, resonance.
• Waves — principle of superposition of waves, Doppler effect.
• Electrostatics — Coulomb's law, electric field, Gauss's theorem and its applications.
• Electric current — Kirchhoff's law, Wheatstone bridge, meter bridge, potentiometer.
• Optics — microscope and telescope, interference, diffraction and polarisation, polarimeter.
• Atom — Bohr's model of the hydrogen atom.
• Nuclei — mass defect, nuclear binding energy, nuclear fission and fusion.
• Semiconductor electronics — pn junction, transistor, logic gates, diode as a rectifier, Zener diode.

IV. Chemistry (Senior Secondary level)

• Unit 1 — Periodic table and atomic properties : fundamental particles of an atom, Rutherford's nuclear model, quantum numbers, Pauli's exclusion principle, Aufbau principle, types and shapes of orbitals (s, p, d, f), Hund's rule, modern periodic table, variation in atomic properties (size, ionisation potential, electron affinity, electronegativity).
• Unit 2 — s-block and p-block elements : general introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, oxidation states, trends in physical and chemical properties, inert pair effect.
• Unit 3 — Chemical equilibrium : factors affecting equilibrium, reversible and irreversible reactions, laws of chemical equilibrium, Le Chatelier's principle.
• Unit 4 — Ionic equilibrium : acid-base equilibrium, pH value, common ion effect, buffer solutions, acid-base titration.
• Unit 5 — Gaseous state : properties, Boyle's law, Charles's law, Avogadro's law, Dalton's law, ideal gas equation, Graham's law of diffusion, kinetic theory of gases.
• Unit 6 — Liquid state : properties of liquids, vapour pressure, surface tension, viscosity.
• Unit 7 — Solid state : properties of solids, classification of solids, unit cells and their types, packing of crystals, structure of simple ionic compounds, defects in crystals (Frenkel, Schottky).
• Unit 8 — Solutions : solute, solvent, solution; concentration of solutions (molarity, normality, formality, molality, mole fraction, weight percent); types of solutions; Raoult's law; ideal and non-ideal solutions; colligative properties.
• Unit 9 — Nomenclature and general properties of organic compounds : IUPAC rules, types of reactions (substitution, addition, elimination), electrophiles and nucleophiles, inductive and electromeric effects, resonance, hyperconjugation, steric effect, isomerism (structural and stereo).
• Unit 10 — Hydrocarbons : definition and types (alkane, alkene, alkyne, arene), preparation, physical properties, chemical properties.

B. Lab Assistant (Geography) — 300 marks

Part-A : General Knowledge — 100 marks

The same Rajasthan history, art, culture, literature, traditions and heritage list as above (17 points, adding major paintings, styles and handicrafts of Rajasthan and major works of Rajasthani language and literature, regional dialects), together with the 16-point Geography of Rajasthan list.

Part-B : Geography — 200 marks

Physical geography and the earth

• Geography as an integrating discipline, branches of geography, importance of physical geography.
• Origin and evolution of the earth; interior of the earth.
• Distribution of the oceans and continents.
• Rocks — types and characteristics; geomorphic processes; landforms and their evolution.
• Atmosphere — composition and structure; insolation, heat balance, temperature distribution; pressure and atmospheric circulation.
• Water in the atmosphere — evaporation, condensation, rainfall (types and distribution).
• World climates — Koeppen's classification, greenhouse effect, global warming and climate change.
• Hydrological cycle and submarine relief; distribution of temperature and salinity, oceanic waves, tides and currents.
• Biosphere, ecology, ecosystem and biomes; biogeochemical cycles — water, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and other mineral cycles.
• Biodiversity and conservation.

Geography of India

• India — location, size and neighbouring countries; physiographic divisions.
• Concept of watershed; the Himalayan and Peninsular drainage systems.
• Monsoon climate — controlling factors, mechanism (onset, break and retreat), seasonal rhythm, rainfall distribution and variability, Koeppen's climatic types, monsoon and Indian economic life.
• Forests — types and distribution; biosphere reserves; soil — I.C.A.R. classification, distribution, degradation and conservation.
• Hazards — meaning, classification, natural disasters in India, disaster management.

Cartography and practical geography

• Maps — types; scales — types, construction of a simple linear scale, measuring distance, finding direction and use of symbols.
• Latitude and longitude — meaning and time determination.
• Map projection — types, construction and properties; conical with one standard parallel and cylindrical equal-area projections.
• Study of topographic maps (1:50,000 or 1:20,000 Survey of India sheets); contour cross-section and identification of landforms — slopes, hill, valleys, waterfall, cliff, distribution of settlements.
• Aerial photographs — types and geometry; vertical aerial photographs.
• Satellite imagery — stages in remote sensing data acquisition, platforms, sensors and data products (photographic and digital); identification of physical and cultural features from satellite imagery.
• Use of weather instruments — thermometer, wet and dry bulb thermometer, barometer, wind vane, rain gauge; use of weather charts to describe pressure, wind and rainfall distribution.
• Maps — meaning, significance, classification; thematic maps — dot, choropleth and isopleth.
• Representation of data — construction of bar, wheel and flow diagrams.
• Geographical Information System — introduction and applications.

Human geography

• Human geography — definition, nature, subject matter and significance.
• Major tribes of the world — Eskimos, Bushmen, Gond, Bhil : distribution, economic and cultural characteristics.
• World population — distribution, factors affecting population density.
• Population growth — causes, problems and solutions; demographic transition theory.
• Population structure — age group, sex ratio, rural–urban.
• Migration — concept, types, aspects and problems.
• Concepts of human development.
• Settlement — types of rural and urban settlements, patterns and problems; urban slums — problems and solutions.

Economic geography

• Primary occupations — agriculture, mining, hunting, animal husbandry, fishing and ancestral gathering.
• Secondary occupations — types of industries, determination of industrial location, agro-based and manufacturing industries.
• Tertiary, quaternary and quinary occupations.
• Surface transport — principal international roads and railways; water transport — principal inland and oceanic waterways, ports, Suez and Panama canal sea routes; air transport — principal air routes and airports.
• International trade and India's role; modern means of mass communication — satellite, internet, mobile.
• Environmental problems — pollution, acid rain, greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion; world environmental summits.
• Resources — classification, conservation and sustainable development; non-biotic resources — land, water, minerals (iron ore, copper, aluminium, mica).
• Energy resources — conventional (coal, petroleum, hydroelectricity) and non-conventional (nuclear, organic, wind and solar).
• Types of agriculture — subsistence and commercial, wet and dry farming, intensive and dispersed, organic and chemical fertiliser based, horticulture; major crops — distribution and production of wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, tea.
• Industrial development in India — iron and steel, aluminium, cement, cotton textile, sugar and engineering.

Regional planning and development

• Regional planning — regional imbalances, desert development programme, tribal area development programme, mountain area development.
• Poverty alleviation and employment programmes; MGNREGA — role and impact.
• Sustainable development — traditional and modern viewpoints.
• Rural development — dairy and cottage industries.
• Major industries — cotton textile, cement; minerals — marble, copper, zinc, silver, tungsten, gypsum and petroleum.
• Major irrigation projects — Chambal, Indira Gandhi and Mahi.

C. Lab Assistant (Home Science) — 300 marks

Part-A : General Knowledge — 100 marks

The same Rajasthan history, art and culture list and the Geography of Rajasthan list as in the Geography paper above.

Part-B : Home Science — 200 marks

• Food, nutrition, health and hygiene; balanced diet, RDA, basic food groups, nutrients (macro and micro), food pyramid, malnutrition, undernutrition, environmental hygiene, water and its purification techniques.
• Weights and measures and conversion of units.
• Meal planning — importance, need, principles and factors affecting meal planning; nutrition needs during infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age; low cost meals; physiological conditions — pregnancy, lactation, diarrhoea, fever; breast feeding and its benefits; supplementary feeding; immunisation; BMI; importance of exercise.
• Food adulteration — definition and types; prevention of adulteration; food safety standards.
• Human development — introduction, origin, quality of life, anthropometric measurements, population control; physical, motor, social, emotional, cognitive, language, sensory and mental development across infancy, early childhood, preschool, childhood, adolescence and adulthood; reproductive health and venereal diseases.
• Growth and development; stress and simple techniques of coping with stress — hobby, yoga, spirituality, reading, music.
• Children with special needs; first aid for cuts and wounds, burns, unconsciousness; first aid kit.
• Classification and properties of textile fibre — natural, manmade and synthetic; cellulosic, protein, mineral, natural rubber, degenerated and modified cellulosic and non-cellulosic fibres such as cotton, linen, wool, silk, rayon, nylon, polyester, acrylic and elastomeric.
• Yarn — construction steps, yarn terminology; fabric production (weaving, knitting, braiding, nets, laces); textile finishing, colour and printing.
• Role of clothes in personality (primary and secondary functions); elements and principles of design; factors influencing selection of clothes; care and steps in storage of clothes; clothes for children with special needs; traditional textiles of India.
• Laundry — stain removal, types and identification, techniques of removal and reagents; soaps and detergents; methods of soap formation; methods of washing and finishing; care and label.
• Sewing machine — parts and maintenance.
• Introduction to home management; resources — human and non-human, personal and joint (shared), natural and community; characteristics and management of resources; management process (organising, implementing, controlling and evaluation).
• Time management — definition, steps in making seven tools for effective time management, peak load period, work curve, rest and break period.
• Work simplification — space management and principles of space planning.
• Family income — definition, classification, sources; family budget — importance, heads and steps of making a budget, ideal budget; saving and investment — definition, difference between saving and accumulation, need and importance of saving; types of investment (bank account types, post office savings, LIC), selection of types of investment, interest rate, impact of the global economy.
• Consumer problems — Consumer Protection Act 1986 : who, when, where and how to file a complaint; district consumer redressal.
• Meaning of communication and its classification; meaning of media, its classification and function; communication technology and its classification; audio-visual aids; modern communication technologies.
• Teaching, learning and extension — definition, meaning and scope.