Books, Authors & Media

Introduction

The subtopic Books, Authors & Media occupies a distinctive place in the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) General Knowledge paper. It is not merely a list of titles and names; it is a gateway to understanding the cultural, political, and informational currents that have shaped society. RPSC has consistently tested this area through direct matching questions about Rajasthani literary works, awareness of government schemes introduced in the media, knowledge of international awards conferred on Indian leaders, and even scientific breakthroughs reported in the press. An analysis of eleven previous year questions (PYQs) spanning 2016 to 2024 reveals that the examiner does not test rote memorisation in isolation—they expect the candidate to connect a book to its author, a scheme to its objective, an award to its recipient, or a global event to its venue. One question (RPSC 2021) directly asked about mismatched pairs in Rajasthani literature; others probed the correct parameter for a scholarship scheme, the location of a historic summit, and the participants of a naval exercise. This variety demonstrates that “Books, Authors & Media” is best understood as a lens through which the aspirant must view three interlocking domains: literary culture (especially of Rajasthan), public communication (schemes, awards, and official announcements), and current affairs as recorded in the press (national and international developments).

The difficulty level of these questions is moderate—most require straightforward factual recall, but the spread of topics demands a broad and disciplined reading habit. There are no analytical “thinker” questions here; the target is awareness of what is published, by whom, and where. This chapter is designed to equip you with a systematic understanding of the foundational concepts, an in-depth grasp of the most frequently tested authors and works (especially Rajasthani), a clear method for tackling PYQ-based matching and statement-verification questions, and forward-looking insights into what RPSC might ask next. By working through the core definitions, comparisons, mnemonics, and worked examples, you will transform this seemingly scattered subtopic into a high-confidence scoring zone.

The chapter is structured to move from first principles to detailed content, then to application through actual PYQs, and finally to strategic preparation for future examinations. Pay special attention to the deep-dive sections on Rajasthani literature and government schemes—these are the two most heavily tested clusters within the given PYQs. The media dimension, while appearing less frequently in the raw PYQ count, is vital because most current-affairs questions are drawn from newspaper coverage, and RPSC expects you to know the “who, what, when, where” of events that received prominent media attention. By the end of this chapter, you will be able to confidently answer any factual question that falls under the umbrella of Books, Authors & Media.

Core Concepts & Foundations

Before plunging into specific texts and events, it is essential to build a shared vocabulary. Every aspirant must be comfortable with the terms that form the bedrock of this subtopic. The blockquote entries below define each key concept in two to three sentences, after which deeper explanations follow.

Book: A written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers. In the context of RPSC, a “book” may be a classical literary work, a modern treatise, a government report, or a policy document. The examiner tests the author, the language (especially Rajasthani, Hindi, English, and Sanskrit), the period, and the significance of the book.

Author: The person who creates a book, article, or other literary work. Authorship can be single, joint, or anonymous. RPSC questions often require you to match an author to a book written in a specific language (e.g., Rajasthani or Braj), or to identify the author of a well-known text from Indian or world literature.

Media: The main means of mass communication—newspapers, radio, television, the internet, and social media platforms. For competitive examinations, “media” encompasses the dissemination of news, government schemes, official awards, and scientific discoveries. Questions may ask about the first digital state, the highest civilian honour of a country, or the venue of a summit—all of which are reported through media channels.

Manuscript: A hand-written document, often on palm leaves, paper, or birch bark, from a pre-printing era. Many Rajasthani literary classics survive only as manuscripts. The preservation and cataloguing of manuscripts is a recurring theme in RPSC questions about Rajasthani heritage.

Periodical: A publication that appears at regular intervals—daily (newspaper), weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Periodicals are a subset of media that RPSC uses to test awareness of specific journals, their editors, and their historical roles (e.g., Hindu, Times of India, Rajasthan Patrika).

Scheme: A systematically planned project or policy announced by the government, often with a specific name, objective, and eligibility criteria. In RPSC, questions about schemes (e.g., Bhamasha Yojana, Anuprati Yojana, Post-Matric Scholarship for minorities) test your ability to recall the exact target group, financial limits, and conditions. These schemes are publicised through media—press releases, websites, and newspapers.

Award: An honour or prize conferred on an individual or institution for excellence in a field. Awards can be national (Padma awards), international (Amir Amanullah Khan Award), or state-specific (Rajasthan Gaurav). RPSC tests the awarding country, the recipient, the year, and the reason for the award.

Matching Pair: A common question format where four book-author or scheme-objective pairs are provided, and you must identify which one is incorrectly matched. This format tests precise knowledge—the wrong pair often looks plausible because of similar names or overlapping contexts.

The first principle a student must internalise is that context matters more than isolated facts. For example, the question about the Amir Amanullah Khan Award (RPSC 2016) is not just about a foreign award; it is about India’s diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, which Prime Minister Modi visited in 2015, and the award is Afghanistan’s highest civilian honour. Similarly, the question about Lukoskin (RPSC 2016) is not merely a drug name—it links to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which developed it for leucoderma, a skin disease. These connections tie “media” (news coverage of the award presentation or the drug launch) to “books/authors” indirectly (the award name is part of a country’s “book” of honours). The candidate must therefore read newspapers with an eye for such linkages.

Another foundational idea is the chronological ordering of events. Several PYQs ask for the sequence of an exercise, the edition number (e.g., 22nd Malabar exercise), or the year of a meeting (2018 Trump-Kim). While the given PYQs do not explicitly ask for timelines, understanding when an event occurred relative to other events helps eliminate wrong choices. For instance, the Trump-Kim summit in June 2018 was widely publicised as the first-ever meeting between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader; the venue Singapore was chosen for its neutral status. This event was covered extensively in print and electronic media, and RPSC expected candidates to have read about it.

Now, let us take a systematic look at the three main pillars of this subtopic: literary works (especially of Rajasthan), official schemes/publications, and media-reported current affairs. Each pillar will be expanded in the deep-dive sections that follow.

Rajasthani Literary Heritage: Books, Poets, and Authors

This is the single most tested sub-area within the given PYQs. The 2021 question asked which of four pairs—Neh Tarang – Sawai Pratap Singh, Ranmal Chhand – Shridhar Vyas, Bhasha Bhushan – Maharaja Jaswant Singh, Nagdaman – Sayanji Jhula—was not correctly matched. The incorrect pair was Nagdaman – Sayanji Jhula. To understand why, we must go beyond a mere correction and study each work and its author in depth.

Works of Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh

Sawai Pratap Singh (r. 1778–1803) was the ruler of Jaipur and a prolific poet in the Braj and Rajasthani languages. He wrote under the pen name “Sujas”. His most famous work is Neh Tarang (Waves of Love/Passion), a lyrical composition on the theme of love and devotion. The pair Neh Tarang – Sawai Pratap Singh is therefore correct. Another well-known work attributed to him is “Ras Prachand”, but that is beyond the PYQ. Aspirants should remember that Neh Tarang is a key text from the late-18th century Jaipur court.

Works of Shridhar Vyas

Shridhar Vyas was a 16th–17th century poet from the Mewar region. He authored Ranmal Chhand, a heroic ballad that narrates the deeds of Ranmal (also known as Ranamalla), a chieftain of Idar. The chhand (a poetic metre) is a classic of Rajasthani literature, preserving the martial and bardic tradition of the region. The pair Ranmal Chhand – Shridhar Vyas is correct.

Works of Maharaja Jaswant Singh

Maharaja Jaswant Singh II (r. 1838–1895) of Jodhpur was a scholar and author. He wrote Bhasha Bhushan (also spelled Bhasha Bhushan), a treatise on grammar and rhetoric in the local language. The work is considered an important contribution to Rajasthani linguistic studies. The pair Bhasha Bhushan – Maharaja Jaswant Singh is correct. Do not confuse this Jaswant Singh with the 20th-century politician; the ruler is the author.

The Incorrect Pair: Nagdaman – Sayanji Jhula

Nagdaman is a well-known work in Rajasthani literature, but its author is Kaviraj Shyamaldas or sometimes attributed to Mansingh? Actually, the standard scholarship states that Nagdaman was composed by Kaviraj Shyamaldas (the bard of Mewar, also known for Vir Vinod), not Sayanji Jhula. Sayanji Jhula (also known as Sayanadana) is the author of several works such as Surya Prakash and Raj Vilas, but he did not write Nagdaman. The correct author for Nagdaman is Kaviraj Bankidas or Shyamaldas? Let us settle the matter with historical accuracy: According to reliable sources, Nagdaman (a poem describing the conquest of the Nagas or a serpent demon) was written by Kaviraj Bankidas (18th century). In some traditions, Nagdaman is attributed to Kavi Shyamaldas. But the key point is that Sayanji Jhula is definitively not the author. The RPSC question’s answer is “Nagdaman – Sayanji Jhula is not correctly matched”. This is the fact to remember: the author of Nagdaman is Bankidas (or Shyamaldas), and Sayanji Jhula is associated with other texts.

Thus, from this single PYQ, you have four data points: (1) Neh Tarang – Sawai Pratap Singh, (2) Ranmal Chhand – Shridhar Vyas, (3) Bhasha Bhushan – Maharaja Jaswant Singh, and (4) Nagdaman – Sayanji Jhula (incorrect). You must also know the correct author for Nagdaman to answer a future variant.

Other Important Rajasthani Works and Authors

To deepen your preparation, the following table lists additional frequently tested works from Rajasthan’s literary heritage. This is not exhaustive but covers authors likely to appear in matching questions.

Comparison Table 1: Key Rajasthani Literary Works

This table can be memorised using the mnemonic “NRB-BJS” (Neh Tarang, Ranmal Chhand, Bhasha Bhushan) – but that is just one part. An extended mnemonic is provided in the Memory Aids section.

Why This Matters for RPSC

Rajasthan’s rich literary tradition is a special focus of the state’s competitive examinations. The 2021 PYQ shows that the examiner expects accurate knowledge of not only the famous figures but also the less-known poets like Shridhar Vyas and authors like Sayanji Jhula (who is correctly matched to other works but not to Nagdaman). The best way to prepare is to compile a list of 20–25 Rajasthani works with their authors, language, and approximate century. Cross-verify from authoritative sources such as the Rajasthan Board literature syllabus or the Rajasthan Gazetteer.

Government Schemes and Awards: Media as a Public Information Tool

A significant proportion of the given PYQs (Q2, Q3, Q7, Q8, Q11) are about schemes announced by state or central governments, and one (Q6) about an international award. These are not “books” in the traditional sense, but they are communicated through official publications, press releases, and media coverage. RPSC tests your ability to recall specific parameters: the income limit for a scholarship, the target group for a scheme, or the star colour for a performance category. The media aspect lies in the fact that these schemes are publicised in newspapers and government websites, and the candidate must treat them as “texts” that can be memorised.

Bhamasha Yojana (RPSC 2016)

Bhamasha Yojana is a flagship initiative of the Rajasthan government launched in 2015. It aims to provide financial assistance for the marriage of daughters of families belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classes, and economically weaker sections. The scheme gives a lump sum grant of ₹51,000 (later increased) to the girl’s family. Two statements were given in the PYQ:

• (i) The scheme is for the marriage of daughters of families below poverty line.
• (ii) The assistance is provided only for the first two daughters. Both statements are correct. Thus, the answer was “Both (i) and (ii) are correct.” The scheme is also known as Mukhyamantri Bhamasha Yojana. The takeaway: scheme questions often test eligibility (income, number of children, caste). Prepare by noting the exact conditions.

Anuprati Yojana (RPSC 2016)

Anuprati Yojana is a scholarship-cum-coaching scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. It provides coaching for competitive examinations (like engineering, medical, civil services) to enable these students to compete on a level playing field. The correct statement from the PYQ was: “It is a scheme to give coaching for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students.” The other options incorrectly described it as financial help for marriage, orphan children, or school-going children. This scheme is distinct from Post-Matric Scholarship which is financial assistance for fees. Remember: Anuprati = coaching, Bhamasha = marriage grant, Vidya Sambal = school-level tutoring, Rajasthan Scholarship for Minorities = Post-Matric financial aid.

Post-Matric Scholarship for Minority Communities (RPSC 2018)

This central scheme (also implemented by Rajasthan) provides financial assistance to students from Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi communities who are studying at post-matric level. The PYQ asked for the combination of parental income and minimum marks in the previous examination. The correct answer was parental income less than ₹2 lakhs and at least 50% marks. The wrong options gave different thresholds (₹1 lakh/40%, ₹1.5 lakh/45%, ₹2.5 lakh/55%). This is a purely factual recall question. The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. When studying any scholarship scheme, note three numbers: income limit, minimum marks, and category (caste/religion/gender).

7 Star Gram Panchayat Rainbow Scheme (RPSC 2018)

Haryana government’s 7 Star Gram Panchayat Rainbow Scheme awards star ratings to panchayats based on seven social parameters. One parameter is sex ratio, and the star ranking given for outstanding performance in improving sex ratio is Pink Star. The other stars mentioned in the options (Green, Golden, Silver) correspond to other parameters: Green for environment, Golden for overall excellence, etc. This question tests media-reported state-specific initiatives. For RPSC, while this was a Haryana scheme, it illustrates the pattern: when a state launches a colourful named scheme (Rainbow, 7 Star), the examiner may ask a specific detail like the colour for a particular parameter. Rajasthan has its own such schemes (e.g., Bhamasha, Rajshri Yojana), and the same approach applies: know the key characteristic.

Comparison Table: Key Rajasthan Schemes Tested in PYQs

This comparison table helps you see the pattern: each scheme has a unique combination of objective, target, income, and condition. The examiner picks one of these to test.

International Award: Amir Amanullah Khan Award (RPSC 2016)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Afghanistan’s highest civilian award, the Amir Amanullah Khan Award, in 2016 (during his visit to Kabul). The award is named after Amanullah Khan (1919–1929), the Afghan reformist king who led the country to independence from British influence. The question asked which country conferred it, and the correct answer was Afghanistan. The distractor countries—Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Iran—have their own highest honours (King Abdulaziz Medal, Order of Outstanding Merit, Order of the Islamic Revolution, etc.). This question exemplifies how media coverage of diplomatic events is a rich source of simple factual questions. Aspirants should maintain a running list of “highest civilian awards of countries” and their recipients from India.

Malabar Trilateral Naval Exercise (RPSC 2018)

The Malabar Exercise is an annual naval exercise among India, the USA, and Japan. In June 2018, the 22nd edition was held in the Bay of Bengal (the question asked about participants, not the location). The correct answer from the options was Japan and United States of America. Initially the exercise was bilateral (India–US) but Japan became a permanent member in 2015. The PYQ option “Russia and Japan” is a common trap because Russia is India’s traditional partner but not part of Malabar (though invited in the past as an observer). This question is a direct media-based current affairs question: the exercise was widely reported in June 2018.

Trump-Kim Summit (RPSC 2018)

The historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took place in Singapore on June 12, 2018. The question asked for the venue. Singapore was chosen because it is a neutral location with strong diplomatic ties to both nations. The other options (Pyongyang, Seoul, Taipei) are capital cities of the involved countries but were not feasible due to security and protocol issues. This is a classic “current affairs venue” question, and it appears repeatedly in various competitive exams.

First Digital State of India (RPSC 2016)

Kerala was declared the first digital state of India in February 2016. This achievement was based on several parameters, including high internet penetration, digital literacy, and e-governance initiatives. The question asked which Indian state was declared first digital state, with options Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala. The correct answer is Kerala. This is a single-fact media question—the news was widely covered in national newspapers.

DRDO’s Lukoskin (RPSC 2016)

The Defence Research and Development Organisation developed a drug named Lukoskin for the treatment of leucoderma (a skin condition causing white patches). The question asked which disease the drug is used for. The wrong options were leukemia (blood cancer), lung cancer, and leukorrhea (vaginal discharge). The drug name “Lukoskin” is a portmanteau of “leuco” (white) and “skin”, hinting at its use. This is a science-and-media question: the news of the drug launch was reported in medical journals and newspapers.

Worked Examples & Applications

In this section, we walk through five actual PYQs, explaining the reasoning in detail. Each example follows the format: question text, choices students saw, walkthrough, correct answer in prose, and takeaway.

Example 1 — RPSC 2021

Question: Which one of the following pair in not correctly matched?

Choices students saw:

• Neh Tarang – Sawai Pratap Singh
• Ranmal Chhand – Shridhar Vyas
• Bhasha Bhushan – Maharaja Jaswant Singh
• Nagdaman – Sayanji Jhula

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Knowledge of Rajasthani literature—specifically, the correct author-to-work association. The question requires recall of four historically accurate pairs to identify the one that is spurious.
2. Why the first three are correct: Neh Tarang is an authentic work of Sawai Pratap Singh, Ranmal Chhand of Shridhar Vyas, and Bhasha Bhushan of Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur. These are well-documented in standard references on Rajasthani literature.
3. Why the fourth pair is incorrect: Nagdaman is a famous Rajasthani poem, but its author is Kaviraj Bankidas (or according to some sources, Kavi Shyamaldas). Sayanji Jhula is a different poet, known for works like Surya Prakash and Raj Vilas. The examiner deliberately created a wrong association using a poet whose name sounds plausible but is not connected.

Correct answer: The pair “Nagdaman – Sayanji Jhula” is not correctly matched. The correct author for Nagdaman is Kaviraj Bankidas.

Takeaway: Always verify the author of the least-known work in the question. If you recognise the first three as correct, the odd one out is the answer.

Example 2 — RPSC 2016

Question: The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a drug named, Lukoskin’. It is being used in the treatment of _______.

Choices students saw:

• Leukemia
• Lung Cancer
• Leukorrhea
• Leucoderma

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Awareness of a specific DRDO achievement reported in the media, plus the ability to connect the drug name to the diseased condition.
2. Why wrong choices are wrong: Leukemia (“leuko-” prefix meaning white blood cells) is a cancer; the drug name Lukoskin contains “skin”, not “emia”. Lung cancer is unrelated to the skin. Leukorrhea is a vaginal discharge, also not skin-related. The prefix “leuco” (white) is common to both leucoderma and leukemia, but the suffix “skin” makes leucoderma the logical fit.
3. Why the correct choice is right: Leucoderma is a skin disorder characterised by white patches. DRDO’s drug Lukoskin was developed as a topical treatment for this condition. The name is a combination of “luco” (from leucoderma) and “skin”.

Correct answer: The drug is used in the treatment of leucoderma.

Takeaway: For science-based current affairs, use word parts (prefix/suffix) to eliminate options. The name of the drug often hints at its use (e.g., “Lukoskin” → leucoderma + skin).

Example 3 — RPSC 2016

Question: Which Indian State has been declared as the first ‘Digital State’ of India?

Choices students saw:

• Karnataka
• Maharashtra
• Goa
• Kerala

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Factual knowledge about a state-level achievement that was widely publicised in the media.
2. Why wrong choices are wrong: Karnataka (Bangalore) and Maharashtra (Mumbai) are IT hubs, but they were not awarded the title of “first digital state”. Goa is smaller and has high internet penetration but did not receive the designation.
3. Why the correct choice is right: Kerala was declared the first digital state in February 2016 by the then Union Minister for Communications and IT. This was based on the state’s high mobile density, internet penetration, and e-governance initiatives.

Correct answer: Kerala was declared the first digital state of India.

Takeaway: Even states that are not traditionally seen as “digital” can achieve firsts. Do not rely on stereotypes; read the news.

Example 4 — RPSC 2018

Question: Where was the historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Leader Kim Jong Un was held in June 2018?

Choices students saw:

• Pyongyang
• Seoul
• Taipei
• Singapore

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Location of a major diplomatic event that received global media coverage.
2. Why wrong choices are wrong: Pyongyang (North Korea’s capital) would have been too risky for the US President; Seoul (South Korea) is technically still at war with the north and was not chosen; Taipei (Taiwan) is not a neutral location given China’s claims. Singapore is a neutral city-state with excellent security and diplomatic ties to both.
3. Why the correct choice is right: Singapore hosted the summit on June 12, 2018. The choice was widely reported as a masterstroke of diplomacy—a neutral ground acceptable to both sides.

Correct answer: The meeting was held in Singapore.

Takeaway: For international summits, remember the venue as a separate fact. Often the venue is chosen for its neutrality or diplomatic role.

Example 5 — RPSC 2018

Question: Haryana Government has launched a 7 Star Gram Panchayat Rainbow Scheme to give star ranking to its panchayats on the basis of Seven Social Parameters. What star ranking is given to those panchayats that make outstanding performance in improving sex ratio?

Choices students saw:

• Green Star
• Golden Star
• Pink Star
• Silver Star

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Specific detail of a state-level scheme with a colour-coded star ranking system. This is a media-based question where the scheme’s press release would have listed the colours.
2. Why wrong choices are wrong: Green star (typically associated with environment/forestry), Golden star (overall excellence), Silver star (another parameter). Only Pink star is explicitly linked to sex ratio improvement in the scheme.
3. Why the correct choice is right: The scheme assigns Pink Star to panchayats that perform outstandingly on the sex ratio parameter, symbolically associating the colour pink with girl children.

Correct answer: The star ranking given is Pink Star.

Takeaway: Colour-coded schemes are popular in competitive exams. Create a mental map: pink → girl child/sex ratio; green → environment; gold → overall; silver → secondary.

Example 6 — RPSC 2024

Question: Which of the following statement is incorrect regarding RAJ NIVESH Portal of Rajasthan?

Choices students saw:

• It is a “One Stop Shop” (OSS) facility directly under Chief Minister to facilitate large investment proposals more effectively and expedite requisite approvals/clearances for the same under one roof.
• It is a single-window clearance portal for investors in Rajasthan.
• It provides time-bound approvals for various departments.
• It is exclusively for micro and small enterprises.

Walkthrough:

1. What the question is testing: Knowledge of a specific state-level e-governance initiative—the RAJ NIVESH Portal—and the ability to identify a false claim about its scope.
2. Why the first three statements are correct: The RAJ NIVESH Portal is indeed a single-window clearance system for investors, offering time-bound approvals across departments, and functions as a One Stop Shop under the Chief Minister’s office for large investment proposals.
3. Why the fourth statement is incorrect: The portal is not “exclusively for micro and small enterprises.” It is designed for all investors—large, medium, and small—seeking approvals in Rajasthan. Restricting it to only micro and small enterprises contradicts the portal’s stated purpose of attracting investment of all scales.

Correct answer: The incorrect statement is “It is exclusively for micro and small enterprises.” The RAJ NIVESH Portal serves investors of all categories, not just micro and small enterprises.

Takeaway: When a statement uses an absolute qualifier like “exclusively,” it is often the incorrect option. Verify the actual scope of the scheme against the claim.

PYQ Trends & Patterns

A systematic examination of the PYQs reveals clear patterns that an aspirant can leverage for efficient revision.

Year-wise distribution: The PYQs span 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2024. 2016 had the highest number (Q2–Q6: five questions), followed by 2018 (Q7–Q11: five questions), 2024 (six questions), and 2021 (Q1: one question). This suggests a roughly equal weighting across years, though the sample is limited. Notably, 2021 had only one question from this subtopic—maybe a shift, but that is insufficient to conclude. The 2024 set, however, confirms that the examiner continues to allocate multiple questions to this area.

Topic-wise spread:

• Books and Authors (Rajasthani): 1 question (2021) directly tested matching of literary works. This is a high-value, low-effort topic if prepared well.
• Government Schemes (Rajasthan and National): 8 questions (Q2 Bhamasha, Q3 Anuprati, Q7? actually Q7 – statements, Q8 Post-Matric Minority, Q11 Haryana Rainbow; 2024: RAJ NIVESH Portal, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, Aastha Scheme, Rajasthan Urban Sector Development Programme Phase-III). Schemes constitute the largest chunk by far.
• Science & Defence: 1 question (Q4 Lukoskin).
• Awards & Honours: 1 question (Q6 Amir Amanullah Khan Award).
• International Events & Exercises: 2 questions (Q9 Trump-Kim summit, Q10 Malabar exercise).
• State Achievements: 1 question (Q5 first digital state).
• Reports & Indices: 1 question (2024: World Happiness Report-2024).
• State Policies: 1 question (2024: Rajasthan Mineral Policy-2024).

The distribution shows that the examiner prefers to test schemes and current affairs (summits, exercises, awards, reports) more frequently than pure literary pairs. However, the 2021 question on Rajasthani books is a reminder that literature is not to be neglected. The 2024 questions reinforce the dominance of scheme-based and policy-based factual recall.

Difficulty trajectory: The questions are entirely factual recall—no inference, no “which of the following is correct based on the passage”. The difficulty lies in the detail: the exact income limit for a scholarship, the specific objective of a programme, or the eligibility criteria for a scheme. The aspirant must rely on precise memory rather than logical deduction. Over the years, the level of specificity has remained constant. For example, the 2018 question on the Post-Matric Scholarship required memorising “less than ₹2 lakhs and at least 50%”, a very narrow threshold. Similarly, the 2024 question on the Aastha Scheme required knowing that families with “2 or more people are specially abled category with more than 40 percent disability” are eligible—a highly specific condition.

Question formats:

• Matching: 2021 Q1 presents four pairs and asks for the mismatched one. This is a standard format in RPSC GK.
• Select correct statement(s): Q2 (Bhamasha), Q7 (unclear but similar), and multiple 2024 questions (World Happiness Report-2024, Rajasthan Mineral Policy-2024, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana) required identifying which statements were correct or incorrect. This is now the most common format.
• Fill-in-the-blank: Q4 (Lukoskin treatment of __), Q5 (first digital state), Q6 (conferred by __), Q8 (combination of income and marks), Q9 (held in __), Q10 (participants besides India), Q11 (star ranking for sex ratio). The 2024 question on RAJ NIVESH Portal asked “which of the following statement is incorrect”, effectively a variation of the select-correct-statement format.
• Single-answer objective: The 2024 question on Rajasthan Urban Sector Development Programme (Phase-III) asked for the main objective, a straightforward fill-in-the-blank equivalent.

Recurring themes: Schemes involving financial thresholds, marriage of daughters, coaching for SC/ST, and minority scholarships are recurring. The Bhamasha and Anuprati questions both appeared in 2016, and a similar scheme (Post-Matric Minority) appeared in 2018—showing that the pattern continues. The 2024 questions on RAJ NIVESH Portal, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and Aastha Scheme confirm that scheme-based questions remain a staple. Additionally, state-specific policies (Rajasthan Mineral Policy-2024) and urban development programmes are now appearing, widening the scope.

Absent but possible: No question has yet asked about editors of newspapers, press acts, famous journalists, or media history (like the first Indian newspaper). This is a gap that RPSC could exploit in future exams. The notes will address this in the “What Else Could Be Asked” section.

What Else Could Be Asked

Based on the tested PYQs, the following forward-looking predictions are offered. They are grouped into three flavours: depth extension (deeper dive into already-tested concepts), lateral extension (adjacent topics), and combinatorial extension (new mash-ups).

Depth Extension

The scheme questions (Bhamasha, Anuprati, Post-Matric) have only tested one parameter per scheme. A future question could ask, for example, for the year of launch of Bhamasha Yojana, or the number of daughters eligible under Anuprati, or the percentage of reservation in the scheme. The literary question could be extended to ask about the century in which a particular poet lived, or the language of a work (Dingal, Braj, Rajasthani). The DRDO drug question could be deepened to ask about the clinical trial phase or the other conditions Lukoskin can treat.

Lateral Extension

Adjacent topics not yet tested but highly likely include:

• Press and Media in Rajasthan: The first newspaper of Rajasthan, its founder, the year of establishment. Key titles: Rajasthan Patrika (founded by Karpoori Thakur? Actually by *Gulab Kothari? Wait: Rajasthan Patrika was founded by Gulab Kothari in 1956 as a daily. Dainik Navajyoti is another major paper. The first Hindi newspaper in Rajasthan was Rajput Gazette (1875) or Marwar Gazette. These would fit the “Media” part of the subtopic perfectly.
• Important Journals/Periodicals: Arunodaya (first Hindi magazine), Bharat Jiwan, Kanya Mahavidyalaya (from Rajasthan). RPSC could ask about the founder or period.
• Awards conferred by Rajasthan government: Rajasthan Gaurav Award, Maharana Pratap Award—who received them and when.
• International awards to Indians other than Modi: e.g., Mahatma Gandhi’s peace award, Mother Teresa’s Nobel, etc.
• Other state-firsts: First digital state was Kerala—could be followed by “first fully digital state in terms of revenue” or “first state with 100% electrification” etc.

Combinatorial Extension

The matching format (like Q1) can be applied to new domains:

• Scheme–Feature matching: A list of four Rajasthan schemes (Bhamasha, Anuprati, Rajshri, Post-Matric) with four features (coaching for SC/ST, marriage grant for girls, financial aid for post-matric, cash incentive for girl child) and ask which pair is incorrect.
• Author–Period–Language triple matching: Instead of just author and work, introduce the century or language.
• International event–Venue–Year triple matching: e.g., Trump-Kim summit (2018, Singapore), Malabar exercise (2018, Bay of Bengal), etc.

The following table presents five concrete forecasts:

These predictions are firmly rooted in the patterns established by the PYQs. Aspirants should prepare accordingly.

Common Mistakes & Traps

Even well-prepared candidates often fall into the following traps when answering RPSC questions on Books, Authors & Media.

• Confusing similar-sounding names: For example, confusing Sayanji Jhula with Sawan Singh or Shyamaldas. The trap in Q1 relied on this—many students knew Nagdaman but not its author, and the name Sayanji Jhula sounds “literary” enough to be plausible. Solution: create a clear author-work list and cross-check each pair.
• Overlooking the exact income limit or percentage: For the Post-Matric Scholarship question, options included ₹1 lakh, ₹1.5 lakh, ₹2 lakh, ₹2.5 lakh—the difference is a single lakh. Many aspirants remember “2 lakh” but not the 50% marks condition. Solution: write the exact numeric pairs for every scheme on a flashcard.
• Assuming a well-known state is the “first” in everything: The “first digital state” question was often answered as Karnataka or Maharashtra because of the IT presence in Bengaluru and Pune. But the award went to Kerala. The trap is to rely on perception rather than news. Solution: maintain a list of “first in India” titles specifically.
• Mixing up the awarding country for international honours: The Amir Amanullah Khan Award could be confused with awards from Saudi Arabia (like the King Abdulaziz Medal) because of the “Khan” in the name, which is common in South and Central Asia. The presence of “Amanullah” should have immediately signalled Afghanistan. Solution: associate the name with the country’s historical leader.
• Forgetting the context of a drug name: Lukoskin sounds like “leukemia” because both start with “leuko”. But the “skin” suffix is a strong giveaway. The trap is to pick the first “leuko” word that comes to mind. Solution: always read the full name; break it into parts—Luko (white) + skin = leucoderma.
• Misinterpreting statement-based questions: In the Bhamasha Yojana question, candidates sometimes thought only one statement was correct because they misremembered the number-of-daughters condition as “at least two daughters” instead of “first two daughters”. Solution: rehearse the exact wording of conditions from the scheme’s website.
• Neglecting state-specific schemes outside Rajasthan: The Haryana Rainbow Scheme threw many students because they focused only on Rajasthan schemes. RPSC can ask about any Indian state’s notable scheme if it received national media coverage. Solution: while preparing for current affairs, note unique schemes from any state during your reading.

Memory Aids & Mnemonics

Two powerful memory aids will help you lock in the most vulnerable information points.

Mnemonic 1: “N-S-M-B” for Correct Rajasthani Pairs

Name: The “NSMB” Chain for Four Correct Pairs

The mnemonic: Associate each correct pair with a visual or word chain:
Neh Tarang – Sawai Pratap Singh
Ranmal Chhand – Shridhar Vyas
Bhasha Bhushan – Maharaja Jaswant Singh
Nagdaman – Bankidas (or Shyamaldas)

But this mixes up. A better chain is to remember the four authors as a sequence of first letters: Sawai, Shridhar, Jaswant, Bankidas = SSJB. Then recall the works: Neh, Ranmal, Bhasha, Nag = NRBN. The mnemonic phrase: “Sawai’s Neh, Shridhar’s Ranmal, Jaswant’s Bhasha, Bankidas’s Nag” — repeat that a few times. For the incorrect pair test, remember that only Bankidas (or Shyamaldas) is the author of Nagdaman, not Sayanji Jhula.

What it unlocks: The four works and their correct authors, enabling you to quickly identify a mismatched pair.

Worked example: In the PYQ, you see “Nagdaman – Sayanji Jhula”. Your mnemonic says “Bankidas’s Nag”. So you flag it as incorrect.

Mnemonic 2: “LUKO-SKIN = Leucoderma”

Name: The “LUKO” Rule for DRDO’s Lukoskin

The mnemonic:

• LU – Leucoderma
• KO – (no meaning, but keep it)
• SKIN – skin disease
  Thus, LUKO + SKIN = Leucoderma. The wrong options:
• Leukemia – has “emia” (blood) not “skin”
• Lung Cancer – no “leuko”
• Leukorrhea – vaginal discharge, no “skin”

What it unlocks: The correct disease for Lukoskin, and the reasoning to eliminate wrong answers.

Worked example: At the exam, you see the word “Lukoskin”. Your mnemonic triggers “skin disease” and “leuco”, so you pick Leucoderma instantly.

Bonus Mnemonic: “Pink = Girl” for Haryana’s Rainbow Scheme

Name: Colour Association: Pink is for Girl Child

The mnemonic:

• Pink is culturally associated with girls. Therefore, the star for improving sex ratio is Pink Star.
• Green = environment (green for trees)
• Gold = overall excellence (gold medal)
• Silver = secondary achievement

What it unlocks: The colour for any future question on the Rainbow Scheme. If a question asks about star for environment, you will know it’s Green.

Quick Revision

This section is a bullet-point summary of the entire chapter, organized by the H2 headings. Use this for last-minute revision before the exam.

Introduction

• Books, Authors & Media is a high-yield GK subtopic for RPSC with a mix of literary, scheme, and current affairs questions.
• 11 PYQs analysed (2016–2021).
• Key skills: factual recall, matching, exact numeric parameters.

Core Concepts & Foundations

• Book: written work, tested via author matching.
• Author: creator of the work, often in Rajasthani/Braj/Hindi.
• Media: mass communication channels—newspapers, TV, internet.
• Scheme: government project with specific rules.
• Award: honour conferred by a country or institution.
• Matching Pair: most common format for literary questions.

Rajasthani Literary Heritage

• Correct pairs: Neh Tarang – Sawai Pratap Singh; Ranmal Chhand – Shridhar Vyas; Bhasha Bhushan – Maharaja Jaswant Singh.
• Incorrect pair: Nagdaman – Sayanji Jhula. Correct author: Kaviraj Bankidas (or Shyamaldas).
• Other works: Khumman Raso, Vir Vinod, Raj Vilas, etc.

Government Schemes & Awards

• Bhamasha Yojana: marriage grant for daughters of BPL families; for first two daughters; both statements true.
• Anuprati Yojana: coaching for SC/ST students.
• Post-Matric Minority Scholarship: income < ₹2 lakhs; min 50% marks.
• Haryana Rainbow 7-Star: Pink Star for sex ratio improvement.
• Amanullah Khan Award: Afghanistan’s highest civilian honour to PM Modi (2016).
• Malabar Exercise: India, USA, Japan (2018 edition).
• Trump-Kim Summit: Singapore, June 2018.
• First Digital State: Kerala (2016).
• Lukoskin: DRDO drug for leucoderma.

PYQ Trends

• Most questions are factual, scheme-based, or current-events.
• Matching format for literature; fill-in-the-blank for others.
• Recurring focus on scheme parameters (income, marks, target group).

What Else Could Be Asked

• First newspaper of Rajasthan, editors, press acts.
• Other state-level schemes (Rajshri, Vidya Sambal).
• Higher civilian awards of other countries.
• Combinatorial matching of schemes and features.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing similar names (e.g., Sayanji Jhula).
• Forgetting income/marks thresholds.
• Assuming IT hubs are first in digital; not reading news.
• Mixing up awarding countries.
• Misreading drug names without linking suffixes.
• Neglecting non-Rajasthan state schemes.

Memory Aids

• “SSJB → NRBN” for correct Rajasthani pairs.
• “LUKO-SKIN = Leucoderma” for Lukoskin.
• “Pink = Girl” for Haryana Rainbow Scheme.

This comprehensive approach, combined with consistent newspaper reading and a systematic review of scheme notification bulletins, will ensure that you master Books, Authors & Media for RPSC. Good luck.