UKPSC RO ARO Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility

Merit is the 400 marks of the main exam. The preliminary only screens, and the practical tests are pass or fail. Objective papers cut a quarter of a question's marks for each wrong answer. There is no interview.

The English and Hindi syllabus is at the end of the 2023 advertisement.

• Preliminary General Studies: general science and computers, Indian history and national movement, polity and economy, geography, current events, and five Uttarakhand units (history, culture, geography and population, political and administrative background including the land system, and economy and resources).
• Preliminary General Aptitude: verbal and non-verbal reasoning, analogies, series, classification, problem solving and arithmetic reasoning.
• Main General Studies: science and technology including AI and cyber crime, computers, history and culture of India and Uttarakhand, the national movement and foreign relations, geography and population, disaster management and environment, Indian polity and economy, Uttarakhand polity and Panchayati Raj, Uttarakhand economy, and current events.
• Hindi composition and essay: descriptive Hindi papers, written in the exam hall.

• Bachelor's degree from a university established by law in India, or equivalent.
• Hindi typing on computer at 4,000 key depressions an hour. English typing (8,000 an hour for RO, 9,000 for ARO) gives preference.
• For Secretariat and Commission posts, a qualifying test of basic computer knowledge (Windows and internet, Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint), pass mark 40%.
• Age 21 to 42 on 1 July 2023 for the 2023 round (born between 2 July 1981 and 1 July 2002). Uttarakhand SC, ST and OBC candidates and freedom fighter dependants get 5 extra years, candidates with a disability 10.
• High School and Intermediate from Uttarakhand, as for every Group 'C' post, with exemptions for forces personnel, state and central staff posted in the state, and permanent residents living outside for work or study.
• Registered with an Uttarakhand employment exchange by the closing date, unless already in state service.

Both are non-gazetted, under the contributory pension scheme, plus state allowances.

Online only. In 2023 the form ran from 8 to 29 September, followed by an edit window in October. Those who cleared the preliminary chose a main exam centre and paid a separate main exam fee online.

The Secretariat RO posts split as 39 unreserved, 5 SC, 4 OBC and 5 EWS; the Secretariat ARO posts as 27 unreserved, 15 SC, 11 OBC, 6 EWS and 1 ST. Each list also had posts for Uttarakhand women, freedom fighter dependants, candidates with a disability, ex-servicemen and orphans.

The 2023 preliminary was held in 16 Uttarakhand cities: Almora, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Haldwani, Rudrapur, Khatima, Bageshwar, Srinagar, Gopeshwar, New Tehri, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Roorkee. The main exam is held only in Haridwar and Haldwani.

Next round

RO/ARO Exam-2026 preliminary: 23 May 2027 (proposed, per the 2026-27 calendar). The separate RO/ARO (Accounts) Exam-2026 preliminary is proposed for 6 June 2027. Advertisements are not out yet.

2023 round

Results are posted as PDFs on the Results page. In the 2023 round the Commission published a final result on 28 March 2025, then cancelled it on 2 April 2025 after finding a technical error, and issued a revised one on 11 April 2025. In May 2024 it also revised the preliminary result for ex-servicemen after four candidates were found to have used that benefit before.

2023 preliminary, out of 150 (notice)

2023 main, out of 400 (notice)

The notice gives separate final cut-offs for each office and post.

• Uttarakhand is roughly half the General Studies syllabus at both stages. Study the state's history, land system, geography and economy in depth.
• Merit rests on the 400-mark main, and 200 of that is Hindi composition and essay. Write timed practice answers in Hindi.
• Get your Hindi typing on a computer well past 4,000 key depressions an hour before the main result. Since February 2025 the Commission lets you bring your own USB keyboard to its typing tests, with a signed declaration.
• The 2023 papers are on the Commission's site (see Important links), as are papers from the sister RO/ARO exams.

• Uttarakhand Public Service Commission
• Recruitment Notifications and Results
• Exam calendar 2026-27
• Advertisement A-1/E-3/DR(RO/ARO)/2023
• Final cut-off marks, 11 April 2025
• 2023 papers: 2023 preliminary, main General Studies, Essay, Hindi Composition

Is there one exam for RO and ARO?

Yes. One advertisement and one exam cover both posts in all three offices.

When is the next RO/ARO exam?

The preliminary is proposed for 23 May 2027. Watch for the advertisement before then.

Is there an interview?

No. Merit is the main exam, out of 400.

Do I need typing?

Yes, Hindi typing at 4,000 key depressions an hour, tested after the main exam.

Can I apply if I studied outside Uttarakhand?

Usually not. High School and Intermediate must be from Uttarakhand, with a few exceptions.