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RO / ARO

1. Overview of RO/ARO Exam

  • The RO/ARO exam is a state-level competitive exam conducted to recruit Review Officers (RO) and Assistant Review Officers (ARO) in the Uttar Pradesh Secretariat, UPPSC, and other government offices.
  • These posts are considered prestigious as they offer job security, good salary, and a structured career progression.

2. Eligibility Criteria

(a) Educational Qualification:

  • Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
  • Some posts may require specific qualifications like typing skills:
    • For ARO (Assistant Review Officer): Hindi typing speed of 25 words per minute is often required.

(b) Age Limit:

  • Minimum age: 21 years.
  • Maximum age: 40 years (General category).
  • Age Relaxation:
    • SC/ST/OBC of UP: 5 years relaxation.
    • Physically handicapped: 15 years relaxation.
    • Other relaxations are provided as per government norms for Ex-servicemen, dependents of freedom fighters, etc.

(c) Nationality:

  • Must be a citizen of India.

3. Selection Process

The UPPSC RO/ARO recruitment process is conducted in three stages:

(a) Preliminary Examination (Prelims):

  • This stage is objective-type (Multiple Choice Questions).
  • It is a screening test to shortlist candidates for the Mains exam.
  • The Prelims exam consists of two papers.
    • Paper I: General Studies (140 marks):
      • General Science.
      • History of India.
      • Indian National Movement.
      • Indian Polity, Economy, and Culture.
      • Indian and World Geography.
      • Current Events of National and International Importance.
      • General Aptitude.
      • Special knowledge about the education, culture, agriculture, industry, and commerce of Uttar Pradesh.
    • Paper II: General Hindi (60 marks):
      • Elementary knowledge of Hindi language, grammar, and comprehension.
      • Paper II is qualifying in nature, with a minimum of 33% marks required to qualify for Mains.

Total Marks for Prelims: 200 marks. Negative marking: There is no mention of negative marking in the official notification, but candidates should verify it based on the latest updates.

(b) Mains Examination:

  • The Mains exam is descriptive in nature and is the primary stage for determining merit. It consists of three papers.
    • Paper I: General Studies (120 marks, 3 hours):
      • Same syllabus as in Prelims, but with more detailed questions.
    • Paper II: General Hindi and Drafting (200 marks, 3 hours):
      • Part I: Conventional Hindi (100 marks):
        • Essays, precise writing, and letter drafting.
      • Part II: Hindi Essay (100 marks):
        • Essays on social, political, cultural, and contemporary issues.
    • Paper III: Hindi typing test (25 marks):
      • This is applicable for ARO candidates only.
      • Typing speed of 25 words per minute on a computer is required.

Total Marks for Mains: 345 marks (320 for RO, as the typing test is not applicable for them).

(c) Interview (if applicable):

  • For some posts, an Interview may be conducted after the Mains exam, though it is generally not mandatory for RO/ARO positions.
  • The interview (if conducted) is usually worth 50 marks.

4. Exam Pattern

Prelims Pattern:

PaperSubjectMarksDuration

Paper IGeneral Studies1402 hours

Paper IIGeneral Hindi601 hour

Total2003 hours

Mains Pattern:

PaperSubjectMarksDuration

Paper IGeneral Studies1203 hours

Paper IIGeneral Hindi and Drafting2003 hours

Paper IIIHindi Typing (for ARO only)25–

Total345

5. Syllabus for RO/ARO Exam

The syllabus for both the Prelims and Mains exams covers a variety of subjects related to general studies, current affairs, and language proficiency.

(a) Prelims Syllabus:

General Studies (Paper I):

  • Indian History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern history.
  • Indian National Movement: Important events, contributions of notable personalities, and socio-political movements.
  • Indian Geography: Physical features, rivers, mountains, natural resources, and economic geography.
  • Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
  • Economy: Indian economy, poverty, economic development, budget and fiscal policies, and agricultural reforms.
  • General Science: Basics of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology relevant for competitive exams.
  • Current Affairs: National and international events, sports, awards, and important appointments.
  • Uttar Pradesh-specific Knowledge: Cultural heritage, historical events, political movements, geography, and economy of Uttar Pradesh.

General Hindi (Paper II):

  • Vocabulary.
  • Sentence structure.
  • Grammar.
  • Comprehension.

(b) Mains Syllabus:

General Studies (Paper I):

  • Same as in Prelims but with a focus on more in-depth knowledge and writing skills.

General Hindi and Drafting (Paper II):

  • Part I (Conventional Hindi):
    • Translation from English to Hindi.
    • Precis and drafting.
    • Essay on contemporary and legal topics.
  • Part II (Hindi Essay):
    • Essays on various subjects such as politics, social issues, economic reforms, and culture.

Hindi Typing Test (for ARO):

  • Typing speed test in Hindi, requiring a speed of 25 words per minute.

6. Marking Scheme

  • Prelims: 200 marks (General Studies + General Hindi).
  • Mains: 345 marks for ARO (includes typing), 320 marks for RO.
  • Interview: Some posts may have an interview stage, adding 50 marks to the final total.

The final merit list is prepared based on the Mains marks (and Interview, if applicable).

7. Job Roles and Responsibilities

  • Review Officer (RO):
    • File management: Reviewing files, preparing reports, and noting the status of documents.
    • Supervision: Supervising clerical work and ensuring that all procedures are followed.
    • Correspondence: Handling government correspondence and ensuring proper communication between departments.
  • Assistant Review Officer (ARO):
    • Typing and drafting: Drafting official documents, letters, and notes in Hindi/English.
    • Record maintenance: Maintaining records, registers, and files in the office.
    • Assisting seniors: Assisting the Review Officer in day-to-day activities and office work.

8. Salary and Benefits

  • The salary for RO/ARO posts falls under the Level-7 Pay Matrix for RO and Level-4 Pay Matrix for ARO as per the 7th Pay Commission.
    • RO Salary: ₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100 (approx).
    • ARO Salary: ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 (approx).
  • In addition to the basic pay, government employees receive:
    • Dearness Allowance (DA).
    • House Rent Allowance (HRA).
    • Medical benefits.
    • Pension benefits.

9. Preparation Strategy

  • Study NCERT books: For subjects like history, geography, and economics.
  • Current Affairs: Follow daily news and monthly current affairs magazines (like Pratiyogita Darpan).
  • Practice General Hindi: Focus on Hindi grammar, essays, and letter writing.
  • Mock Tests: Solve previous year papers and take mock tests to improve time management and accuracy.
  • Typing Practice: For ARO candidates, regular practice of Hindi typing is essential to clear the typing test.

10. Useful Resources

  • UPPSC Official Website: uppsc.up.nic.in