We establish two key results regarding pseudo symmetric and pseudo Ricci symmetric space-times. Firstly, we demonstrate that in pseudo symmetric generalized Robertson-Walker space-times either the scalar curvature remains constant or the associated vector field $$B_{i}$$
B
i
is irrotational. Secondly, in pseudo Ricci symmetric generalized Robertson-Walker space-times, we establish that either the scalar curvature is zero or the associated vector field $$A_{i}$$
A
i
is irrotational. We identify the conditions to ensure both $$B_{i}$$
B
i
and $$A_{i}$$
A
i
of these manifolds are acceleration-free and vorticity-free. We provide evidence that a pseudo symmetric and pseudo Ricci symmetric GRW space-time can be described as a perfect fluid. In a pseudo symmetric space-time, the state equation is given by $$p=\frac{4-n}{ 2n-2}\mu $$
p
=
4
-
n
2
n
-
2
μ
, whereas in a pseudo Ricci symmetric space-time, the state equation takes the form $$p=\frac{3-n}{n-1}\mu $$
p
=
3
-
n
n
-
1
μ
, where p and $$\mu $$
μ
are the isotropic pressure and the energy density. It is noteworthy that if $$n=4$$
n
=
4
, a pseudo symmetric space-time corresponds to the dust matter era, while a pseudo Ricci symmetric space-time corresponds to the phantom era.