The TNPSC Group 2 Syllabus 2026 covers the subjects and topics prescribed for the Combined Civil Services Examination–II for Group II and Group IIA Services. Both services have a common Preliminary Examination, while their Main Examination structure and syllabus differ.
This guide explains the TNPSC Group 2 Prelims and Mains syllabus, the examination structure needed to understand the syllabus, subject-wise weightage, and where to find official previous-year question papers.
Important: TNPSC’s 2026 examination planner is tentative, and the Commission states that the syllabus and examination scheme may be modified until the relevant notification is published. Candidates should therefore verify the final notification and syllabus on the official TNPSC website.
For complete information on eligibility, posts, fees, and documents, see our TNPSC Group 2 exam guide.
TNPSC Group 2 Syllabus Overview
The TNPSC Group 2 examination is conducted as the Combined Civil Services Examination–II for Group II and Group IIA Services. The Preliminary Examination is common to both services. Candidates who qualify at the Preliminary stage proceed according to the Main Examination and selection procedure applicable to their service.
| Stage | What it covers |
| Common Preliminary Examination | General Tamil or General English, General Studies, Aptitude & Mental Ability |
| Main Examination – Group II | Tamil Eligibility Test and General Studies |
| Main Examination – Group IIA | Tamil Eligibility Test, General Studies, General Intelligence & Reasoning |
TNPSC Group 2 Prelims Syllabus
The Preliminary Examination covers three areas: General Tamil or General English, General Studies, and Aptitude and Mental Ability.
Common Prelims Exam Pattern for Group II and Group IIA
Before studying the syllabus, it helps to understand how the Preliminary Examination is divided.
| Part | Subject | Standard | Questions |
| A | General Studies – 6 Units | Degree | 75 |
| B | Aptitude and Mental Ability | SSLC | 25 |
| C | General Tamil or General English | SSLC | 100 |
| Total | All Sections | — | 200 |
Total Marks: 300
Duration: 3 Hours
Minimum Qualifying Marks: 90
The Preliminary Examination is a single objective paper containing 200 questions. The 300 marks apply to the complete paper, not to any individual section.
Official TNPSC Prelims Syllabus
The complete syllabus should be checked from the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission before preparation.
TNPSC official Group II & Group IIA Syllabus
1. General Tamil or General English – 100 Questions
The language section is set at the SSLC standard. Candidates may select either General Tamil or General English for the language section.
| General Tamil | General English |
| Grammar | Grammar |
| Vocabulary | Vocabulary |
| Reading comprehension | Reading comprehension |
| Tamil literature | Writing skills |
| Authors and literary works | Technical terms |
| Language usage | Translation |
| Other prescribed language areas | Literary works |
The official TNPSC syllabus provides the detailed unit-wise topics. Candidates should use that document rather than depending only on a shortened topic list.
With 100 questions out of 200, the language section has the largest question share in Prelims.
2. General Studies – 75 Questions
General Studies is set at the degree standard. The Preliminary syllabus covers six broad areas.
| Unit | Main areas covered |
| General Science | Basic science and developments related to everyday life |
| Geography | Geography of India and related geographical concepts |
| History and Culture | Indian history and cultural developments |
| Indian Polity | Constitution, governance and political system |
| Indian Economy | Economic concepts, development and major issues |
| Indian National Movement | Major events, personalities and developments of the freedom movement |
The syllabus also requires attention to Tamil Nadu’s history, culture and heritage and development administration in Tamil Nadu. The complete scope should be checked in the official syllabus because the Commission provides the detailed topics under the prescribed units.
3. Aptitude and Mental Ability – 25 Questions
This section is based on the SSLC standard.
| Area | Topics |
| Aptitude | Simplification, percentage, HCF and LCM, ratio and proportion, simple interest, compound interest, area, volume, time and work |
| Mental Ability / Reasoning | Logical reasoning, puzzles, dice, visual reasoning, alphanumeric reasoning and number series |
The Preliminary Examination allocates 25 questions to this section.
TNPSC Group 2 Mains Exam Pattern
The Main Examination is different for Group II and Group IIA. Understanding this difference is important before looking at their respective syllabi.
Group II Mains
| Paper | Subject | Standard | Type | Marks | Duration |
| Paper I | Tamil Eligibility Test | SSLC | Descriptive | 100 | 3 Hours |
| Paper II | General Studies | Degree | Descriptive | 300 | 3 Hours |
Paper I is a qualifying paper, with 40 marks required to qualify. Paper II carries 300 marks, with 90 marks as the minimum qualifying mark. TNPSC evaluates Paper II only when the candidate secures the required qualifying marks in Paper I.
Group IIA Mains
| Paper | Components | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Paper I | Tamil Eligibility Test | — | 100 | 3 Hours |
| Paper II | General Studies – 150 questions + General Intelligence & Reasoning – 50 questions | 200 | 300 | 3 Hours |
Paper II is one objective paper. It contains 150 questions from General Studies and 50 questions from General Intelligence and Reasoning. The complete Paper II carries 300 marks. Paper I is qualifying, while Paper II is the scoring paper.
TNPSC Group 2 Mains Syllabus
Paper I – Tamil Eligibility Test
The Tamil Eligibility Test is a descriptive SSLC-level paper. Its syllabus focuses on practical language skills.
Major areas include:
- Tamil-to-English translation
- English-to-Tamil translation
- Precis writing
- Comprehension
- Hints development
- Essay writing based on Thirukkural
- Official letter writing
- Tamil language knowledge
The official TNPSC syllabus should be used for the complete question requirements and prescribed areas.
Official TNPSC Group II tamil eligibility test syllabus
Paper II – General Studies
Group II Paper II is a degree-standard descriptive General Studies paper carrying 300 marks.
The syllabus covers areas such as:
- Modern Indian history
- Social issues and social development
- Indian polity and governance
- Science and technology
- Indian economy
- Geography
- Environment and ecology
- Tamil Nadu-related development and administration
For descriptive preparation, candidates should study the topics from the official syllabus and practise presenting answers clearly rather than preparing only through objective questions.
Official TNPSC Group II General Studies Syllabus
Group IIA Mains Syllabus
Paper I – Tamil Eligibility Test
Paper II – objective and contains two components:
| Component | Questions | Standard |
| General Studies | 150 | Degree |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | SSLC |
| Total | 200 | — |
General Studies covers the prescribed degree-level topics, while General Intelligence and Reasoning tests the areas specified by TNPSC at the SSLC standard.
Candidates preparing for Group IIA should therefore follow the Group IIA-specific syllabus rather than applying the descriptive Group II preparation pattern to both services.
Official Group IIA Mains Paper II Syllabus
TNPSC Group 2 Prelims: Subject-wise Weightage
The question distribution gives candidates a clear picture of the relative weightage of each section.
| Subject | Questions | Weightage |
| General Tamil / General English | 100 | 50% |
| General Studies | 75 | 37.5% |
| Aptitude & Mental Ability | 25 | 12.5% |
| Total | 200 | 100% |
The language section has the highest weightage, followed by General Studies. Aptitude and Mental Ability has fewer questions but remains part of the complete syllabus.
This distribution can help candidates plan study time, but it should not be used to skip topics. TNPSC’s official syllabus remains the complete preparation reference.
TNPSC Group 2 Previous-Year Question Papers
Candidates can find official TNPSC Group 2 previous-year question papers through the Commission’s website.
The TNPSC descriptive-question section includes Group II Main General Studies and the Common Tamil Eligibility Test papers.
Using these official papers alongside the syllabus can help candidates understand how the prescribed topics are turned into examination questions.
How to Prepare Using the TNPSC Group 2 Syllabus?
- Follow the official syllabus and divide it into smaller topics.
- Focus on high-weightage sections, especially General Tamil/English and General Studies.
- Practise Aptitude and Reasoning regularly to improve speed and accuracy.
- Use previous-year questions to understand how TNPSC asks questions from the syllabus.
- Group II: Practise descriptive answer writing for Mains.
- Group IIA: Focus on objective practice for General Studies and Reasoning.
- Revise regularly to retain completed topics.
FAQs on TNPSC Group 2 Syllabus
1. How many questions are there in TNPSC Group 2 Prelims?
There are 200 questions: 100 from General Tamil or General English, 75 from General Studies, and 25 from Aptitude and Mental Ability. The complete paper carries 300 marks and has a duration of 3 hours.
2. Is the Group II and Group IIA Prelims syllabus the same?
Yes. Group II and Group IIA Services have a common Preliminary Examination covering General Tamil or General English, General Studies, and Aptitude and Mental Ability. Their Main Examination syllabi are different.
3. Is TNPSC Group 2 Easy to Clear?
TNPSC Group 2 is a competitive examination, but a well-planned preparation can make it manageable. Understanding the syllabus, following the prescribed topics and practising questions regularly can help candidates prepare with greater confidence.
4. How to Clear TNPSC Group 2 in the First Attempt?
Start by understanding the official TNPSC syllabus and divide the subjects into manageable topics. Give consistent time to General Studies, Language, Aptitude and Mental Ability, solve previous-year questions, and revise regularly. Group II candidates should also practise descriptive answers before the Mains examination.
5. What Study Material Does TNPSC Provide for Group 2?
TNPSC does not provide a single study-material book covering the complete Group 2 syllabus. However, candidates can use the Commission’s official syllabus, examination scheme and previous-year question papers as their primary preparation resources.
6. Where Can I Find Official TNPSC Group 2 Study Materials?
Candidates can find official syllabus documents and previous-year question papers on the TNPSC website. These resources are useful for understanding the prescribed topics and the way questions have been asked in earlier examinations.
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