TNPSC Group 2 Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility

Preliminary (common)

Pass mark 90 for all. It only screens: ten candidates per vacancy go to each main exam.

Main, Group II

Main, Group IIA

In both mains, Paper II is marked only if you clear Paper I, and Paper II alone decides rank. Disabled candidates can be exempted from Paper I.

The preliminary syllabus spreads its 75 GS questions as: science 5, geography of India 5, Indian history and national movement 10, polity 15, Indian economy and Tamil Nadu development administration 20, and Tamil Nadu history and heritage 20.

The Group II main GS paper (300 marks) has seven units: modern history with Tamil Nadu focus (40), Tamil society, culture and heritage (30), social issues (50), science and technology (40), constitution and governance (60), geography, environment and disaster management (40), and the Indian economy with Tamil Nadu focus (40).

Education: a degree from a UGC-recognised university, in the order 10th, then HSC or diploma, then degree. A few posts name a specific degree or a preference; the post-wise table in para 4.2 of the notification lists them.

Age on 1 July 2026, for Others: 18 to under 32 for most posts. Exceptions include Sub Registrar Grade II (minimum 20), Probation Officer in Prisons (minimum 22) and Executive Officer Grade III (25 to under 37). Law graduates get two extra years for Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, and Jailor candidates with a master's in criminology or social work can be up to 37. Disabled candidates get ten more years and ex-servicemen up to 50. Reserved communities have relaxed limits, set out post by post in para 4.1.2.

• Adequate knowledge of Tamil, or pass the Second Class Language Test within two years of appointment.
• Others with five years or more of government service cannot apply.
• Executive Officer Grade III (HR&CE) is for Hindus only.

1. Preliminary, a screening test whose marks are dropped later.
2. Separate main exams for Group II and Group IIA; you may qualify for both.
3. Onscreen certificate verification at 1:3 (general) and 1:2 (reserved).
4. Physical verification and counselling at 1:3 and 1:1.5, by rank.

Someone already placed in a Group II post is not considered for Group IIA in the same cycle. There is no interview for any post in 07/2026.

Apply on the TNPSC portal. Fees: ₹100 for the preliminary; ₹150 for one main exam, or ₹300 if shortlisted for both, payable only when called. One Time Registration is ₹150 and lasts five years.

In the 2025 cycle the preliminary (28 September 2025) was followed by the list for the main exam on 22 December 2025.

Preliminary results come as lists of register numbers admitted to each main exam, posted on the exam dashboard for 07/2026. Ranks after the main exam are published on the TNPSC site before counselling.

• Choose General Tamil or General English for the preliminary based on which you score better in; it is 100 of the 200 questions.
• For Group II, practise writing: both main papers are descriptive, and the Tamil paper has to be cleared before your GS answers are read.
• Group IIA candidates should drill reasoning for the 50-question block in the computer-based Paper II.
• Past papers and keys are on the TNPSC question papers page.

• Notification 07/2026
• Addendum 7A/2026
• Dashboard for 07/2026
• Apply online and hall tickets
• Preliminary syllabus
• Group II main syllabus
• Previous papers

How many posts are in TNPSC Group 2 2026?

846 after Addendum 7A: 43 in Group II and 803 in Group IIA.

When is the Group 2 prelim?

1 November 2026.

Is there an interview?

Not in the 2026 notification. Final rank is on main Paper II.

Do prelim marks count?

No. The prelim only screens.

Can I write the main exam in English?

General Studies is set in Tamil and English. Main Paper I, the Tamil Eligibility Test, is in Tamil.