TNPSC Group 2 & 2A — Combined Civil Services II
குரூப் 2 மற்றும் 2A தேர்வுக்கு தமிழ் வழியில் பாடத்திட்டம், தேர்வு முறை மற்றும் படிப்புப் பொருட்கள்.
One common preliminary examination leads to both Group 2 and Group 2A. Group 2 posts carry an interview and a descriptive main paper; Group 2A posts are non-interview with an objective main paper. Everything Athiyaman Academy publishes for both, in one place.
Days left to the exam
Group 2 & 2A
குரூப் 2 / 2A
Notification 11.08.2026
Examination 01.11.2026
Applications open until 09.09.2026
Where we come in
எங்கள் உதவி
The notification is expected within days. The preliminary syllabus has been stable across recent cycles, so the sensible move is to start on the Part B units now — Tamil Nadu economy and history alone carry 40 of the 75 General Studies questions.
Dates from the TNPSC Annual Planner 2026, which the Commission marks tentative. The 2026 notification had not appeared on the live exam dashboard as of this check. Last verified 4 August 2026
Eligibility
The Group 2 / 2A notification is expected on 11 August 2026. Age limits, educational qualification, the exact list of posts and vacancy counts are fixed by each notification, so we publish them here the day the notification is out rather than carrying over an older year’s figures. Tell us your age, community and degree and we will tell you what you are likely to qualify for.
| Rules that apply to every TNPSC recruitment |
|---|
| Eligibility is post-specific and must be satisfied on the crucial date named in that notification. |
| You apply online through One Time Registration (OTR). OTR by itself is not an application. |
| Qualifications must normally be acquired by the notification date, in the prescribed order of study. |
| Adequate knowledge of Tamil with documentary proof is required as specified in the notification. |
| Admission at every stage is provisional and can be cancelled if a claim or document is invalid. |
Syllabus & exam pattern
Everything below is taken from the Commission’s own syllabus document for the Combined Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination II, code 495 — unit names, topic lists and question counts, in both Tamil and English. TNPSC has not yet published a 2026 revision; if the 2026 notification carries a changed scheme, that scheme prevails.
Preliminary examination — common to Group 2 and 2A
| Part | Subject | Standard | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Studies | Degree | 75 | 112.5 |
| B | Aptitude and Mental Ability | SSLC | 25 | 37.5 |
| C | Language — General Tamil or General English | SSLC | 100 | 150 |
| Total | 200 | 300 | ||
Duration
3 hours, single session
Mode
Objective, offline OMR
Negative marking
None
Qualifying mark
90 out of 300, same for all communities
Question language
Bilingual — Tamil and English
Counts towards rank?
No — shortlisting only
The most important number on this page
The Language paper alone is 100 of the 200 questions and 150 of the 300 marks. General Studies — the part most candidates spend all their time on — is only 75 questions. Preparing General Studies brilliantly while treating the language paper as an afterthought means competing for half the paper.
மொழித் தாள் மட்டுமே 100 வினாக்கள், 150 மதிப்பெண்கள் — அதாவது மொத்த மதிப்பெண்ணில் பாதி. பொது அறிவுக்கு 75 வினாக்கள் மட்டுமே. எனவே பொதுத் தமிழைப் புறக்கணிப்பவர் பாதித் தாளையே இழக்கிறார்.
Part A: General Studies — unit-wise weightage
பகுதி அ: பொது அறிவு (பட்டப்படிப்புத் தரம் — 75 கேள்விகள்)
| Unit | Questions | Share of GS |
|---|---|---|
| V — Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu | 20 | 26.7% |
| VI — History, Culture, Heritage, and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu | 20 | 26.7% |
| IV — Indian Polity | 15 | 20.0% |
| III — History, Culture of India, and Indian National Movement | 10 | 13.3% |
| I — General Science | 5 | 6.7% |
| II — Geography of India | 5 | 6.7% |
| Total | 75 | 100% |
Read this table before building a timetable. Tamil Nadu-focused content — Unit V plus Unit VI — is 40 of the 75 General Studies questions. General Science and Geography together are 10. The habit of starting preparation with Science and Geography is the wrong end of the paper.
தமிழ்நாடு சார்ந்த இரு அலகுகளே 75-இல் 40 வினாக்களை உள்ளடக்கியுள்ளன. பொது அறிவியலும் புவியியலும் சேர்ந்து 10 வினாக்கள் மட்டுமே. எனவே தமிழ்நாட்டுப் பொருளாதாரம், வரலாறு, சமூக இயக்கங்கள் ஆகியவற்றுக்கு முன்னுரிமை அளிக்க வேண்டும்.
Part A — full syllabus, unit by unit
Unit I — General Science 5 questions
அலகு I: பொது அறிவியல்
Scientific knowledge and scientific temper — power of reasoning — rote learning vs conceptual learning — science as a tool to understand the past, present and future; nature of universe — general scientific laws — mechanics — properties of matter, force, motion and energy — everyday application of the basic principles of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, light, sound, heat, nuclear physics, laser, electronics and communications; elements and compounds, acids, bases, salts, petroleum products, fertilizers, pesticides; main concepts of life science, classification of living organisms, evolution, genetics, physiology, nutrition, health and hygiene, human diseases; environment and ecology; latest inventions in science and technology; current affairs.
Unit II — Geography of India 5 questions
அலகு II: இந்தியாவின் புவியியல்
Location — physical features — monsoon, rainfall, weather and climate — water resources — rivers in India — soil, minerals and natural resources — forest and wildlife — agricultural pattern; transport and communication; social geography — population density and distribution — racial, linguistic groups and major tribes; natural calamity — disaster management; environmental pollution, reasons and preventive measures — climate change — green energy; geographical landmarks; current affairs.
Unit III — History, Culture of India, and Indian National Movement 10 questions
அலகு III: இந்தியாவின் வரலாறு, பண்பாடு மற்றும் இந்திய தேசிய இயக்கம்
Indus Valley Civilization — Guptas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals and Marathas — age of Vijayanagaram and Bahmani kingdoms — South Indian history; national renaissance — early uprising against British rule — Indian National Congress — emergence of leaders: B.R. Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Bharathiar, V.O. Chidambaranar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Kamarajar, Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Thanthai Periyar, Rajaji, Subash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and others; different modes of agitation — growth of Satyagraha and militant movements; communalism and partition; change and continuity in the socio-cultural history of India; characteristics of Indian culture, unity in diversity — race, language, custom; India as a secular state, social harmony; prominent personalities in various spheres — arts, science, literature and philosophy.
Unit IV — Indian Polity 15 questions
அலகு IV: இந்திய ஆட்சியியல்
Constitution of India — preamble to the Constitution — salient features of the Constitution — Union, State and Union Territory — citizenship, fundamental rights, fundamental duties, directive principles of state policy — Union executive, Union legislature — State executive, State legislature — local governments, panchayat raj — spirit of federalism: Centre–State relationships — election — judiciary in India, rule of law — corruption in public life, anti-corruption measures — Lokpal and Lok Ayukta — Right to Information — empowerment of women — consumer protection forums, human rights charter; political parties and political system in India; current affairs.
Unit V — Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu 20 questions
அலகு V: இந்தியப் பொருளாதாரம் மற்றும் தமிழ்நாட்டில் வளர்ச்சி நிர்வாகம்
Nature of Indian economy — five-year plan models, an assessment — Planning Commission and NITI Aayog; sources of revenue — Reserve Bank of India — fiscal policy and monetary policy — Finance Commission — resource sharing between Union and State governments — goods and services tax; structure of Indian economy and employment generation, land reforms and agriculture — application of science and technology in agriculture — industrial growth — rural welfare oriented programmes — social problems: population, education, health, employment, poverty; human development indicators in Tamil Nadu and a comparative assessment across the country — impact of social reform movements in the socio-economic development of Tamil Nadu — political parties and welfare schemes for various sections of people — rationale behind the reservation policy and access to social resources — economic trends in Tamil Nadu — role and impact of social welfare schemes in the socio-economic development of Tamil Nadu — social justice and social harmony as the cornerstones of socio-economic development; education and health systems in Tamil Nadu; geography of Tamil Nadu and its impact on economic growth; achievements of Tamil Nadu in various fields; e-governance in Tamil Nadu; public awareness and general administration — welfare oriented government schemes and their utility, problems in public delivery systems; current socio-economic issues; current affairs.
Unit VI — History, Culture, Heritage, and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu 20 questions
அலகு VI: தமிழ்நாட்டின் வரலாறு, பண்பாடு, மரபு மற்றும் சமூக – அரசியல் இயக்கங்கள்
History of Tamil society, related archaeological discoveries, Tamil literature from Sangam age till contemporary times — Thirukkural: significance as a secular literature, relevance to everyday life, impact of Thirukkural on humanity, Thirukkural and universal values, relevance to socio-politico-economic affairs, philosophical content in Thirukkural; role of Tamil Nadu in freedom struggle — early agitations against British rule — role of women in freedom struggle; evolution of 19th and 20th century socio-political movements in Tamil Nadu — Justice Party, growth of rationalism, Self Respect Movement, Dravidian Movement and principles underlying both these movements; contributions of Thanthai Periyar and Perarignar Anna.
Part B: Aptitude and Mental Ability 25 questions
பகுதி ஆ: திறனறிவும் மனக்கணக்கு நுண்ணறிவும் (பத்தாம் வகுப்புத் தரம் — 25 கேள்விகள்)
| Unit | Topics | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| I — Aptitude அலகு I: திறனறிவு |
Simplification, percentage, highest common factor (HCF), lowest common multiple (LCM), ratio and proportion, simple interest, compound interest, area, volume, time and work | 15 |
| II — Reasoning அலகு II: காரணவியல் |
Logical reasoning, puzzles, dice, visual reasoning, alpha numeric reasoning, number series | 10 |
| Total | 25 | |
Part C: Language — General Tamil or General English 100 questions
This is the half of the paper most candidates never see broken down. Part C is not one undifferentiated block — it has seven units with fixed question counts, and the Tamil and English papers divide their 100 questions differently. Choose your language, then prepare to that paper’s split, not the other one’s.
பகுதி இ ஒரே தொகுதி அல்ல — ஏழு அலகுகளாகப் பிரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. பொதுத் தமிழ், பொது ஆங்கிலம் இரண்டிலும் அலகுவாரி வினாக்களின் எண்ணிக்கை வேறுபடுகிறது.
General Tamil — பொதுத்தமிழ் (பத்தாம் வகுப்புத் தரம் — 100 கேள்விகள்)
| அலகு | Unit | கேள்விகள் |
|---|---|---|
| அலகு I: இலக்கணம் | Grammar — எழுத்து and சொல்: பிரித்து/சேர்த்து எழுதுதல், சந்திப்பிழை, குறில் நெடில் வேறுபாடு, இனவெழுத்துகள், வேர்ச்சொல், அயற்சொல், தமிழ்ச்சொல், எதிர்ச்சொல், ஒற்றுப்பிழை | 25 |
| அலகு II: சொல்லகராதி | Vocabulary — எதிர்ச்சொல், ஒரெழுத்து ஒரு மொழி, பலபொருள் ஒரு சொல், அகர வரிசை, பன்மொழி, பேச்சு வழக்கு / எழுத்து வழக்கு, மரபுத்தொடர், ஊர்ப் பெயர்களின் மரூஉ | 15 |
| அலகு III: எழுதும் திறன் | Writing skills — சொற்களை ஒழுங்குபடுத்திச் சொற்றொடர் அமைத்தல், தொடர் வகைகள், செய்வினை/செயப்பாட்டு வினை, திணை மரபு, பால் மரபு, காலம், இடம், எண், நிறுத்தற்குறியீடுகள் | 15 |
| அலகு IV: கலைச் சொற்கள் | Technical terms — அறிவியல், கல்வி, மருத்துவம், மேலாண்மை, சட்டம், புவியியல், தொழில்நுட்பம், ஊடகம், தகவல் தொழில்நுட்பம் உள்ளிட்ட துறைகளின் கலைச்சொற்கள் | 10 |
| அலகு V: வாசித்தல் — புரிந்து கொள்ளும் திறன் | Reading comprehension — பத்தி, தலைப்பு, முகப்புச் செய்திகள், அரசு சார்ந்த செய்திகள், உவமைத் தொடரின் பொருள், மரபுத் தொடரின் பொருள், பழமொழிகளின் பொருள், ஆவணங்கள் | 15 |
| அலகு VI: எளிய மொழி பெயர்ப்பு | Translation — ஆங்கிலம் மற்றும் பிறமொழிச் சொற்களுக்கு இணையான தமிழ்ச் சொற்கள், ஆவணங்களின் தலைப்பு, கோப்புகள், கடிதங்கள், மனுக்கள் | 5 |
| அலகு VII: இலக்கியம், தமிழ் அறிஞர்களும், தமிழ்த்தொண்டும் | Literature — திருக்குறள் (இருபது அதிகாரங்கள் மட்டும்), அறநூல்கள், மேற்கோள்கள், முதுமொழிக்காஞ்சி, திரிகடுகம், சிறுபஞ்சமூலம், ஏலாதி, தமிழின் தொன்மை, திராவிட மொழிகள், தமிழ்ப்பணி செய்தவர்கள், தமிழ்ச் சான்றோர் | 15 |
| Total | 100 | |
அலகு VII-க்கான பாடத்திட்டம் பத்தாம் வகுப்பு வரையிலான (upto SSLC standard) பாடப் புத்தகங்களை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டது.
General English SSLC standard — 100 questions
| Unit | Topics | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| I — Grammar | Parts of speech, concord, tense, active and passive voice, types of sentences, transformation of sentences, verbs, infinitives, gerunds, participles, question tags, sentence patterns, phrases and clauses, degrees of comparison, direct and indirect speech, synthesis of sentences, punctuation | 25 |
| II — Vocabulary | Synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, homophones, collocations, idioms and phrases, phrasal verbs, spelling, correct usage, one-word substitution, singular and plural, derivatives, abbreviations, British and American English, compound words, figures of speech | 15 |
| III — Writing Skills | Letter writing (formal and informal), jumbled sentences, finding the right order of sentences, making queries, inferences, blanks, substitutions | 10 |
| IV — Technical Terms | Administrative terms, department related terms, general and official terms, official correspondence (basics only) | 10 |
| V — Reading Comprehension | Unseen passages (newspaper, headlines, editorials, government related news), strong and weak questions, match the following, sentence completion, ascertainment of facts | 20 |
| VI — Translation | Word translation, sentence translation, tense related translation tasks, tense and voice related tasks | 5 |
| VII — Literary Works (SSLC standard) | Figures of speech, appreciation and analysis of poetry, lines of significance; prescribed poems and prose from the SSLC-standard textbooks | 15 |
| Total | 100 | |
The two language papers are not mirror images. General Tamil gives 15 questions to எழுதும் திறன் and 15 to வாசித்தல், with 10 to கலைச் சொற்கள். General English gives only 10 to Writing Skills but 20 to Reading Comprehension. English candidates should weight comprehension practice heavily; Tamil candidates should not neglect writing skills.
Group 2 main — descriptive
| Paper | Subject | Standard | Duration | Marks | Minimum | Counts for rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Tamil Eligibility Test (descriptive) | SSLC | 3 hrs | 100 | 40 | No |
| II | General Studies (descriptive) | Degree | 3 hrs | 300 | 90 | Yes |
Paper I is a qualifying gate only — translation, précis writing, comprehension, hints development, essay and letter writing. Fail it and Paper II is not counted; clear it and it still adds nothing to the rank. Paper II answers may be written in Tamil or English. Group 2 candidates then face an oral test, and the final rank is Paper II plus interview.
Paper II units: Modern History of India with reference to Tamil Nadu · Tamil Society, Culture and Heritage · Social Issues in India with reference to Tamil Nadu · Science and Technology in Development · Constitution, Polity and Governance · Geography, Environment, Biodiversity and Disaster Management · Indian Economy with reference to Tamil Nadu.
Group 2A main — objective
| Paper | Subject | Standard | Questions | Marks | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Tamil Eligibility Test (descriptive) | SSLC | — | 100 | 40 |
| II | General Studies | Degree | 150 | 300 | 90 |
| II | General Intelligence and Reasoning | SSLC | 50 |
Group 2A has no interview. The rank list is built from the Paper II marks alone, which makes accuracy across 200 objective questions the whole game.
| Group 2A Paper II — General Studies unit | Questions |
|---|---|
| Administration of States with reference to Tamil Nadu | 45 |
| Modern History of Tamil Nadu, Tamil Society, Culture and Heritage | 30 |
| Tamil Nadu Economy and Social Issues in Tamil Nadu | 30 |
| Geography of Tamil Nadu, Environment, Biodiversity and Disaster Management | 25 |
| Science and Technology in Development | 20 |
| Total | 150 |
Administration of States alone is 45 of 150 questions — nearly a third of the Group 2A mains General Studies paper, and the densest single unit anywhere in this exam. Note also how far the mains tilts towards Tamil Nadu compared with the prelims: at this stage, almost everything is state-focused.
குரூப் 2A முதன்மைத் தேர்வில் ‘மாநில நிர்வாகம்’ அலகு மட்டுமே 150-இல் 45 வினாக்கள். முதன்மைத் தேர்வு முழுவதும் தமிழ்நாடு சார்ந்ததாகவே அமைகிறது.
Prelims is official, mains is not yet
The Part A, B and C detail above is the Commission’s own syllabus, code 495 — it can be relied on. The two mains tables are not from that document; they follow the scheme of the last cycle, and coaching sites contradict each other on the Group 2A paper structure. Confirm the mains scheme against the scheme annexure of the 2026 notification before fixing a mains timetable.
Source: TNPSC official syllabus, code 495 — Combined Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination II (Group II and IIA Services), read from the Commission’s published document in Tamil and English. See also the notification 11/2025 syllabus PDF. Last verified 11 August 2026
Do not treat one year’s scheme as permanent — read the syllabus attached to the 2026 notification when it is published.
Tests & current affairs
Video classes, test batch & books
Video classes
வீடியோ வகுப்புகள்
Group 2 mains is descriptive and Group 2A mains is objective — the preparation differs. Tell us which you are targeting and we will send the class plan.
Test batch
டெஸ்ட் பேட்ச்
Prelims-pattern tests, plus descriptive answer evaluation for Group 2 mains. Ask what is running right now.
Group 2 or Group 2A?
The prelims is common but the mains are completely different exams. Tell us your target and we will tell you exactly what to study and which books to start with.
Group 2 & 2A syllabus — common questions
Is the Group 2 and Group 2A syllabus the same?
For the preliminary examination, yes — it is a single common exam with an identical syllabus and question paper. The syllabuses separate at the main examination: Group 2 writes a descriptive General Studies paper, while Group 2A writes an objective paper covering General Studies and General Intelligence and Reasoning.
How many questions are in the TNPSC Group 2 prelims?
200 questions for 300 marks in 3 hours — 100 Language questions, 75 General Studies and 25 Aptitude and Mental Ability. The qualifying mark is 90 out of 300 for all communities.
Is there negative marking in TNPSC Group 2?
No. There is no negative marking in the preliminary examination, so every one of the 200 questions should be attempted.
Do prelims marks count towards the final rank?
No. The preliminary examination is used only to shortlist candidates for the main examination. The final rank comes from the mains and — for Group 2 only — the oral test.
Which unit carries the most marks in Group 2 prelims?
Within General Studies, two units tie at 20 questions each: Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu, and History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu. Across the whole paper the Language paper is far larger than any of them at 100 questions.
Is Tamil compulsory for TNPSC Group 2?
A candidate may choose General English instead of General Tamil for the preliminary Language paper. However, the main examination includes a compulsory Tamil Eligibility Test worth 100 marks, with a minimum of 40 marks required. Its marks do not count towards the rank, but failing it ends the candidacy.
How many questions come from the Tamil or English language paper?
100 of the 200 — half the paper, and 150 of the 300 marks. Official syllabus code 495 splits those 100 across seven units. General Tamil: இலக்கணம் 25, சொல்லகராதி 15, எழுதும் திறன் 15, கலைச் சொற்கள் 10, வாசித்தல் 15, மொழி பெயர்ப்பு 5, இலக்கியம் 15. General English: Grammar 25, Vocabulary 15, Writing Skills 10, Technical Terms 10, Reading Comprehension 20, Translation 5, Literary Works 15. The two papers divide the 100 differently, so prepare to the split of whichever language you choose.
Does Group 2A have an interview?
No. Group 2A posts are non-interview posts and the rank list is prepared from the main examination marks alone. Group 2 posts do include an oral test.
When is the TNPSC Group 2 and 2A 2026 exam?
The TNPSC annual planner sets the notification for 11 August 2026 and the common preliminary examination for 1 November 2026. Dates are confirmed only by the official notification.