The TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 has been released by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) along with the official notification for 26 Group 1 vacancies.
Candidates preparing for prestigious posts such as Deputy Collector, DSP, Assistant Commissioner, District Registrar, and Assistant Commissioner of Labour should thoroughly understand the latest Prelims and Mains syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme, subject-wise topics, and selection process.
The TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Examination has been rescheduled to 27 September 2026, making it essential for aspirants to revise according to the updated schedule.
Check the complete syllabus, paper pattern, important dates, qualifying marks, and download the official TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF from this page.
TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 – Overview |
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| 26 Vacancies | Prelims Postponed to 27 September 2026 | Complete Prelims & Mains Syllabus Inside | |
| visit for latest job notification24.in | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Organisation Name | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Civil Services Examination-I (Group I Services) 2026 |
| Notification Number | Notification No. 05/2026, Advertisement No. 736, dated 23.06.2026 |
| Posts Covered | Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Assistant Commissioner, District Registrar, Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Assistant Commissioner of Labour |
| Total Vacancies | 26 Posts |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Examination (Screening) → Main Examination (Descriptive) → Interview/Oral Test |
| Application Window | 30 June 2026 to 29 July 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 27 September 2026 (Revised — was 6 September 2026) |
| Pay Level (All Posts) | Level 22 — ₹56,100 to ₹2,05,700 |
| Official Website | www.tnpsc.gov.in |
Important Dates — TNPSC Group 1 2026
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Eligibility Criteria — Age Limit & Qualification
Age Limit — Category-Wise (Maximum Age) |
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| Category | Maximum Age |
| General / Others | 34 Years |
| BC / MBC / DNC | 37 Years |
| SC / SC(A) / ST | 39 Years |
| PwD (Tamil Nadu Domicile) | No Upper Age Limit |
TNPSC Group 1 Post-Wise Vacancy 2026 |
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| Post | Vacancies (Approx.) |
| Deputy Collector | 12 |
| District Registrar | 8 |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) | As per notification |
| Assistant Commissioner | As per notification |
| Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies | As per notification |
| Assistant Commissioner of Labour | As per notification |
| Total | 26 (Provisional) |
| Note: This year’s vacancy count is notably lower than the previous two cycles (the 2023-24 cycle had notified 96 vacancies). Figures are provisional and may be revised by TNPSC before the Preliminary Examination result is published.
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TNPSC Group 1 Exam Pattern 2026 — Complete Structure |
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| Stage | Nature & Marks |
| Preliminary Examination | Objective (MCQ), 200 Questions, 300 Marks, 3 Hours, Qualifying Only (Marks NOT counted in final merit) |
| Main Examination | Descriptive, 4 Papers, 850 Marks Total (Tamil Eligibility Test — Qualifying, 100 Marks + 3 General Studies Papers — 250 Marks Each = 750 Marks Counted for Merit) |
| Interview / Oral Test | Personality Test, 100 Marks |
| Total (Final Merit Basis) | Mains (750) + Interview (100) = 850 Marks |
| Negative Marking | None in Prelims; None in Mains (Descriptive) |
| Key Point: Only the Prelims is a pure screening test — its marks are NOT added to the final merit. The Prelims shortlists roughly 20 times the number of vacancies for the Mains. Final selection is based purely on Main Examination + Interview marks combined.
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TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Exam Pattern 2026 — Section-Wise (Code 497) |
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| Part / Unit | Questions |
| Part A: General Studies (Degree Standard) — Unit I: General Science | 10 |
| Unit II: Geography of India | 10 |
| Unit III: History, Culture of India & Indian National Movement | 25 |
| Unit IV: Indian Polity | 40 |
| Unit V: Indian Economy & Development Administration in Tamil Nadu | 50 |
| Unit VI: History, Culture, Heritage & Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu | 40 |
| Part A Total | 175 Questions |
| Part B: Aptitude & Mental Ability (SSLC Standard) — Unit I: Aptitude | 15 |
| Unit II: Reasoning | 10 |
| Part B Total | 25 Questions |
| Grand Total | 200 Questions | 300 Marks | 3 Hours | Paper Code: 497 |
| Syllabus Date on Official PDF: 16.12.2024. Single Paper consisting of General Studies (Degree Standard — 175 questions) and Aptitude & Mental Ability (SSLC Standard — 25 questions).
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TNPSC Group 1 Prelims Detailed Syllabus — Unit-Wise Topics |
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| Unit | Key Topics |
| Unit I — General Science | Scientific temper, general scientific laws, mechanics, properties of matter, force, motion & energy, everyday applications (electricity, magnetism, light, sound, heat, nuclear physics, laser, electronics, communications), elements/compounds/acids/bases/salts, petroleum products, fertilizers, pesticides, life science concepts, classification of organisms, evolution, genetics, physiology, nutrition, health & hygiene, human diseases, environment & ecology, latest inventions, current affairs |
| Unit II — Geography of India | Location, physical features, monsoon, rainfall, weather & climate, water resources, rivers of India, soil, minerals & natural resources, forest & wildlife, agricultural pattern, transport & communication, social geography (population density & distribution, racial/linguistic groups, major tribes), disaster management, environmental pollution, climate change, green energy, geographical landmarks, current affairs |
| Unit III — History, Culture of India & Indian National Movement | Indus Valley Civilization, Guptas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals, Marathas, Vijayanagaram & Bahmani Kingdoms, South Indian history, socio-cultural change, National Renaissance, early uprisings, Indian National Congress, key leaders (Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Bharathiar, V.O.Chidambaranar, Nehru, Kamarajar, Gandhi, Azad, Periyar, Rajaji, Subash Chandra Bose, Tagore, etc.), Satyagraha & Militant Movements, Communalism & Partition, Unity in Diversity, National Symbols, prominent personalities, current affairs |
| Unit IV — Indian Polity | Constitution of India, Preamble, salient features, Union/State/UT, Citizenship, Fundamental Rights & Duties, DPSP, Union & State Executive/Legislature, Local Governments, Panchayat Raj, federalism, Centre-State relations, Elections, Judiciary, Rule of Law, Corruption & anti-corruption measures, Lokpal & Lok Ayukta, RTI, women empowerment, Consumer Protection Forums, Human Rights Charter, political parties & systems, current affairs |
| Unit V — Indian Economy & Development Administration in Tamil Nadu | Nature of Indian Economy, Five-Year Plans, Planning Commission & NITI Aayog, revenue sources, RBI, Fiscal & Monetary Policy, Finance Commission, Union-State resource sharing, GST, employment generation, Land Reforms, Agriculture, industrial growth, rural welfare programmes, population/education/health/poverty, Human Development Indicators in TN, socio-economic development of Tamil Nadu, reservation policy rationale, e-Governance in TN, welfare schemes, public delivery systems, current socio-economic issues |
| Unit VI — History, Culture, Heritage & Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu | History of Tamil society, archaeological discoveries, Tamil literature from Sangam age to contemporary times, Thirukkural (significance, universal values, philosophical content), Tamil Nadu’s role in the freedom struggle, role of women, 19th-20th century socio-political movements (Justice Party, Rationalism, Self Respect Movement, Dravidian Movement), contributions of Thanthai Periyar & Perarignar Anna |
| Part B, Unit I — Aptitude | Simplification, Percentage, HCF, LCM, Ratio & Proportion, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Area, Volume, Time and Work |
| Part B, Unit II — Reasoning | Logical reasoning, Puzzles, Dice, Visual reasoning, Alpha-numeric reasoning, Number series |
TNPSC Group 1 Main Examination Syllabus & Pattern 2026 |
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| Paper | Subject & Marks |
| Paper I | Tamil Eligibility Test — 100 Marks, 3 Hours (Qualifying Only; Minimum 40 Marks Required for Other Papers to be Evaluated) |
| Paper II | General Studies-I — 250 Marks, 3 Hours (Counted for Merit) |
| Paper III | General Studies-II — 250 Marks, 3 Hours (Counted for Merit) |
| Paper IV | General Studies-III & General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) — 250 Marks, 3 Hours (Counted for Merit) |
| Total Descriptive Marks | 850 (100 Qualifying + 750 Counted for Merit) |
| Note: Unlike UPSC Mains, TNPSC Group 1 Mains has NO optional subject — all candidates attempt the same four papers. All papers except the qualifying Tamil test are pure General Studies, covering the same broad domains as the Prelims but at a much deeper, analytical, and current-affairs-integrated level.
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Minimum Qualifying Marks — Category-Wise |
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| Category | Prelims Qualifying Marks (Out of 300) |
| SC / ST / MBC / BC / BCM | 90 Marks |
| Others / General | 120 Marks |
| Note: These qualifying marks apply to the Preliminary Examination. Separately, the Tamil Eligibility Test in Mains (Paper I) requires a minimum of 40 marks for a candidate’s remaining papers to be evaluated at all. | |
How to Apply Online for TNPSC Group 1 2026
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TNPSC Group 1 2026 Preparation Strategy — Subject-Wise Tips
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TNPSC Group 1 — Job Profile of Key Posts
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important links |
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| Apply Online | click here |
| Download Official Notification & Syllabus PDF | click here |
| Official Website | click here |
| notification 24 jobs | click here |
| join telegram | click here |
| join whatsapp channel | click here |
| susbscribe on youtube | click here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026
Q1. When is the TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Examination 2026?
Ans. The Preliminary Examination is now scheduled for 27 September 2026, revised from the originally announced date of 6 September 2026, via Addendum No. 5A/2026 dated 16 July 2026.
Q2. How many total marks does the TNPSC Group 1 Prelims carry?
Ans. The Prelims carries 300 marks across 200 objective-type questions, to be completed in 3 hours. It is a qualifying stage only — marks are not added to the final merit.
Q3. How many papers are there in the TNPSC Group 1 Mains Examination?
Ans. There are 4 papers — Paper I is the qualifying Tamil Eligibility Test (100 marks), and Papers II, III, and IV are General Studies papers of 250 marks each, totalling 750 marks that count for the final merit.
Q4. Is there negative marking in TNPSC Group 1 2026?
Ans. No, there is no negative marking in either the Preliminary Examination or the descriptive Main Examination.
Q5. What is the minimum qualifying mark in TNPSC Group 1 Prelims 2026?
Ans. SC, ST, MBC, BC, and BCM candidates require 90 marks, while candidates in the Others/General category require 120 marks to qualify for the Mains.
Q6. Are Prelims marks counted in the TNPSC Group 1 final selection?
Ans. No. Prelims is purely a screening test. Only marks from the Main Examination (750) and Interview (100), totalling 850, are considered for the final merit list.
Q7. Is the Tamil Eligibility Test compulsory in the Mains?
Ans. Yes, Paper I is the Tamil Eligibility Test and is compulsory. Candidates must score at least 40 marks in this paper for their remaining papers to be evaluated, though its marks are not counted toward the final merit.
Q8. How many vacancies have been announced for TNPSC Group 1 2026?
Ans. A total of 26 vacancies have been announced, covering posts like Deputy Collector, DSP, Assistant Commissioner, District Registrar, Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, and Assistant Commissioner of Labour.
Q9. What is the age limit for TNPSC Group 1 2026?
Ans. The minimum age is 21 years for all posts. The maximum age is 34 years for General/Others, 37 years for BC/MBC/DNC, and 39 years for SC/SC(A)/ST candidates, reckoned as on 1 July 2026.
Q10. Does TNPSC Group 1 Mains have an optional subject like UPSC?
Ans. No. Unlike UPSC Mains, TNPSC Group 1 Mains has no optional subject — all candidates attempt the same four common papers.
Q11. What is the pay scale for TNPSC Group 1 posts?
Ans. All Group 1 posts fall under Pay Level 22, with a pay range of ₹56,100 to ₹2,05,700.
Q12. Where can I download the official TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF 2026?
Ans. The official syllabus and notification PDF is available on the TNPSC website, www.tnpsc.gov.in, under the relevant notification section.