TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2023: Prelims, Mains Syllabus and Exam Pattern

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2023: Prelims, Mains Syllabus and Exam Pattern

BySaroj Singh  |  Updated on: Jun 2, 2023
Candidates should go through the latest TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus & exam pattern for the Prelims and Mains exam. Check the important topics and subjects that will be asked in Group 1 exam. Also, download the TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF for details.

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus is formulated by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) for the Combined Civil Services Examination. The exam syllabus is divided into two stages- Prelims, and Mains. The Mains exam is followed by the third and final stage of the Interview. To prepare for the exam, candidates should be well-versed in the detailed TNPSC Group 1 syllabus and exam pattern.

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus for Prelims consists of two papers, General Studies, and Aptitude & Mental Ability Test. All the questions shall be objective in this paper. The Mains syllabus differs from UPSC or other PSC exams as it does not have an optional paper. The Mains syllabus of the TNPSC Group 1 exam consists of four papers. Paper 1 is the Tamil eligibility test that is qualifying in nature.

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2023

Gathering information about the TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2023 is a must for candidates preparing for the forthcoming exam. The syllabus is set for Prelims and Mains exams separately. As TNPSC Group 1 exam is the combined civil services exam for Group 1 services, it is of prime importance that the syllabus of TNPSC Group 1 should be studied thoroughly.

The TNPSC Group 1 syllabus contains several different subject-specific topics in both Prelims and Mains stages. Aspirants must prepare a comprehensive preparation strategy to cover the whole syllabus. They must strategize the plan based on the weightage and include appropriate days to outrank the competitors.

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF

Candidates can download the latest and updated TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF on the official website or simply click on the direct link made available below. The following syllabus PDF provides aspirants with the important topics and subjects for the exam. Candidates must download the syllabus PDF to access it anytime while preparing for the exam. 

Download: TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF

Aspirants must acquaint themselves with the latest Prelims and Mains syllabus of the Group 1 exam. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission also made some changes recently in the TNPSC Group 1 syllabus and exam pattern that must be known to the candidates.

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus for Prelims

TNPSC Group 1 Prelims Syllabus consists of two subjects: General Studies and Aptitude & Mental Ability Test. The General Studies section shall have degree-level questions, while the Aptitude & Mental Ability Test will have SSLC standard questions. We have provided candidates with the TNPSC Group 1 Prelims Syllabus to help aspirants understand the critical topics.

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus for General Studies

Candidates who apply for the Group 1 exam will have to first appear in the first stage of the Preliminary exam. This will be a qualifying stage and only those who clear this will be appearing for the Mains exam. Therefore, it becomes important to go through each topic of the TNPSC Group 1 Prelims syllabus.

General Science Syllabus for TNPSC Group 1

  • Elements and compounds, bases, acids, salts, fertilizers, petroleum products, pesticides
  • Scientific temper and scientific knowledge - conceptual learning vs rote learning – the power of reasoning – science as a tool to understand the present, past, and future
  • Nature of universe – mechanics – general scientific laws – properties of matter, motion, force, and energy – everyday application of the basic principles of electricity, mechanics and magnetism, sound, light, heat, laser, electronics, nuclear physics, and communications
  • Main concepts of classification of living organisms, human diseases, life science, evolution, genetics, nutrition, physiology, health, and hygiene
  • Environment and ecology

Current Events Topics

  • History – national symbols – latest diary of events – profile of states – eminent personalities - sports and places in the news, books, and authors. 
  • Polity – political system and political parties in India – general administration and public awareness – welfare government-oriented schemes and their utility, problems in public delivery systems.
  • Geography – geographical monuments.
  • Science – the latest inventions in technology and science
  • Economics – economic issues - current Socio.

Geography Syllabus for TNPSC Group 1

  • Physical features – rainfall, monsoon, weather and climate – location – water resources – minerals, soil, natural resources – rivers in India – agricultural pattern - forest and wildlife.
  • Social geography – distribution and population density – racial, major tribes, and linguistic groups.
  • Transport – communication.
  • Disaster management - natural calamity – environmental pollution: preventive measures and reasons – green energy - climate change. 

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus for History and Culture of India

  • Indus Valley Civilization – Delhi sultans, Guptas, Marathas and Mughals – age of Bahmani Kingdoms and Vijayanagaram – south Indian history.
  • Unity in diversity – language, race, custom, characteristics of Indian culture.
  • Change and cultural history of India - continuity in the Socio.
  • India is a social harmony and secular state.

TNPSC Group 1 Prelims Syllabus for Indian Polity

  • Union executive, panchayat raj, union legislature – state legislature, state executive – local governments.
  • Citizenship, fundamental duties, rights, and directive principles in state policy.
  • Election – the rule of law – judiciary in India.
  • Spirit of federalism: state and center relationships.
  • Corruption in public life – Lokpal and Lokayukta – anti-corruption measures – empowerment of women – the right to information – human rights charter, consumer protection forums.
  • Constitution of India – salient features of the constitution – state, union, and union territory, the Preamble to the Constitution.

Syllabus for Indian Economy

  • Nature of Indian economy – an assessment – five-year plan models, Niti Ayog, and Planning Commission.
  • Structure of employment generation and Indian economy, agriculture and land reforms – application of technology and science in agriculture – rural welfare-oriented programs – industrial growth – social problems – education, population, health, poverty, employment.
  • Sources of revenue – fiscal policy and monetary policy – Reserve Bank of India – resource sharing between state and union governments – finance commission – services tax and goods.

TNPSC Group 1 Prelims Syllabus for Indian National Movement

  • National Renaissance – Indian National Congress – an early uprising against British rule – Bhagat Singh, B.R.Ambedkar, Bharathiar, Jawaharlal Nehru, V.O.Chidambaranar, Kamarajar, Thanthai Periyar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Rajaji, Mahatma Gandhi, Subash Chandra Bose, and others – the emergence of leaders
  • Partition and communalism.
  • Various modes of agitation: militant movements and growth of Satyagraha

History, Heritage, Culture, and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu Syllabus

  • Role of Tamil Nadu in freedom struggle – the role of women in the freedom struggle – early agitations against British rule
  • Thirukkural : (a) relevance to everyday life (b) significance as secular literature (c) Thirukkural and universal values – equality, humanism, etc. (d) impact of Thirukkural on humanity (e) philosophical content in Thirukkural (f ) relevance to Socio – politico-economic affairs.
  • 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
  • History of Tamil society, Tamil literature from the Sangam age till contemporary times, and archaeological discoveries

Development Administration in Tamil Nadu Syllabus

  • Welfare schemes for several sections of people and political parties – the rationale behind access to social resources and reservation policy – economic trends in Tamil Nadu – impact and role of social welfare schemes in the socio-economic development of Tamil Nadu
  • E-governance in Tamil Nadu
  • Health and education systems in Tamil Nadu
  • Geography of Tamil Nadu and its Impact on Economic Growth
  • Achievements of Tamil Nadu in diverse fields
  • Social harmony and social justice as the cornerstones of socioeconomic development
  • Human development indicators in Tamil Nadu and a comparative assessment across the Country – the impact of social reform movements in the socio-economic development of Tamil Nadu

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus for Aptitude and Mental Ability Test

  • Simplification – highest common factor (HCF) – percentage – lowest common multiple (lcm)
  • Simple Interest - area - compound interest - volume - work and time.
  • Proportion and Ratio.
  • Logical Reasoning – number series – visual reasoning – puzzles-dice – alphanumeric reasoning 

TNPSC Group 1 Mains Syllabus

The TNPSC Group 1 syllabus for Mains is divided into 4 papers, out of which Paper 1 is the Tamil Eligibility Test and is qualifying in nature. A candidate has to obtain qualifying marks in it so that the other papers can be evaluated. Unlike the UPSC or other PSC exams, there is no optional paper in TNPSC Group 1 exam.

Scoring well in all four papers included in the TNPSC Group 1 Mains Syllabus is extremely important for the candidates. Candidates should thoroughly go through all the sections and the important and relevant topics for the Group 1 exam.

PaperTNPSC Group 1 Syllabus for Mains
Paper 1Tamil Eligibility Test (SSLC Standard)
Paper 2

Unit 1 – Modern History of India and Indian Culture

Unit 2 – Social Issues in India and Tamil Nadu
Unit 3 – General Aptitude and Mental Ability
Paper 3

Unit 1 – Role and Impact of Science and Technology in the Development of India

Unit 2 – Indian Polity and Emerging Political Trends worldwide affecting India.
Unit 3 – Tamil Society, Culture, and Heritage
Paper 4

Unit 1 – Geography of India with special reference to Tamil Nadu

Unit 2 – Environment, Biodiversity, and Disaster Management
Unit 3 – Indian Economy and Current Economic Trends and Impact of Global Economy on India

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus Weightage

After going through the TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus, candidates must check the exam pattern to formulate the best preparation strategy. While preparing for the Group 1 exam, a candidate should be well-versed in the exam pattern and qualifying marks. There is a different exam pattern for the TNPSC Group 1 Prelims and Mains. Two written exams will be conducted, one for the Prelims and the other for the Mains exam. The weightage given to each of the papers is different and has been depicted below.

TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus- Weightage
Stage/PaperDurationMarks
Prelims3 hours300
Mains Exam: Paper-I3 hours100
Mains Exam: Paper-II3 hours250
Mains Exam: Paper-III3 hours250
Mains Exam: Paper-IV3 hours250

Preparation Tips for TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus

Aspirants must download and decipher the IAS curriculum for the Prelims and Mains exams to prepare for the upcoming Group 1 exam. Make a study plan after thoroughly examining the TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus to quickly cover all the topics.

  • For TNPSC Group 1 preparation, there are many books on the market. Therefore, carefully choose the booklist for each subject.
  • While working on a topic, always refer to the Group 1 syllabus to know how to proceed and which portions to concentrate on.
  • Practice TNPSC Group 1 Question Papers after finishing each section to gauge their understanding.
  • Revision is the most crucial component of the preparation. To constantly increase retention, the completed syllabus needs to be revised.

Best Books to Prepare TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus 2023

Books play a major role in the life of exam aspirants. This is the reason why it is always advised to get superior quality books that contain genuine information related to the subjects mentioned in the exam syllabus. Books can make or break your game with respect to scoring high marks. Here is a list of the important books that are necessary to crack the Prelims exam. For further information on the books for Mains, candidates can check the same on our dedicated page for TNPSC Group 1 books.

Subjects

Books

Publication

Author

General Science

Class 6th to Class 12th NCERT Science Books

NCERT Publication

Samacheer Kalvi Science books for Class 6 to Class 12

Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation

Current Affairs

English / Hindi Newspapers

Tamil Current Affairs magazines like Pothu Arivu Ulagam 

Indian Geography

Samacheer Kalvi books for Class 6 to Class 12

Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation

Various authors

Class 11 and Class 12 NCERT books

NCERT Publications 

Various authors

History and Culture of India

Samacheer Kalvi books for Class 6 to Class 12 (New Syllabus)

Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation

Various authors

India’s Struggle For Independence

Penguin Random House India

Bipin Chandra

Indian National Movement

Tamil Nadu State Board books for Class 11 and Class 12

Tamil Nadu State Board

Various authors

Indian Economy

Indian Economy

Tata McGraw-Hill Education India

Ramesh Singh

State Board books for Class 11 and Class 12

Tamil Nadu State Board

Various authors

Indian Polity

Indian Polity

Tata McGraw-Hill Education India

M. Laxmikanth

Aptitude and Mental Ability

TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary General Studies, Aptitude, and Mental Ability

Sura College of Competition

V.V.K Subburaj 

A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

S. Chand & Co.

RS Aggarwal 

Quantitative Aptitude

S. Chand & Co.

RS Aggarwal 

TNPSC Group 1 Exam Pattern 2023

TNPSC Group 1 Exam Pattern is released by the commission in its official notification. Candidates wanting to appear for the TNPSC Group 1 exam must check out the paper pattern to crack the exam. The selection will be based on the Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Prelims exam has one objective type paper which covers two subjects, General Studies, Aptitude & Mental Ability.

The Mains exam is descriptive in nature. The TNPSC Group 1 exam pattern for Mains is divided into four papers out of which one is the Tamil Eligibility Test and the other three are the General Studies exam at the Degree level. Candidates qualifying for Prelims will be appearing for the Mains exam. The final selection will be done after considering the scores in the Interview as well.

TNPSC Group 1 Exam Pattern: Overview

We have provided the TNPSC Group 1 exam pattern, in brief, to help candidates gather an idea about what to expect in the exam. Candidates can check the number of subjects, duration of the exam, marking scheme, and more.

TNPSC Group 1 Exam Pattern: Highlights

Name of the Exam

TNPSC Group 1

Selection Process

Prelims Exam

Mains Exam

Interview

Exam Mode

Offline

Question Paper Type

Prelims Exam: Objective Type

Mains Exam: Descriptive

TNPSC Group 1 Total Marks

Prelims Exam: 300 marks

Mains Exam: 750 marks

Interview: 100 marks

Exam Duration

3 hours for Prelims Exam

3 hours for each paper of the Mains Exam

TNPSC Group 1 Negative Marking

No negative marking 

Exam Language

English and Tamil

TNPSC Group 1 Prelims Exam Pattern

The first stage of the Tamil Nadu PCS Group 1 recruitment is the Preliminary exam. It is the primary exam based on which candidates are chosen for the Mains exam. Hence, candidates should thoroughly check the TNPSC Group 1 Prelims exam pattern and prepare well to score maximum marks.

  • The Prelims exam will be objective type in nature.
  • It will have one paper that covers two subjects, General Studies, Aptitude & Mental Ability.
  • The paper consists of 300 marks, out of which General Studies will have 175 questions whereas Aptitude and Mental Ability will have 25 questions.
  • There will be no negative marking
  • The total duration of the exam is 3 hours.

Subject

Total marks 

Duration 

Number of Questions

General Studies

300

3 hours

175

Aptitude and Mental Ability

25

TNPSC Group 1 Mains Exam Pattern

Once candidates are done with the first stage of the Group 1 exam, the selected candidates are meant to appear in the Mains exam. The TNPSC Group 1 Mains exam pattern consists of 4 papers out of which Paper 1 is qualifying in nature. Candidates can read more about the TNPSC Group 1 exam pattern for the Mains exam below.

The TNPSC Group 1 Mains exam is descriptive in nature and will be held in offline mode. It comprises four papers, Paper 1 is Tamil Eligibility Test, and Papers 2, 3, and 4 are based on General Studies designed to test candidates' awareness across various domains relevant to recruitment.

  • Paper 1 will be designed according to SSLC standards whereas other papers will be designed according to Degree level.
  • Paper 1 consists of 100 marks and Papers 2, 3, and 4 consist of 250 marks each.
  • The time duration for all four papers is 3 hours each.
  • Paper 1 i.e. Tamil Eligibility Test is qualifying in nature and its marks will not be taken into account for the ranking.
  • Only candidates who score a minimum of 40% in Paper 1 will be evaluated for the other three papers.

Subject

Total Marks

Duration of exam

Paper 1 (Tamil Eligibility Test - Qualifying in Nature)

100

3 hours

General Studies Papers

Paper 2

250

3 hours

Paper 3

250

3 hours

Paper 4

250

3 hours

Total

750

9 hours

TNPSC Group 1 Interview

TNPSC Group 1 Interview is the final stage of the selection process. The interview carries 100 marks and is an important component of the exam. Candidates who qualify in the Prelims and Mains exams will appear in the interview, after which the final merit list will be prepared. There is no specific TNPSC Group 1 exam pattern or syllabus prescribed for the interview, however, candidates should ensure to stay up to date with current events.

FAQs on TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus

  • TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus refers to the syllabus meant for the Tamil Nadu Combined Civil Services Exam (Group 1 Service). The syllabus is divided into Prelims and Mains exams.

    The Prelims stage has only objective questions with two subjects, General Studies, Aptitude & Mental Ability Test. On the other hand, the syllabus for TNPSC Group 1 Mains consists of four papers that shall be descriptive in nature.

  • TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF can be downloaded from the official TNPSC Group 1 notification. The PDF consists of both the Prelims and Mains syllabi. Candidates also have the option to easily download the Group 1 syllabus PDF through the direct link available here.

    TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF

  • TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus for Prelims consists of two objective papers. The subjects include General Studies and Aptitude & Mental Ability Test. The important topics for TNPSC Group 1 Prelims are General Science, Current Affairs, Polity, Tamil Nadu Literature and Culture, Geography, Economy, Elementary Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, etc.

  • TNPSC Group 1 syllabus for mains has four compulsory papers. Paper 1 is the Tamil Eligibility Test. Paper 2 shall have questions based on the History of India and Indian culture, and Social issues in India and Tamil Nadu.

    • Paper 3 will have Indian Polity and emerging political trends across the world affecting India, Tamil Society & Its Culture, and Heritage, and
    • Paper 4 shall have questions on the Geography of India.
  • No, there has not been a change in the TNPSC Group 1 syllabus. The syllabus remains the same as it was in previous years. Aspirants can download the TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus PDF to know the syllabus better.

  • TNPSC Group 1 syllabus for Aptitude & Mental Ability Test forms a part of the Prelims exam. This tests a candidate's basic knowledge of reasoning and mental ability. The important topics contained in it are Simplification, HCF, LCM, Simple and Compound Interest, Mensuration, Logical Reasoning, etc.

     
  • No, there is no optional paper in the TNPSC group 1 syllabus. Candidates will have to prepare all four papers for the Mains exam. Paper 1 will test the Tamil language of the candidates, wherein they will have to obtain the cut-off marks for the other three Mains papers to be evaluated.

  • TNPSC Group 1 exam pattern is released by the Tamil Nadu Commission for Prelims and Mains exam. The Prelims exam has one paper worth 300 marks whereas the Mains exam is divided into 4 papers out of 750 marks for three papers considered while making the merit list.

  • TNPSC Group 1 exam duration is 3 hours for Prelims and 12 hours for the Mains exam with each paper being allotted 3 hours. Candidates need to therefore practice and develop time management skills to score more in less time. No time limit is specified for the interview.

  • No, there is no negative marking in the TNPSC Group 1 exam. Therefore, it gives an excellent chance to the candidates to attempt the maximum number of questions without the fear of any penalty being deducted.

  • TNPSC Group 1 Prelims exam pattern states that candidates have to attempt one paper which carries 300 marks for 200 questions from General Studies and Mental Aptitude. The first stage is qualifying in nature and screens the most eligible candidates for the next stage on the basis of the obtained scores.

  • TNPSC Group 1 Mains exam pattern has four papers. The first paper (Tamil Language Test) is qualifying in nature and candidates need to score a minimum of 40% in it. The other papers are based on degree-level General Studies worth 250 marks each.

  • The total marks in TNPSC Group 1 exam are 300 for the Prelims and 750 for the Mains exam. The last stage of the Interview carries 100 marks weightage. Hence, TNPSC Group 1 recruitment exam carries a total weightage of 1150 marks.

  • The best books for the TNPSC Group 1 Syllabus have been recommended by the experts. All the important and necessary books have been listed below.

    • Class 6th to Class 12th NCERT Science Books - NCERT Publication
    • Samacheer Kalvi Science books for Class 6 to Class 12 - Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation
    • Social Issues in India and Tamil Nadu - Tamizhaga Varalaru - Dr. J. Dharmarajan

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