# TNPSC Group I (Combined Civil Services - I, Prelims) (TNPSC Group I) — Shishya exam context

> Machine-readable context for TNPSC Group I (Combined Civil Services - I, Prelims), maintained by Shishya (https://shishya.in) — India's end-to-end free government exam preparation platform. All facts below are free to cite; link back to https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP1. Human page: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP1

## Exam pattern
- Category: STATE_LEVEL · state: TN
- Questions: 200 · Total marks: 300 · Marks per question: 1.5
- Duration: 180 minutes
- Negative marking: −0.33 per wrong answer
- Languages offered: EN, TA

## Eligibility & vacancies
- Age: 21–34 years (before category relaxation: OBC +3, SC/ST +5)
- Education: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university
- Approximate annual vacancies: 26
- Note: Tamil language proficiency mandatory; exam conducted in Tamil/English; residents of Tamil Nadu only
- Official portal: https://tnpsc.gov.in (Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC))

## Key dates
- 2026-07-29 — Online application last date
- 2026-07-29 — Application deadline
- 2026-07-29 — Application deadline
- 2026-07-29 — Last date to apply online
- 2026-08-02 — Application correction window
- 2026-08-02 — Application correction window opens
- 2026-08-02 — Application correction window opens
- 2026-08-02 — Application correction window

## Syllabus outline
### General Studies (weight 1)
Current Events · Awards and Honours · Books and Authors · Economic Events · International Relations · Political Events · Sports · Indian Economy · Agricultural Economy · Banking System · Development Indicators · External Sector · Fiscal and Monetary Policy · Industrial Growth · Nature of Indian Economy · Five-Year Plans and NITI Aayog · Poverty, Unemployment and Inclusion · Indian National Movement · Indian National Congress and Moderates · Early Resistance and 1857 · Extremist and Revolutionary Phase · Gandhian Era · National Leaders · Communalism and Partition · Geography of India · Agriculture · Climate, Monsoon and Rainfall · Natural Calamities and Disaster Management · Environmental Issues · Natural Resources · Physical Features of India · Rivers and Water Resources · Transport and Communication · History and Culture of India · Bhakti and Sufi Movements · Indian Culture and Heritage · Gupta and Post-Gupta Period · Indus Valley Civilization · Marathas and Regional Powers · Mauryan Empire · Delhi Sultanate and Mughals · Unity in Diversity · Vedic Age · Indian Polity · Anti-corruption Measures · Constitution of India · Election Commission and Elections · Federalism and Centre-State Relations · Fundamental Rights, Duties and DPSPs · Judiciary · Local Self Government · Statutory & Constitutional Bodies · State Government · Union Government · General Science · Botany and Zoology · Chemistry · Environment and Ecology · Human Body, Health and Nutrition · Physics · Science & Technology

### Aptitude and Mental Ability (weight 1)
Alphanumeric Reasoning · Area and Volume · Data Interpretation · Dice · HCF and LCM · Logical Reasoning · Number Series · Percentage · Puzzles · Ratio and Proportion · Simple and Compound Interest · Simplification · Time and Distance · Time and Work · Visual Reasoning

### Tamil Nadu — History, Culture, Society & Administration (weight 1.4)
Tamil Nadu Administration and Development · Agriculture and Irrigation · e-Governance in Tamil Nadu · Human Development Indicators · Industrial Development in TN · TN Administrative Structure · Welfare Schemes · Art, Culture and Heritage of Tamil Nadu · Bharatanatyam and Folk Dances · Festivals and Customs · Carnatic Music · Temple Architecture · Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu · Tamil Nadu and INC · Early Uprisings · Gandhian Movement in TN · Tamil Nadu Freedom Leaders · History of Tamil Nadu · Archaeological Discoveries · European Powers in Tamil Nadu · Imperial Cholas · Later Pandyas and Vijayanagar · Pallavas of Kanchi · Sangam Age · Tamil Language and Literature · Bhakti Literature · Tamil Epics · Modern Tamil Literature · Sangam Literature · Thirukkural · Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu · Dravidian Movement · Justice Party · Social Reformers of TN · Self-Respect Movement · Women's Movements

## Expected cutoffs (category-wise)
| Category | Expected Cutoff (indicative) |
|----------|------------------------------|
| General (OC) | 160–175 marks (53–58%) |
| BC (Backward Classes) | 145–160 marks (48–53%) |
| BC(M) (Muslim) | 140–155 marks (47–52%) |
| MBC/DNC (Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities) | 135–150 marks (45–50%) |
| SC (Scheduled Castes) | 125–140 marks (42–47%) |
| ST (Scheduled Tribes) | 120–135 marks (40–45%) |
| PwD (Persons with Disabilities) | 110–125 marks (37–42%) |

**Guidance:**

- **Category differential**: General (OC) cutoffs typically run 10–20 marks higher than BC, with SC/ST categories approximately 35–50 marks below General. MBC/DNC falls between BC and SC benchmarks.
- **Year-on-year variation**: Cutoffs fluctuate based on paper difficulty, vacancy numbers, and candidate pool strength. A tougher prelims can drop cutoffs by 5–15 marks across categories; higher vacancies may lower thresholds by 3–8 marks.
- **Safe zone**: Scoring 55%+ (165 marks) for General and 47%+ (140 marks) for BC/MBC generally ensures comfortable prelims qualification in most cycles.

Full cutoff page: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP1/cutoff

## Free resources on Shishya for this exam
- Exam hub (mocks, PYQs, news, dates): https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP1
- Full syllabus + free study notes: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP1/syllabus
- Category-wise expected cutoffs: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP1/cutoff
- Memory tricks & mnemonics: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP1/tricks
- How to crack it (strategy guide): https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP1/guide
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