Exams · Tamil Nadu exams · TNPSC Group II
TNPSC Group II
TNPSC Group II — Preliminary Examination: 1 Nov 2026 (official — tnpsc.gov.in). TNPSC Group II Preliminary Examination: 200 questions, 300 marks, 180 minutes, no deduction printed for a wrong answer; 0.5 mark is deducted if a question is left blank (TNPSC notice, 11 Aug 2026). Official site: tnpsc.gov.in.
TNPSC Group II/IIA (Combined Civil Services - II, Prelims)
TNPSC Group II/IIA Prelims — single GS paper, 200 MCQs in 3 hours, for Sub-Registrar, Assistant Inspector etc.
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Updated 6 Oct 2026 ·Vacancy counts change every cycle — always confirm the exact number in the latest official notification before applying.
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Source: official exam authority notification · refreshed weekly. How this works →
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TNPSC Group II eligibility
Verified against the official notification. Source ↗ · last reconciled 2026-05.
- Age
- 18 – 32 years (General)18-32 for General (no upper limit for SC/ST/SCA/MBC/BC). 21-32 for posts requiring graduation. Reference date is 1 July of the exam year.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree for Group 2 (interview-mandatory posts). Class 12 / equivalent for Group 2A (non-interview posts) in some recruitment cycles.
- Attempts
- Unlimited attempts (within upper age cap for General; unlimited for reserved categories).
- Nationality
- Indian citizen.
TNPSC Group II cutoffs
Historical cutoffs are a guide, not a prediction. Use them to set a realistic target, not to predict next year's exact number.
Prelims cutoff (qualifying for Mains, Group 2 interview post)
out of 300 marks| Year | Category | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | General | ~180 – 195 |
| 2023 | BC | ~170 – 185 |
| 2023 | MBC | ~160 – 175 |
| 2023 | SC | ~145 – 160 |
| 2023 | ST | ~125 – 145 |
Source: official ↗ · verified 2026-05.
TNPSC Group II salary after selection
Approximate starting gross at an X-class (metro) posting. Actual pay depends on post, city, year of joining and prevailing DA.
Assistant Section Officer / Sub-Registrar / Inspector (Group 2)
Pay Level 16 – 19 (Tamil Nadu)- Basic pay
- ₹36,400 – ₹47,600
- Gross monthly
- ₹55,000 – ₹75,000 (Chennai)
Source: official ↗ · verified 2026-05.
TNPSC Group II — Frequently asked questions
Is Shishya free for TNPSC Group II preparation?
How many TNPSC Group II practice questions does Shishya have?
Are TNPSC Group II previous year question papers available?
How long is the TNPSC Group II exam?
What is the exam pattern of TNPSC Group II?
Is there negative marking in TNPSC Group II?
In which languages is TNPSC Group II conducted?
What is the expected cutoff for TNPSC Group II?
Is there a full-length TNPSC Group II mock test in the real exam pattern?
Can I build a topic-wise TNPSC Group II mock test?
How can I prepare for TNPSC Group II for free?
Previous year papers
100 questions across all yearsOfficial papers
Question papers and answer keys as the conducting body published them. Each link opens the body's own file.
2025
- Question paper + answer key: General English with General Studies Aptitude and Mental Ability (Subject Code 002) ↗ · scanned · 20.8 MB
- Question paper + answer key: General Tamil with General Studies Aptitude and Mental Ability (Subject Code 001) ↗ · scanned · 19.0 MB
2024
- Question paper + answer key: GENERAL STUDIES WITH GENERAL ENGLISH (Subject Code 002) ↗ · scanned · 7.2 MB
- Question paper + answer key: GENERAL STUDIES WITH GENERAL TAMIL (Subject Code 001) ↗ · scanned · 8.4 MB
- Answer key: COMBINED CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION- II IN GROUP II AND IIA SERVICES (PRELIMS) - final answer key ↗ · scanned · 238 KB
2022
- Question paper + answer key: GENERAL STUDIES (Subject Code ) ↗ · 3.2 MB
- Answer key: COMBINED CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION-II (INTERVIEW POSTS AND NON-INTERVIEW POSTS) IN GROUP-II AND IIA SERVICES - final answer key (Prelims 21/05/2022) ↗ · scanned · 147 KB
2018
- Answer key: COMBINED CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION [INTERVIEW POSTS] IN GROUP-II SERVICES - final answer key (Prelims 11/11/2018) ↗ · scanned · 976 KB
Published by Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission
Previous year paper practice: each year is a set of PYQ-pattern questions — freshly worded in the pattern of that year's paper, not the paper itself. Every card shows how many it holds against the real paper's count.
2025
21 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2025 paper (which had 200)
Practise these →2024
20 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2024 paper (which had 200)
Practise these →2023
20 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2023 paper (which had 200)
Practise these →2022
20 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2022 paper (which had 200)
Practise these →2021
19 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2021 paper (which had 200)
Practise these →
Mock tests
Take any mock in your preferred language — use the language picker inside the mock to switch (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, and 15 more).
TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 1
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 2
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 3
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 4
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 5
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 6
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 7
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 8
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 9
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full Mock 10
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — 2025 PYQ-pattern set (21 of 200 questions)
SET21 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — Full-Length Mock (Real Pattern: 200Q · 180 min)
FULL200 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — 2024 PYQ-pattern set (20 of 200 questions)
SET20 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — 2023 PYQ-pattern set (18 of 200 questions)
SET18 questions · 180 min
Start mock →TNPSC Group II — 2021 PYQ-pattern set (19 of 200 questions)
SET19 questions · 180 min
Start mock →
Practice by subject & topic
Full-length subject tests below — 25 questions each, real exam format, instant scoring.Want to drill a single topic? Open it from the syllabus — a topic that has practice questions has a short quiz on its page.
General Studies
116 QsHistory, Culture, Heritage & Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu
90 QsAptitude and Mental Ability
238 Qs
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Students
36
Mocks taken
91
Average score
51%
Top score
100%
What can I get from TNPSC Group II?
Mock-score → expected rank → likely outcome. Use the mocks below to find your current band, then plan how many marks you need to climb.
Elite scorers — top 1-2%
92–100% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Virtually certain final selection with consistent mains and interview performance
- •First preference for department and location in final allocation
- •Assistant Section Officer (Chennai/Secretariat postings) — prestigious central postings
- •Senior executive posts in preferred departments (Revenue, Commercial Tax, Co-operative)
- •Strong foundation for future TNPSC Group I attempt
- •Typically indicates thorough preparation across all subjects including Tamil literature and aptitude
Top 5% performers
85–92% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Executive Officer Grade III (Group II) — Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments, temple administration
- •Treasury Officer (Group II) — pay level 22-71,900, treasury operations
- •District Backward Classes Welfare Officer (Group II) — senior administrative role
- •Commercial Tax Officer (Group II) — revenue collection, enforcement powers
- •Top-tier prelims performance; focus on securing high mains scores for preferred department allocation
High scorer category
75–85% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Assistant Registrar (Group II) — Co-operative Department, senior executive role
- •District Employment Officer (Group II) — district-level administrative post
- •Manager (Group II) — Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation
- •Inspector (Labour) (Group II) — Labour Department, enforcement cadre
- •Excellent prelims score; likely to have strong overall ranking if mains performance is consistent
- •Preference for choice postings in final allocation
Competitive scoring band
65–75% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Assistant Commercial Tax Officer (Group II) — Commercial Tax Department, pay level 22-71,900
- •Block Development Officer (Group II) — rural development, executive role
- •Divisional Accounts Officer (Group II) — treasury/accounts departments
- •Women Development Officer (Group II) — Social Welfare Department
- •Very strong prelims performance; prioritize interview preparation alongside mains
Safe prelims clearance zone
50–65% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Assistant Section Officer (Group IIA) — Tamil Nadu Secretariat, ministerial posts
- •Inspector of Co-operative Societies (Group II) — pay level 22-71,900, field posting
- •Junior Employment Officer (Group II) — district employment offices
- •Provincial Officer (Group II) — various departments, executive cadre
- •Strong chance for prelims; focus intensively on mains descriptive answers
Marginal qualifying range
35–50% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •May clear prelims for BC/MBC/SC/ST categories (cut-offs vary 35-45%)
- •Unlikely to qualify for OC category (typically needs 45%+)
- •Assistant Section Officer (Group IIA) — ministerial cadre, pay level 15-40,500
- •Focus on mains preparation if prelims cleared
- •Strengthen weak areas before mains examination
Below qualifying threshold
0–35% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
AI-curated from historic cut-off patterns. Always verify with the latest official notification before making decisions.
News & timeline
See older updates →Latest news
TNPSC's press release says certificate verification and counselling for Group IIA posts of the 2025 cycle (Notification 11/2025) will be held from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at the TNPSC office in Chennai. Call letters are on tnpsc.gov.in; candidates are informed by SMS and e-mail only, not by post. This is separate from the 2026 cycle, whose Group II and IIA preliminary exam is on 1 November 2026.
As per the official notification, the preliminary examination will be held on November 1, 2026 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM in offline mode across exam centres in Tamil Nadu.
TNPSC has announced an application correction window from September 13 to 15, 2026 for candidates to edit submitted details. OTR registration and Aadhaar linking are mandatory for applying.
Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission released Notification No. 07/2026 on 11 August 2026 for 821 posts (41 Group II + 780 Group IIA). Online application window is open at tnpscexams.in until September 9, 2026.
The TNPSC Group 2 Mains Result for the 2025 recruitment cycle was released on June 29, 2026. Candidates who appeared for the March 2026 mains exam can check their results at tnpsc.gov.in.
Important dates
Online application start
passedTue, 11 Aug, 2026
Officialtnpsc.gov.in ↗Apply at tnpscexams.in; OTR registration required
Online application last date
passedWed, 9 Sept, 2026
Officialtnpsc.gov.in ↗Deadline is 11:59 PM
Application correction window
passedSun, 13 Sept, 2026
Reportedcareerpower.in13-15 September 2026
Prelims admit card (expected)
9 days awayTue, 20 Oct, 2026
ExpectedUsually released 10-15 days before exam; based on 2025 pattern
📍Preliminary Examination
21 days awaySun, 1 Nov, 2026
Officialtnpsc.gov.in ↗9:30 AM to 12:30 PM; offline OMR-based; 200 questions, 300 marks
Prelims result (expected)
72 days awayTue, 22 Dec, 2026
ExpectedBased on 2025 cycle pattern; result expected in December 2026
📍Main Examination (expected)
155 days awayMon, 15 Mar, 2027
ExpectedMains date to be announced after prelims result; typically held in Feb-Mar
Syllabus
Tap any topic for its study notes + a 10-question topic test
General Studies
General Science
Scientific knowledge, scientific temper and applications.
Current Events
National and international current affairs of the last 12-18 months.
Geography of India
Indian geography — physical, social and economic aspects.
History and Culture of India
Indian history from Indus Valley to post-independence.
Indian National Movement
Freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947.
Indian Polity
Constitution and governance of India.
Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
Indian economy structure and Tamil Nadu development administration.
History, Culture, Heritage & Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Society
Tamil history from prehistoric to modern times.
Tamil Literature
Tamil literature from Sangam age to contemporary times.
Role of Tamil Nadu in Freedom Struggle
Tamil Nadu's contribution to the Indian freedom movement.
Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu
Reform, rationalist and Dravidian movements.
Tamil Nadu Culture and Heritage
Cultural heritage, art forms and traditions.
Aptitude and Mental Ability
Simplification
BODMAS, fractions, decimals and roots.
Percentage
Percentage calculations and applications.
HCF and LCM
Highest common factor, lowest common multiple problems.
Ratio and Proportion
Ratio, proportion, partnership and mixtures.
Simple and Compound Interest
Interest calculations, EMIs, compounding.
Area and Volume
Mensuration of triangles, circles, cubes, cylinders, cones.
Time and Work
Work efficiency, pipes and cisterns.
Time, Speed and Distance
Trains, boats, relative speed and average speed.
Logical Reasoning
Statement-conclusion, syllogism, cause-effect.
Puzzles
Seating arrangement, scheduling and grouping puzzles.
Dice
Dice problems — opposite faces, surfaces, position.
Visual Reasoning
Mirror image, water image, paper folding/cutting, embedded figures.
Alphanumeric Reasoning
Coding-decoding, alphabet test, alphanumeric series.
Number Series
Find next/missing/wrong term in number series.
Data Interpretation
Tables, bar/pie/line graphs and calculation-based questions.