# TNPSC Group II/IIA (Combined Civil Services - II, Prelims) (TNPSC Group II) — Shishya exam context

> Machine-readable context for TNPSC Group II/IIA (Combined Civil Services - II, 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_GROUP2. Human page: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP2

## 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: 18–30 years (before category relaxation: OBC +3, SC/ST +5)
- Education: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university
- Approximate annual vacancies: 821
- Note: Tamil language knowledge compulsory; must score 40%+ in Tamil paper to qualify
- Official portal: https://tnpsc.gov.in (Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC))

## Key dates
- 2026-08-11 — Notification released (No. 07/2026)
- 2026-08-11 — Online application start
- 2026-08-11 — Notification release date
- 2026-08-11 — Application portal opens
- 2026-08-11 — TNPSC Group II 2026 notification release
- 2026-08-11 — Group 2/2A 2026 Notification release
- 2026-08-11 — Application portal opens
- 2026-08-12 — Application portal opens (estimated)

## Declared results
- 2026-07-13 — Prelims: Previous cycle shortlist published: 10,583 candidates qualified for Mains → https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP2/results/01484529-09b6-4aec-ac28-b578baf851f9

## Syllabus outline
### 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, Speed and Distance · Time and Work · Visual Reasoning

### General Studies (weight 1)
Current Events · Awards and Honours · Books and Authors · Economic Events · International Events · Political Events · Sports · Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu · Agriculture and Rural Development · Banking and Financial Markets · Industry and Service Sector · Nature of Indian Economy · Five-Year Plans and NITI Aayog · Public Awareness and General Administration · Taxation and Public Finance · TN Development Administration · Welfare and Social Sector · Indian National Movement · Revolt of 1857 · Early Phase of Congress · Major Leaders · Militant and Revolutionary Activities · Communalism and Partition · Satyagraha and Mass Movements · Geography of India · Natural Calamities and Disaster Management · Environmental Issues and Green Energy · Location and Physical Features · Monsoon, Rainfall and Climate · Population and Urbanization · Soils, Minerals and Forests · Transport and Communication · Water Resources and Rivers · History and Culture of India · Bhakti and Sufi Movements · Delhi Sultanate · Guptas and Post-Guptas · Indus Valley Civilization · Marathas · Mughals · Personalities and Symbols · Unity in Diversity · Indian Polity · Lokpal and Lok Ayukta · Constitution of India · Elections · Executive · Fundamental Rights, Duties, DPSPs · Judiciary · Legislature · Local Self Government · Union, State and Union Territory · General Science · Botany · Chemistry · Environment and Ecology · Health and Nutrition · Physics · Science & Technology Advances · Zoology

### History, Culture, Heritage & Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu (weight 1.4)
Tamil Nadu Culture and Heritage · Temple Architecture · Dance Forms · Festivals and Customs · Carnatic Music · Welfare Initiatives in TN · Role of Tamil Nadu in Freedom Struggle · Early Resistance · Gandhian Phase in TN · Tamil Nadu Freedom Leaders · History of Tamil Society · Archaeological Discoveries · Imperial Cholas · Pallavas of Kanchi · Later Pandyas and Vijayanagar · Prehistoric Tamil Nadu · Sangam Age · Tamil Literature · Twin Epics and Bhakti Literature · Medieval Tamil Literature · Modern Tamil Literature · Sangam Literature · Thirukkural · Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu · Dravidian Movement · Justice Party · Periyar and Anna · Rationalism · Other Social Reformers · Self-Respect Movement

## Expected cutoffs (category-wise)
| Category | Expected cutoff (indicative) |
|----------|------------------------------|
| General | 195–225 marks (65–75%) |
| EWS | 185–215 marks (62–72%) |
| OBC | 175–205 marks (58–68%) |
| SC | 155–185 marks (52–62%) |
| ST | 145–175 marks (48–58%) |
| PwD (General) | 135–165 marks (45–55%) |
| PwD (OBC/SC/ST) | 120–150 marks (40–50%) |

**Guidance:**

• **General vs. OBC gap**: Typically 20–30 marks (7–10 percentage points); SC/ST cutoffs run 40–50 marks below General, reflecting reservation relaxations and competition density in TNPSC streams.

• **Year-to-year shifts**: Cutoffs fluctuate ±15–25 marks based on paper difficulty, vacancies notified (Group II vs. Group IIA split), and candidate pool strength; easier papers push General cutoffs toward 220+, tougher ones settle near 195–200.

• **Mains qualification threshold**: General candidates near 195 marks clear prelims reliably; OBC near 175, SC near 155 secure mains entry—final selections depend on mains+interview performance, but prelims cutoffs remain the critical first filter.

Full cutoff page: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP2/cutoff

## Free resources on Shishya for this exam
- Exam hub (mocks, PYQs, news, dates): https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP2
- Full syllabus + free study notes: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP2/syllabus
- Category-wise expected cutoffs: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP2/cutoff
- Memory tricks & mnemonics: https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP2/tricks
- How to crack it (strategy guide): https://shishya.in/exams/TN_TNPSC_GROUP2/guide
- Free day-by-day study plan (personal coach): https://shishya.in/coach
- Free AI tutor (22 Indian languages, no login): https://shishya.in/chat

Everything is free — no paywall, no subscription, no credit card. Platform index for LLMs: https://shishya.in/llms.txt and https://shishya.in/llms-full.txt