TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Syllabus 2026
Prelims 300 + Mains Paper I 100 + Paper II 300 · Group 2 Descriptive / Group 2A CBT · No Interview (removed after 2021)
Prelims — Common exam (Group 2 & 2A)
300 marksLanguage (100 marks)
- General Tamil OR General English
- Candidate's choice
General Studies — Degree Standard (75 marks)
- History & Culture
- Geography
- Polity & Administration
- Economy
- Basic Science
- Environment
- Current Affairs
Aptitude & Mental Ability — SSLC Standard (25 marks)
- Numerical Ability
- Logical Reasoning
- Data Interpretation
Mains Paper I — Tamil Eligibility Test
100 marksCommon to Group 2 & 2A
- SSLC-level Tamil grammar
- General Tamil knowledge
- Qualifying only — not counted toward final ranking
Mains Paper II — Group 2 (Descriptive)
300 marksWritten exam — Degree Standard
- General Studies, Essay/Descriptive-type questions
- Same subjects as Prelims — with deeper analysis expected
- Counts toward final ranking — no Interview
Mains Paper II — Group 2A (Computer Based Test)
300 marksObjective CBT — Degree Standard
- General Studies — 150 marks
- Aptitude & Mental Ability — 50 marks
- 200 questions total, Computer Based Test
- Counts toward final ranking — no Interview
Mark distribution is based on TNPSC's official Scheme of Examination. The topic list inside General Studies and Aptitude is compiled from patterns in past TNPSC papers — see tnpsc.gov.in for the full official syllabus.
How to prepare
- Prelims and Mains Paper I share the same core subjects — build your fundamentals first, since they carry over to both exams
- If you've applied for Group 2A, practice CBT-style mock tests regularly — the question format is different from a written paper
- If you've applied for Group 2, practice answer writing (Descriptive format) daily
- Read current affairs every day — use our daily current affairs page
- Solve TNPSC previous year question papers to get familiar with the exam pattern
Frequently Asked Questions
How many stages does the TNPSC Group 2 & 2A syllabus cover?
Three stages: Prelims (common, 300 marks, screening only), Mains Paper I (Tamil eligibility test, 100 marks, qualifying only), Mains Paper II (300 marks — Descriptive written exam for Group 2 posts, Computer Based Test for Group 2A posts). There is no Interview — TNPSC removed it for both Group 2 and 2A after 2021. (Source: tnpsc.gov.in Scheme of Examination)
Is the syllabus different for Group 2 and Group 2A?
Prelims and Mains Paper I are identical for both — it's the same exam. The only difference is Mains Paper II: Group 2 posts use a Descriptive (written) paper, while Group 2A posts use an Objective-type Computer Based Test (CBT). The subjects covered are the same for both — only the question format differs.
What topics are covered in TNPSC Group 2 Prelims?
A Language section (General Tamil or General English — 100 marks), General Studies at Degree Standard (75 marks), and Aptitude & Mental Ability at SSLC Standard (25 marks). 200 questions total, 300 marks, 3 hours. Minimum qualifying mark is 90/300.
Is there negative marking in the Group 2 & 2A exam?
Yes. Objective-type questions (Prelims and the Group 2A CBT) carry a penalty of 1/3 mark for every wrong answer. Group 2's Mains Paper II is Descriptive, so negative marking does not apply to it.
Which General Studies topics matter most for Group 2?
History & Culture, Geography, Indian Polity & Administration, Economy, Basic Science, Environment, and Current Affairs are the topics that come up most often in past TNPSC papers. This largely overlaps with the Group 1 Prelims syllabus, but is tested at Degree Standard difficulty.