The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission or TNPSC conducts the civil service exams for recruiting candidates to various administrative positions of the state. The exam is conducted in four phases and divided amongst four groups, namely group 1, group 2, group 3, and group 4.
Exams are conducted at different time periods during the year for the different groups. The eligibility conditions, exam dates, application fees, exam pattern, syllabus, etc. are different for each group.
In this article, we present details about TNPSC 2020 notification, online registration process, admit card, cut-off marks, recruitment, preparation tips, and recommended books for the exam. The official portal of the commission is tnpsc.gov.in.
TNPSC 2020 – Important Dates
| Exam event | Important Dates – For Group 1 |
| Official Release of TNPSC notification | 1st January 2020 |
| Application begins | January 20, 2020 |
| Deadline for submission of online application form | February 19, 2020 |
| Preliminary exam | 5th April 2020 |
| Prelims Result | April 2020 |
| Mains exam | July 2020 |
| Mains Exam Result | November 2020 |
| Interview | First Week of December 2020 |
| Final Results | Last Week of December 2020 |
TNPSC 2020 Online Application Form
The Tamil Nadu public service commission conducts the TNPSC exams for recruiting candidates into civil service positions by conducting the four level exams – Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4 exams. The application process is common for all groups and is as mentioned below:
- The application should be submitted in the ONLINE mode only.
- Visit the official website of the state commission.
- The next step in the application process is the ONE TIME REGISTRATION step or the OTR step. Once registered, a candidate can use the website for 5 years.
- For OTR, candidates shall be charged a nominal fee, which would be updated from time to time. (Approximately INR 150)
- For OTR, candidates need to upload their scanned copies of photo and signature along with relevant certificates wherever required.
- After OTR, candidates need to select the appropriate group/service that they intend to apply.
- Fill up all the details in the application form.
- Candidates need to upload all relevant documents in the application form.
- Pay the requisite online fee.
- Submit the application form and take a print copy.
Point to Note: By creating OTR, the candidate is only registered on the website. For application purposes, he needs to make a separate application only.
Application fees
Fees can be remitted in two ways:
- Online mode: Through Net banking/ debit card/ credit card.
- Offline mode: At the SBI branch, Pay cash and receive E-challan and later the same number in the online application form.
Fees Applicable
Candidates should note that the OTR fees for all groups are INR 150. The respective application fee for each group is different, and as mentioned below. The total fee includes OTR fees plus application fees.
- For Group 1: Application fee – INR 100, INR 200(Mains)
- For Group 2: Application fee – INR 100 (Prelims), INR 150(Mains)
- For Group 3: application fee – INR 100(Prelims), INR 200(Mains)
- For Group 4: application fee – INR 100.
TNPSC 2020 Admit card
The admit card is an essential document to be carried by the candidate to the exam hall without fail. The admit card contains all essential information that is relevant to the candidate with respect to his exam details. Follow these steps to download admit card:
- Visit the homepage of the commission.
- Log in with relevant id and password.
- Go to the link – ‘Download your hall tickets’ and click on it.
- In the following window, click on the group exam that you applied for.
- Enter your application id and date of birth.
- Admit card shall be displayed.
- Download and take a print copy of the admit card.
TNPSC Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
- Only citizens of India are eligible to apply for the services.
Education Qualification
- For groups 1, 2, and 3, possessing a minimum bachelor’s degree is essential to be eligible to apply for the exam.
- For group 4, SSLC or holding a 10th standard certificate is sufficient to apply for the exam.
Age Limit
- Group 1 – Minimum of 21 years and a maximum of 33 years.
- Group 2- Minimum of 18 years and a maximum of 40 years.
- Group 3- Minimum of 18 years and a maximum of 42 years.
- Group 4- Minimum of 18 years and a maximum of 35 years.
Age Relaxation
For all groups –Group 1, 2, 3, and 4, here are the age relaxation norms.
- Disabled persons – 10 years in the upper age limit.
- For ex-servicemen – maximum of 48 or 53 years based on the category of the candidate.
TNPSC Exam Pattern
Each group follows a different exam pattern; here, we present the exam pattern for all groups in detail:
Group 1
- Prelims are conducted for 300 marks for 3 hours containing 200 questions.
- Mains exam (descriptive type) has 3 papers each of 3 hours of 250 marks each.
- Total marks of mains are 750.
- Interview round carries 100 marks.
Group 2
- Prelims is conducted for 3 hours for 300 marks of total 200 marks
- Mains exam consists of 2 papers of 300 marks total
Group 3
- Consists of 1 paper of 200 questions of 300 marks totally for 3 hours.
Group 4
- Only 1 paper of 300 marks for 3 hours
TNPSC Syllabus
The syllabus, in brief, is presented below for each group. Candidates can download the complete syllabus in PDF format.
Group 1 Syllabus
Preliminary exam
- General science
- Current affairs
- Geography
- History and culture of India
- Indian polity
- Economy
- Indian national movement
- Aptitude and reasoning questions
- Tamil society culture and heritage
Mains examination
- Paper 1 – modern history, social issues, general aptitude, and mental ability
- Paper 2- Indian polity and emerging political trends, the impact of science and technology, Tamil society and culture
- Paper 3 – Geography of India, environment and biodiversity, Indian economy, current affairs.
Group 2
Prelims
- General science
- Current affairs
- Constitution of India
- Indian polity
- National renaissance
- Indian national movement
- Socio-political movements in Tamil Nadu
- Administration in Tamil Nadu
- Aptitude and mental ability
Mains
- Part A – Translation
- Part B – precise writing, comprehension, letter writing, essay writing
Group 3
- General studies
- Aptitude test
- Mental ability test
- General English
- General Tamil
- General aptitude
- Logical reasoning test
Group 4
- General studies
- General science
- Political science
- English grammar
- Comprehension
- Authors and literary works
TNPSC Cut off
- Go to the official website of the commission.
- Go to the results section.
- Click on cut off marks.
- The current year cut off marks according to the exam of the respective exam shall be displayed.
Results
- On the homepage of the state commission, click on the results section.
- Click on the results tab.
- Select the appropriate link in the tabular column displayed.
- Results shall be displayed in pdf format.
Vacancy
Different groups have different vacancies. Below we present the posts for various groups, and the exact number of vacancies shall be updated later on.
Group 1
- Deputy collector
- Deputy superintendent of police
- Assistant commissioner
- Deputy registrar of cooperative societies
- District registrar
- Assistant director of rural development
- District employment officer
- District officer for fire and rescue services
Group 2
- Industrial co-operative officer
- Probation officer ( Social defense department)
- Junior employment officer
- Probation officer in prison department
- Assistant inspector in labor department
- Sub-registrar grade 2
- Special assistant in anti-corruption department
- Municipal commissioner
- Assistant section officer
- Programmer
- Audit inspector
- Handloom inspector
Group 3
- Junior Inspector ( co-operative societies)
- Assistant Supervisor ( industrial co-operative societies)
- Storekeeper in training wing
- Storekeeper grade 2
Group 4
- Village administrative officer
- Junior assistant
- Bill collector
- Field surveyor
- Draftsman
- Typist
- Steno-typist
Preparation tips for TNPSC civil service exam
- Studying as per the syllabus is highly recommended. All topics given in the syllabus must be read and understood thoroughly.
- News updates and current affairs are as important as general awareness and general knowledge areas.
- Practice a variety of aptitude and reasoning type of questions, they are asked very frequently in TNPSC papers.
- Elementary knowledge of all the core subjects is equally important
- Do not forget to refer to NCERT books. They are a must.
- Identify your weaker sections and strong areas. Focus more on strengthening your weaker areas.
- Speed is an important aspect of conquering the TNPSC exams.
- Also, note where negative marking is applicable and where it isn’t. Try to answer questions without leaving any of them where you have no negative marking.
- Previous year question papers and mock test attempts should go in parallel with your studies.
- Selection of subjects should be made wisely.
- Prepare a strategic time table and follow it up regularly.
- Do not miss out on government websites as they have the latest information on the schemes and programs thrown open to the public
- Referring to daily newspapers without fail is essential.
Best books for preparation
Here are the best lists of books candidates can refer, apart from many more good books for preparation:
- General studies manual for TNPSC examinations
- TNPSC VAO reference books for administration
- TNPSC VAO Girama Nirvagam
- General studies books by Sakthi publications
- Books by Samacheer Kalvi
- Arihant’s General knowledge books
- Indian polity by Laxmikanth
- Science and technology reference by Spectrum series
- Indian freedom struggle by K Venkadesan
- India year book by Government of India