The TNPSC Group IV Exam Syllabus 2026 is based on the SSLC standard and covers Tamil, General Studies, and Aptitude & Mental Ability. Candidates appearing for the Combined Civil Services Examination–IV should understand the complete syllabus before starting their preparation.
The examination consists of 200 objective-type questions for 300 marks, with a total duration of 3 hours. The paper is divided into Part A and Part B.
TNPSC Group IV Syllabus 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Combined Civil Services Examination – IV |
| Popular Name | TNPSC Group IV |
| Question Type | Objective Type |
| Total Questions | 200 |
| Maximum Marks | 300 |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
| Exam Standard | SSLC Standard |
| Part A | Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test |
| Part B | General Studies + Aptitude & Mental Ability |
| Tamil Questions | 100 |
| General Studies Questions | 75 |
| Aptitude & Mental Ability Questions | 25 |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | 90 Marks |
| Tamil Minimum Requirement | 60 Marks (40%) |
The official scheme states that Part B will not be evaluated unless the candidate obtains at least 40% (60 marks) in Part A. The marks obtained in Part A and Part B together are considered for ranking.
TNPSC Group IV Syllabus PDF 2026
Candidates preparing for the examination should refer to the official TNPSC syllabus PDF for the complete topic-wise syllabus.
TNPSC Group IV Syllabus PDF
| TNPSC Group 4 Syllabus | Official Download Link |
|---|---|
| Group 4 Syllabus 2026 – Tamil Medium | Download |
| Group 4 Syllabus 2026 – English Medium | Download |
The official TNPSC syllabus document for Group IV contains the detailed syllabus for the Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test and the other examination subjects.
TNPSC Group IV Exam Pattern 2026
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test | 100 | 150 |
| Part B | General Studies | 75 | 150* |
| Part C | Aptitude & Mental Ability | 25 | Included in Part B |
| Total | — | 200 | 300 |
*Part B and the Aptitude & Mental Ability component together account for the remaining 150 marks. The official scheme describes Part B as 75 General Studies questions along with 25 Aptitude & Mental Ability questions.
Part A – Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test
The Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test contains 100 questions for 150 marks at the SSLC standard.
The official syllabus covers areas including grammar, writing skills, technical terms, reading comprehension, translation and literary works.
Tamil Syllabus – Topic-wise
| Unit | Topic | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Unit I | Tamil Grammar | As prescribed in the official syllabus |
| Unit II | Vocabulary / Language Usage | As prescribed in the official syllabus |
| Unit III | Writing Skills | 10 |
| Unit IV | Technical Terms | 10 |
| Unit V | Reading Comprehension | 20 |
| Unit VI | Translation | 5 |
| Unit VII | Literary Works | 15 |
Major Tamil Topics
Candidates should prepare topics such as:
- Tamil grammar
- Vocabulary
- Word usage
- Sentence formation
- Writing skills
- Letter writing
- Jumbled sentences
- Sentence arrangement
- Technical and administrative terms
- Official correspondence basics
- Reading comprehension
- Translation
- Tense-related questions
- Voice-related questions
- Literary works
- Poetry
- Prose
- Figures of speech
The official syllabus specifically includes literary works based on school textbooks up to SSLC standard.
Part B – General Studies
General Studies contains 75 questions and is based on the SSLC standard.
The major areas of the General Studies syllabus include:
| Unit | Subject | Important Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Unit I | General Science | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environment |
| Unit II | Current Events | National and international events, sports, books, awards, government schemes |
| Unit III | Geography | India, Tamil Nadu, resources, climate, environment |
| Unit IV | History and Culture of India | Ancient, medieval and modern India |
| Unit V | Indian National Movement | Freedom struggle, national leaders, important movements |
| Unit VI | Indian Polity | Constitution, governance, rights, Parliament, judiciary |
| Unit VII | Indian Economy | Economy, development, planning, taxation, banking |
| Unit VIII | Tamil Nadu Development Administration | Social welfare, development programmes and administration |
| Unit IX | History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements of Tamil Nadu | Tamil history, culture, social movements and important personalities |
The official syllabus includes General Science, Current Events, Geography, Indian history and national movement, Indian polity, Indian economy/development administration, and Tamil Nadu history, culture, heritage and socio-political movements.
General Science – Important Topics
| Area | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Physics | Nature of the Universe, Measurement of Physical Quantities, Motion & Force, Pressure, Energy, Electricity, Magnetism, Light, Sound, Heat, Nuclear Physics |
| Chemistry | Elements & Compounds, Acids, Bases & Salts, Petroleum Products, Fertilizers, Pesticides, Metallurgy, Food Adulteration |
| Biology | Life Science, Classification of Living Organisms, Evolution, Genetics, Human Physiology, Nutrition, Health & Hygiene, Human Diseases |
| Environment | Environmental Science and related basic concepts |
Current Events
Candidates should focus on important current developments in India, Tamil Nadu and around the world.
| Area | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|
| National Events | Important national developments, major events and announcements |
| International Events | Major international developments and global events |
| Tamil Nadu | Important state-level events, developments and initiatives |
| Government Schemes | Major Central and Tamil Nadu Government schemes |
| Important Personalities | Important personalities in news and their contributions |
| Awards & Honours | National and international awards and honours |
| Sports | Major tournaments, championships, players and achievements |
| Books & Authors | Important books, authors and literary awards |
| Science & Technology | Major developments, discoveries, space and technology |
| Places in News | Important national and international places appearing in current affairs |
| Welfare Programmes | Major government welfare and social development programmes |
| Political & Administrative Developments | Important governance, administrative and policy developments |
Geography
The Geography section covers basic concepts of physical geography along with the geography of India and Tamil Nadu.
| Area | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|
| Earth & Physical Geography | Earth structure, physical features and major geographical processes |
| Climate | Climate, weather and climatic conditions |
| Monsoon | Indian monsoon and seasonal variations |
| Natural Resources | Major natural resources and their distribution |
| Rivers | Major rivers and river systems of India and Tamil Nadu |
| Agriculture | Major crops, agricultural regions and farming |
| Industries | Major industries and industrial regions |
| Population | Population distribution, growth and related concepts |
| Transport | Major transport systems and networks |
| Natural Disasters | Floods, cyclones, earthquakes, droughts and other disasters |
| Environment | Environmental issues and geographical concerns |
| India | Physical, economic and geographical features of India |
| Tamil Nadu | Physical and economic geography of Tamil Nadu |
Indian History and Culture
Candidates should prepare important periods, personalities, events and cultural developments in Indian history.
| Area | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|
| Ancient India | Major civilizations, kingdoms and developments |
| Medieval India | Major dynasties, kingdoms and historical developments |
| Modern India | British rule and major developments in modern Indian history |
| Important Dynasties | Major dynasties and their contributions |
| Indian Culture | Traditions, customs, cultural developments and heritage |
| Architecture | Important architectural styles, monuments and structures |
| Literature | Major literary developments and works |
| Social & Cultural Developments | Major social and cultural changes |
| Important Personalities | Historical personalities and their contributions |
| Major Historical Events | Important events and turning points in Indian history |
Indian National Movement
The Indian National Movement section focuses on major events, movements, leaders and developments associated with India’s freedom struggle.
| Area | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|
| Early Resistance | Early resistance against British rule |
| Indian National Congress | Formation, major developments and important sessions |
| Freedom Movements | Major movements during the Indian freedom struggle |
| Swadeshi Movement | Causes, developments and important leaders |
| Non-Cooperation Movement | Major events and significance |
| Civil Disobedience Movement | Important events and developments |
| Quit India Movement | Major events and role of national leaders |
| National Leaders | Important leaders and their contributions |
| Tamil Nadu’s Role | Contribution of Tamil Nadu to the freedom movement |
| Independence | Major events leading to Indian independence |
Indian Polity
The Indian Polity section covers the Constitution, government institutions, rights, governance and public administration.
| Area | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|
| Indian Constitution | Salient features and basic structure |
| Preamble | Objectives and key principles |
| Fundamental Rights | Constitutional rights of citizens |
| Fundamental Duties | Duties of Indian citizens |
| Directive Principles | Directive Principles of State Policy |
| President | Powers and functions of the President |
| Vice-President | Role and constitutional functions |
| Prime Minister | Powers, responsibilities and role |
| Parliament | Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and parliamentary functions |
| Judiciary | Supreme Court and High Courts |
| State Government | Structure and functioning of state government |
| Governor | Powers and functions of the Governor |
| Chief Minister | Role and functions of the Chief Minister |
| Local Government | Local bodies and local administration |
| Elections | Election system and electoral institutions |
| Constitutional Bodies | Major constitutional institutions |
| Public Administration | Basic concepts of administration and governance |
Indian Economy and Development Administration
This section covers basic economic concepts, development, public finance and government administration.
| Area | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|
| Indian Economy | Basic features and structure of the Indian economy |
| Economic Growth & Development | Growth, development and related concepts |
| Poverty | Poverty and poverty-reduction measures |
| Unemployment | Types, causes and employment-related issues |
| Agriculture | Role of agriculture in the Indian economy |
| Industries | Industrial development and major sectors |
| Banking | Banking system and basic financial concepts |
| Taxation | Taxes and basic taxation concepts |
| Public Finance | Government revenue, expenditure and finance |
| Planning | Economic planning and development |
| Welfare Programmes | Major government welfare programmes |
| Social Development | Education, health and other development areas |
| Development Administration | Administration related to development and welfare |
Tamil Nadu History, Culture and Socio-Political Movements
This section focuses on the history, culture, heritage and major social and political movements of Tamil Nadu.
| Area | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|
| Tamil History | Major periods, kingdoms and historical developments |
| Tamil Culture | Traditions, customs, arts and cultural heritage |
| Tamil Literature | Important literary works, authors and developments |
| Tamil Language | Development and importance of the Tamil language |
| Archaeological Sites | Important archaeological sites and discoveries |
| Important Personalities | Major personalities and their contributions |
| Social Reform Movements | Important social reform movements |
| Dravidian Movement | Major developments and important personalities |
| Social Justice | Social justice movements and developments |
| Women’s Development | Women’s education, empowerment and development |
| Freedom Movement | Tamil Nadu’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle |
| Leaders & Reformers | Important leaders, reformers and their contributions |
| Tamil Nadu Heritage | Historical monuments, traditions and heritage |
Part C – Aptitude and Mental Ability Test
The Aptitude and Mental Ability section contains 25 questions.
Candidates should prepare the following areas:
| Topic | Important Areas |
|---|---|
| Aptitude | Simplification, percentage, ratio and proportion |
| Profit and Loss | Cost price, selling price, profit, loss |
| Simple Interest | Interest and amount calculations |
| Compound Interest | Basic compound-interest calculations |
| Time and Work | Work efficiency and completion time |
| Time, Speed and Distance | Speed, distance and time problems |
| Ratio and Proportion | Ratios, proportions and applications |
| Data Interpretation | Tables, charts and basic numerical analysis |
| Number System | Numbers, divisibility and basic operations |
| HCF and LCM | Highest Common Factor and Lowest Common Multiple |
| Mental Ability | Logical and analytical reasoning |
| Series | Number and logical series |
| Puzzles | Basic logical problem solving |
Candidates should practise numerical problems regularly because speed and accuracy are important in this section.
TNPSC Group IV Syllabus 2026 – Preparation Tips
Start with the Tamil syllabus
Since Part A requires a minimum of 60 marks, candidates should give sufficient attention to Tamil preparation. Part B will not be evaluated if the required minimum mark in Part A is not secured.
Prepare General Studies systematically
Divide General Studies into individual subjects rather than trying to study everything at once.
A practical order is:
Science → Geography → History → Polity → Economy → Tamil Nadu → Current Affairs
Practise Aptitude regularly
Aptitude can improve significantly through repeated practice. Candidates should solve numerical problems regularly and record the questions they get wrong.
Use previous-year questions
Previous-year TNPSC questions can help candidates understand:
- Question difficulty
- Frequently tested areas
- Question patterns
- Time requirements
- Important topics
Revise regularly
Create short revision notes for:
- Important dates
- Government schemes
- Historical events
- Important personalities
- Science facts
- Tamil Nadu-specific topics
- Constitution and polity
- Current affairs
Conclusion
The TNPSC Group IV Exam Syllabus 2026 covers Tamil, General Studies, and Aptitude & Mental Ability at the SSLC level. With 200 questions for 300 marks and a three-hour duration, candidates should prepare each section systematically and give particular attention to the Tamil qualifying requirement.
Candidates should download and refer to the official TNPSC syllabus PDF before beginning detailed preparation, as the official notification and syllabus remain the final source for examination requirements.
