TNPSC Group 1 Exam – Complete Guide
1. What is TNPSC Group 1 Exam?
- Conducted by Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).
- It recruits candidates for high-ranking state civil services (similar to IAS/IPS at state level).
- Officers become part of Tamil Nadu State Administrative Service.
2. Posts under TNPSC Group 1 (Job List & Salary)
Here’s the official list of Group 1 services posts (most recent notification basis):
|
Post |
Department |
Salary (Pay Band) |
|
Deputy Collector |
Tamil Nadu Civil Services |
₹56,100 – ₹2,05,700 (Level 22) |
|
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Category I) |
Police Service |
₹56,100 – ₹2,05,700 (Level 22) |
|
Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes) |
Commercial Tax Dept. |
₹56,100 – ₹2,05,700 (Level 22) |
|
Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies |
Cooperative Dept. |
₹56,100 – ₹2,05,700 (Level 22) |
|
Assistant Director of Rural Development |
Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Dept. |
₹56,100 – ₹2,05,700 (Level 22) |
|
District Employment Officer |
Employment & Training Dept. |
₹56,100 – ₹2,05,700 (Level 22) |
|
District Officer (Fire & Rescue Services) |
Fire Service Dept. |
₹56,100 – ₹2,05,700 (Level 22) |
In-hand salary (approx.): ₹60,000–₹80,000 initially (varies with allowances like HRA, DA, TA, etc.).
Promotions: Deputy Collector → District Revenue Officer → Joint Collector → IAS (on promotion).
3. Eligibility Criteria
(a) Nationality
- Must be an Indian citizen.
(b) Age Limit (as per 2024 rules)
- General (OC): 21 – 32 years
- BC/MBC/SC/ST/Destitute Widows: up to 37 years
- For DSP & Fire Officer: 21 – 30 years (due to physical standards).
(c) Educational Qualification
- Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university (any stream).
- Final year candidates may apply but degree proof is needed before Mains.
(d) Physical Standards (For DSP/Fire Officer only)
- Height (Male): 165 cm (160 cm for SC/ST)
- Height (Female): 155 cm (150 cm for SC/ST)
- Chest (Male only): 81 cm (expansion 5 cm)
(e) Tamil Proficiency:
- Passed SSLC (10th) / HSC / Degree with Tamil as a language, or
- Studied in Tamil medium, or
- Passed the TNPSC Second Class Language Test (Full Test, Tamil)
4. Selection Process
The TNPSC Group 1 selection process has 3 main stages:
Stage 1 – Preliminary Exam (Objective)
- Purpose: Screening test (not counted for final ranking).
- Duration: 3 hours
- Marks: 300
- Questions: 200 (General Studies + Aptitude)
- Qualifying: ~1:50 ratio (only shortlisted for Mains).
Stage 2 – Main Exam (Descriptive)
- 3 Papers + Compulsory Tamil Eligibility Paper
- Marks: 750 (250 per paper)
- Duration: 3 hours each
- Subjects:
- Indian History, Tamil Culture & Society, Polity
- Economy, Development, Science & Tech, Environment
- Administration, Ethics, Current Affairs
Stage 3 – Interview / Oral Test
- Marks: 100
- Tests: Personality, leadership, decision-making, awareness of Tamil Nadu issues.
Final Merit List = Mains (750) + Interview (100) = 850 Marks
5. Resources & Book Suggestions
- Prelims & GS: TN textbooks (6–12), NCERTs, Laxmikanth (Polity), Spectrum/Bipan Chandra (History), Tamil Nadu-specific materials, Magme’s Guide.
- Aptitude: R.S. Aggarwal, Quant/Reasoning practice books, Magme’s Guide.
- Tamil Paper (Mains): SSLC/TNPSC test papers, previous descriptive questions
- Mock Series: TN-specific coaching or online platforms for timed practice
- Notes: Maintain concise notes per topic for quick revision
6. Summary Table
|
Stage |
Format |
Marks |
Key Tips |
|
Prelims |
Objective MCQ |
300 |
Focus on speed & accuracy |
|
Mains Paper I |
Descriptive (Tamil, Qualifying) |
100 |
Practice writing & grammar |
|
Mains II–IV |
Descriptive GS |
750 (250 each) |
Deep understanding + coherence |
|
Interview |
Oral |
100 |
Confidence + current affairs |
|
Final Total |
— |
850 |
Combine GS + soft skills |
7. TNPSC Group 1 – Quick Reference
|
Section |
Details |
|
What |
Tamil Nadu State’s top-tier civil service exam for posts like Deputy Collector, DSP, Asst. Commissioner, District Registrar, etc. |
|
Whom |
Graduates (21–32 yrs, with age relaxations for reserved categories). Indian citizenship mandatory. |
|
When |
Notification: once a year; Prelims: ~3–4 months later; Mains: ~3–4 months after prelims results; Interview: 2–3 months after mains results. |
|
Where |
Apply online at tnpsc.gov.in. Exam centres across TN; Interview at TNPSC HQ, Chennai. |
|
Why |
Prestigious posts, administrative authority, high salary (₹56k–₹2.05L), promotions, pension, and public service impact. |
|
Which |
Stage 1: Prelims – 200 Qs (175 GS + 25 Aptitude) → 300 marks. Stage 2: Mains – Tamil Qualifying + 3 GS papers (250 marks each). Stage 3: Interview – 100 marks. |
|
How |
1) Read TN SCERT 6–12 textbooks. 2) Use standard references (Laxmikanth, Spectrum, Ramesh Singh, etc.). 3) Follow daily TN & national current affairs. 4) Practice aptitude. 5) Write answers & solve MCQ mocks. 6) Revise periodically. |
|
How Much |
Fees: OTR ₹150 + Prelims ₹100 + Mains ₹200 (exemptions apply). Prep Time: 8–12 months full-time (12–18 part-time). Cost: Self-study ₹2–5k; Coaching ₹40k–1L. |
8. Syllabus Overview
(a) Prelims Syllabus
- General Studies (History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, Current Affairs, Tamil Nadu-specific topics)
- Aptitude & Mental Ability (Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Maths basics)
(b) Mains Syllabus
- Paper I: Tamil Society & Culture, Social Justice, Indian History, Tamil Renaissance
- Paper II: Indian Polity, Constitution, Governance, International Relations
- Paper III: Indian Economy, Geography, Science & Technology, Environment
- Ethics & Decision-Making: Integrated within papers
- Compulsory Tamil Paper: (must be passed, else other papers won’t be evaluated)
6. Application Process
- Visit tnpsc.gov.in
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR)
- Apply online for Group 1 Notification
- Pay application fees (₹150 OTR + ₹100 prelims + ₹200 mains)
9. Preparation Strategy
Step 1: Basics
- Read NCERT books (6–12th) for History, Geography, Polity, Science.
- Study Tamil Nadu State Board books (very important for history & polity).
Step 2: Standard References
- Polity: M. Laxmikanth
- Economy: Ramesh Singh + Tamil Nadu Budget Reports
- History: Bipin Chandra + TN State Board
- Current Affairs: The Hindu + Dinamani (Tamil news)
Step 3: Practice
- Previous year papers (at least last 10 years)
- Mock tests for Prelims & Mains answer writing
Step 4: Focus Areas
- Tamil Nadu History, Polity, Economy (high weightage)
- National & International Current Affairs
- Ethics & Governance (case studies for mains)
10. Why Choose TNPSC Group 1?
- Prestige & Power → You directly manage districts, revenue, law & order.
- Job Security → State Govt. permanent post with pension.
- Growth → Can be promoted to IAS rank.
- Social Impact → Decisions affect lakhs of people in Tamil Nadu.
