Candidates preparing for the TNPSC Group 4 Examination 2026 should begin their preparation by understanding the official syllabus and examination pattern.
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) conducts the Combined Civil Services Examination – IV (Group IV Services) for recruitment to various Group IV posts.
The currently published official Group IV syllabus is Code 496 and covers General Studies, Aptitude and Mental Ability, and the Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test.
On this page, candidates can check the TNPSC Group 4 Syllabus 2026, subject-wise topics, number of questions, exam pattern and official syllabus PDF.
TNPSC Group 4 Syllabus 2026 – Overview
| Examination | Combined Civil Services Examination – IV |
| Common Name | TNPSC Group 4 |
| Conducting Authority | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission |
| Syllabus Code | 496 |
| Standard | SSLC |
| General Studies | 75 Questions |
| Aptitude & Mental Ability | 25 Questions |
| Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test | 100 Questions |
| Total Questions | 200 |
| Official Website | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission |
The syllabus is divided into three major components:
- Part A – General Studies
- Part B – Aptitude and Mental Ability
- Part C – Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test
Part A – General Studies – 75 Questions
The General Studies section contains 75 questions at SSLC standard.
The official syllabus divides General Studies into six units.
Unit I – General Science – 5 Questions
Important areas include:
- Nature of Universe
- Measurement of Physical Quantities
- Motion
- Force
- Pressure
- Energy
- Mechanics
- Electricity
- Magnetism
- Light
- Sound
- Heat
- Nuclear Physics
- Elements and Compounds
- Acids, Bases and Salts
- Petroleum Products
- Fertilizers
- Pesticides
- Metallurgy
- Food Adulterants
- Life Science
- Evolution
- Genetics
- Physiology
- Nutrition
- Health and Hygiene
- Human Diseases
- Environmental Science
- Latest Inventions in Science and Technology
- Current Affairs
Unit II – Geography – 5 Questions
Candidates should prepare topics including:
- Earth and its Location
- Physical Features
- Monsoon
- Rainfall
- Weather and Climate
- Water Resources
- Rivers
- Soil
- Minerals and Natural Resources
- Forest and Wildlife
- Agriculture
- Transport
- Communication
- Population
- Tamil Nadu and Indian Geography
- Disaster Management
- Environment
- Climate Change
- Geographical Landmarks
- Current Affairs
Unit III – History, Culture of India and Indian National Movement – 10 Questions
Important areas include:
- Indus Valley Civilization
- Guptas
- Delhi Sultans
- Mughals
- Marathas
- South Indian History
- National Renaissance
- Early Uprisings Against British Rule
- Indian National Congress
- Indian National Movement
- Important National Leaders
- Tamil Nadu's Role in National Movements
- Indian Culture
- Unity in Diversity
- India as a Secular State
Unit IV – Indian Polity – 15 Questions
Important topics include:
- Constitution of India
- Preamble
- Salient Features of the Constitution
- Union, State and Union Territory
- Citizenship
- Fundamental Rights
- Fundamental Duties
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Union Executive
- Union Legislature
- State Executive
- State Legislature
- Local Governments
- Panchayat Raj
- Centre-State Relations
- Elections
- Judiciary
- Rule of Law
- Anti-Corruption Measures
- Lokpal and Lokayukta
- Right to Information
- Women Empowerment
- Consumer Protection
- Human Rights
- Political System
- Current Affairs
Unit V – Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu – 20 Questions
Candidates should prepare:
- Nature of Indian Economy
- Planning
- NITI Aayog
- Sources of Revenue
- Reserve Bank of India
- Finance Commission
- GST
- Employment
- Agriculture
- Industrial Growth
- Rural Welfare Programmes
- Population
- Education
- Health
- Poverty
- Social Justice
- Tamil Nadu Education and Health Systems
- Tamil Nadu Geography and Economic Growth
- Government Welfare Schemes
- Current Socio-Economic Issues
- Current Affairs
Unit VI – History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements of Tamil Nadu – 20 Questions
This is an especially important section for TNPSC aspirants.
Candidates should prepare topics relating to:
- History of Tamil Society
- Archaeological Discoveries
- Tamil Literature
- Sangam Age
- Thirukkural
- Tamil Nadu's Role in the Freedom Struggle
- Women in the Freedom Struggle
- Social Reformers
- Social Reform Movements
- Social Transformation of Tamil Nadu
Part B – Aptitude and Mental Ability – 25 Questions
This section is also at SSLC standard.
It consists of:
15 Questions
10 Questions
Aptitude – 15 Questions
The official syllabus includes:
- Simplification
- Percentage
- Highest Common Factor – HCF
- Lowest Common Multiple – LCM
- Ratio and Proportion
- Simple Interest
- Compound Interest
- Area
- Volume
- Time and Work
Reasoning – 10 Questions
Candidates should prepare:
- Logical Reasoning
- Puzzles
- Dice
- Visual Reasoning
- Alpha-Numeric Reasoning
- Number Series
Practise different question types rather than simply memorising formulas.
Part C – Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test – 100 Questions
The Tamil section contains 100 questions at SSLC standard.
The official syllabus covers several areas including:
Unit I – Grammar
This includes areas relating to Tamil letters, words, grammar and correct usage.
Unit II – Vocabulary
Candidates are tested on vocabulary, meanings, appropriate word usage and related language skills.
Unit III – Writing Skills
This section tests the candidate's ability to understand and correctly use written Tamil.
TNPSC Group 4 Question Distribution
| Subject | Questions |
|---|---|
| General Studies | 75 |
| Aptitude | 15 |
| Reasoning | 10 |
| Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test | 100 |
| Total | 200 |
Understanding this distribution helps candidates decide how much preparation time should be allocated to each subject.
How to Prepare Using the TNPSC Group 4 Syllabus
Do not start preparation by randomly collecting study materials.
First, download the official syllabus.
Divide the syllabus into small units and maintain a checklist.
Candidates should also practise previous-year Group 4 question papers regularly.
Previous papers can help you understand:
- Types of questions asked
- Important topics
- Difficulty level
- Areas requiring more revision
- Time management
TNPSC Group 4 Previous Year Question Papers
Studying the syllabus alone is not enough.
After completing each major subject, practise TNPSC Group 4 Previous Year Question Papers with Answers.
Previous papers can help candidates understand how syllabus topics are converted into actual examination questions.
TNPSC Group 4 Previous Year Question Papers with Answers PDF
Official TNPSC Group 4 Syllabus PDF
Candidates should download the syllabus directly from the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission.
Using the official PDF ensures that your preparation is based on the syllabus actually published by TNPSC.
Before the examination, candidates should also check TNPSC for any revised syllabus, notification, addendum or examination instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TNPSC Group 4 syllabus for 2026?
The currently published Group IV syllabus contains General Studies, Aptitude and Mental Ability, and the Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test. Candidates should check the latest TNPSC notification for any 2026-specific revisions.
How many questions are there in TNPSC Group 4?
The currently published syllabus contains a total of 200 questions.
How many General Studies questions are there?
There are 75 General Studies questions.
How many Aptitude and Mental Ability questions are there?
There are 25 questions, consisting of 15 Aptitude questions and 10 Reasoning questions.
How many Tamil questions are there?
The Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test contains 100 questions.
What is the standard of the TNPSC Group 4 syllabus?
The currently published Group IV syllabus is at SSLC standard.
Where can I download the official syllabus?
Candidates should download the latest Group IV syllabus from the official Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission website.
Final Preparation Advice
The TNPSC Group 4 syllabus is extensive, but candidates can manage it effectively through systematic preparation.
Follow this approach:
Bookmark Tamizhan Edu Careers for TNPSC Group 4 syllabus updates, previous-year papers, study materials, important questions, current affairs and government job updates.
The syllabus information provided in this article is based on the currently published TNPSC Group IV syllabus. Candidates are advised to verify the latest official notification, syllabus, examination scheme and instructions on the TNPSC website before beginning or finalising their preparation.
