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The TNPSC Combined Technical Services Examination (CTS) 2026 — Notification No.04/2026, dated 20.05.2026 — has invited applications for 461 technical vacancies across Assistant Engineer, Assistant Geologist, Librarian, Statistical Investigator, Archaeological Officer, and 40+ other posts. With the online application window closed on 25.06.2026 and the written exam date yet to be announced, this is the right time to lock in your study materials and preparation strategy.
Below, we have covered the complete exam pattern, syllabus breakdown, subject-wise best books, and the best study materials for TNPSC CTS 2026—everything you need before you start preparing.
TNPSC CTS Non-Interview Posts Exam 2026 Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Advertisement No. | 734 |
| Notification No. | 04/2026 |
| Date of Notification | 20.05.2026 |
| Exam Name | Combined Technical Services Examination (Non-Interview Posts) |
| Total Vacancies | 461 |
| Apply Mode | Online only |
| Official Website | www.tnpscexams.in / www.tnpsc.gov.in |
TNPSC CTS 2026 Exam Pattern — Know This First
Before picking study material, you need to understand exactly what’s being tested.
For all posts other than Translator:
- Paper I (Parts A, B, C combined) duration: 3 hours, Objective type, OMR mode
- Paper II: 3 hours, Objective type, Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Total marks: 450 (Part B + Part C of Paper I, and Paper II)
- Others = candidates not belonging to SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM), BCM
| Paper | Part | Subject | Standard | Questions | Marks | Qualifying Marks (Others*) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Part A | Tamil Eligibility Test | SSLC | 100 | 150 | 60 |
| Paper I | Part B | General Studies | Degree | 75 | 150 | 180 (combined with Part C) |
| Paper I | Part C | Aptitude & Mental Ability | SSLC | 25 | — | — |
| Paper II | — | Subject Paper (post-specific) | Degree/PG | 200 | 300 | — |
For the Translator post (Post Code 3106) — a separate, smaller pattern applies:
Paper I is the same (Tamil Eligibility Test + General Studies + Aptitude, total 150 marks for Part A and 150 for Parts B&C), but Paper II is a Descriptive Translation paper (100 marks, 2½ hours) instead of objective CBT. Total marks: 250.
Appearing for both Paper I and Paper II is compulsory — missing either disqualifies you even if you clear the qualifying marks in the other.
TNPSC CTS 2026 Syllabus PDF Download — Topic by Topic
The TNPSC CTS 2026 syllabus outlines all the topics you need to prepare for the examination. It includes the complete syllabus for General Studies, Aptitude & Mental Ability, and the relevant subject paper. Download TNPSC CTS 2026 Syllabus PDF now!
Paper I, Part A: Tamil Eligibility Test (100 Questions, SSLC Standard)
Tested in 7 units:
- Grammar (இலக்கணம்) – 25 questions
- Vocabulary (சொல்லகராதி) – 15 questions
- Writing Skills (எழுதும் திறன்) – 15 questions
- Technical Terms (கலைச்சொற்கள்) – 10 questions
- Reading Comprehension (வாசித்தல்) – 15 questions
- Simple Translation (எளிய மொழிபெயர்ப்பு) – 5 questions
- Tamil Literature, Scholars & Tamil Service (இலக்கியம்) – 15 questions, including Thirukkural (20 chapters), Aathichudi, Nalvazhi, and contributions of Tamil scholars
Candidates who studied in Tamil medium for the prescribed duration may be exempt from this paper as per eligibility rules — check the notification’s exemption clause carefully.
TNPSC CTS 2026 Syllabus PDF – All Subjects
Paper I, Part B: General Studies (75 Questions, Degree Standard)
This is the standard TNPSC General Studies syllabus, spread across 6 units:
| Unit | Topic | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| I | General Science | 5 |
| II | Geography of India | 5 |
| III | History, Culture of India & National Movement | 10 |
| IV | Indian Polity | 15 |
| V | Indian Economy & Development Administration in Tamil Nadu | 20 |
| VI | History, Culture, Heritage & Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu | 20 |
Notice how Units V and VI (Tamil Nadu-specific content) carry 40 out of 75 marks — nearly 53% of General Studies. This is the single biggest scoring opportunity and must not be ignored in favor of only national-level GK.
Paper I, Part C: Aptitude & Mental Ability (25 Questions, SSLC Standard)
- Unit I – Aptitude (15 Qs): Simplification, Percentage, HCF, LCM, Ratio & Proportion, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Area, Volume, Time and Work
- Unit II – Reasoning (10 Qs): Logical reasoning, Puzzles, Dice, Visual reasoning, Alphanumeric reasoning, Number series
Paper II: Subject Paper (200 Questions, 300 Marks, Degree/PG Standard)
This is post-specific — there are 30 different subject papers, each tied to a group of posts. A few examples:
| Subject Paper | Code | Posts It Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural, Mechanical, Automobile & Civil Engineering | 562 | Assistant Engineer (Agricultural Engineering) |
| Civil Engineering | 398 | Assistant Engineer (Civil) – multiple departments, Assistant Manager (Civil) |
| Electrical, Electronics & Communication Engineering | 514 | Assistant Engineer (Electrical), Assistant Manager (Electrical) |
| Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing Engineering | 399 | Assistant Engineer (Mechanical), Junior Assistant Director of Boilers |
| Geology | 395 | Assistant Geologist (all 3 posts) |
| Computer Science, IT, Electrical & Communication Engg | 554 | System Manager, Assistant Manager (IT) |
| Library and Information Science | 594 | Librarian, Assistant Librarian |
| Archaeology | 420 | Archaeological Officer |
| Statistics, Mathematics & Economics | 504 | Block Health Statistician, Assistant Statistical Investigator |
| Horticulture | 493 | Horticultural Officer |
| Town Planning, Civil Engineering & Architecture | 560 | Architectural/Planning Assistant |
| Visual Communication | 477 | Junior Photographer |
| Criminology, Forensic Science, Psychology & Philosophy | 571 | Asst. Superintendent of Approved Schools |
| Business Administration | 385 | Assistant General Manager / Regional Manager |
(Check the official notification’s Annexure for the full list of all 30 subject papers, language of question paper, and exact post mapping — some papers are bilingual (Tamil & English), others are English-only.)
Best Study Materials & Books for TNPSC CTS 2026
1. Tamil Eligibility Test
- 8th to 10th Std Tamil Nadu State Board Tamil textbooks (Samacheer Kalvi) — the syllabus is explicitly SSLC standard
- Thirukkural with commentary (focus on the 20 chapters mentioned in the syllabus: அறன் வலியுறுத்தல், ஒழுக்கமுடைமை, பொறையுடைமை, ஈகை, etc.)
- Sura’s / Premier’s TNPSC Tamil Eligibility Test Guide
- Practice books for இலக்கணம் (Grammar) and மொழிபெயர்ப்பு (Translation) by standard TNPSC publishers
2. General Studies
- NCERT textbooks (Class 6–12) — History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Science
- Tamil Nadu State Board textbooks (6th–12th Std, Samacheer Kalvi) — especially for Tamil Nadu History, Polity, and Economy sections
- Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth (for Unit IV)
- Manorama Yearbook / Tamil Nadu Yearbook — current affairs and Tamil Nadu-specific government schemes
- Spectrum’s “A Brief History of Modern India” — for Unit III
- Standard TNPSC General Studies guides by Sura, Pradeep, Sai Bharath, or Vijay Nicole — these compile TN Board + NCERT content specifically aligned to TNPSC syllabus units
3. Aptitude & Mental Ability
- R.S. Aggarwal – Quantitative Aptitude & Verbal-Non-Verbal Reasoning (covers both units comprehensively)
- TNPSC-specific Aptitude guides by Sura/Pradeep for exam-pattern practice
- Daily practice apps/websites for number series, puzzles, and simplification drills
4. Paper II – Subject Paper (Engineering / Science / Other Streams)
Since this is degree-level subject knowledge, the best sources are:
- Your own degree-level textbooks and class notes (Paper II closely mirrors a standard UG/PG syllabus in your branch)
- Standard reference textbooks for your specific stream:
- Civil Engineering: S.S. Bhavikatti, B.C. Punmia (Surveying, Strength of Materials)
- Mechanical Engineering: R.S. Khurmi (Theory of Machines, Strength of Materials)
- Electrical/Electronics: B.L. Theraja
- Geology: standard GATE Geology / UPSC Geologist preparation books
- Library Science: standard LIS textbooks for UGC-NET/SET aspirants
- Previous TNPSC AE / CTS question papers for your specific subject code — extremely useful to gauge difficulty and recurring topics
- GATE/UGC-NET preparation material for your discipline works well as supplementary practice, since many Paper II units overlap with these exams
How to Get TNPSC CTS 2026 Official Study Material for Free
- TNPSC official website (www.tnpsc.gov.in) — download the full notification PDF, which contains the complete syllabus (Annexure III) for both Paper I and all 30 Paper II subject codes
- Previous year question papers are published on the TNPSC website under “Question Papers” — extremely useful, since TNPSC often repeats question patterns and Tamil Nadu-specific topics
- TN Government scheme portals and PIB Tamil Nadu — for updated current affairs on welfare schemes, useful for GS Unit V
TNPSC CTS 2026 Suggested Study Plan – 3–4 Months Before Exam
| Phase | Focus | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Build basics — NCERT/TN Board for GS, R.S. Aggarwal for Aptitude, core textbook for your Paper II subject | 4–5 weeks |
| Phase 2 | Deep-dive into Tamil Nadu-specific content (Units V & VI of GS) + your Paper II subject’s weightage-heavy units | 4–5 weeks |
| Phase 3 | Tamil Eligibility Test practice + Thirukkural chapters + mock tests for Aptitude | 3 weeks |
| Phase 4 | Full-length mock tests (Paper I + Paper II separately), revise weak units, solve previous year papers | 3–4 weeks |
| Final week | Quick revision of formulas, current affairs, and high-weightage GS units (V & VI) | 1 week |
Why TNPSC CTS 2026 Exam Is Trending
- TNPSC CTS 2026 is one of the largest technical recruitment drives this year (461 vacancies, 45 posts),
- With Paper II covering 30 different subject papers, candidates from diverse academic backgrounds (Engineering, Geology, Library Science, Forensic Science, Architecture, etc.) are all searching for stream-specific preparation guidance.
- The exam date for Paper I is yet to be officially announced, keeping search interest high for updates, syllabus clarity, and study planning.
