TNPSC CTS Syllabus 2026 PDF Download: Exam Pattern for Interview & Non-Interview Posts

The TNPSC CTS 2026 (Combined Technical Services Examination) is one of the most awaited recruitment exams conducted by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. If you are searching for TNPSC CTS syllabus 2026 PDF, TNPSC CTS exam pattern, TNPSC Combined Technical Services Marking Scheme 2026, or TNPSC CTS interview and non-interview posts list, this blog covers everything you need in one place — straight from the official notification details and the latest updates.

What is TNPSC CTS (Combined Technical Services Examination)?

The Combined Technical Services Examination (CTSE) is conducted by TNPSC to fill technical, engineering, scientific, accounts, legal, and administrative posts spread across dozens of Tamil Nadu Government departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) such as TANGEDCO, TWAD Board, Highways, Public Works, Industries and Commerce, Agriculture, Forest, Co-operative institutions, TIDCO, TACID, and many more.

TNPSC CTS is broadly divided into two categories:

1. Combined Technical Services Examination (Interview Posts) – Posts like Accounts Officer, Assistant Director, Manager grades, Librarian, Translation Officer, Sociologist, etc., where a written exam is followed by an interview.
2. Combined Technical Services Examination (Non-Interview Posts) – Degree/PG Degree Level – Posts like Assistant Engineer (Civil/Electrical/Mechanical), Agricultural Officer, Drug Inspector, Chemist, Statistical Inspector, Translator, Junior Chemist, etc., where selection is purely based on the written examination and certificate verification, with no interview.

TNPSC CTS Notification 2026 – Latest Highlights

According to the latest notification updates for 2026:

TNPSC CTS Selection Process 2026 for Interview & Non-Interview Posts

TNPSC CTS Exam Pattern 2026 – Topics, Marks & Details 

The TNPSC Combined Technical Services Examination follows a two-paper pattern:

Paper I – Tamil Eligibility Test, General Studies & Aptitude

• Part A (Tamil Eligibility Test) is only qualifying in nature — marks are NOT added to the final merit, but candidates must clear the minimum cut-off (60 out of 150 marks, i.e., 40%) to be considered.
• Part B (General Studies) and Part C (Aptitude and Mental Ability) marks ARE counted towards the final selection/merit list.

TNPSC CTS 2026 Paper II – Optional/Technical Subject Paper

• Based on the post and qualification opted by the candidate (Engineering subject, Accountancy, Statistics, Law, Library Science, Chemistry, Agriculture, etc.)
• Candidates choose the relevant subject paper matching their educational qualification as listed in the post-wise eligibility table.
• Candidates opting for more than one subject paper (where permitted) must pay an extra fee per additional paper.

TNPSC CTS 2026 Marks Considered for Final Ranking

• For regular (non-translator) posts: Part B + Part C of Paper I + Paper II marks = 450 Marks (approx., post-dependent)
• For Translator posts: Total ranking marks = 250 Marks (different pattern as Translator exam structure varies)
• Minimum Qualifying Marks: Generally around 100 marks for OC/General category and 75–135 marks for SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC categories in Paper B + Paper C + Paper II combined (exact cut-off as per official notification each year).

TNPSC CTS 2026 Exam Duration

• Each paper is typically of 3 hours duration, and the exam is usually held as objective-type (MCQ) questions in both Tamil and English (except language-specific papers).

TNPSC CTS 2026 Official Syllabus PDF for All Interview & Non-Interview Posts

Download the TNPSC CTS 2026 Official Syllabus PDF for both Interview and Non-Interview Posts to access the latest exam pattern, subject-wise syllabus, marking scheme, and post-specific technical subjects. Reviewing the official syllabus will help candidates understand the exam requirements and prepare strategically for the recruitment examination.

TNPSC CTS 2026 Official Syllabus PDF for Interview Posts

All posts included in Combined Technical Services Examination (Interview Posts)

TNPSC CTS 2026 Official Syllabus PDF for Non-Interview Posts

All posts included in Combined Technical Services Examination – Degree / Post Graduate Degree Level – Non Interview Posts

TNPSC CTS Detailed Syllabus 2026 – Common Topics Only

1. Tamil Eligibility Test Syllabus

Basic Tamil grammar, comprehension, translation, and language proficiency at SSLC/HSC level — designed to test working knowledge of Tamil, not literary depth.

2. General Studies Syllabus

• Current Events – National, State, and International
• General Science
• Geography of India with special reference to Tamil Nadu
• History and Culture of India
• Indian Polity and Indian Economy
• Indian National Movement
• Tamil Nadu History, Culture, Heritage, and Socio-Political movements
• Role of Science and Technology in everyday life

3. Aptitude and Mental Ability Test Syllabus

• Simplification, Percentage, HCF & LCM
• Ratio and Proportion, Simple Interest, Compound Interest
• Area, Volume, Time and Work
• Logical Reasoning and Puzzles
• Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency

4. Paper II – Subject-Specific (Technical) Syllabus

This varies widely depending on the post applied for and the subject opted. Some of the most searched/high-demand technical subjects under TNPSC CTS include:

• Civil Engineering – Strength of Materials, Surveying, Structural Engineering, Building Materials, Estimation & Costing, Environmental Engineering, Highway Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering – Thermodynamics, Strength of Materials, Manufacturing Technology, Machine Design, Fluid Mechanics
• Electrical & Electronics Engineering – Electrical Machines, Power Systems, Control Systems, Digital Electronics
• Financial and Cost Accountancy – Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting, Auditing, Income Tax, Company Law
• Law – Constitutional Law, Indian Contract Act, IPC, Civil & Criminal Procedure
• Statistics, Mathematics and Economics – Probability, Sampling Theory, Index Numbers, Economic Theory
• Library and Information Science – Classification, Cataloguing, Library Management, Information Technology in Libraries
• Agriculture / Horticulture – Crop Production, Soil Science, Plant Pathology, Agricultural Economics
• Chemistry / Chemical Engineering – Organic & Inorganic Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Chemical Process Technology
• Computer Science, Computer Applications and IT – Data Structures, DBMS, Networking, Programming Fundamentals
• Town Planning, Civil Engineering and Architecture – Urban Planning Principles, Land Use, Building Bye-Laws

The exact syllabus PDF for each subject is released by TNPSC along with the official notification. Candidates must download and refer to the subject syllabus matching their Paper II optional subject from the official TNPSC website (tnpsc.gov.in) for the most updated and accurate topic list.

TNPSC CTS 2026 Posts List – Interview Posts

Some of the key Interview Posts under TNPSC CTS include:

• Accounts Officer (Treasuries and Accounts / TIDCO / TNMDC / TNMSC)
• Assistant General Manager (Finance/Projects) – SIPCOT, TIDCO
• Assistant Director (Tamil Development, Social Welfare, Statistics, Agriculture, Town & Country Planning, Industries & Commerce, Cooperative Audit, Fisheries, Horticulture)
• Assistant Electrical Inspector
• Assistant Professor of Psychology-cum-Clinical Psychologist / Radiology Physics (Medical Education)
• Manager Grade III (Legal/Finance) – TIIC
• Senior Officer (Finance/Legal/Technical) – TIIC
• District Child Protection Officer
• English/Tamil Reporter – Legislative Assembly
• Factory Manager (RKD/SKD) – Tamil Nadu Magnesite Limited
• Health Officer – Public Health and Preventive Medicine
• Veterinary Assistant Surgeon
• Scientist ‘C’ Grade – Forest (Bio-Technology)
• Tourist Officer, College Librarian, District Library Officer
• Translation Officer, Sociologist (Police), Port Officer (Maritime Board)
• Deputy Planner / Assistant Planner – CMDA

TNPSC CTS 2026 Posts List – Non-Interview Posts 

Key Non-Interview, Degree/PG Degree Level posts include:

• Assistant Engineer (Civil/Electrical/Mechanical) – PWD, Highways, TWAD Board, TANGEDCO, Housing Board, CMDA, and more
• Agricultural Officer (Extension), Horticultural Officer
• Drug Inspector, Junior Analyst, Junior Chemist, Senior Chemist
• Assistant Geologist, Assistant Geochemist
• Assistant Librarian / Librarian Grade I / Library Assistant
• Statistical Inspector, Statistician, Statistical Assistant, Research Assistant
• Child Development Project Officer
• Translator (Law Department)
• Assistant Manager (IT/Civil/Electrical) – ELCOT
• Computer Programmer, Assistant System Analyst, Assistant System Engineer
• Psychologist – Welfare of Differently Abled
• Junior Architect, Architectural Assistant
• Mining Engineer, Assistant Manager (Mines)
• Environmental Scientist – TNPCB
• Vocational Counsellor, Social Case Work Expert

TNPSC CTS Exam 2026 – Preparation Tips & Tricks

• Start with the official syllabus PDF — don’t rely only on guesswork; download it directly from tnpsc.gov.in.
• Give equal priority to General Studies + Aptitude, since these directly impact your merit ranking (Tamil is only qualifying).
• For Paper II, focus on core technical/degree-level concepts rather than just exam-oriented shortcuts — TNPSC CTS technical papers tend to test fundamentals deeply.
• Practice previous years’ TNPSC CTS question papers to understand question difficulty and recurring topics.
• Maintain a revision timetable — allocate fixed slots for Tamil, GS, Aptitude, and your optional technical subject every week.
• Take regular mock tests to build speed and accuracy, especially for the Aptitude and Mental Ability section.
• Keep checking the official TNPSC notification and addendums regularly, as vacancy numbers and dates can be revised.