Exams   »   TNPSC Group 1 Question Paper 2026

TNPSC Group 1 Question Paper 2026 Out, Download 27 September Paper PDF

The TNPSC Group 1 Question Paper 2026 is available for the Preliminary Examination conducted by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission on 27 September 2026. The exam was held in a single session from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM in offline mode. Candidates can download the paper PDF below to review all 200 questions, analyse the topics asked, and assess their performance.

TNPSC Group 1 Question Paper 2026 PDF Download

Candidates can download the 27 September Group 1 Preliminary Examination paper from the direct link given below. The PDF contains all questions asked in the examination and can be used to review attempts and analyse the paper.

Description Download Link
TNPSC Group 1 Question Paper 2026 PDF Click Here to Download Question Paper PDF
TNPSC Group 1 Answer Key 2026 (Unofficial / Tentative) TNPSC Group 1 Answer Key 2026
Expected Cut Off Marks Check Expected Category-wise Cut Off Here

TNPSC Group 1 Question Paper 2026: Overview

The TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Examination 2026 was conducted on 27 September 2026 in offline mode. The paper consisted of 200 objective-type questions carrying 300 marks, with 175 questions from General Studies and 25 questions from Aptitude and Mental Ability. Candidates were given three hours to complete the paper.

Particulars Details
Exam Name TNPSC Group 1 / CCSE-I
Exam Stage Preliminary Examination
Exam Date & Shift 27 September 2026 (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
Question Paper Released
Total Questions 200
Total Marks 300
General Studies 175 Questions
Aptitude & Mental Ability 25 Questions
Negative Marking No
Official Website
tnpsc.gov.in

TNPSC Group 1 Exam Analysis 2026

The 27 September paper covered questions from Tamil Nadu history, culture and heritage, development administration, Indian polity, economy, history, geography, general science, current affairs and aptitude.

The section-wise difficulty based on the questions available in the paper is given below:

Topic / Subject Difficulty Level
History, Culture & Heritage of Tamil Nadu (Unit 8) Moderate to Tough
Development Administration in Tamil Nadu (Unit 9) Moderate
Indian Polity Moderate
Aptitude & Mental Ability Easy to Moderate
General Science Moderate
Current Affairs & General Knowledge Moderate
History of India & Indian National Movement Easy to Moderate
Geography of India Easy to Moderate
Indian Economy Moderate
Total Overall: Moderate

TNPSC Group 1 Paper 2026 – Good Attempts

Section Expected Good Attempts
Unit 8 & Unit 9 (TN History, Culture & Administration) 42-48
Indian Polity & Economy 28-33
History, National Movement & Geography 25-29
General Science & Current Affairs 24-28
Aptitude & Mental Ability 21-23
Overall Paper 140-155+ Correct Questions

TNPSC Group 1 Subject-Wise Question Weightage 2026

The following table shows the number of questions asked from different subjects in the 27 September 2026 Preliminary Examination:

Subject / Unit Number of Questions Asked Total Marks Allocation
Unit 8: History, Culture, Heritage & Socio-Political Movements in TN 40 Questions 60 Marks
Unit 9: Development Administration in Tamil Nadu 10 Questions 15 Marks
Indian Polity 40 Questions 60 Marks
Indian Economy 40 Questions 60 Marks
History of India & Indian National Movement 25 Questions 37.5 Marks
General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) 10 Questions 15 Marks
Geography of India 10 Questions 15 Marks
Aptitude & Mental Ability (SSLC Standard) 25 Questions 37.5 Marks
Total 200 Questions 300 Marks

TNPSC Group 1 Exam Pattern 2026

The preliminary stage consists of one objective-type paper carrying 300 marks. General Studies includes 175 questions at degree standard, while Aptitude and Mental Ability contains 25 questions at SSLC standard. The total examination duration is three hours.

Subjects Subjects Number of Questions Total No. of Questions Total marks  Duration of exam 
General Studies (Degree Standard) General Science 10 175 300 3 hours
Geography 10
History, Culture of India, and Indian National Movement 25
 Indian Polity 40
 Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu 50
History, Culture, Heritage, and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu 40
Aptitude & Mental Ability Test (SSLC Standard) Aptitude 15 25
Reasoning 10
Total  200 200

Video Analysis in Tamil: TNPSC Group 1 Paper Analysis 2026

Why Is the TNPSC Group 1 Question Paper 2026 Important?

The question paper allows candidates to review the actual questions asked in the Preliminary Examination and understand how the prescribed syllabus was covered.

  • Candidates can review all 200 questions asked in the examination.
  • It helps candidates analyse the topics covered in the paper.
  • Candidates can compare their attempted answers with the answer key once it is released.
  • It helps in estimating the probable score after the official key becomes available.
  • The paper can be used as a reference for understanding the TNPSC Group 1 question pattern.
  • Candidates preparing for future examinations can use the paper as a practice and revision resource.

What’s Next After the TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Examination 2026?

The TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Examination 2026 was conducted on 27 September 2026. Candidates who qualify for the Preliminary Examination will be considered for the subsequent stages of the selection process as per the prescribed TNPSC scheme.

The next stages include:

  • Online Certificate Verification: Provisionally shortlisted candidates must upload and verify their educational, community, and eligibility certificates online before being admitted to the next stage.
  • Mains Written Examination: Shortlisted candidates appear for a descriptive written exam consisting of a compulsory qualifying Tamil Eligibility Test (Paper I) and three core General Studies papers (Papers II, III, and IV) totalling 750 marks.
  • Interview / Oral Test: Candidates qualifying in the Mains written exam advance to the personal interview (100 marks) to evaluate their suitability, decision-making skills, and administrative aptitude.

FAQs

When will the TNPSC Group 1 Question Paper 2026 be released?

The question paper is now available after the TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Examination on 27 September 2026.

How many questions are asked in the TNPSC Group 1 Prelims?

The Preliminary Examination consists of 200 questions.

Is there negative marking in TNPSC Group 1 Prelims?

No, there is no negative marking in the Preliminary Examination.

Where can I download the TNPSC Group 1 Question Paper PDF?

Candidates can download the question paper PDF through the direct link provided on this page.

Can I use the question paper to calculate my probable score?

Yes, candidates can compare their responses with the official answer key to calculate their probable score.

What is the total mark and question distribution for the TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Exam?

The TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Examination consists of 200 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) carrying a total of 300 marks over a 3-hour duration. The paper includes:
1. General Studies (Degree Standard): 175 Questions (262.5 Marks)
2. Aptitude & Mental Ability (SSLC Standard): 25 Questions (37.5 Marks)

Which subject carries the highest weightage in the TNPSC Group 1 Prelims syllabus?

Unit 8 (History, Culture, Heritage, and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu) carries the highest weightage with 45–48 questions. Together with Unit 9 (Development Administration in Tamil Nadu), Tamil Nadu–specific subjects account for around 60 out of 200 questions.

What is considered a safe target score or good attempts to clear the TNPSC Group 1 Prelims?

A safe benchmark to clear the preliminary cut-off is securing 140 to 155+ correct answers out of 200, which equals approximately 210 to 230+ marks out of 300.

What is the minimum qualifying mark required for TNPSC Group 1 Prelims?

The minimum qualifying mark is 90 marks out of 300 (30%) for SCs, SC(A)s, STs, MBCs/DCs, BCs, and BCMs, and 120 marks out of 300 (40%) for Other Categories. Candidates must also clear the category-wise cut-off shortlist to qualify for Mains.

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