Combined Civil Services Examination – II (Group – II and IIA Services)

Preliminary Examination

General English (SSLC Standard)

Part-A – Grammar
1. Match the following words and phrases given in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
2. Choose the correct ‘Synonym’ for the underlined word from the options given.
3. Choose the correct ‘Antonym’ for the underlined word from the options given.
4. Select the correct word (Prefix, Suffix).
5. Fill in the blanks with suitable Article.
6. Fill in the blanks with suitable Preposition.
7. Select the correct Question Tag.
8. Select the correct Tense.
9. Select the correct Voice.
10. Fill in the blanks (Infinitive, Gerund, Participle).
11. Identify the sentence pattern of the following sentence (Subject, Verb, Object...).
12. Fill in the blanks with correct Homophones.
13. Find out the Error (Articles, Preposition, Noun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb).
14. Select the correct sentence.
15. Find out the odd words (Verb, Noun, Adjective, Adverb).
16. Select the correct Plural forms.
17. Identify the sentence (Simple, Compound, Complex Sentence).
18. Identify the correct Degree.
19. Form a new word by blending the words.
20. Form compound words (eg.: Noun+Verb, Gerund+Noun).
21. British English – American English.
Part-B - Poetry
(a) Figures of Speech
(Alliteration – Simile – Metaphor – Personification – Onomatopoeia – Anaphora – Rhyme
Scheme– Rhyming Words – Repetition, etc.)
(b) Poetry Appreciation
(c) Important Lines
LIST OF POEMS
1. Life - Henry Van Dyke
2. I am Every Woman - Rakhi Nariani Shirke
3. The Secret of the Machines - Rudyard Kipling
4. The Ant and The Cricket - Adapted from Aesop’s fables
5. No Men are Foreign - James Falconer Kirkup
6. The House on Elm Street - Nadia Bush
7. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost
8. A Poison Tree - William Blake
9. On Killing a Tree - Gieve Patel
10. The Spider and the Fly - Mary Botham Howitt
11. The River - Caroline Ann Bowles
12. The Comet - Norman Littleford
13. The Stick-together Families - Edgar Albert Guest
14. Special Hero - Christina M. Kerschen
15. Making Life Worth While - George Elliot
16. A Thing of Beauty - John Keats
17. Lessons in Life - Brigette Bryant & Daniel Ho
18. My Computer Needs a Break - Shanthini Govindan
19. Your Space - David Bates
20. Sea Fever - John Masefield
21. Courage - Edgar Albert Guest
22. Team Work - Edgar Albert Guest
23. From a Railway Carriage - Robert Louis Stevenson
24. Indian Seasons - Nisha Dyrene
25. A Tragic Story - William Makepeace Thackeray
Part-C - Literary Works
I. LIST OF PROSE
1. His First Flight - Liam O’Flaherty
2. The Tempest - Tales From Shakespeare
3. The Last Lesson - Alphonse Daudet
4. The Little Hero of Holland - Mary Mapes Dodge
5. The Dying Detective - Arthur Conan Doyle
6. Learning the Game (Book Extract) - Sachin Tendulkar
7. The Cat and the Painkiller (An Extract from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) – Mark Twain
8. Water – The Elixir of Life - Sir C.V.Raman
9. The Story of a Grizzly Cub - William Temple Hornaday
10. Sir Isaac Newton - Nathaniel Hawthorne
11. My Reminiscence - Rabindranath Tagore
12. The Woman on Platform 8 - Ruskin Bond
13. The Nose Jewel - C.Rajagopalachari
14. A Birthday Letter - Jawaharlal Nehru
II. Biographies of -
Mahatma Gandhi - Jawaharlal Nehru - Subash Chandra Bose - Helen Keller - Kalpana Chawala -
Dr.Salim Ali - Rani of Jhansi - Nelson Mandela – Abraham Lincoln

III. General Comprehension

 General Studies (Degree Standard)
Unit-I: General Science
(i) Scientific Knowledge and Scientific Temper - Power of Reasoning - Rote Learning vs Conceptual
Learning - Science as a tool to understand the past, present and future.
(ii) Nature of Universe - General Scientific Laws – Mechanics - Properties of Matter, Force, Motion
and Energy - Everyday application of the Basic Principles of Mechanics, Electricity and
Magnetism, Light,Sound, Heat, Nuclear Physics, Laser, Electronics and Communications.
(iii) Elements and Compounds, Acids, Bases, Salts, Petroleum Products, Fertilisers, Pesticides.
(iv) Main concepts of Life Science, Classification of Living Organisms, Evolution, Genetics,
Physiology, Nutrition, Health and Hygiene, Human Diseases.
(v) Environment and Ecology.

Unit-II: Current Events

(i) History - Latest diary of events - National symbols - Profile of States - Eminent personalities
and places in news – Sports - Books and authors.
(ii) Polity - Political parties and political system in India - Public awareness and General
administration -Welfare oriented Government schemes and their utility, Problems in Public
Delivery Systems.
(iii) Geography - Geographical landmarks.
(iv) Economics - Current socio - economic issues.
(v) Science - Latest inventions in Science and Technology.
(vi) Prominent Personalities in various spheres – Arts, Science, Literature and Philosophy.

Unit-III: Geography of India

(i) Location – Physical features - Monsoon, Rainfall, Weather and Climate - Water Resources -
Rivers in India - Soil, Minerals and Natural Resources - Forest and Wildlife - Agricultural pattern.

(ii) Transport - Communication.

(iii) Social Geography – Population density and distribution - Racial, Linguistic Groups and Major
Tribes.
(iv) Natural calamity – Disaster Management – Environmental pollution: Reasons and preventive
measures – Climate change – Green energy.

Unit–IV: History and Culture of India

(i) Indus Valley Civilization - Guptas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals and Marathas - Age of Vijayanagaram
and Bahmani Kingdoms - South Indian History.
(ii) Change and Continuity in the Socio-Cultural History of India.
(iii) Characteristics of Indian Culture, Unity in Diversity – Race, Language, Custom.
(iv) India as a Secular State, Social Harmony.

Unit-V: Indian Polity

(i) Constitution of India - Preamble to the Constitution - Salient features of the Constitution -
Union, State and Union Territory.
(ii) Citizenship, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy.
(iii) Union Executive, Union Legislature – State Executive, State Legislature – Local Governments,
Panchayat Raj.
(iv) Spirit of Federalism: Centre - State Relationships.
(v) Election - Judiciary in India – Rule of Law.
(vi) Corruption in Public Life – Anti-corruption measures – Lokpal and Lok Ayukta - Right to
Information - Empowerment of Women - Consumer Protection Forums, Human Rights Charter.

Unit-VI: Indian Economy

(i) Nature of Indian Economy – Five year plan models - an assessment – Planning Commission
and Niti Ayog.
(ii) Sources of revenue – Reserve Bank of India – Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy - Finance
Commission – Resource sharing between Union and State Governments - Goods and Services
Tax.
(iii) Structure of Indian Economy and Employment Generation, Land Reforms and Agriculture –
Application of Science and Technology in Agriculture - Industrial growth - Rural Welfare Oriented
Programmes –Social Problems – Population, Education, Health, Employment, Poverty.

Unit-VII: Indian National Movement

(i) National Renaissance – Early uprising against British rule - Indian National Congress –
Emergence of leaders – B.R.Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Bharathiar, V.O.Chidambaranar, Jawaharlal
Nehru, Kamarajar, Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Thanthai Periyar, Rajaji, Subash
Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and others.
(ii) Different modes of Agitation: Growth of Satyagraha and Militant Movements.
(iii) Communalism and Partition.

Unit-VIII: History, Culture, Heritage and Socio - Political Movements in

Tamil Nadu
(i) History of Tamil Society, related Archaeological discoveries, Tamil Literature from Sangam Age
till contemporary times.
(ii) Thirukkural :
(a) Significance as a Secular Literature
(b) Relevance to Everyday Life
(c) Impact of Thirukkural on Humanity
(d) Thirukkural and Universal Values - Equality, Humanism, etc.,
(e) Relevance to Socio - Politico - Economic affairs
(f) Philosophical content in Thirukkural
(iii) Role of Tamil Nadu in freedom struggle - Early agitations against British Rule - Role of women
in freedom struggle.
(iv) Evolution of 19th and 20th Century Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu - Justice Party,
Growth of Rationalism - Self Respect Movement, Dravidian Movement and Principles underlying
both these Movements, Contributions of Thanthai Periyar and Perarignar Anna.

Unit–IX: Development Administration in Tamil Nadu

(i) Human Development Indicators in Tamil Nadu and a comparative assessment across the
Country – Impact of Social Reform Movements in the Socio - Economic Development of Tamil
Nadu.
(ii) Political parties and Welfare schemes for various sections of people – Rationale behind
Reservation Policy and access to Social Resources - Economic trends in Tamil Nadu – Role and
impact of social welfare schemes in the Socio - Economic Development of Tamil Nadu.
(iii) Social Justice and Social Harmony as the Cornerstones of Socio-Economic Development.
(iv) Education and Health Systems in Tamil Nadu.
(v) Geography of Tamil Nadu and its impact on Economic growth.
(vi) Achievements of Tamil Nadu in various fields.
(vii) e-Governance in Tamil Nadu.

UNIT-X: Aptitude and Mental Ability

(i) Simplification – Percentage - Highest Common Factor (HCF) - Lowest Common Multiple (LCM).
(ii) Ratio and Proportion.
(iii) Simple interest - Compound interest - Area - Volume - Time and Work.
(iv) Logical Reasoning - Puzzles-Dice - Visual Reasoning - Alpha numeric Reasoning – Number
Series.
 Combined Civil Services Examination – II (Group – II and IIA Services)
Main Examination

Paper – II General Studies (Degree Standard) [300 marks]

Unit I: Modern History of India with specific reference to Tamil Nadu (40
marks)
Advent of Europeans: The Portuguese, the Dutch, the English, the Danish and the French;
Expansion of British rule: Carnatic Wars; Early uprisings against British Rule: Revolt of Poligars,
South Indian Rebellion, Vellore Mutiny, Indian National Movements - Moderates, Extremists and
Terrorist Movements – Gandhian Era; Early stage of Freedom movement in Tamil Nadu – First
voice for freedom struggle from Tamil Nadu – Protests by Pulithevar, Veerapandya Kattabomman,
Dheeran Chinnamalai, Velunachiar, Kuyili and others; Role of Tamil Nadu in freedom struggle –
V.O.Chidambaram, Bharathiyar, V.V. Subramanian, Vanchinathan, Subramania Siva, T.S.S Rajan,
Rajaji, Sathyamoorthy, Kamaraj, Rukmani Lakshmi Pathi, Ambujammal and others; Types of
freedom struggle – Sacrifices – Magazines – Literature – Plays/Drama – Songs – Films etc.;
Contribution of women in the freedom struggle and social work: Dr Muthulakshmi Ammaiyar,
Muvalur Ramamirtham, Cuddalore Anjalai Ammal, Thillaiyadi Valliammai, and others; Impact of
British Rule: Christian Missionaries, Development of Education, Judiciary, Local Self Governance
System, Police, Transport and Communication - Disappearance of Indigenous Industries - Spread
of Western Culture; Origin and Growth of “Social – Justice” ideology, Socio- Religious
Movements, Political Parties and Achievements.

Unit II: Tamil Society – Culture and Heritage (30 marks)

Ancient Tamil Society – Archeological excavation evidence – Arikamedu, Adichanallur, Keezhadi –
Sangam Literature – Classical Tamil; Thirukkural - Guidance for way of life to human elevation -
Guidelines given by Thirukkural in the field of administration, judiciary and day to day life –
Philosophical thoughts laid down by Thirukkural for betterment and integration of the whole of
humanity; Socio-political movements of 19th and 20th centuries, Vallalar’s Samarasa Sutha
Sanmarga Satya Sangam – Origin and development of Justice Party – Impact of Rationalism
Movement, Self-Respect Movement, History and Development of Dravidian Movement, Tani
Tamil Iyakkam (Pure Tamil Movement) – Tamil Society Reforms personalities – Thanthai Periyar,
Arignar Anna, and other scholars; Arts – Cultural conventions of Tamilians – Ancient cultural
knowledge of Tamilians – Conventional thoughts of Tamilians; Cultural Elements: Tamil Nadu
State Government Symbols - Experts in Cultural Fields – Folk Dances, Folk Music, Folk Drama, and
World Tamil Conferences.

Unit III: Social Issues in India with specific reference to Tamil Nadu (50
marks)
Population Explosion: Fertility – Mortality – Migration – Morbidity – Census 2011 - Population
control programmes – National Population Policy 2000 – Family planning and its achievements;
Health Care: Poor sanitation – Rural and Urban disparities – Poor infrastructure – Insufficient
health care delivery –Role of Panchayat Raj and Urban Development Agencies – Health policy in
India – Health careprogrammes in India; Child Labour and Child Abuse: Child Education – School
Dropouts – Gender disparities – Initiatives to eliminate Child Labour in India – Media and
enhanced vulnerability – Laws to protect child abuse and welfare schemes; Women
Empowerment: Domestic violence – Dowry problems – Sexual assault – Eve teasing – Kidnapping
– Laws and awareness programmes – Role of Government and NGOs in women empowerment –
Welfare schemes; Marginalised Groups: Problems– Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes –
Elderly – People with disability – Transgender – Religious minorities – Central and State
Government welfare programmes to marginalised groups. Social Changes: Urbanization -
Modernization – Globalization – Policy, Planning and Programmes in India –Impact of Violence on
Society – Religious Violence – Terrorism and Communal Violence – Causes and Remedies;
Current Affairs.

Unit IV: Science and Technology in Development (40 marks)

Robotics and Applications; Atomic and Nuclear Physics – Applications of nuclear energy; Diodes
and Transistors and their Applications; Broadcasting Technology; Electrochemical cells - Types of
electrodes – Batteries - Lithium-ion Battery; Fuels: Gaseous fuels – LPG, Natural gas and water
gas; Polymers: Thermoplastics and Thermosetting plastics, PVC, PET, Nylon 66, Teflon; Medicinal
Chemistry: Analgesics - Paracetamol and Aspirin, Antibiotics - Penicillin and Chloromycetin;
Biotechnology: Applications of Biotechnology – Plant Genetic Engineering – concepts –
transgenic plants, edible vaccines, Terminator Gene technology, BT Cotton, Golden rice, Flavr
Savr tomato, Social and ecological impact of genetically modified crops - Biotechnological
methods for crop improvement - Application of plant tissue culture in Forestry, Horticulture -
Recombinant DNA Technology – DNA cloning - DNA fingerprinting – applications of PCR and
ELISA in disease diagnosis – hybridoma techniques in the production of Mono Clonal Antibodies
(MCA) – Animal cell culture techniques – stem cells and its applications; Applications of GIS;
Nanotechnology – Fundamentals – Applications – Nano Fertilizer, Nano Pesticides, Green
Nanotechnology and Nano-farming; Advanced reproductive techniques: In-Vitro Fertilisation
(IVF) – Intra–Uterine Insemination (IUI) – Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) – Gamete
Intra-Fallopian Transfer (GIFT) – cryopreservation of sperm; Components of Computer –
Computer Organization and Architecture – System Software and Application Software –Data
Communication Networks – Cryptography – Computer Graphics and Multimedia – Mobile
Computing and Communication – Web Technology and applications – E-Commerce – Cloud
Computing Architecture – IOT – Artificial Intelligence Applications – Machine learning - Cyber
Security– Biometrics – Blockchain Technology; Current Affairs.

Unit V: Constitution, Polity and Governance in India with specific

reference to Tamil Nadu (60 marks)
Constitution of India: Preamble and Philosophical features – Salient features and Sources –
Union, States and Union Territories - Citizenship - Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties,
Directive Principles of State Policy; Union Executive: President, Vice-President, Prime Minister
and Council of Ministers – Cabinet – Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) – Parliament
Committees – Major Constitutional Amendments; State Government: Chief Minister and Council
of Ministers – Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly: Structure, Powers and Functions; Local
Governments: Three-tier system - 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments - Tamil Nadu
Panchayat Act 1994 – Grama Sabha – Working of PRIs in Tamil Nadu – District Collector’s role in
Development Administration; Dynamics of Indian Federalism: Centre-State relations:
Administrative, Legislative, Financial – Issues and Challenges; Judiciary in India: Supreme Court,
High Courts, District Courts – Subordinate Courts (Structure and Functions) – Judicial Review -
Judicial Activism – Public Interest Litigation; Electoral System in India – Election Commission
(Constitutional Provisions, Composition, powers and functions); Party system in India: Regional
and National political parties in India and Tamil Nadu; Integrity in Indian Polity: Corruption in
Politics – Anti-Corruption measures: Lokpal and Lok Ayukta – Central Vigilance Commission,
Comptroller and Auditor General of India - Central Bureau of Investigation – Enforcement
Directorate - Right to Information – Right to Services – Consumers’ Rights – Consumer Protection
Act 2019 – Human Rights Act 1993 – National Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights
Commission - Social Audit – Citizen’s Charter; Political parties in Tamil Nadu: Regional and
National Parties – Welfare schemes and measures of successive Governments in Tamil Nadu after
1947 –Reservation and Language policy in Tamil Nadu – Impact of welfare schemes and
measures in the socio-economic development of Tamil Nadu; Education and Health
Administrative Structure in Tamil Nadu: Evolution – Achievements of Tamil Nadu in various fields:
Education, Health, Industrial, Information Technology, Agriculture, Women and Marginalised
Groups; E-governance and Mobile–governance initiatives in Tamil Nadu – Public Service Delivery
through e-governance. TNeGA – e- Service Centres; Problems in Public Service delivery in Tamil
Nadu; Current Affairs.

Unit VI: Geography of India, Environment, Biodiversity and Disaster

Management in India with specific reference to Tamil Nadu
(40 marks)
Geographical Location – Physical units – River system – Climate – Soil – Natural vegetation –
Agriculture crops – Livestock – Fisheries; Irrigation – Multipurpose Projects; Minerals: iron ore,
manganese, copper, bauxite, gold, silver, mica, coal, petroleum and natural Gas; Energy
Resources: hydel, thermal, nuclear, wind, tidal and solar; Industries: textile, jute, sugar, cement,
iron and steel, automobile and shipbuilding; Transport: road, railway, water and air; Environment
- Global and national environmental issues – pollution - air, water, soil, thermal, radioactive,
noise, electronic and solid wastes - Management of municipal solid wastes and bio-medical
wastes; Biodiversity and Conservation: Definition, types - genetic, species and ecosystem
diversity - values - threats to biodiversity - habitat destruction, invasive species and
anthropogenic activities - climatic change and wildfire; Causes and consequences of species
extinction; Biodiversity conservation: in-situ and ex-situ; Biodiversity conservation strategies:
international environmental governance - Biodiversity Act (BDA), International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES), and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); Biodiversity hotspots of
India; Sustainable development – Sustainable development goals and targets - Clean and Green
energy - Paris Agreement and COP28; Disaster Management: Overview of disasters - definitions
and types; Introduction to disaster risk management framework; Natural calamities -
Anthropogenic disasters - global warming and climate change, industrial accidents; Climate
change governance - mitigations and adaptations; Role of space technology in disaster
management, National action plan for climate change- Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management
Authority – Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Plan – Role of NGO and Civil society organisation
in disaster management and mitigation in Tamil Nadu; Current Affairs.

Unit VII: Indian Economy with specific reference to Tamil Nadu

(40 marks)
Nature of Indian Economy: An assessment – Structure of Indian Economy - New Economic Policy:
Rationale – Components – Privatisation, Deregulation, Trade Liberalisation. Indian Economy since
1991 Reforms (Overview only) - Sources of Revenue: Revenue Receipts – Capital Receipts –
Revenue Expenditure – Capital Expenditure; Reserve Bank of India: Functions, Monetary Policy –
Components - Fiscal Policy: Fiscal reforms – Fiscal Responsibility and Budgetary Management
(FRBM) Act - Finance Commission: Revenue sharing between Union and State Governments –
Recommendations of recent Finance Commission; Agricultural and Rural Development: Land
Reforms – Rural Credit, Modern Farming Technics and Marketing - e-NAM (electronic – National
Agricultural Marketing) – Price Policy – M.S. Swaminathan Commission’s Recommendations -
Subsidies – Commercialisation and Diversification of Agriculture – Rural Development
Programmes – Poverty Alleviation Programmes –National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(NREGS); Labour: Employment – Types – Sectoral Distribution – Labour Welfare Measures –
Recent Indian Employment Report of International Labour Organisation (ILO) (Overview only);
Poverty and Human Development: Estimates of Inequality and Poverty alleviation measures –
Human Development Index (HDI), Gender Development Index (GDI), Gender Empowerment
Measure (GEM) and Happiness Index (HI); Foreign trade: Composition, Direction and
Organisation of Trade – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) - Balance of Trade – Balance of Payment
– External Debt; Current Affairs.

Combined Civil Services (Main) Examination–II (Group IIA

Services)
Paper – II [Single Paper consisting of General Studies (50% of questions - Degree
Standard), General Intelligence and Reasoning (20% of questions – SSLC Standard)
and Language (General Tamil or General English) (30% of questions – SSLC
Standard)]

Part A - General Studies (Degree Standard - 100 Questions)

Unit I: Modern History of Tamil Nadu, Tamil Society – Culture and Heritage (20
Questions)
Advent of Europeans - the Portuguese, the Dutch, the English, the Danish and the French-Anglo
French Rivalry - Anglo-Mysore War – Anglo-Maratha War - The Polligar rebellion – Vellore
Mutiny; Socio- religious reforms in the 18th and 19th centuries: Christian Missionaries - Brahma
Samaj - Arya Samaj -Theosophical Society - Ramakrishna Mission; Reforms of British East India
Company’s rule in Tamil Nadu; Emergence of Freedom Struggle in Tamil Nadu - Madras Native
Association - Madras Mahajana Sabha - Indian National Movement – Swedeshi Movement -
Moderates and Extremists in Tamil Nadu-Home Rule Agitation - Non-Cooperation Movement -
Civil Disobedient Movement - Quit India Movement; Ancient Tamil Society – Archeological
excavation evidence – Arikamedu, Adichanallur, Keezhadi – Sangam Literature – advent of
Sangam era; Thirukkural - Philosophical thoughts in Thirukkural for humanity and way of life –
concepts in Thirukkural for betterment of humanity – life principles, social principles,
management principles and other principles laid down in Thirukkural; Contribution of Tamilians
in Freedom movement: Literary personalities – Journalists – Women activists – Types of struggles
– revolutionary songs; Socio-political movements of 19th and 20th centuries: Justice Party,
Development of Rationalism – Self-Respect Movement – Dravidian Movement – Tani Tamil
Iyakkam (Pure Tamil Movement); Tamil Society Reforms personalities: Thanthai Periyar, Arignar
Anna, and other scholars.

Unit II: Administration of States with reference to Tamil Nadu (30 Questions)
Constitution of India: Preamble and Philosophical features – Salient features and Sources –
Union, States and Union Territories; Citizenship - Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties,
Directive Principles of State Policy; Union Government: President, Vice-President, Prime Minister
and Council of Ministers – Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha); State Government: Chief
Minister and Council of Ministers - Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly: Structure, Powers and
Functions; Local Governments: Three-tier system – 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments -
Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act 1994 – Grama Sabha; Tamil Nadu Administration: Nature, evolution
and organisational structure and functions – Salient features of Tamil Nadu administration –
Secretariat, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary to Government of
Tamil Nadu; District Administration: Role and functions of District Collector, District Revenue
Officer, Revenue Divisional Officer, Tahsildar, Block Development Officer,Revenue Inspector, and
Village Administrative Officer; E-Governance Policy of Government of Tamil Nadu – E-
Governance and Mobile-Governance initiatives of Government of Tamil Nadu - Tamil Nadu
State’s Specialised Undertakings and Agencies; Tamil Nadu Government sponsored welfare
schemes and measures (Since 1990) – objectives, issues and challenges in the implementation –
Impact of welfare schemes and measures on the socio-economic development of the people;
Current Affairs.

Unit III: Science and Technology in Development (15 Questions)

Atomic and Nuclear Physics – Applications of nuclear energy - Electronics and Communication -
Robotics and applications; Nanotechnology and its applications; Electrochemical cells – Batteries
– Gaseous fuels – LPG – Polymers – Carbohydrates – Vitamins – Antibiotics; Applications of
Geographic Information System (GIS); Biotechnology: Applications of biotechnology – concepts -
tools used – plant genetic engineering – concepts - transgenic plants, edible vaccines, BT cotton,
Golden rice - social and ecological impact of genetically modified crops - Biotechnological
methods for crop improvement - Application of plant tissue culture in forestry and horticulture -
DNA fingerprinting – Applications of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Enzyme-Linked
Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) in disease diagnosis; Advanced reproductive techniques: In-Vitro
Fertilisation (IVF) – Artificial insemination – test tube baby; Vaccines: types – vaccination
schedule in humans; Contribution of the scientists from Tamil Nadu; Digital Computer
Fundamentals: Hardware Components – Input / Output Devices; Memory types: RAM, ROM,
PROM, EPROM, EEPROM; Secondary Storage Devices: HDD, SSD, CD Type – CPU: Control Unit -
Arithmetic Logic Unit - Software types: System Software: OS – System Commands of Windows
and Linux – Application Software: DBMS – Database Creation, Queries – Word Processor,
Spreadsheet, Presentation Software – Communication Software: Browser, Email: Sending and
receiving email, Document sharing and Folder Management – Computer Network: Classification
of Networks - Topology – Multimedia and Applications: Image, Audio, Video File types – Network
Security: User Authentication; Current Affairs.

Unit IV: Tamil Nadu Economy and Social Issues in Tamil Nadu (20 Questions)
Tamil Nadu Economy – Features – State Budget: Major revenue and expenditure – State Income
types – State’s Economic growth: Agriculture - Industry – Service Sector; Agriculture: Major crops
– Food grains – Cash crops – Types of farming – Organic farming – Inorganic farming – Contract
farming – Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO) – Agricultural Marketing – Issues of Marketing –
Online Marketing – Agriculture Budgeting in Tamil Nadu – Features; Education: Illiteracy - Gross
Enrolment Ratio (GER) in schools and colleges – Measure and recent data - Student welfare
schemes – Recent schemes for education - Linkage between education and social development;
Poverty and Unemployment: Unemployment issues in Tamil Nadu - State Government poverty
alleviation schemes and employment generation schemes; Labour migration; Population growth
rate – Sex ratio – Density of population – Causes for population growth - Population control
programmes – Family planning and its achievements; Child Labour issues; Health: Vital Statistics
– Recent health schemes; Women Empowerment: Domestic violence – Dowry problems – Sexual
assault – Laws and awareness programmes - Women welfare schemes - Self Help Groups;
Marginalised Groups: Problems Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes - Elderly – People with
disability – Transgender – Religious minorities – State Government welfare programmes to
marginalised groups; Current Affairs.

Unit V: Geography of Tamil Nadu, Environment, Biodiversity and Disaster

Management in Tamil Nadu (15 Questions)
Geography: Location – Administrative units – Relief features – Major Rivers; Climate:
temperature, rainfall and monsoon; Soil: classification and distribution; Forests: classification,
distribution, wildlife and birds sanctuaries, forest products; Livestock: cattle and dairying; Fishing:
freshwater and saline water fishing; Irrigation: types and distribution of canal, tank and well
irrigation, watershed and minor irrigation projects; Minerals: distribution and production of iron
ore and bauxite; Power Resources: coal and petroleum; Industries: iron and steel, textiles,
cement, automobile, sugarcane and cotton industries; Transport: road, railway, air and sea
transport; Environment: Environmental issues in Tamil Nadu – pollution - air, water, soil, thermal,
radioactive, noise; Natural resource types – renewable and non- renewable energy resources;
Biodiversity and Conservation: Definition, types - genetic, species and ecosystem diversity –
values - threats to biodiversity - habitat destruction, invasive species and anthropogenic activities
- climatic change and forest fire. Causes and consequences of species extinction; Biodiversity
conservation: in-situ and ex-situ - Biodiversity conservation strategies – State Biodiversity action
plan - Biodiversity hotspots in Tamil Nadu; Sustainable development – Sustainable development
goals and targets; Green energy - Paris Agreement and COP28; Disaster Management: Overview
of disasters - definitions and types. Natural calamities in Tamil Nadu; Anthropogenic disaster -
global warming and climate change issues in Tamil Nadu - Climate change governance –
mitigations and adaptations - State action plan for climate change; Tamil Nadu State Disaster
Management Authority – Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Plan – Role of NGO and Civil society
organisation in disaster management and mitigation in Tamil Nadu; Current Affairs.

Part B: General Intelligence and Reasoning (SSLC Standard - 40 Questions)

1. Analogy
2. Classification
3. Coding and decoding
4. Relationship Concepts
5. Puzzles
6. Dice
7. Direction and Distance
8. Logical Venn diagrams
9. Alpha-numeric reasoning
10. Arithmetical reasoning
11. Verification of Truth of the Statement
12. Similarities and Differences
13. Calendar
14. Permutation Combination
15. Inserting the missing characters
16. Logical reasoning
17. Figural series
18. Numerical Operations
19. Symbolic operations
20. Word building
21. Statement and Conclusion
22. Address matching
23. Mirror images
24. Embedded figures
25. Visual reasoning
26. Figural classification
27. Square completion
Part C: Language (General English) (SSLC Standard – 60 Questions)
1. Match the following words and phrases given in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
2. Choose the correct ‘Synonym’ for the underlined word from the options given.
3. Choose the correct ‘Antonym’ for the underlined word from the options given.
4. Select the correct word (Prefix, Suffix).
5. Fill in the blanks with suitable Article.
6. Fill in the blanks with suitable Preposition.
7. Select the correct Question Tag.
8. Select the correct Tense.
9. Select the correct Voice.
10. Fill in the blanks (Infinitive, Gerund, Participle).
11. Identify the sentence pattern of the following sentence (Subject, Verb, Object...).
12. Fill in the blanks with correct Homophones.
13. Find out the Error (Articles, Preposition, Noun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb).
14. Select the correct sentence.
15. Find out the odd words (Verb, Noun, Adjective, Adverb).
16. Select the correct Plural forms.
17. Identify the sentence (Simple, Compound, Complex Sentence).
18. Identify the correct Degree.
19. Form a new word by blending the words.
20. Form compound words (eg.: Noun+Verb, Gerund+Noun).
21. British English – American English.
22. General Comprehension.