GENERAL SCIENCE : Will Cover General appreciation and understanding of Science including matters of everyday observations and experience as may be expected of a well educated person who has not made any special study of any scientific discipline. The questions shall be from topics- in Physics, Chemistry and Biology viz.,. Scientific Laws, Scientific instruments, Inventions and Discoveries. Scientists and their contributions. Human Physiology, Diseases, their cause, cure and prevention, Diet-Balanced diet, human Genetics, Animals, Mammals and Birds, Environment and Ecology. Elements and Compounds. Acids, Bases and Salts and allied Subjects, Motion, Newton’s Laws of Motion - Properties of Matter, Electricity, National Laboratories and other related topics.

HISTORY OF INDIA : Dates and events relating to Indus Valley Civilisation, Vedic, Aryan and Sangam Age, Maurya Dynasty, Buddhism and Jainism, Guptas and Vardhanas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, Sultanate and Mughal Period. Advent of European powers specially the British and other related topics.

GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA : Earth, Motions of Earth, Rotation and Revolution and their effects, Structure of Earth, Natural regions of India, Weather, Monsoon and Climate. Rainfall, Natural Calamities, Indian Towns and Places, Hill Stations, National parks, Major Ports, Crops and Minerals, Location of Major Industries, Forests and Wildlife, Population distribution in India and other related topics.

ECONOMICS AND COMMERCE : Agriculture, Major crops and crop pattern in India, Industrial Development, Major medium, small scale and cottage Industries of Tamil Nadu. Village and Rural Development in India. Housing, Drinking water and other developmental schemes - price policy, Inflation, population and unemployment problems, imports and exports.

INDIAN POLITY : Indian Constitution, Salient features, citizenship, elections, Parliament and State Legislature, Executive set up of States, Judiciary system, Local self Governments, Centre - State Relations, Language Policy, Foreign policy.

INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT : National freedom movement and attainment of independence - contribution of National Leaders like Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak, Gopalakrishna Gokhale, Dada Bhai Naoroji Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and others - Role of Tamil Nadu in Freedom Movement, Bharathiyar, V.O.C, Subramaniya Siva, Rajaji and others.

CURRENT EVENTS : Latest development in Science and technology, political developments in India, New developments in Trade, Transport and communication, historical events. Fine arts like dance, drama, films, painting, major literary works Games and Sports, National, International awards, National and International organisations, Abbreviations, who is who, Books and Authors, General Terminology, India and its Neighbours, present day India and other related topics.

MENTAL ABILITY TESTS : These tests are meant to verify the candidate's capability to draw conclusions through, inductive or deductive reasoning from tables and charts. It will include elementary problems from school mathematics.

Note: Some of the questions asked in this paper shall be exclusively with reference to Tamil Nadu.

The paper on general knowledge will include questions covering the following fields of knowledge: General science, current events of national and international importance , history and culture of India, geography, Indian polity, Indian economy, Indian national movement and freedom struggle, mental ability tests and other related fields. Questions on general science will cover general appreciation and understanding of science, including matters of every day observation and experience as may be expected of a well educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific discipline. In history emphasis will be on broad general understanding of the subject in its social, economic, political aspects; social and cultural heritage of India emphasizing unity in diversity . In geography emphasis will be on geography of India including the physical, social, economic geography and on the main features of Indian agriculture and natural resources. Questions on Indian polity and economy will test knowledge on the country’s political, executive, judicial system, panchayat Raj, rural and community development, and economic planning in India. Questions on Indian national movement will relate to the nature and character of the nineteenth century resurgence, growth of nationalism and attainment of independence. General mental ability test will include analysis of classified data, logical and behavioural reasoning, analogies, school arithmetic, numerical ability and basic concepts of computers. Current events will include latest developments on all the fields detailed above including science and technology.
NOTE: About 20 % of the questions in this paper shall be exclusively with reference to Tamil, Tamilnadu, language and literature, culture and heritage of its people.

PAPER-1

1. Modern history of India and Indian culture
2. Current events of national and international importance
3. Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams
4. Social problems and other current sensitive issues

PAPER-2

1. Indian polity
2. Indian economy and geography of India
3. Role and impact of science and technology in the development of India
4. Tamil language, Tamil society, its culture and heritage
5. Tamil Nadu administration

Modern history of India and Indian culture will cover the broad history of the country from about the middle of the nineteenth century (advent of European invasion) and would include questions on Gandhi, Tagore, Nehru and Periyar. Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams will include exercises to test the candidates’ ability to draw commonsense conclusions from information presented in statistical, graphical and diagrammatical form and to point out deficiencies, limitations and inconsistencies therein. Social problems and sensitive issues will include problems like bonded labour, child labour, gender bias, minorities, SC/ST, illiteracy, poverty, employment etc.
Indian polity will include questions on constitution of India, and Political System in India. On Indian economy and geography, questions will be put on planning in India and the physical, economic, social geography of India. On role and impact of science and technology, questions will be asked to test the candidate’s awareness of the latest developments in science and technology with special emphasis on applied aspects. Under Tamil language and culture questions will be put to test the candidate’s general awareness on those topics. Tamil Nadu Administration will cover topics in general administration like organizational structure, functions, control, social welfare oriented programmes etc.