In the preliminary examination, questions paper will be set in Tamil and English. 

SCHEME AND SYLLABUS FOR THE POST OF COMBINED CIVIL SERVICES - I GROUP - I A SERVICES (PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION) GENERAL STUDIES (DEGREE STANDARD) TOPICS FOR OBJECTIVE TYPE

Subject Code: 301

UNIT – I: GENERAL SCIENCE 

Physics: Universe – General Scientific laws‐Scientific instruments‐Inventions and discoveries‐National scientific laboratories‐Science glossary‐ Mechanics and properties of matter ‐ Physical quantities, standards and units ‐ electricity and magnetism – electronics and communications ‐ Heat, light and sound‐Atomic and nuclear physics‐Solid State Physics – Spectroscopy – Geophysics‐Astronomy and space science.

Chemistry: Elements and Compounds‐Acids, bases and salts‐Oxidation and reduction‐ Chemistry of ores and metals‐Carbon, nitrogen and their compounds‐Fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides‐Biochemistry and biotechnology‐Electrochemistry‐Polymers and plastics. 

Botany: Main Concepts of life science‐The cell‐basic unit of life‐Classification of living organism‐Nutrition and dietetics‐Respiration‐Excretion of metabolic waste‐Bio‐ communication.

Zoology: Blood and blood circulation‐Endocrine system‐Reproductive system‐Genetics the science of heredity ‐Environment, ecology, health and hygiene, Bio‐ diversity and its conservation‐Human diseases, prevention and remedies‐Communicable diseases and non‐ communicable diseases‐Alcoholism and drug abuse‐Animals, plants and human life. 

UNIT ‐ II: CURRENT EVENTS 

History: Latest diary of events – National ‐ National symbols‐Profile of States‐ Defence, national security and terrorism ‐World organizations‐pacts and summits ‐ Eminent persons &   places in news ‐ Sports & games ‐ Books & authors ‐ Awards & Honours ‐ Cultural panorama ‐ Latest historical events ‐ India and its neighbours ‐ Latest terminology ‐ Appointments‐who is who? 

Political Science: India’s foreign policy ‐ Latest court verdicts – public opinion ‐ Problems in conduct of public elections ‐ Political parties and political system in India ‐ Public awareness & General administration ‐ Role of Voluntary organizations & Govt., ‐ Welfare oriented govt. schemes, their utility. 

Geography: Geographical landmarks ‐ Policy on environment and ecology. 

Economics: Current socio‐economic problems ‐ New economic policy & Government Sector. 

Science: Latest inventions on science & technology ‐ Latest discoveries in Health Science ‐ Mass media & Communication.

UNIT ‐ III: GEOGRAPHY  Earth and Universe ‐ Solar system ‐ Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, lithosphere ‐ Monsoon, rainfall, weather and climate ‐ Water resources ‐ rivers in India ‐ Soil, minerals & natural resources ‐ Natural vegetation ‐ Forest & wildlife ‐ Agricultural pattern, livestock & fisheries ‐ Transport & communication ‐ Social geography – population‐density and distribution ‐ Natural calamities – disaster management ‐ Climate change ‐ impact and consequences ‐ mitigation measures ‐ Pollution Control. 

UNIT ‐ IV: HISTORY AND CULTURE OF INDIA  Pre‐historic events‐ Indus valley civilization‐ Vedic, Aryan and Sangam age ‐ Maurya dynasty ‐ Buddhism and Jainism ‐ Guptas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals and Marathas ‐ Age of Vijayanagaram and the bahmanis ‐ South Indian history ‐ Culture and Heritage of Tamil people ‐ Advent of European invasion ‐ Expansion and consolidation of British rule ‐ Effect of British rule on socio‐economic factors ‐ Social reforms and religious movements ‐ India since independence ‐ Characteristics of Indian culture ‐ Unity in diversity –race, colour, language, custom ‐ India‐as secular state ‐ Organizations for fine arts, dance, drama, music ‐ Growth of rationalist, Dravidian movement in TN ‐ Political parties and populist schemes‐ Prominent personalities in the various spheres – Arts, Science, literature and Philosophy – Mother Teresa, Swami Vivekananda, Pandit Ravishankar , M.S.Subbulakshmi, Rukmani Arundel and J.Krishnamoorthy etc. 

UNIT ‐ V: INDIAN POLITY:  Constitution of India‐ Preamble to the constitution ‐ Salient features of constitution ‐ Union, State and territory ‐ Citizenship‐rights amend duties ‐ Fundamental rights ‐ Fundamental duties ‐ Human rights charter ‐ Union legislature – Parliament ‐ State executive ‐ State Legislature – assembly ‐ Status of Jammu & Kashmir ‐ Local government – panchayat raj – Tamil Nadu ‐ Judiciary in India – Rule of law/Due process of law ‐ Indian federalism – Center – state relations ‐ Emergency provisions ‐ Civil services in India ‐ Administrative challenges in a welfare state ‐ Complexities of district administration ‐ Elections ‐ Election Commission Union and State ‐ Official language and Schedule‐VIII ‐ Amendments to constitution ‐ Schedules to constitution ‐ Administrative reforms & tribunals ‐ Corruption in public life ‐ Anti‐corruption measures – Central Vigilance Commission, lok‐adalats, Ombudsman, Comptroller and Auditor General of India ‐ Right to information ‐ Central and State Commission ‐ Empowerment of women ‐ Voluntary organizations and public grievances redressal ‐ Consumer protection forms. 

UNIT ‐ VI: INDIAN ECONOMY Nature of Indian economy ‐ Need for economic planning ‐ Five‐year plan models‐an assessment ‐ Land reforms & agriculture‐ Application of science in agriculture ‐Industrial growth‐Capital formation and investment‐Role of public sector & disinvestment‐Development of infrastructure‐ National income ‐ Public finance & fiscal policy‐ Price policy & public distribution ‐ Banking, money & monetary policy ‐ Role of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ‐ WTO‐globalization & privatization ‐ Rural welfare oriented programmes ‐Social sector problems – population, education, health, employment, poverty ‐ HRD – sustainable economic growth ‐ Economic trends in Tamil Nadu ‐ Energy Different sources and development ‐ Finance Commission ‐ Planning Commission ‐ National Development Council. 

UNIT - VII : INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT National renaissance ‐ Early uprising against British rule ‐ 1857 Revolt ‐ Indian - Indian National Congress ‐ Emergence of national leaders ‐ Gandhi, Nehru, Tagore, Netaji ‐ Growth of militant movements ‐Different modes of agitations‐Era of different Acts & Pacts ‐ World war & final phase struggle ‐ Communalism led to partition ‐ Role of Tamil Nadu in freedom struggle ‐ Rajaji, VOC, Periyar, Bharathiar & Others ‐ Birth of political parties /political system in India since independence. 

UNIT ‐ VIII: APTITUDE & MENTAL ABILITY TESTS Conversion of information to data ‐ Collection, compilation and presentation of data ‐ Tables, graphs, diagrams ‐ Parametric representation of data ‐ Analytical interpretation of data – Simplification – Percentage ‐ Highest Common Factor (HCF) ‐ Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) ‐ Ratio and Proportion ‐ Simple interest ‐ Compound interest – Area – Volume ‐ Time and Work ‐ Behavioral ability ‐ Basic terms, Communications in information technology ‐ Application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ‐ Decision making and problem solving. 

Logical Reasoning: Puzzles‐ Dice ‐ Visual Reasoning ‐ Alpha numeric Reasoning ‐ Number Series ‐ Logical Number/Alphabetical/Diagrammatic Sequences.