What are the differences between TNPSC Group 2 and Group 2A Exams?
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, abbreviated as TNPSCÂ conducts Group 2/2A, the Combined Civil Services Examination Group II/IIA (CCSE-II) each year. This exam is intended to find and recruit candidates for diverse openings in the Civil Services of the Tamil Nadu Government.
The TNPSC Group 2 Exam is considered the most sought-after exam in Tamil Nadu. TNPSC conducts the common Preliminary Exams for both Group 2 and 2A posts. Typically, the commission releases various vacancies under these two divisions. There are some differences between Group 2 and Group 2 A examinations. Let us explore them.
TNPSC Group 2/2A EXAM
TNPSC CCSE Age Limit
- Minimum Age – 21 years
- Maximum Age – 34 years
- The age of the candidate will be calculated as on the examination year
Age relaxation
- Upper age limit relaxation is not given to candidates from ST, SC, OBC, MBC/Denotified Groups, and Destitute Widows.
- Age relaxation of up to 10 years is granted for differently-abled individuals.
- Candidates with 40% impairment are given an age relaxation of up to 10 years
- The maximum age limit for veterans is 48 years old
TNPSC Group 2/2A Eligibility Criteria
Educational Requirement
The applicants for the TNPSC Group 2/2A exam should have a graduate degree from a recognised university, may belong to any discipline.
Selection process:
- Preliminary Exam
- Mains Exam
Differences between Group 2 and Group 2 A Exam
Aspirants appearing for the TNPSC Group 2 & 2A exam are now at ease. Previously the major difference between the two competitive examinations was the interview. Before this, the Group 2 examination had an interview, and the Group 2A vacancies did not have an interview. As per recent updates of TNPSC, the third stage of examination i.e. Interviews for the post of Group 2 exams were cancelled. This decision is intended to speed up the recruitment process by the commission. The marks of the candidates obtained in the Mains examination will be taken into consideration for ranking and to fill the vacancies.
So, what are the other differences? Let us take a glance.
Mains
TNPSC hereafter will have the Mains examinations for Group-IIA posts in multiple-choice question (MCQ) format.
Group 2
The comprehensive topics for Group I that cover biodiversity, environment, and science & technology are included, except for ethics. The main exam of Group 2 will be of descriptive type.
| TNPSC Group 2 Main Exam Pattern | ||||
| Number of Papers | Paper Name | Level | Exam Type | Total Marks |
| Paper 1 | Tamil Eligibility Test | SSLC | Descriptive | 100 |
| Paper 2 | General Studies | Degree | Descriptive | 300 |
Group 2 A
| TNPSC Group 2 Main Exam Pattern | ||||
| Number of Papers | Paper Name | Level | Exam Type | Total Marks |
| Paper 1 | Tamil Eligibility Test | SSLC | Objective | 100 |
| Paper 2 | General Studies | Degree | Objective | 300 |
| Language(General Tamil / General English) | SSLC | Objective | ||
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | SSLC | Objective | ||
The Group-IIA Mains examination will hereafter include Intelligence and Reasoning questions.
No changes were made to the Preliminary exams and we have a mandatory Tamil eligibility test for both Group II & Group IIA exams after clearing Prelims.
Syllabus
Group 2/Group 2A
Regarding the latest changes in the Mains syllabus, limelight has been provided to topics related to Tamil Nadu.
Posts
Group II
The Group II category covers positions such as:
| Post | Department |
| Junior Employment Officer | Employment & Training |
| Probation Officer | Department of Prisons & Correctional Services |
| Assistant Inspector of Labour | Labour Department |
| Sub Registrar (Grade II) | Registration Department |
| Junior Employment Officer (Differently Abled) | Employment and Training |
| Special Assistant | Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Department |
| Special Branch Assistant | Intelligence Section
Office of the Commissioner of Police Special Branch of Criminal Investigation Department |
Group IIA
The Group-IIA category covers posts such as:
| Post | Department |
| Municipal Commissioner (Grade-II) | Municipal Administration Department |
| Assistant Section Officer | Secretariat (Except Law and Finance Department) |
| Secretariat – Law Department | |
| Secretariat – Finance Department | |
| Residential Warden – Full Time (Men’s Hostel) | Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College
Chennai |
| Senior Inspector of Co-Operative Societies | Â Co-operative Societies |
| Audit Inspector | Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Administration Audit Department |
| Assistant Inspector in Local Fund Audit | Local Fund Audit Department |
| Supervisor or Junior Superintendent | Agricultural Marketing and Agri-Business Department |
| Handloom Inspector | Handlooms & Textiles Department |
| Revenue Assistant | Revenue Department |
| Assistant | Commissionerate of Revenue Administration Department |
| Rural Development & Panchayat Raj divisions | |
| Divisions of Commercial Taxes | |
| â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Tamil Nadu Ministerial Service Departments
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Tamil Nadu Town Panchayat Subordinate Service â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Audit Subordinate Service â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Tamil Nadu General Subordinate Service |
|
| Secretariat (except Law & Finance Department) | |
| Secretariat – Law | |
| Secretariat – Finance | |
| Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission | |
| Secretariat – Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |
| Executive Officer (Grade II) | Town Panchayat Department |
| Junior Co-Operative Auditor | Co-Operative Audit |
| Audit Assistant | Accounts Branch of Highways Department |
| Personal Clerk | Secretariat (except Law and Finance) |
| Secretariat (Finance) | |
| Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission | |
| Steno-Typist | Secretariat (Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly) |
| Planning Junior Assistant | Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission |
| Lower Division Clerk | Secretariat
(Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly) |
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