# TNPSC Group 4 Part B General Studies: 75 questions, 6 units and how to study them

> Part B, General Studies, has 75 questions, set in Tamil and English (Notification 11/2026, page 20, para 6.1). Parts B and C carry 150 marks together. The syllabus (code 496) has six units. Current affairs has no unit of its own; it sits inside four of them: General Science, Geography, Polity and Economy.

Last updated: 2026-10-26 · By TNPSC Guide editorial team
URL: https://www.tnpscguide.com/guides/group-4-general-studies-part-b-guide

TNPSC Guide is not the official TNPSC website. Applications go only through the official portal.

Checked on: 26.10.2026. On that day tnpsc.gov.in listed no addendum or corrigendum to this notification.

This guide covers Part B of the Group 4 exam, General Studies: 75 of the paper's 200 questions. Facts come from TNPSC Notification 11/2026 (English PDF page numbers) and the Group IV syllabus (code 496, dated 12.12.2024). For a short summary, see [the Group 4 syllabus (exam page)](/en/exams/group-4#syllabus).

## What is in Part B?

The scheme table in the notification (page 20, para 6) says:

- Part B, General Studies, has 75 questions. The whole paper has 200 questions, 300 marks and 3 hours.
- The questions are set in Tamil and English (para 6.1). Only Part A, Tamil, is set in Tamil alone.
- Parts B and C carry 150 marks together. The table gives no separate marks for Part B.
- Standard: SSLC (Class 10). One OMR paper; the questions are objective.

One key rule: Parts B and C are evaluated only if you score at least 60 of 150 in Part A, Tamil (para 6.1, page 20). Without 60 in Tamil, your General Studies marks do not count. Read more in [the exam pattern and the 60/150 rule](/en/guides/group-4-exam-pattern).

A note on letters: the syllabus PDF calls General Studies "Part A", Aptitude "Part B" and Tamil "Part C" (English pages 1-2), so "Part A" stands above the General Studies units there. We follow the notification: Part A Tamil, Part B General Studies, Part C Aptitude (page 20). If in doubt, go by the part's name.

## What are the six units?

The table shows a few example topics per unit; the full list is in the PDF.

**Table 1: the six units of Part B**

| Unit | Tamil name | Example topics | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Science | பொது அறிவியல் | Elements and compounds, acids, bases, food adulterants | Syllabus (code 496), page 1 |
| Geography | புவியியல் | Earth location, monsoon, rivers, soil, disaster management, climate change | Syllabus (code 496), page 1 |
| History, Culture and Indian National Movement | இந்தியாவின் வரலாறு, பண்பாடு மற்றும் இந்திய தேசிய இயக்கம் | Indus Valley Civilization, Indian National Congress, national leaders | Syllabus (code 496), page 1 |
| Indian Polity | இந்திய ஆட்சியியல் | Constitution of India, Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Panchayat Raj, Right to Information | Syllabus (code 496), page 1 |
| Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu | இந்தியப் பொருளாதாரம் மற்றும் தமிழ்நாட்டில் வளர்ச்சி நிர்வாகம் | Five-year plan models, NITI Aayog, Reserve Bank of India, Goods and Services Tax, welfare schemes of Government | Syllabus (code 496), page 1 |
| History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu | தமிழ்நாட்டின் வரலாறு, பண்பாடு, மரபு மற்றும் சமூக-அரசியல் இயக்கங்கள் | History of Tamil society, archaeological discoveries, Tamil literature from the Sangam age to today, Thirukkural, social reformers | Syllabus (code 496), pages 1-2 |

Each unit in plain words:

- **General Science:** basics of physics, chemistry and life science; environmental science.
- **Geography:** physical features, water, forest and wildlife; population density in Tamil Nadu and India.
- **Indian history:** Indus Valley to the freedom movement, with named leaders such as V.O. Chidambaranar, Thanthai Periyar, Kamarajar and Mahatma Gandhi.
- **Indian Polity:** the Constitution, Union and State governments, local governments.
- **Economy:** planning, revenue, banking, welfare schemes, development administration in Tamil Nadu.
- **Tamil Nadu history:** Tamil literature, Thirukkural, the freedom struggle, social reform movements.

The syllabus prints a question count for each unit. It is only indicative: the Commission may marginally increase or decrease it (Notification, para 6.3, page 21).

**Questions per unit (indicative)** (source: syllabus code 496, English page 1; Tamil pages 5-6)

| Unit | Questions |
| --- | --- |
| General Science | 5 |
| Geography | 5 |
| History, Culture and Indian National Movement | 10 |
| Indian Polity | 15 |
| Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu | 20 |
| History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu | 20 |
| Total | 75 |

You can check these numbers in the official [syllabus PDF](https://tnpsc.gov.in/static_pdf/syllabus/496_Group%20IV%20Syllabus.pdf). For [all 15 units at a glance](/en/guides/group-4-syllabus-explained), read our syllabus guide.

## Is current affairs a separate unit?

No. Current affairs has no unit of its own; the topic lists of four units end with "Current affairs": General Science, Geography, Indian Polity and Indian Economy (syllabus, English page 1).

Our advice, not a TNPSC rule:

- In the newspaper, note only news that fits these four units, such as a scientific discovery, a disaster or a welfare scheme.
- One or two lines per item, with the unit name and the date.
- At each month's end, gather the notes into your own monthly compilation.

New to the exam? Step 6 of [7 steps to start from zero](/en/guides/group-4-preparation-from-zero) covers current affairs, and step 3 textbooks.

## Which units are about Tamil Nadu?

Two units carry Tamil Nadu in their names:

- Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu (English page 1)
- History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu (English pages 1-2)

Other units have Tamil Nadu topics too, such as population density in Geography and the state's political parties in Polity (English page 1).

Thirukkural appears in this sixth unit (page 1) and in the Part A Tamil literature unit (page 3). Our advice: study the two together, and use the Samacheer textbooks, especially social science, as the base for these units. We cannot say how many questions will come from the Tamil Nadu units; the syllabus count is only indicative (para 6.3, page 21).

## How do I study each unit?

This is our advice, not a TNPSC rule.

Take one unit at a time, in the order the syllabus lists them. For each topic, first read its words in the PDF, then the textbook chapter, and last write a short note of a few lines.

Write each question you miss, with the correct answer, in a mistake notebook. Revise each finished unit once a week, so what you studied earlier stays fresh.

The table below is a model week for the General Science unit. The topics are from the syllabus (English page 1); the split by day is ours.

**Table 2: one week on the General Science unit (our suggestion, not a TNPSC rule)**

| Day | Topic | 30-40 minutes (our suggestion) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Force, pressure and energy | Textbook chapter; short note |
| 2 | Elements and compounds, acids, bases | Textbook chapter; short note |
| 3 | Main concepts of life science, health | Textbook chapter; short note |
| 4 | Environmental science, food adulterants | Textbook chapter; short note |
| 5 | Latest inventions in science and technology | Read with your news notes |
| 6 | The week's topics | Revise the notes; mistake notebook |
| 7 | An official past paper | Its General Science questions; check with the final answer key |

If you work, combine this with our [study plan for working people](/en/guides/group-4-30-day-study-plan-working-people).

## How should I split my time across the three parts?

First, the facts. Part A, Tamil, is 150 of the 300 marks. If you score under 60 there, Parts B and C are not evaluated (para 6.1, page 20). Of the 200 questions, Part B has 75 and Part C 25 (page 20). The written exam is on 10.01.2027 (Notification, page 1, para 1.2).

Our advice, not a TNPSC rule: Tamil first every day, then General Studies, and a small, steady daily slot for Part C maths. Within General Studies, the syllabus gives 20 questions each to Indian Economy and Tamil Nadu history and 15 to Indian Polity (table above; indicative only, para 6.3, page 21). Give a little more time to units with more questions, but do not drop even the 5-question units.

Separate guides: [how to study Part A Tamil](/en/guides/group-4-tamil-part-a-guide) and [the Part C aptitude guide](/en/guides/group-4-aptitude-part-c-guide).

## What do I do when I don't know the answer?

Do not leave any question blank. If you do not know the answer, darken option E. Each question left blank costs 0.5 mark from your total. Both rules are in Annexure IV of the notification, among the OMR answer sheet rules:

1. Do not leave any question blank. If you do not know the answer, darken option E (para 1.6.2.5, page 68).
2. For each question left blank, 0.5 mark is deducted from your total (para 1.10.2.2, page 72).

A simple sum: leave 4 questions blank and you lose 2 marks from your total.

Is there a deduction for a wrong answer? When we read the English version of Notification 11/2026 on 19.10.2026, we found no such rule. But "no negative marking" is still wrong: a blank answer does cost marks.

Our advice: if a question holds you up, move on and come back if there is time. At the end, check that no bubble is blank. See also [10 mistakes to avoid](/en/guides/group-4-common-mistakes).

## How do I use past papers for Part B?

TNPSC publishes past papers and answer keys on its Answer Keys page; we gathered the year-wise links in [official papers and answer keys](/en/guides/group-4-previous-year-papers-answer-keys).

Our advice: after each unit, mark its questions in an official paper, answer them without the key, check them with that year's final answer key, and note misses in the mistake notebook.

We copy no official question here. A previous-year question, if we ever show one, carries its year, paper, question number and answer-key status.

Preparing for VAO? It is a post in this same exam (post code 2025, Notification page 3), so the same Part B and past papers apply. Read [VAO: is it the same exam?](/en/guides/vao-vs-group-4)

## Practical steps

1. Open the syllabus PDF (English pages 1-2 or Tamil pages 5-6) and note the topics of the six units.
2. Study Tamil first every day; then one General Studies unit at a time, in syllabus order.
3. Write a short note for each topic, and keep a mistake notebook.
4. At the end of each month, write the current affairs of the four units into one monthly compilation.
5. Revise finished units once a week, and check their questions in an official paper with the final answer key.
6. Never leave a question blank on the OMR sheet. If unsure, darken E.

## Read next

- [Official papers and answer keys](/en/guides/group-4-previous-year-papers-answer-keys)
- [All 15 units at a glance](/en/guides/group-4-syllabus-explained)
- [How to study Part A Tamil](/en/guides/group-4-tamil-part-a-guide)

You do not need our app to use this guide. If you would like a daily lesson to follow, read about [our 30-day programme](/en/programme). The TNPSC Guide app has a free 3-day period in which the plan's Day 1–3 lessons, the full question bank and one sectional test are open. After that, the free parts stay open.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is Part B in English too?**

Yes. Part B questions are set in both Tamil and English. Only Part A, the Tamil test, is set in Tamil alone (Notification 11/2026, para 6.1, page 20).

**Does Part B have its own marks?**

The notification's table prints one 150-mark total for Parts B and C together (page 20). It gives no separate figure for Part B. Part B is evaluated only if you score at least 60 of 150 in Part A (para 6.1, page 20).

**Is current affairs a separate unit?**

No. Current affairs sits inside four units: General Science, Geography, Indian Polity and Indian Economy (syllabus code 496, English page 1, Tamil page 5).

**How many questions are there per unit?**

The syllabus prints these counts: General Science 5, Geography 5, Indian history 10, Indian Polity 15, Indian Economy 20, Tamil Nadu history 20; 75 in all (syllabus code 496, English page 1; Tamil pages 5-6). The counts are only indicative: the Commission may marginally increase or decrease the number of questions in each unit (Notification 11/2026, para 6.3, page 21). So study all six units.

**Is Part B the same for VAO?**

Yes. Village Administrative Officer is a post in this same exam, post code 2025 (Notification 11/2026, page 3). So the same paper and the same syllabus apply to it.

## Sources

- [TNPSC Notification 11/2026, English PDF: page 1 (para 1.2), page 3 (posts), page 20 (Scheme of Examination, paras 6 and 6.1), page 21 (para 6.3), pages 68 and 72 (Annexure IV)](https://tnpsc.gov.in/document/english/group_english.pdf)
- [TNPSC Notification 11/2026, Tamil PDF: page 23 (scheme of examination)](https://tnpsc.gov.in/document/tamil/group4_tamil.pdf)
- [TNPSC Group IV syllabus PDF, code 496 (dated 12.12.2024): General Studies units and unit-wise question counts, English pages 1-2, Tamil pages 5-6](https://tnpsc.gov.in/static_pdf/syllabus/496_Group%20IV%20Syllabus.pdf)
- [TNPSC syllabus page (viewed 26.10.2026)](https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/english/syllabus.html)
- [TNPSC Answer Keys page (viewed 25.10.2026)](https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/English/answerkeys.aspx)
- [TNPSC official website (viewed 26.10.2026; no addendum or corrigendum to this notification)](https://www.tnpsc.gov.in)