Stage - I

1. Preliminary Examination (450 Marks)
General Studies 150 marks (150 Questions, 1 mark for each)
Optional paper 300 marks (120 Questions, 2 ½ marks each)
Each paper 2 hours duration
Exam centre will be in Chennai, Madurai & Puducherry.(for Tamilnadu)
Always Exams will be held in 2nd Sunday of May
Results will be announced before August 15th.
Exam will be of screening type, marks scored in Prelims will not be counted for overall ranking.
There will be negative marking of 1/3 (For each wrong answer)
Questions will be set in both Hindi & English

Course content of the syllabus will be of degree level.

Stage - II

2. Main Examination (2000 Marks – Descriptive type questions)
Must choose 2 optional subjects - for example - History & Hindi Lit
Exam centre will be in Chennai only (for Tamilnadu).
Usually held during Oct & Nov.
Primarily two qualifying language papers in Matriculation standard
1. Tamil & 2. English not counted for Ranking (passing mandatory for valuing other papers – should attend all the questions.)
7 papers:

• Essay - 200 marks
• GS Paper I - 300 marks
• GS Paper II – 300 marks
• I Optional Paper I – 300 marks
• I Optional Paper II – 300 marks
• II Optional Paper I - 300 marks
• II Optional Paper II – 300 marks

Results will be announced in mid March next year.
Question papers other than language papers will be set both in Hindi & English.
Students can write the exams in Tamil medium also except English Language paper.
List of Optional subjects that cannot be clubbed
Political Science & Public Administration
Commerce & Management
Anthropology & Sociology
Maths & Statistics
Agriculture & Veterinary Science
Management & Public Admin
Of the Engineering subjects, not more than one subject
Veterinary & Medical sciences

Stage – III

3. Interview
Total 300 marks
It will be held in New Delhi only.
Time of Interview – Usually from March last week to May 1st week.
Students appearing in interview can use an interpreter in case they answer questions in Tamil.
Final results will be announced before the preliminary examinations are conducted for that year.
Candidates appearing for interview will be thrice the number of vacancies.