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TNPSC ACF Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2023: Get the PDF Here!
Last Updated on May 16, 2025
Download TNPSC ACF Recruitment complete information as PDFIMPORTANT LINKS
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission has released the TNPSC ACF Syllabus and Exam Pattern along with the official notification. The candidates who will be appearing for the exam must know the TNPSC ACF Syllabus and Exam Pattern to ace the examination. However, the selection process for the Assistant Conservator of Forests in the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission is done through a written examination (both Prelims and Main Examination), Physical Standard test, and an Interview round.
- The aspirant can check their tentative marks with the help of the TNPSC ACF Answer Key even before the official result is announced.
- The candidates can download the TNPSC ACF syllabus in PDF Format and prepare for the examination accordingly.
- The TNPSC ACF exam pattern will help the candidates in understanding the type of questions asked in the exam, marking scheme, and duration of the exam.
This article covers the details regarding the TNPSC ACF Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2023, as well as the marking scheme, books for study, and preparation strategy.
Download the TNPSC ACF Syllabus as PDF Here!
TNPSC ACF Syllabus 2023
Candidates must follow the given syllabus for the TNPSC ACF exam preparation. The syllabus for both the Prelims and Main Examination is different and you can refer to the detailed TNPSC ACF Syllabus 2023 in the table given below:
Preliminary Examination
| Subject | Syllabus |
| General Science | (i) Scientific Knowledge and temper; Power of Reasoning; Rote Learning Vs Conceptual Learning; Science as a tool to understand the past, present and future. (ii) General Scientific Laws; Mechanics Properties of Matter, Force, Motion and Energy; Everyday applications of Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Sound, Heat, Nuclear Physics, Lasers, Electronics and Communications. (iii) Compounds and elements, acids, bases, salts, fertilizers, pesticides, petroleum products. (iv) Main concepts of Life Science, Classification, Evolution, Genetics, Physiology, Nutrition, Health and Hygiene, Human diseases. (v) Environment and Ecology. |
| Current Events | (i) History - Current events - National symbols - States profiles - Eminent people and places in the news - Sports authors and books. (ii) Polity – Political parties and system in India – Public awareness and General administration – Welfare oriented Government schemes and their utility, Problems in Public Delivery Systems. (iii) Geography – Geographical landmarks. (iv) Economics - Current issues in social economics. (v) Science - The latest scientific discoveries. (vi) Outstanding personalities in the arts, sciences, literature, and philosophy. |
| Geography of India | (i) Location – Physical characteristics – Monsoon, Rainfall, Weather and Climate – Water Resources – Rivers in India – Soil, Minerals and Natural resources – Forest and Wildlife – Agricultural pattern. (ii) Transport – Communication. (iii) Social Geography – Population density and distribution – Racial, Linguistic Groups and Major Tribes. (iv) Natural calamity – Disaster Management – Environmental pollution: Reasons and preventive measures – Climate change – Green energy. Preposition |
| History & Culture of India | (i) Indus valley civilization – Guptas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals, and Marathas - Era of Vijayanagar and Bahmani Kingdoms -South Indian history. (ii) Change and Continuity in India's Socio-Cultural History. (iii) Characteristics of Indian culture, Unity in diversity – Race, language, custom. (iv) India as a Secular State, Social Harmony. |
| Indian Polity | (i) Constitution of India – Preamble to the Constitution – Salient features of the Constitution – Union, State and Union Territory. (ii) Citizenship, Fundamental rights, Fundamental duties, Directive Principles of State Policy. (iii) Union Executive, Union legislature – State Executive, State Legislature – Local Governments, Panchayat Raj. (iv) Spirit of Federalism: Centre – State Relationships. (v) Election – Judiciary in India – Rule of law. (vi) Corruption in public life – Anti-corruption measures – Lokpal and LokAyukta – Right to Information – Empowerment of women – Consumer protection forums, Human rights charter. |
| Indian Economy | (i) Nature of Indian economy– Five year plan models– an assessment– Planning Commission and Niti Ayog. (ii) Sources of revenue– Reserve Bank of India– Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy– Finance Commission– Resource sharing between Union and State Governments– Goods and Services Tax. (iii) Structure of Indian Economy and Employment Generation, Land reforms and Agriculture– Application of Science and Technology in Agriculture– Industrial growth– Rural Welfare Oriented Programmes– Social problems– Population, Education, Health, Employment, Poverty. |
| Indian National Movement | (i) National Renaissance– Early uprising against British rule– Indian National Congress– Emergence of leaders– B.R.Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Bharathiar, V.O.Chidambaranar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Kamarajar, Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Thanthai Periyar, Rajaji, Subash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and others. (ii) Different modes of Agitation: Growth of Satyagraha and Militant Movements. (iii) Communalism and partition. |
| History, Cultural, Heritage, and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu | (i) History of Tamil Society, related Archaeological discoveries, Tamil Literature from Sangam age till contemporary times. (ii) Thirukkural: (a) Significance as a Secular literature (b) Relevance to Everyday Life (c) Impact of Thirukkural on Humanity (d) Thirukkural and Universal Values – Equality, Humanism, etc (e) Relevance to Socio – Politico – Economic affairs (f) Philosophical content in Thirukkural (iii) Role of Tamil Nadu in the freedom struggle – Early agitations against British Rule – Role of women in the freedom struggle. (iv) Evolution of 19th and 20th Century Socio-Political movements in Tamil Nadu – Justice Party, Growth of Rationalism– Self Respect Movement, Dravidian Movement and Principles underlying both these movements, Contributions of Thanthai Periyar and Perarignar Anna. |
| Development Administration in Tamil Nadu | (i) Human Development Indicators in Tamil Nadu and a comparative assessment across the Country – Impact of Social Reform movements in the Socio – Economic Development of Tamil Nadu. (ii) Political parties and Welfare schemes for various sections of people – Rationale behind Reservation Policy and access to Social Resources – Economic trends in Tamil Nadu – Role and impact of social welfare schemes in the Socio – Economic Development of Tamil Nadu. (iii)Social Justice and Social Harmony as the Cornerstones of Socio – Economic development. (iv) Education and Health systems in Tamil Nadu. (v)Geography of Tamil Nadu and its impact on Economic growth. (vi) Achievements of Tamil Nadu in various fields. (vii) E-governance in Tamil Nadu. |
| Aptitude & Mental Ability (S.S.L.C Standard) | (i) Simplification – Percentage – Highest Common Factor (HCF) – Lowest Common Multiple (LCM). (ii) Ratio and Proportion. (iii) Simple interest and Compound interest – Area – Volume – Time and Work. (iv) Logical Reasoning – Puzzles –Visual Reasoning – Alpha numeric Reasoning – Number Series. |
Mains Examination
| Subject | Syllabus |
| Tamil Language (Paper I) | சமுதாயப் பிரச்சனைகள் சுற்றுச்சூழல் தொடர்பான தலைப்புகள் தற்கால நிகழ்வுகள் அறிவியலும் தொழில்நுட்பமும் கலையும் பண்பாடும் இக்காலத் தமிழ்மொழி – கணினித் தமிழ், வழக்கு மன்றத் தமிழ், அலுவலக மொழியாகத் தமிழ், புதிய வகைமைகள். இந்தியப் பொருளாதரம் தொடர்பான தலைப்புகள் சொந்த வாக்கியத்தில் அமைத்து எழுதுக, பொருள் வேறுபாடு அறிதல், பிரித்தெழுதுக, எதிர்ச்சொல், எதிர்மறை வாக்கியம், பிழை நீக்கி எழுதுக. பகுத்தறிவு இயக்கங்கள் – திராவிட இயக்கம், சுயமரியாதை இயக்கம். தமிழ்நாட்டின் சமூகப் பொருளாதார முன்னேற்றம் மற்றும் தமிழக அரசின் நலத்திட்டங்கள் (பெண்கள் விவசாயிகள்…), சமூக நலத்திட்டங்களை நடைமுறைப்படுத்துதலில் சமூக சீர்திருத்த இயக்கங்களின் பங்கு இட ஒதுக்கீடும் அதன் பயன்களும் தமிழ்நாட்டின் சமூகப் பொருளாதார வளர்ச்சியில் சமூக நீதி மற்றும் சமூக ஒற்றுமையின் பங்கு. |
| General Studies (Paper II) |
|
| General English | Unit 1: Comprehension From a given passage (prose or poem) comprehend and identify the central theme and answer questions based thereon. The candidate would not be asked to evaluate or assess the argument, its tone or style. UNIT 2: USE OF VERBS, ARTICLES AND PREPOSITIONS Use of verbs, articles and prepositions in different contexts. Construction of sentences. Detecting common mistakes in the usage of verbs, articles and prepositions. UNIT 3: VOCABULARY Knowledge of words, phrases and idiomatic expressions in common English usage to describe different activities, situations and contexts. Differentiate between the usage and meaning of words having similar sound and detect the commonly committed mistakes. Construction of sentences. UNIT 4: LETTER WRITING Writing letters on following themes: a) Seeking leave of absence from duty to attend to a personal work from the employer / official superior b) Writing a letter to the editor of the leading newspaper or magazine expressing candidate’s views on a topic of general or local importance c) Writing a letter of condolence to a friend or a colleague on the demise of a close relative or friend. d) Writing a letter congratulating a friend on his promotion or election to an office of prestige or influence or on his passing a public exam or on a happy event like wedding or birth in the friend’s family e) Writing a letter to a close friend or family member informing him or her about the candidate’s travel to an exciting place and witnessing an unusual event. UNIT 5: PRÉCIS WRITING Read and understand a given passage, sifting the essential from the non-essential information and prepare a cohesive summary not exceeding 1/3rd the size of the given passage and give a suitable eye catching title. UNIT 6: ESSAY WRITING Write an essay of 250 to 300 words on a matter of topical interest (Political, economic,religious, cultural, environmental, social, socio-economic etc.) |
| Paper IV & Paper V (Optional Subjects) | Candidates may Choose any two optional subjects from the following 21 subjects given below with the conditions that the applicant shall not be allowed to take more than one subject in the same group:
|
TNPSC ACF Exam Pattern 2023
The candidate must know the TNPSC ACF exam pattern to ace the Recruitment Examination. The detailed exam pattern for both the Prelims and Mains examinations has been given below:
Preliminary Examination
- The Exam questions will be in the form of multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- It will be a total of 300 marks and will comprise 200 questions.
- Each question will carry 1.5 marks in the examination.
- There is no specification about the negative marking by the commission.
- The level of the exam will be of Degree Standard
| Exam Type | Subject Name | No.of. Questions | Marks | Exam Duration |
| Objective Type of Questions | General Studies | 175 | 300 | 03 Hours |
| Aptitude and Mental Ability Test | 25 | |||
| Total | 200 | 300 | 3 hours | |
Mains Examination
- Candidates who successfully clear the preliminary examination of the TNPSC ACF post, will be eligible to sit for the mains examination.
- The mains exam will be descriptive in nature
- There will be five papers in the examination.
- The Main Written Examination answer sheets of Paper-II, Paper-III, Paper-IV and Paper-V will be evaluated, only if the candidate secures minimum qualifying marks (40%-i.e., 40 marks) in Paper-I (Tamil Eligibility Test) and the marks secured in Paper-I will not be taken into account for ranking.
| Paper | Subjects | Standard of the Exam | Max. Marks | Duration |
| Paper I | Tamil Eligibility Test | SSLC Standard | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | General Studies | Degree Standard | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper III | General English | SSLC Standard | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper IV | Optional Subject | Degree Standard | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper V | Optional Subject | Degree Standard | 300 | 3 hours |
| Total | 900 | - | ||
Physical Standards Test
The candidates who are shortlisted in the main examination will be required to appear in the Physical Standards Test. All the applicants must meet the following minimum physical standards.
| Category | Height (cm) | Chest Girth (cm) | |
| Normal | Expansion | ||
| Male | 163 | 84 | 5 |
| Female | 150 | 79 | 5 |
Note: The following minimum height standards may be allowed in case of candidates belonging to Scheduled Tribes and races such as Assamese, Bhutanese, Garhwalis, Gorkhas, Kumaonis, Ladakhese, Mizo, Naga, Nepalese, Sikkimese and those from Arunachal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti and Meghalalya.
- Male Candidate - 152 cm
- Female Candidate - 145 cm
Physical Walking Test
The candidates applying for the TNPSC ACF post must pass a physical walking test covering a distance of 25/16 Km in 4 hours on foot by male/female candidates respectively.
Interview
The interview will be the final stage of the TNPSC ACF post. It will be conducted for a total of 120 marks. The final selection will be made based on the total marks obtained by the candidates in the Main Written Examination Paper-II, Paper-III, Paper-IV Paper-V and Oral Test taken together.
TNPSC ACF Exam 2023: Preparation Strategy
The candidate who wants to score more than the required TNPSC ACF Cut off must check the useful preparation strategies given below:
- Before beginning your preparation, you should have a copy of the most recent TNPSC ACF Syllabus and Exam Pattern.
- Make sure to prioritize the topics having the most weightage
- Also, make an effective timetable and concentrate on areas where you are weak.
- Moreover, mock tests should be taken on a regular basis to improve your speed and accuracy for the actual exam.
- To avoid unnecessary stress, take short breaks between studies.
- Revise each chapter thoroughly in order to retain the information for an extended period of time.
TNPSC ACF Exam 2023: Books for Preparation
The candidate must refer to a particular set of books while preparing for the TNPSC ACF Recruitment Examination. However, a list of recommended TNPSC ACF books which may help you to crack the exam is mentioned below:
| Subjects | Name of Books | Author/Publisher |
| General Science | NCERT Science Books for Grade Class 6th to 12th | - |
| Geography of India | Samacheer Kalvi Books for Grades 6 to 12 | Multiple Authors |
| Indian Polity | Indian Polity | M.LaxmiKanth |
| Aptitude and Mental Ability | Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability | Kalinjar |
| Indian Economy | Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh |
| Tamil Language | Tamil Nadu State Board Books | Various Authors |
| English Language | TNPSC Supreme Guide | - |
To prepare for the TNPSC ACF exam, candidates must download and sign in the Testbook app from the Playstore. Upon signing in to the app, candidates have access to live classes, mock tests, video courses, etc., for better recruitment results.
Last updated on Jun 9, 2025
-> TNPSC ACF Result has been released for the Assistant Conservator of Forests included in Group-IA service in Tamil Nadu Forest Service. Candidates can check their result by their registration number.
-> A total of 9 vacancies were released for the TNPSC ACF Recruitment 2022.
-> Candidates had applied from 14th December 2022 to 13th January 2023 through online mode.
-> The Selection of the candidates is based on the performance in Preliminary, Mains and Interview.
-> Candidates must refer to the Tamil Nadu PSC ACF Previous Year Papers to understand the type of questions coming in the exam.
TNPSC ACF Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2023 FAQs
What is the total number of marks for the TNPSC ACF prelims exam?
The total marks for the TNPSC ACF prelims Examination will be 300.
What subjects are covered in the Mains examination under the TNPSC ACF recruitment?
The candidates will have to study Tamil language, general studies, english comprehension and two optional subjects to cover the TNPSC ACF Main Examination syllabu
Will the TNPSC ACF exam be online?
No, the TNPSC ACF Examination will be conducted in offline mode at dedicated centers in Tamil Nadu.
How many questions will be asked in the Preliminary Examination of the TNPSC ACF?
The TNPSC ACF Preliminary exam will have 200 questions out of which 175 questions will be of general studies and 25 questions will be from Aptitude and Mental Ability.
What is the selection process for the TNPSC ACF post?
The selection for the TNPSC ACF post will be made in four successive stages, namely Preliminary examination, Mains Examination, Physical Standards Test and Interview Round.