Tamil Nadu Naan Mudhalvan UPSC Prelims Scholarship Programme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The TN UPSC Scholarship Scheme 2026 has been introduced by the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) under the Naan Mudhalvan Competitive Exams Vertical to encourage more youth from Tamil Nadu to join the Union Civil Services. The Competitive Exams Vertical was inaugurated on 07 March 2023 with the objective of empowering aspirants through quality coaching, financial support, and other learning resources required to succeed in highly competitive examinations conducted by Union Government recruitment agencies. As part of this initiative, TNSDC is conducting the UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam 2026 to identify deserving candidates for scholarship and government coaching programmes.

Under the Tamil Nadu Naan Mudhalvan UPSC Prelims Scholarship, a total of 1,000 candidates will be selected through a state-level screening examination. Every selected candidate will receive a monthly scholarship of ₹7,500 for 10 months, amounting to a total financial assistance of ₹75,000 to support preparation for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2027. Selection will be based on candidates' performance in the screening test and the reservation policy of the Government of Tamil Nadu, ensuring equal opportunities for eligible aspirants across different categories.

The Tamil Nadu AICSCC UPSC Free Coaching Scheme offers an additional advantage to applicants. The score obtained in the UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam will also be used for admission to the All India Civil Services Coaching Centre (AICSCC), Chennai, and the Anna Centenary Civil Services Coaching Academies (ACCSCA) at Coimbatore and Madurai. Therefore, candidates do not need to appear for a separate entrance examination for these government coaching institutes. Selected candidates in the residential coaching programme will also receive free boarding and lodging, while part-time coaching is available for eligible non-residential candidates.

Graduates from recognised universities in India who aspire to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2027 can apply for the scholarship, provided they satisfy the prescribed UPSC age criteria. The scheme aims to reduce the financial burden of Civil Services preparation by providing monthly financial assistance to deserving aspirants. Candidates selected under the scheme must subsequently appear for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2027 to continue receiving the scholarship benefits.

Eligible candidates can apply online through the TNSDC portal. The UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam 2026 will be conducted in all 38 districts of Tamil Nadu as an OMR-based objective examination in English. Based on their performance in the screening test, eligible candidates will be shortlisted for the scholarship and Government UPSC coaching programmes.

In addition to the UPSC Prelims Scholarship, the Naan Mudhalvan Competitive Exams Vertical offers several initiatives to support Civil Services aspirants, including the UPSC Civil Services Mains Scholarship, UPSC Civil Services Training Programme, UPSC Study Hall at Anna Nagar, and residential coaching for SSC, Railways, and Banking examinations. Together, these initiatives aim to help more candidates from Tamil Nadu succeed in Union Government competitive examinations.

Scheme Benefits

• Selected candidates will receive a monthly scholarship of ₹7,500 to support their preparation for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2027.
• The scholarship will be provided for a period of 10 months, offering a total financial assistance of ₹75,000.
• Selection of beneficiaries will be made based on the screening test score and the reservation policy of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
• The scholarship examination also serves as the common entrance test for admission to the All India Civil Services Coaching Centre (AICSCC), Chennai, and the Anna Centenary Civil Services Coaching Academies (ACCSCA) in Coimbatore and Madurai.
• No separate entrance examination will be conducted by these coaching centres for admission during the 2026-27 session.
• Candidates selected for the full-time residential coaching programme will also receive free boarding and lodging at the coaching centre.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the following eligibility conditions to apply for the Tamil Nadu UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam 2026:

• The applicant must hold a Bachelor's Degree from any recognised University in India.
• The applicant must have completed at least 21 years of age as on 01 August 2027.
• The upper age limit must be within the UPSC eligibility prescribed below:
  • General Category: Up to 32 years (42 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities).
  • BC / BCM / MBC / DNC: Up to 35 years (45 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities).
  • SC / ST / SC(A): Up to 37 years (47 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities).
• The applicant must not be employed in any Central Government or State Government service at the time of applying.
• The applicant should not have received the UPSC Prelims Scholarship more than two times during the last three years.
• Candidates will be shortlisted based on their marks in the screening test and the reservation policy of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
• Selected scholarship beneficiaries must apply for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2027. Failure to apply and submit the required proof to TNSDC will result in discontinuation of the scholarship.

Note: Candidates who have already received the scholarship twice may still appear for the screening test to seek admission to the Government Civil Services Coaching Centres, but they will not be eligible for the scholarship.

TN UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam 2026 Schedule

UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam Pattern

UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam Syllabus

The UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam 2026 syllabus is broadly based on the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. The question paper consists of 90 General Studies questions and 10 CSAT questions. The major topics include:

General Studies

• Current Events of National and International Importance.
• History of India and the Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography.
• Indian Polity and Governance.
• Economic and Social Development.
• Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change.
• General Science.

Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)

• Comprehension.
• Interpersonal Skills and Communication.
• Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability.
• Decision Making and Problem Solving.
• General Mental Ability.
• Basic Numeracy (Class X Level).
• Data Interpretation (Class X Level).

Note: The examination will be conducted in English only. Candidates are advised to prepare according to the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination syllabus, as the scholarship test follows a similar pattern.

Required Documents

Before starting the online application for the Tamil Nadu UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam 2026, applicants should keep the following documents and information ready to ensure a smooth registration and application process.

• Aadhaar Card (mandatory for registration and verification).
• Active mobile number linked to Aadhaar for OTP verification.
• Active email ID.
• Recent passport-size photograph in the prescribed format.
• Scanned signature in the prescribed format.
• SSLC (Class 10) mark sheet and certificate.
• Higher Secondary (Class 12) mark sheet and certificate.
• Graduation degree certificate or provisional certificate. If the degree certificate has not been issued, keep the university examination roll number ready.
• Community (Caste) Certificate, if claiming reservation.
• Nativity Certificate, wherever applicable.
• PwBD (Differently Abled) Certificate, if applicable.
• Bank account details, including account number, account holder's name and IFSC code.
• Details of previous UPSC Civil Services Examination attempts, if any.
• Details of any previous UPSC Prelims Scholarship received, if applicable.
• Residential and communication address details.

Steps to Apply

Candidates must submit their AICSCC UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam Application Form online through the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) portal. Before starting the application, keep your educational certificates, Aadhaar number, bank account details, photograph, and signature ready. Follow the steps below to complete the application successfully.

• Visit the official Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) website.
• Click on the UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam 2026 Registration link available on the portal.
  
• Log in to your account using your mobile number and open the online application form.
  
• Enter your personal details exactly as mentioned in your SSLC (Class 10) certificate, including your name and date of birth.
  
• Provide your parents' details, community information, Aadhaar number, email ID, communication address and permanent address.
• Select your preferred examination centre from the available districts in Tamil Nadu.
• Enter your educational details, including SSLC, Higher Secondary and Graduation information. Use the certificate number as mentioned in your mark sheets. If your degree certificate has not yet been issued, you may enter the provisional certificate number or the university examination roll number, wherever applicable.
• Provide your previous UPSC examination attempts, optional subject, scholarship history (if any), and bank account details for scholarship payment.
• Upload your recent passport-size photograph and signature in the prescribed file size and dimensions specified on the portal.
• Review all the information carefully, accept the declaration and submit the application.
• Download and save the submitted application form for future reference. Once the hall ticket is released, download it from the portal and appear for the screening examination on the scheduled date.

Relevant Links

• Naan Mudhalvan UPSC Civil Services Prelims Scholarship Online Application.
• Tamil Nadu UPSC Prelims Scholarship Scheme 2026 Notification
• Tamil Nadu Skill Development Portal

Contact Information

• Naan Mudhalvan UPSC Civil Service Prelims Scholarship Phone Number
  • 9043710214
  • 9043710211
• UPSC Prelims Scholarship Scheme Email Helpdesk: [email protected]