The Government of Tamil Nadu, through the Naan Mudhalvan initiative and TNSDC, in coordination with AICSCC, invites applications for the UPSC Prelims Scholarship Exam 2025. The exam aims to shortlist 1000 aspirants for a monthly scholarship of ₹7,500 for 10 months, enabling them to prepare for UPSC CSE Prelims 2026.

📅 Important Dates

  • Notification Release: 26 June 2025
  • Online Application Starts: 26 June 2025
  • Last Date to Apply: 10 July 2025
  • Hall Ticket Issue: 3rd Week of July 2025
  • Exam Date: 26 July 2025 (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM)

📋 Eligibility Criteria

  • Must hold a degree from a recognized university in India.
  • Minimum Age: 21 years (as on 01.08.2026)
  • Maximum Age:
    • SC/ST/SC(A): 37 years
    • Differently Abled: 42 years
    • BC/BC(M)/MBC/DNC: 35 years
    • General: 32 years
  • Not eligible if already received NM scholarship in 2023-2024 or 2024-2025.

📘 Scheme of Examination

  • Mode: Offline OMR-based
  • Total Questions: 100 (90 GS + 10 CSAT)
  • Total Marks: 200 (2 marks each)
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Negative Marking: 1/3rd deduction for wrong answers
  • Medium: English only

📚 Syllabus

General Studies: Current events, History, Geography, Polity, Economic & Social Development, Ecology, and General Science.

CSAT: Logical Reasoning, Mental Ability, Basic Numeracy (Class X level), Data Interpretation.

🏛️ Reservation & Selection

  • 1000 candidates will be selected as per Government of Tamil Nadu reservation policy.
  • Scorecard will also be used for admission into AICSCC coaching at Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai.
  • Free Residential and Part-time Coaching available with limited seats under communal reservation.

🏠 Coaching Details

  • Residential coaching: Free lodging, boarding, and training.
  • Non-residential: Evening and weekend classes only.
  • Refundable Caution Deposit of ₹3000 for Chennai Centre.

📝 How to Apply

📌 Important Links