TN Police SI key terms

A classical Tamil work of 1330 couplets arranged in three sections on virtue, wealth and love, written by Thiruvalluvar. Questions on its content, structure and famous chapters appear in the Tamil eligibility paper.

A single couplet of seven words in two lines, the metrical unit of the Thirukkural. Candidates are asked to identify the theme or the missing word of a given couplet.

A chapter of ten couplets in the Thirukkural; the work has 133 such chapters grouped under three books. Questions often ask which chapter a named couplet belongs to.

A Tamil verse form of four lines with a specific rhyme scheme, used for most didactic and narrative poetry. Recognising the form of a quoted verse is a common question type.

The branch of Tamil grammar that governs metre, syllable weight and rhyme in verse composition. It covers asai, seer and thalai and is tested through identifying the metre of a given line.

A metrical foot in Tamil prosody made of two, three or four syllables of defined weight. Counting seer in a line helps identify whether a verse is a venba or a kalippa.

The body of early Tamil poetry, including Ettuthogai and Pathuppattu, composed roughly between the 3rd century BCE and 3rd century CE. Questions ask about anthologies, poets and themes such as akam and puram.

The eight anthologies of Sangam poetry, among them Natrinai, Kurunthogai, Aingurunuru and Purananuru. Candidates should be able to match each anthology to its theme and number of poems.

The ten long Sangam poems, including Mullaippattu, Nedunalvadai and Pattinappalai, each praising a patron or describing a landscape. Questions ask for the poet or the hero of a named poem.

The inner, personal theme of Sangam poetry, dealing with love and the fivefold landscape conventions. It is contrasted with puram and is often tested by asking which landscape suits a mood.

The outer, public theme of Sangam poetry, covering war, kingship, generosity and ethics. Candidates should distinguish it from akam when a poem is quoted or summarised.

One of the five landscape categories of Sangam poetry, each linked to a mood and a season: kurinji, mullai, marutam, neytal and palai. Identifying the thinai of a described scene is a standard question.

An anthology of 400 puram poems praising kings and warriors and stating ethical maxims. It is the most frequently quoted Sangam source for questions on royal generosity and heroism.

One of the eight anthologies, containing 400 akam poems mostly on the theme of union and separation. Questions may ask its theme, its number of poems or the metre used.

Kamban's 12th-century Tamil retelling of the Ramayana, noted for its ornate style and six kandams. Questions ask about the author, the kandams and famous episodes such as the crossing to Lanka.

A major book or canto of a Tamil epic such as the Kamba Ramayanam, for example Bala Kandam or Yuddha Kandam. Matching a kandam to its content is a common objective question.

The Tamil epic by Ilango Adigal telling of Kannagi and Kovalan, arranged in three books. Questions cover its author, its structure and its descriptions of music and dance.

The Tamil epic by Seethalai Sathanar about a woman who becomes a Buddhist nun, a sequel to the Silappathikaram. Questions ask its author, religion and relation to the earlier epic.

A Jain didactic work of 400 quatrains on ethics and renunciation, attributed to various poets. It is often paired with the Thirukkural in questions on moral literature.

A traditional Tamil proverb carrying folk wisdom, often used in comprehension questions. Candidates must pick the meaning that matches the proverb's accepted usage.

A prose commentary or explanation of a classical text, such as Parimelazhagar's commentary on the Thirukkural. Questions may ask which commentator wrote the standard explanation of a work.

Tamil grammar, traditionally divided into letters, words and meaning, as in Tolkappiyam. Questions test the threefold division and the standard rules for sandhi and case endings.

The oldest surviving Tamil grammar, attributed to Tolkappiyar, in three books on letters, words and poetics. Questions ask its author, its divisions and its treatment of akam and puram.

The rules for joining two Tamil words, including the changes of consonants and the addition of linking sounds. Questions give a pair of words and ask for the correct combined form.

The eight Tamil case relations marked by suffixes, from nominative through locative and vocative. Candidates are asked to identify the case marker in a given phrase.

A compound in which a verb form qualifies a noun, such as a past participle used adjectivally. Identifying the compound type is a recurring grammar question in the Tamil paper.

The grammatical distinction between singular and plural in Tamil nouns and verb endings. Questions test agreement between subject and verb and the plural suffixes used with each noun class.

Translation between Tamil and English, a scored section of the main written examination. Accuracy, register and correct technical vocabulary matter more than literal word-for-word rendering.

An essay written in Tamil on a general or current topic in the main examination. It is marked for structure, relevance, vocabulary and grammatical correctness rather than length alone.

A précis or summary task requiring the candidate to condense a given passage while keeping its main points. Marks depend on compression, coherence and avoidance of personal opinion.

General knowledge, a section of the main written paper covering current affairs, Indian polity, geography and science. It rewards regular reading of newspapers and state government announcements.

The Government of Tamil Nadu, whose departments, schemes and administrative structure are frequently tested. Candidates should know current schemes, ministers' portfolios and key state institutions.

The Constitution of India, covering fundamental rights, directive principles and the structure of government. Questions test articles, amendments and the roles of the President, Parliament and judiciary.

The fundamental rights guaranteed in Part III of the Indian Constitution, including equality, freedom of speech and protection of life. Questions often ask which article covers a stated right.

Law, including the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act as applied in Tamil Nadu. Policing questions test definitions of offences, arrest powers and evidence rules.

Investigation of an offence, covering the filing of an FIR, collection of evidence and the rights of the accused. Questions test the legal limits on arrest, search and remand.

A newspaper, the main daily source for current affairs in the general knowledge section. Reading editorials and state news pages builds the background needed for objective questions.