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Kerala PSC Tradesman (Computer Hardware Maintenance) – Technical Education
ട്രേഡ്സ്മാൻ (കമ്പ്യൂട്ടർ ഹാർഡ്‌വെയർ മെയിന്റനൻസ്) – സാങ്കേതിക വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ വകുപ്പ്
Technical posts and departmental tests
- Syllabus sections
- 10
Mock Tests
Tests coming soon.
About the exam
About the post
- Department: Technical Education Department
- Category No: 884/2025
- Method: Direct Recruitment
- Pay scale: ₹26,500 – 60,700
- Vacancies: 3
- Notification: Gazette 31 December 2025; last date to apply was 4 February 2026
Qualification
- Option 1: THSLC (Technical High School Leaving Certificate) with specialisation in the trade
- Option 2: SSLC or equivalent, plus NTC, KGCE or VHSE in the trade
- Equivalent or higher qualifications declared by Government order are also accepted
Who can apply
- Age: 18–36 (usual relaxations apply)
Always confirm the details in the official notification on keralapsc.gov.in before you apply or prepare.
Objective-type OMR/online test for 100 marks. Questions are in English and the test lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.
1Module 1 – Basic Electronicsബേസിക് ഇലക്ട്രോണിക്സ്10 topics12 marks›
Module 1 – Basic Electronicsബേസിക് ഇലക്ട്രോണിക്സ്
10 topics
- Electricity basics: voltage, current, resistance, power, energy, Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws
- Resistors: types, colour codes, power ratings, series and parallel combinations, applications
- Capacitors: principle, dielectrics, types, series and parallel circuits
- Inductors and transformers: inductance, mutual inductance, magnetic cores, inductive reactance, transformer action, turns ratio, impedance matching
- Semiconductors: intrinsic and extrinsic, p-type and n-type doping, majority and minority carriers, PN junction formation
- PN junction diode: forward and reverse bias, barrier potential, breakdown mechanisms, applications, special diodes
- Power semiconductors: SCR (structure, triggering methods, latching and holding current, phase control), DIAC (construction, bidirectional switching, triggering), TRIAC (operation, power control)
- Transistors: NPN and PNP, biasing, BJT as switch and amplifier, FET, JFET, MOSFET, applications
- Power supplies and regulation: Zener regulators, current limiting, thermal protection, fixed and adjustable 3-pin IC regulators, power fluctuation hazards, protection devices, linear and switched-mode power supplies
- Digital electronics: number systems, logic gates
2Module 2 – Computer Fundamentalsകമ്പ്യൂട്ടർ അടിസ്ഥാനങ്ങൾ5 topics8 marks›
Module 2 – Computer Fundamentalsകമ്പ്യൂട്ടർ അടിസ്ഥാനങ്ങൾ
5 topics
- Digital computers: characteristics, generations, classification, applications
- Hardware and software concepts: functional blocks, internal architecture, instruction cycle
- Motherboard: components, cabinet and motherboard form factors, expansion slots, bus architecture, add-on cards
- Chipset architecture, processor families, socket types
- Memory: memory hierarchy, memory units, primary memory, RAM, ROM, cache memory
3Module 3 – Advanced Hardware & Storageഅഡ്വാൻസ്ഡ് ഹാർഡ്‌വെയറും സ്റ്റോറേജും4 topics10 marks›
Module 3 – Advanced Hardware & Storageഅഡ്വാൻസ്ഡ് ഹാർഡ്‌വെയറും സ്റ്റോറേജും
4 topics
- CPU technology: internal organisation, modern architectures, multicore processing, thermal cooling, overclocking
- Magnetic storage: hard disk drive internal architecture, controller electronics
- Solid-state devices, storage interfaces, optical storage
- RAID concepts and levels, network-attached storage (NAS)
4Module 4 – Operating Systems and Deploymentഓപ്പറേറ്റിംഗ് സിസ്റ്റവും ഡിപ്ലോയ്‌മെന്റും5 topics10 marks›
Module 4 – Operating Systems and Deploymentഓപ്പറേറ്റിംഗ് സിസ്റ്റവും ഡിപ്ലോയ്‌മെന്റും
5 topics
- Software classification: system, application and utility software, high-level and low-level languages
- OS setup and recovery: functions of OS, open-source and proprietary software, DOS, GUI environments, deployment methods, recovery partitions, system images, backup and restore, registry basics
- Linux: features, structure, file system and process architecture, basic commands
- Partition schemes: Master Boot Record, partition tables, primary, extended and logical partitions
- Boot management: boot loaders, Windows Boot Manager, alternative boot managers, multi-boot configuration
5Module 5 – System Utilities & Maintenanceസിസ്റ്റം യൂട്ടിലിറ്റികളും പരിപാലനവും3 topics10 marks›
Module 5 – System Utilities & Maintenanceസിസ്റ്റം യൂട്ടിലിറ്റികളും പരിപാലനവും
3 topics
- System files and commands: Windows Explorer, file system properties, 32-bit and 64-bit, critical System32 files, command line, PowerShell basics, Task Manager, services, process priorities, Event Viewer, System Monitor, Safe Mode
- User account security: account types, User Account Control, access levels, permissions, group policies, time-based permission expiry
- Malware and maintenance: antivirus configuration and updates, port blocking, hosts file editing, junk file cleanup, defragmentation, software licensing compliance
6Module 6 – Office Applicationsഓഫീസ് ആപ്ലിക്കേഷനുകൾ3 topics10 marks›
Module 6 – Office Applicationsഓഫീസ് ആപ്ലിക്കേഷനുകൾ
3 topics
- Word processing: document creation, editing, formatting, page setup, mail merge
- Spreadsheets: creation, formulas, charts, sorting and filtering
- Presentations: slide creation, themes, formatting, animation, multimedia integration
7Module 7 – I/O Devices & Maintenanceഇൻപുട്ട്/ഔട്ട്പുട്ട് ഉപകരണങ്ങളും പരിപാലനവും3 topics10 marks›
Module 7 – I/O Devices & Maintenanceഇൻപുട്ട്/ഔട്ട്പുട്ട് ഉപകരണങ്ങളും പരിപാലനവും
3 topics
- Input/output devices: keyboards, mice, audio and visual input, biometric and commercial peripherals, display technologies, video interfaces, audio I/O
- Printers (impact and non-impact), scanners, multi-function devices, other devices, peripheral bus standards
- Installation, configuration, driver deployment, diagnostics, maintenance and repair
8Module 8 – Networking Fundamentalsനെറ്റ്‌വർക്കിംഗ് അടിസ്ഥാനങ്ങൾ5 topics10 marks›
Module 8 – Networking Fundamentalsനെറ്റ്‌വർക്കിംഗ് അടിസ്ഥാനങ്ങൾ
5 topics
- Architectures and topologies: peer-to-peer, client-server, network topologies, LAN, MAN, PAN, WAN, IEEE standards, wireless networking
- Transmission media and standards: twisted-pair, coaxial and fibre-optic cables, RJ-45, RJ-11 and BNC connectors, CAT6 wiring, simplex, half-duplex, full-duplex
- Reference models: OSI layers, TCP/IP suite
- Network hardware: hubs, switches, routers, gateways, repeaters, transceivers, wireless access points, firewalls
- IP addressing and services: IPv4, IPv6, subnetting, TCP/IP utilities
9Module 9 – Application Protocols and Server Administrationആപ്ലിക്കേഷൻ പ്രോട്ടോക്കോളുകളും സെർവർ അഡ്മിനിസ്ട്രേഷനും3 topics10 marks›
Module 9 – Application Protocols and Server Administrationആപ്ലിക്കേഷൻ പ്രോട്ടോക്കോളുകളും സെർവർ അഡ്മിനിസ്ട്രേഷനും
3 topics
- Application protocols: DHCP, DNS, FTP, Telnet, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP
- Virtual LAN concepts, packet simulators
- Server systems: server hardware, Windows and Linux server deployment, network management utilities, remote administration
10Module 10 – Network Security, Cloud Computing & IT Lawനെറ്റ്‌വർക്ക് സുരക്ഷ, ക്ലൗഡ് കമ്പ്യൂട്ടിംഗ്, ഐടി നിയമം3 topics10 marks›
Module 10 – Network Security, Cloud Computing & IT Lawനെറ്റ്‌വർക്ക് സുരക്ഷ, ക്ലൗഡ് കമ്പ്യൂട്ടിംഗ്, ഐടി നിയമം
3 topics
- Network security: security concepts, types of attacks, identification and prevention, cyber threats, data breaches, safe browsing, e-mail security, cryptography and authentication
- Virtualisation and cloud: server virtualisation, VM requirements, cloud infrastructure, cloud models, public cloud services
- IT law: IT Act, cybercrime provisions, digital signatures, legal framework of e-governance, data privacy regulations
- Questions may also come from other topics prescribed for the qualification of the post.