Simulation studies for optimizing the trigger generation criteria for the TACTIC telescope

► Optimization of the trigger field of view and topological trigger generation for the TACTIC telescope. ► Monte Carlo simulations of extensive air showers carried out using CORSIKA code. ► Trigger generation with two or three nearest neighbor pixels yield similar results up to a zenith angle of 25°. ► Reasonably good matching of measured trigger rates with that obtained from simulations.