TNPSC Exam Calendar 2026: Group 1 Notification Out, Full Schedule for Group 2, Group 4 and CTS

TNPSC Exam Calendar 2026: Group 1 Notification Out, Full Schedule for Group 2, Group 4 and CTS

By C. Thiruvenkatam | Daily Hind News | 22 June 2026

The TNPSC Group 1 2026 notification was released on June 23 at https://www.tnpsc.gov.in. Online applications open June 30 and close July 29. Prelims is September 6, 2026. That is the most time-critical development this week for Tamil Nadu government job aspirants.

Beyond Group 1, the full 2026 recruitment calendar runs from August through December, with the Combined Technical Services exam beginning August 3 and Group 4 closing out the year on December 20. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission has now released Annual Planners for three consecutive years – 2024, 2025, and 2026 – a first in TNPSC history that signals a systematic recruitment cycle aspirants can actually plan around.

The complete schedule, what each exam recruits for, and what candidates need to know before applying is laid out below.

Official TNPSC portal: https://www.tnpsc.gov.in OTR registration and application portal: https://apply.tnpscexams.in

Table of Contents

1. The 2026 exam calendar at a glance
2. Breaking: TNPSC Group 1 notification – 26 vacancies, apply from June 30
3. TNPSC CTS 2026: 476 posts, exam starts August 3 – correction window opens June 29
4. TNPSC Group 2 and Group 2A: October 25
5. TNPSC Group 4: December 20 notification, VAO and Junior Assistant posts
6. What three consecutive Annual Planners actually signal for aspirants
7. OTR: how the One-Time Registration system works
8. The Tamil language requirement: three ways to qualify, and what happens if you do not
9. Frequently asked questions

1. The 2026 exam calendar at a glance

All dates are as per the official TNPSC Annual Planner 2026. They are tentative and may be revised through individual notifications at tnpsc.gov.in.

2. Breaking: TNPSC Group 1 notification – 26 vacancies, apply from June 30

The Group 1 notification for Combined Civil Services Examination-I was published on June 23, 2026. It is live at tnpsc.gov.in.

What Group 1 recruits for:

These are the highest-ranking posts in Tamil Nadu state civil services. The 26 vacancies in this cycle cover five posts:

[Editor: Fill in the post-wise vacancy split from the official notification PDF at tnpsc.gov.in]

All five posts are placed at Pay Level 22. Monthly salary ranges from Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500, with DA, HRA, TA, and other government allowances. A Deputy Collector’s effective compensation, including allowances and perquisites, is substantially higher than the basic pay.

Important note on vacancies: 26 is significantly fewer than the 70 vacancies announced in the previous cycle. This is not unusual – TNPSC Group 1 vacancy counts fluctuate based on retirements, promotions, and departmental requirements each cycle. Aspirants should not be deterred by the count. Group 1 preparation is cumulative across cycles; candidates who prepare for 2026 are positioned for 2027 regardless.

Key dates for Group 1:

Fees:

• OTR registration (One-Time, valid 5 years): Rs 150
• Prelims fee: Rs 100
• Mains fee: Rs 200 (payable after qualifying Prelims)
• Reserved category candidates may qualify for fee exemptions – check notification PDF

Eligibility:

• Any degree from a university recognised by the Central or State Government or UGC
• Final-year students may apply for Prelims provided they submit degree proof before the Mains examination
• Age: 21 to 34 years as on July 1, 2026 (with standard relaxations for BC, SC/ST, PwBD, etc.)
• Tamil knowledge: mandatory (see Section 8 for routes)

How competitive is Group 1 in practice:

The minimum qualifying mark for Prelims is 120 out of 300 for General category and 90 for reserved categories. These numbers are on the notification, and they are irrelevant to your actual chances.

In the 2024 cycle, the competitive cut-off for OC (Other Communities) candidates in Prelims was approximately 204 out of 300. The shortlist for Mains is up to 20 times the number of vacancies, meaning around 520 candidates clear Prelims for 26 Group 1 seats in 2026. Final selection combines Mains marks and Interview marks.

Group 1 is Tamil Nadu’s equivalent of the UPSC Civil Services examination. Three-stage selection, descriptive Mains, personal interview, and an extremely competitive cut-off. Candidates who clear it join an administrative cadre that handles revenue, police, commercial taxes, registration, and labour functions at the district level.

Selection process:

1. Preliminary Examination: Objective type, 300 marks, one paper of 3 hours. Qualifying only – marks not counted for final merit.
2. Main Examination: Descriptive papers at Chennai. Paper I (Tamil) is qualifying; fail this and Papers II, III, IV are not evaluated.
3. Interview: 100 marks.
4. Final merit: Mains marks + Interview marks.

3. TNPSC CTS 2026: 476 posts, exam starts August 3 – correction window opens June 29

The TNPSC Combined Technical Services Examination (Non-Interview Posts) 2026 is already in the application correction phase.

Application was open from May 27, 2026. The vacancy count increased from the originally notified 461 to 476 posts. These are technical positions across various Tamil Nadu government departments – engineers, technical assistants, laboratory technicians, draughtsmen, and similar posts requiring diploma or degree in technical subjects.

Immediate action: The application correction window opens June 29 and closes July 1, 2026. If you submitted a CTS application and need to correct any detail – category, educational qualification, uploaded documents – log in at apply.tnpscexams.in before July 1 at 11:59 PM.

Exam dates: August 3 to 9, 2026, conducted as a computer-based test across multiple sessions.

Tamil Eligibility Test requirement for CTS: Part A of the CTS exam tests Tamil language proficiency. Candidates must score a minimum of 60 marks out of 150 (40%) in Part A to qualify. The technical papers are evaluated only after clearing Part A.

For CTS aspirants with no Tamil background: the 40% qualifying bar in Tamil is achievable with focused preparation. The test covers reading comprehension and language usage, not literary Tamil. Three to four weeks of dedicated practice on past CTS Tamil papers is typically sufficient to cross the qualifying threshold.

4. TNPSC Group 2 and Group 2A: October 25

The combined exam for Group 2 and Group 2A posts is scheduled for October 25, 2026.

Group 2 covers interview posts – positions at the Section Officer, Assistant, and similar levels in Tamil Nadu government departments that involve administrative work and direct public interface. Selected candidates go through Mains and then an interview.

Group 2A covers non-interview posts at a comparable grade. These are appointments made directly on the basis of written examination performance, without a separate interview round.

Both sets of posts are examined together in a common paper. Shortlisting for interview versus direct selection depends on which post category you applied for.

The notification date for Group 2/2A 2026 has not been officially released as of June 22 – check tnpsc.gov.in regularly, as it is expected well before the October 25 exam date.

In previous cycles, Group 2 and Group 2A together attracted the highest number of applicants among all TNPSC examinations. The combination of reasonable eligibility (degree level), decent pay scale, and a broad range of posts across departments makes this the most accessible route into the Tamil Nadu administrative services for most graduates.

5. TNPSC Group 4: December 20 notification, VAO and Junior Assistant posts

Group 4 is the entry point for thousands of Tamil Nadu government positions every year. The notification is scheduled for October 6, 2026, and the examination for December 20, 2026.

Posts recruited through Group 4 include:

• Village Administrative Officer (VAO)
• Junior Assistant
• Typist
• Steno-Typist (Grade III)
• Bill Collector

Group 4 consistently has the largest vacancy count of any TNPSC exam – previous cycles have seen anywhere from 4,000 to over 8,000 posts. The 2026 vacancies will be confirmed in the October notification.

Qualification required: Higher Secondary Certificate (Class 12 pass) for most posts. Some posts, including VAO, have additional requirements such as knowledge of agriculture or village revenue administration.

The competitive cut-off for Group 4 is lower than Group 1 or Group 2, but the absolute number of applicants is the highest. In popular districts, the actual cut-off can be quite close for reserved category posts.

One practical point for Group 4 aspirants: the Tamil Nadu State Board syllabus (Class 10 and 12) is the primary source for Group 4 General Studies. Candidates who have finished their HSC recently are at an advantage in terms of freshness of knowledge. Those who finished several years ago need structured revision of those textbooks specifically – not general competitive exam guides.

6. What three consecutive Annual Planners actually signal for aspirants

TNPSC released Annual Planners for 2024, 2025, and 2026 – three years in a row. For candidates who have been preparing for Tamil Nadu state government exams for any length of time, this matters more than the dates themselves.

Until 2023, TNPSC recruitment was characterised by irregular timelines. Exam notifications would appear without warning. Exams would be postponed without explanation. Results took unpredictable amounts of time. A candidate preparing for Group 2 had no reliable sense of when the exam would come, which made structured preparation difficult.

The Annual Planner system changes this. Candidates now know in advance – months in advance – when each Group exam is scheduled. That predictability enables genuine preparation planning: a Group 4 aspirant who knows the exam is December 20 can plan six months of structured preparation from June. A Group 1 aspirant can map revision, mock tests, and Mains practice against a real September Prelims date rather than a vague “sometime this year.”

Three consecutive planners also suggest TNPSC has institutionalised this approach, not introduced it as a one-off. For candidates debating whether to invest time in TNPSC preparation, the predictability of the 2024-2025-2026 cycle is evidence that the system is now more reliable than it was.

7. OTR: how the One-Time Registration system works

All TNPSC exam applications go through a One-Time Registration (OTR) system at https://apply.tnpscexams.in. Understanding this system prevents a common error: trying to apply directly without completing OTR first.

What OTR does: Creates a permanent profile for you in the TNPSC system with your personal details, educational qualifications, photo, signature, and Aadhaar linkage. Once created, the same OTR is used to apply for all TNPSC exams without re-entering your details each time.

Cost: Rs 150, valid for 5 years. If you registered in 2022 or after, you likely do not need to pay again. If your OTR is older than 5 years or not yet done, complete it before the Group 1 application window opens June 30.

Aadhaar linking is mandatory. The TNPSC portal cannot process an application without a linked Aadhaar. If your Aadhaar mobile number is not the one you use regularly, update it at the nearest Aadhaar centre before attempting OTR. This step trips up candidates who discover the Aadhaar OTP goes to a number they no longer have access to.

Editing OTR: You can update your OTR profile by uploading supporting documents. Category changes, qualification updates, and photograph updates are possible within the system. However, corrections once your application for a specific exam is submitted must be done within that exam’s designated correction window.

8. The Tamil language requirement: three ways to qualify, and what happens if you do not

Every TNPSC exam requires candidates to have adequate knowledge of Tamil. This applies regardless of which district you live in, which language you speak at home, or which state you migrated from.

There are three ways to meet this requirement:

Route 1: Tamil was one of the language papers in your SSLC (Class 10), HSC (Class 12), or degree. Most Tamil Nadu school and college students meet this automatically.

Route 2: You studied in Tamil medium at any stage of education – primary, secondary, or higher.

Route 3: You passed the Second Class Language Test (Full Test) in Tamil, which is conducted by TNPSC itself. This route exists specifically for candidates who did not study Tamil formally but have functional proficiency. Applications for the Language Test are accepted separately through tnpsc.gov.in.

Candidates from other states who moved to Tamil Nadu for work, or those who studied in English medium schools that did not teach Tamil as a language paper, frequently miss Route 3. It is the answer to “I want to appear for TNPSC but I never studied Tamil.”

The Tamil language requirement is not merely administrative. In the Mains examination for Group 1, Paper I is a Tamil language paper. It is qualifying in nature: a minimum mark must be secured in Paper I before Papers II, III, and IV are even evaluated. This is not a detail – it means a candidate who does poorly in Tamil, regardless of how strong their General Studies knowledge is, does not advance from Mains. The same qualifying structure applies across TNPSC Group exams.

For Group 4 and Group 2, the Tamil component in the exam tests basic comprehension and usage appropriate to the post level – not literary Tamil or grammar at the degree level. Candidates who have attended Tamil-medium or Tamil-paper schools have a natural advantage that is real but not insurmountable for others with focused preparation.

Frequently asked questions

I live in another state but want to apply for TNPSC. Am I eligible?

There is no domicile or residency requirement for most TNPSC posts. Any Indian citizen meeting the age, qualification, and Tamil language requirements can apply. However, Tamil language adequacy is mandatory, and the exam papers include a qualifying Tamil component. Candidates without Tamil knowledge should pursue Route 3 (the TNPSC Second Class Language Test) before applying.

Can I apply for both Group 1 and Group 2 in the same year?

Yes. These are separate examinations with separate applications. Many aspirants appear in multiple Group exams simultaneously. Group 1 Prelims is September 6; Group 2 is October 25. These dates do not conflict, and the preparation base for General Studies overlaps considerably.

What is the difference between Group 2 (Interview) and Group 2A (Non-Interview)?

Both are examined in a common written paper. Group 2 posts go through an interview after Mains; Group 2A posts are selected purely on written exam performance. Pay scales and post types are similar, but the career trajectory and nature of the work differ slightly. At the application stage, candidates indicate which post category they are applying for.

I already have an OTR from 2022. Do I need to register again for Group 1?

No. OTR is valid for 5 years. A 2022 registration is still valid through 2027. Log in at apply.tnpscexams.in using your existing OTR ID and password, and apply for Group 1 directly when the window opens June 30.

The Group 1 cut-off was 204 in the 2024 cycle. Is that the minimum I need to score?

204 is the competitive cut-off, not the qualifying mark. The minimum qualifying mark specified in the notification is 120 (General category). However, scoring 120 will not make the Mains shortlist – only candidates among the top 520 or so (20 times the 26 vacancies) qualify. Target preparation at a score that puts you within the competitive range, not at the minimum qualifying threshold.

When will the Group 2 notification for 2026 come out?

The Annual Planner shows the Group 2/2A exam on October 25, 2026. TNPSC typically releases the notification 2-3 months before the exam date. Based on this pattern, the Group 2/2A notification for 2026 should appear around July-August 2026. Check tnpsc.gov.in regularly and look for it in the Notifications section.

Sources and disclaimer

Information is sourced from the official TNPSC Annual Planner 2026 (released December 3, 2025, at tnpsc.gov.in), the TNPSC Group 1 Recruitment 2026 notification (released June 23, 2026, at tnpsc.gov.in), the TNPSC CTS Non-Interview Notification 2026, Adda247 TNPSC coverage (June 2026), and Veranda Race Tamil Nadu exam calendar (June 2026). All dates are tentative and subject to revision by TNPSC through official notifications. Vacancy counts, eligibility conditions, and fee structures should be verified in the individual exam notification PDFs at tnpsc.gov.in before applying.

Official resources:

• TNPSC main portal: https://www.tnpsc.gov.in
• Application and OTR portal: https://apply.tnpscexams.in
• Annual Planner 2026 PDF: available at https://tnpsc.gov.in/English/annual_planner.html

Internal links: SSC CGL 2026 Application Guide | UPSC CSE Mains 2026 DAF-I Guide | IBPS PO 2026 Guide

About the author

C. Thiruvenkatam is the founder and editor of Daily Hind News. Born and based in Tamil Nadu, he has followed TNPSC recruitment cycles, state civil services examinations, and Tamil Nadu government job notifications for over a decade. Daily Hind News covers Tamil Nadu government recruitment, TNPSC exams, state board results, and government schemes for readers across Tamil Nadu and the Tamil diaspora. Contact: dailylifearticles@gmail.com