The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Civil Services Examination – II (Group II and Group IIA Services) 2026. The recruitment covers 821 vacancies, and online applications are open at the official portal. This article explains the vacancy break-up, eligibility, fees, exam pattern and application process based on the official notification.
TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
| Name of Exam | Combined Civil Services Examination – II (Group II and Group IIA Services) |
| Notification Number | 07/2026, Advertisement No. 740 |
| Notification Date | 11.08.2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 821 (Group II: 41, Group IIA: 780) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Application Start Date | 11.08.2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 09.09.2026, 11:59 PM |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 01.11.2026 (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM) |
| Official Website | tnpsc.gov.in |
| Apply Online Portal | tnpscexams.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Notification | 11.08.2026 |
| Start of Online Application | 11.08.2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 09.09.2026, 11:59 PM |
| Application Correction Window | 13.09.2026 (12:01 AM) to 15.09.2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Preliminary Examination | 01.11.2026, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Main Examination | To be announced along with the Preliminary result |
Candidates should regularly check the official website for any corrigendum, since TNPSC may revise dates through an official notice.
TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Vacancy Details 2026
TNPSC has notified a combined total of 821 vacancies across Group II (interview posts) and Group IIA (non-interview posts). The Commission has clarified that the notified vacancies are tentative and may be revised up to the publication of the Preliminary Examination result.
| Service | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Group II Services | 41 |
| Group IIA Services | 780 |
| Total | 821 |
Group II Services: Major Posts
Group II posts are interview-based and include roles such as Assistant Inspector (Labour), Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Junior Employment Officer, Probation Officer, Sub Registrar Grade-II, Jailor, Special Assistant, Special Branch Assistant and Assistant Section Officer. These posts fall under Pay Level 16 and Pay Level 18.
Group IIA Services: Major Posts
Group IIA has 780 vacancies spread across 44 post/department combinations, without an interview stage. Key posts include Senior Inspector, Audit Inspector, Handloom Inspector, Senior Revenue Inspector, Assistant (across departments such as Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Police, School Education, Medical and Rural Health Services, Highways, Public Health, Forest, Registration and others), Accountant, Executive Officer, and Lower Division (Counter) Clerk. Some Assistant posts carry district-wise vacancy distribution across Tamil Nadu’s districts.
Note: The complete post-wise, department-wise and district-wise vacancy list, along with backlog and shortfall vacancy markings, is available only in the official notification PDF. Candidates must check the exact post code and vacancy count for their preferred post before applying.
Educational Qualification
Eligibility for TNPSC Group 2 and 2A posts is fixed post-wise. Most posts require a degree from a UGC-recognised university. Some posts have specific qualification requirements, for example:
- Assistant Section Officer (Law Department) – B.L. (Law) degree
- Assistant Section Officer cum Programmer – Master’s degree in Computer Applications or Science (IT/Computer Science)
- Assistant, Finance Department – Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Economics or Statistics
- Assistant, Law Department – B.L. degree
Candidates must possess the prescribed qualification as on the date of notification (11.08.2026) and must have adequate knowledge of Tamil, as stated in the notification. This detail is not mentioned uniformly for every post — candidates must verify their specific post code in the official notification.
Age Limit
The age limit is reckoned as on 01.07.2026. For most Group II and Group IIA posts, the general age band is 18 to 32 years for candidates not belonging to SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM) or BCM categories. Candidates from these reserved communities have no upper age limit for most posts.
Some posts have different age requirements, such as a minimum age of 22 for Probation Officer and a minimum age of 20 for Sub Registrar, Grade-II. Additional age relaxation is available for Persons with Benchmark Disability, Ex-servicemen and Destitute Widows as per official norms. Candidates should refer to the post-wise age table in the official notification for exact figures applicable to their post and category.
TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Application Fee 2026
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| One Time Registration (OTR) | Rs. 150 (valid for 5 years, only for new registrations) |
| Preliminary Examination Fee | Rs. 100 |
| Main Examination Fee (one service) | Rs. 150 |
| Main Examination Fee (both Group II and Group IIA) | Rs. 300 |
Candidates belonging to SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM), BCM, Destitute Widows and Persons with Benchmark Disability may be eligible for fee exemption as per the criteria specified in the official notification. Fees can be paid online only through net banking, debit/credit card or UPI. Demand drafts and postal orders are not accepted.
Selection Process
Selection for TNPSC Group 2 and Group 2A posts involves the following stages:
- Preliminary Examination – a common screening test; marks are used only for shortlisting and are not counted in the final merit list.
- Main Examination – separate papers for Group II and Group IIA services.
- Certificate Verification – conducted in stages based on Main Examination rank.
- Interview (Group II posts only) – Group IIA posts do not have an interview stage.
Candidates selected for a Group II post cannot be considered for Group IIA, and vice versa, under the same notification.
Exam Pattern
Preliminary Examination (Common Paper)
| Part | Subject | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | General Studies | 75 |
| B | Aptitude and Mental Ability | 25 |
| C | Language (General Tamil or General English) | 100 |
| Total | 200 questions, 300 marks |
The Preliminary Examination is objective type, conducted for 3 hours. General Studies questions are set in both Tamil and English.
Main Examination
Group II candidates write a Tamil Eligibility Test (qualifying, 100 marks) and a General Studies paper (300 marks, descriptive) — only the General Studies marks count toward the final rank. Group IIA candidates write a Tamil Eligibility Test (qualifying) and a computer-based General Studies and Reasoning paper (300 marks, objective).
Exact question counts, timing and qualifying marks for the Main Examination should be verified from the detailed syllabus section of the official notification, as these can vary slightly by post.
Reservation of Appointments
Reservation is applied as per Tamil Nadu Government norms, and a minimum share of vacancies in every category is reserved for women candidates, subject to the rule of reservation applicable post-wise. Candidates should check the official notification for exact category-wise reservation percentages applicable to their post.
Documents Required
- Recent passport-size photograph (taken on or after the notification date)
- Signature in the prescribed format
- Educational qualification certificates
- Date of birth proof
- Community certificate, if applicable
- Aadhaar card (mandatory for OTR)
- Valid email ID and mobile number
How to Apply for TNPSC Group 2 & 2A 2026
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) at the official portal, if not already registered. Aadhaar linking is mandatory.
- Log in using the OTR user ID and password.
- Select the Combined Civil Services Examination – II (Group II and Group IIA Services) notification and click Apply.
- Fill in personal, educational and category details, and select post preferences where applicable.
- Upload the required photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
- Pay the Preliminary Examination fee online, unless fee exemption is claimed.
- Submit the application and save the confirmation page for future reference.
- Use the correction window (13.09.2026 to 15.09.2026) to fix any errors, since no changes are allowed after this window closes.
Important Instructions
- Read the complete official notification before applying, since eligibility, qualification and age limit vary by post.
- Apply only through the official TNPSC portal; be cautious of fake websites or unofficial payment requests claiming to process TNPSC applications.
- Keep OTR login credentials safe, since the same OTR profile is used for future TNPSC examinations.
- Any change in dates, vacancies or eligibility conditions will be published only through an official corrigendum on tnpsc.gov.in.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
- Selecting the wrong post code or department while applying
- Uploading photographs or signatures that do not match the prescribed format
- Missing the application correction window to fix errors
- Not verifying age and qualification eligibility for the specific post before applying
- Delaying payment of the examination fee close to the last date
Official Notification and Application Links
Apply Online / OTR Portal – tnpscexams.in
Candidates should download the full notification PDF (No. 07/2026, dated 11.08.2026) from the official TNPSC website for the complete post-wise vacancy list, detailed age and qualification tables, and annexures before applying.
Conclusion
TNPSC has opened applications for 821 Group II and Group IIA vacancies under Notification No. 07/2026. Eligible candidates should complete OTR, verify post-wise eligibility and apply online before 09.09.2026, 11:59 PM. The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 01.11.2026. Always cross-check dates, vacancies and eligibility with the official notification on tnpsc.gov.in before applying.
