The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has released Notification No. 07/2026, Advertisement No. 740, dated 11 August 2026 for the Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and Group IIA Services) 2026, inviting online applications for 821 vacancies across a wide range of Tamil Nadu Government departments. The posts are split into 41 Group II Service posts (including Assistant Inspector, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Probation Officer, Sub Registrar Grade-II, Jailor and Assistant Section Officer) and 780 Group IIA Service posts (including Senior Revenue Inspector, Assistant across 30-plus departments and districts, Accountant, Executive Officer and Supervisor). Candidates must apply online through tnpscexams.in from 11 August 2026 to 9 September 2026, 11:59 pm. The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 1 November 2026 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Most posts require a degree from a recognised university. Age is reckoned as on 1 July 2026.
Important Note: Three things every applicant must sort out before submitting. First, eligibility conditions are post-specific and go beyond the general degree requirement – a handful of posts have religion-based restrictions (only persons professing the Hindu religion are eligible for Audit Inspector, Executive Officer Grade-III and certain HR&CE department Assistants), gender restrictions (Jailor for Men and Male Warden are not open to female candidates; Jailor for Special Prison for Women is not open to male candidates), and disability restrictions (persons with benchmark disabilities cannot apply for Jailor, Special Assistant or Special Branch Assistant posts, and persons with colour blindness or night blindness are disqualified for Assistant Inspector and Handloom Inspector). Read every condition for your chosen post code carefully before applying, because these are not discovered at the form-submission stage – they surface at certificate verification, where your candidature is rejected without refund of fee. Second, the OTR fee of Rs. 150 is separate from the Preliminary Examination fee of Rs. 100 – if you are registering on tnpscexams.in for the first time, you pay both; if your OTR is already done from a previous TNPSC notification, you pay only the examination fee of Rs. 100. The OTR fee is a one-time payment valid for five years and is not a per-exam charge. Third, the Preliminary Examination marks do not count for the final merit list – the Prelims is a screening test only; your ranking and final selection are decided entirely by your marks in the Main Examination Paper II, which you cannot appear for unless you clear the Prelims.
TNPSC Group 2 and 2A Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
| Examination | Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and IIA Services) |
| Notification No. | 07/2026 |
| Advertisement No. | 740 |
| Date of Notification | 11 August 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 821 (Group II: 41 + Group IIA: 780) |
| Qualification | Degree from a UGC-recognised university for most posts; post-specific for a few |
| Age Reckoning Date | 1 July 2026 |
| Minimum Age | 18 years (20 for Sub Registrar Grade-II; 22 for Probation Officer; 25 for Executive Officer Grade-III) |
| Maximum Age | 32 years (Others for most posts). No upper limit for SC, SC(A), ST, MBC, DC, BC, BCM candidates for most posts |
| Application Mode | Online only, via tnpscexams.in (One Time Registration mandatory) |
| OTR Fee | Rs. 150 (one-time, valid 5 years, if not already registered) |
| Preliminary Exam Fee | Rs. 100 (fee exemption for certain categories) |
| Application Start Date | 11 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 9 September 2026, 11:59 pm |
| Application Correction Window | 13 September 2026 (12:01 am) to 15 September 2026 (11:59 pm) |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 1 November 2026, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm |
| Main Exam Date | To be announced with the Preliminary result |
| Official Website | tnpsc.gov.in |
| Application Portal | tnpscexams.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 11 August 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | 11 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 9 September 2026, 11:59 pm |
| Application Correction Window | 13 September 2026 (12:01 am) to 15 September 2026 (11:59 pm) |
| Age Cut-off Date | 1 July 2026 |
| TNPSC Group 2 Preliminary Exam | 1 November 2026, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm |
| Main Exam Date | Not announced; will be declared along with Preliminary result |
Applications must be submitted before 9 September 2026, 11:59 pm. No extension has been announced. The correction window is the only opportunity to fix errors – there is no further chance after 15 September 2026.
Vacancy Details – Summary
| Service | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Group II Services (14 post types) | 41 |
| Group IIA Services (44 post types and units) | 780 |
| Total | 821 |
The total is tentative and may be revised up to the publication of the Preliminary Examination result.
Group II Service Posts (41 Posts)
| Post | Post Code | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Inspector | 1068 | 7 |
| Deputy Commercial Tax Officer | 1013 | 1 |
| Junior Employment Officer (PWD) | 1017 | 1 |
| Probation Officer | 1023 | 5 |
| Sub Registrar, Grade-II | 1071 | 3 |
| Jailor (Men) | 1941 | 3 |
| Jailor (Special Prison for Women) | 3200 | 1 |
| Special Assistant | 2265 | 2 |
| Special Branch Assistant | 2279 | 6 |
| Special Branch Assistant | 3116 | 3 |
| Assistant Section Officer | 1073 | 5 |
| Assistant Section Officer | 1083 | 2 |
| Assistant Section Officer | 2201 | 1 |
| Assistant Section Officer cum Programmer | 2215 | 1 |
| Total | 41 |
Group IIA Service Posts – Selected Major Posts (780 Posts)
| Post | Posts |
|---|---|
| Senior Revenue Inspector (various post codes) | 45 |
| Assistant – Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (all 32 districts) | 122 |
| Assistant – School Education | 83 |
| Assistant – Highways | 50 |
| Assistant – Police | 45 |
| Assistant – Agriculture | 42 |
| Assistant – Health | 30 |
| Assistant – Housing Board | 30 |
| Accountant (Post Code 1062) | 25 |
| Assistant – Various other departments | Balance across 30-plus post codes |
| Executive Officer Grade-III | 9 |
| Senior Inspector – Dairy Development, Co-operative | 9 |
| Supervisor / Junior Superintendent | 7 |
| Audit Inspector | 5 |
| Handloom Inspector | 3 |
| Lower Division (Counter) Clerk | 3 |
| Male Warden | 1 |
| Total | 780 |
Full department-wise and district-wise vacancy breakup across all post codes is available in the official notification at tnpsc.gov.in.
Eligibility Criteria
| Particulars | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen or other specified categories as per Tamil Nadu rules |
| Knowledge of Tamil | Mandatory – must have passed SSLC, HSC or degree with Tamil as a language, or studied in Tamil medium, or passed the Second Class Language Test (Full Test) in Tamil conducted by TNPSC |
| Educational Qualification | Most posts require a degree from a UGC-recognised university; post-specific variations apply |
| Age Reckoning Date | 1 July 2026 |
| Government Service Restriction | Candidates not belonging to SC, SC(A), ST, MBC, DC, BC (OBCM) or BCM who have completed five or more years of Government service are not eligible |
Post-Specific Restrictions
| Restriction | Posts Affected |
|---|---|
| Only persons professing the Hindu religion are eligible | Audit Inspector (Post Code 1029), Executive Officer Grade-III (Post Code 1654), Assistant HR&CE (Post Code 2271) |
| Persons with colour blindness or night blindness are disqualified | Assistant Inspector (Post Code 1068), Handloom Inspector (Post Code 1868) |
| Persons with benchmark disabilities are not eligible | Jailor (Men), Jailor (Special Prison for Women), Special Assistant (Post Code 2265), Special Branch Assistant (Post Codes 2279 and 3116) |
| Male candidates only | Jailor (Men) and Male Warden |
| Female candidates only | Jailor (Special Prison for Women) |
Educational Qualification – Post-wise Highlights
| Post(s) | Minimum Qualification |
|---|---|
| Most Group II and Group IIA posts (Jailor, Probation Officer, Special Assistant, Special Branch Assistant, Senior Inspector, Assistant, Accountant, Executive Officer, etc.) | A degree from any UGC-recognised university |
| Assistant Section Officer and Assistant – Law (Post Codes 1073, 1076) | B.L. degree from a UGC-recognised university |
| Assistant Section Officer cum Programmer (Post Code 2215) | Master’s degree in Computer Application, or M.Sc. in IT or Computer Science |
| Assistant Section Officer (Post Code 2201) | Master’s degree; or Bachelor’s degree with B.G.L.; or Bachelor’s degree with First Class (SC and reserved category candidates need only a Bachelor’s degree) |
| Assistant – Commerce related (Post Code 1077) | Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Economics or Statistics |
| Deputy Commercial Tax Officer (Post Code 1013) | B.A., B.Sc. or B.Com. degree (with preference order for Commerce and Law combinations) |
| Accountant (Post Codes 3357 and 3823) | B.Com. degree from a recognised university |
Several posts carry additional preferential qualifications (such as specific diplomas, typewriting and shorthand certificates, or prior work experience) that give preference in selection. The full post-wise qualification table is in Sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 of the official notification at tnpsc.gov.in.
Age Limit (as on 1 July 2026)
| Post(s) | Minimum Age | Maximum Age – Others | Maximum Age – SC, SC(A), ST, MBC, DC, BC, BCM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Group II and Group IIA posts | 18 years | 32 years | No upper age limit |
| Sub Registrar Grade-II | 20 years | 32 years | No upper age limit |
| Probation Officer | 22 years | 42 years | No upper age limit |
| Executive Officer Grade-III | 25 years | 37 years | 47 years |
| Deputy Commercial Tax Officer | 18 years | 32 years (34 years for Law degree holders) | 37 years (39 years for Law degree holders) |
“No upper age limit” means the candidate should not have completed 60 years of age as on 1 July 2026.
Additional age relaxation applies for Persons with Benchmark Disability (up to 50 years or no upper age limit depending on post) and Ex-servicemen (up to 42 to 55 years depending on post and qualification). Exact figures for every post are in Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 of the official notification.
Application Fee
| Category | OTR Registration Fee | Preliminary Exam Fee |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates (new OTR registration) | Rs. 150 (one-time, valid 5 years) | Rs. 100 |
| All candidates (OTR already done) | Nil | Rs. 100 |
| SC, SC(A), ST, Persons with Benchmark Disability, Destitute Widows | Rs. 150 (if new OTR) | Nil (full fee exemption) |
| Ex-Servicemen | Rs. 150 (if new OTR) | Nil for 2 attempts (fee exemption for 2 chances) |
| BC, BC (Muslim), MBC, DC | Rs. 150 (if new OTR) | Nil for 3 attempts (fee exemption for 3 chances) |
Main Examination fee (payable only if shortlisted): Rs. 150 for one service (Group II or Group IIA); Rs. 300 if shortlisted for both. Same fee exemption categories apply for the Main fee. Payment is online only through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card or UPI. Offline modes are not accepted.
Salary
Pay is specified as Levels of Pay in the Tamil Nadu revised pay matrix. Exact rupee figures are not stated in the notification.
| Post(s) | Level of Pay |
|---|---|
| Group II posts: Assistant Inspector, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Junior Employment Officer (PWD), Probation Officer, Sub Registrar Grade-II, Jailor (Men and Women), Special Assistant, Special Branch Assistant | Level 18 |
| Assistant Section Officer (most post codes) | Level 16 |
| Senior Inspector (Dairy Development and Co-operative), Audit Inspector, Handloom Inspector | Level 12 |
| Supervisor / Junior Superintendent | Level 11 |
| Senior Revenue Inspector, most Group IIA Assistant posts, Accountant (Post Code 1062), Executive Officer Grade-III and Grade-II | Level 10 |
| Junior Accountant, Male Warden, Assistant Grade-III, Accountant (corporations) | Level 10 (EPF/EGF) |
| Assistant – Law, Finance, TNPSC, Legislative Assembly, Lower Division (Counter) Clerk | Level 9 |
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Preliminary Examination (Common) | Single objective paper, 200 marks, 3 hours, OMR-based. Screening only – marks not counted for final merit |
| 2. Main Examination – Paper I | Tamil Eligibility Test, 100 marks, 3 hours, descriptive. Minimum qualifying marks: 40. Not counted for ranking |
| 3. Main Examination – Paper II (Group II) | General Studies, 300 marks, 3 hours, descriptive. Minimum qualifying marks: 90. Counted for ranking |
| 3. Main Examination – Paper II (Group IIA) | General Studies and General Intelligence and Reasoning, 300 marks, 3 hours, Objective CBT. Minimum qualifying marks: 90. Counted for ranking |
| 4. Onscreen Certificate Verification | Based on Main Paper II rank – 1:3 ratio for General; 1:2 for Reserved |
| 5. Physical Certificate Verification and Counselling | Based on rank – 1:3 ratio for General; 1:1.5 for Reserved |
Key difference: Group II Main Paper II is descriptive, while Group IIA Main Paper II is objective (CBT).
Preliminary Exam Pattern:
| Component | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 75 questions | 75 marks | Combined 3 hours |
| Aptitude and Mental Ability | 25 questions | 25 marks | Combined 3 hours |
| General Tamil or General English | 100 questions | 100 marks | Combined 3 hours |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 3 hours |
Differently abled candidates may claim exemption from Paper I (Tamil Eligibility Test) of the Main Examination by uploading a Certificate of Disability in the online application.
How to Apply for TNPSC Group 2 and 2A Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official TNPSC application portal – Click Here
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) by paying Rs. 150 and entering your personal and educational details, if not already registered. Note your OTR User ID and Password. If already registered, proceed to Step 3.
- Link your Aadhaar Card with your OTR profile – this is mandatory.
- Log in using your OTR User ID and Password, and click “APPLY” against TNPSC Group 2 and 2A Recruitment 2026, Notification No. 07/2026.
- Verify the auto-filled OTR details and fill in the additional recruitment-specific details.
- Upload your recent photograph (taken on or after 11 August 2026) and signature in the specified format and file size.
- Select two examination centres for the Preliminary Examination. Candidates with benchmark disabilities may select only one centre.
- Pay the Preliminary Examination fee of Rs. 100 online (unless fee exemption is claimed).
- Preview and verify all details carefully, then click “SUBMIT” to finally submit the online application.
- Note down the Application Number or Applicant ID generated after successful payment, for all future correspondence.
Applications are accepted online only. No offline or postal applications are entertained.
Important Instructions
- Correction Window (13 to 15 September 2026) is the only opportunity to rectify errors in the submitted application. No modifications are permitted after 15 September 2026, 11:59 pm.
- Aadhaar linking with OTR is mandatory before applying.
- Do not wait until the last date – TNPSC advises early submission to avoid last-minute technical issues.
- Admission to any stage of the examination is purely provisional. Ineligibility detected at certificate verification leads to cancellation of candidature without any refund.
- Preliminary Examination marks are not counted for final selection. All rankings are based on Main Examination Paper II marks only.
- Group II Main Paper II is descriptive; Group IIA Main Paper II is objective (CBT). Prepare accordingly from the beginning.
- The English version of the notification is final in case of any conflict with the Tamil version.
- Vacancies are tentative and may increase or decrease until the Preliminary result is published.
- All subsequent notices, hall tickets, result declarations and schedules are published only on tnpsc.gov.in.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF | Click Here |
| TNPSC Official Website | Click Here |
| TNPSC Exam Portal | Click Here |
TNPSC Group 2 and 2A Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
Q1. What is TNPSC Group 2 and 2A Recruitment 2026?
✅ It is the Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and IIA Services), Notification No. 07/2026, Advertisement No. 740, dated 11 August 2026, released by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission for 821 vacancies across Group II (41 posts) and Group IIA (780 posts) in various Tamil Nadu Government departments and districts.
Q2. How many vacancies are there and how are they split?
✅ 821 total vacancies – 41 in Group II Services covering posts such as Assistant Inspector, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Probation Officer, Sub Registrar Grade-II, Jailor and Assistant Section Officer, and 780 in Group IIA Services covering Senior Revenue Inspector, Assistants across 30-plus departments and districts, Accountant, Executive Officer, Handloom Inspector and more. These numbers are tentative and may be revised.
Q3. What is the last date to apply?
✅ 9 September 2026, 11:59 pm, through the official TNPSC portal at tnpscexams.in. The Application Correction Window is open from 13 September to 15 September 2026 – there is no further chance to modify after 15 September.
Q4. What is the age limit and how does it vary by category?
✅ Age is reckoned as on 1 July 2026. Minimum age is generally 18 years (20 for Sub Registrar Grade-II; 22 for Probation Officer; 25 for Executive Officer Grade-III). Maximum age is 32 years for Others for most posts. SC, SC(A), ST, MBC, DC, BC and BCM candidates have no upper age limit for most posts (meaning they must not have completed 60 years as on 1 July 2026). Additional relaxation applies for Persons with Benchmark Disability and Ex-servicemen.
Q5. What is the application fee?
✅ One Time Registration (OTR) fee of Rs. 150 (one-time, valid 5 years, if not already registered) plus Preliminary Examination fee of Rs. 100. Full fee exemption for Preliminary Exam fee applies to SC, SC(A), ST, Persons with Benchmark Disability and Destitute Widows. BC, BC (Muslim), MBC and DC candidates get 3 free chances. Ex-Servicemen get 2 free chances. Payment is online only.
Q6. What is the selection process?
✅ Four stages: Common Preliminary Examination (screening only, marks not counted), Main Examination (separate for Group II and Group IIA, with a qualifying Tamil Paper I and a ranking Paper II), Onscreen Certificate Verification, and Physical Certificate Verification and Counselling. Group II Main Paper II is descriptive; Group IIA Main Paper II is objective (CBT).
Q7. Do Preliminary Exam marks count for the final merit list?
✅ No. The Preliminary Examination is a screening test only. Final selection and ranking are based entirely on Main Examination Paper II marks. Candidates who do not clear the Prelims cannot appear for the Mains.
Q8. When is the Preliminary Examination?
✅ 1 November 2026, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The exam is a single 3-hour objective paper of 200 marks covering General Studies, Aptitude and Mental Ability, and General Tamil or General English. The Main Examination date has not been announced and will be declared along with the Preliminary result.
Q9. Are there any religion, gender or disability-based eligibility restrictions?
✅ Yes, and they are important to check. Only persons professing the Hindu religion can apply for Audit Inspector (Post Code 1029), Executive Officer Grade-III (Post Code 1654) and certain HR&CE department Assistants. Persons with colour blindness or night blindness cannot apply for Assistant Inspector or Handloom Inspector. Persons with benchmark disabilities cannot apply for Jailor, Special Assistant (Post Code 2265) or Special Branch Assistant (Post Codes 2279 and 3116). Gender restrictions also apply for Jailor posts and Male Warden.
Q10. Is knowledge of Tamil compulsory?
✅ Yes. All candidates must possess adequate knowledge of Tamil, demonstrated by having passed SSLC, HSC or degree with Tamil as a language, or having studied in Tamil medium, or having passed the Second Class Language Test (Full Test) in Tamil conducted by TNPSC. This is assessed at the certificate verification stage.
Disclaimer
The information above relates to the Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and IIA Services), Notification No. 07/2026, Advertisement No. 740, dated 11 August 2026, issued by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC), as published on the official TNPSC website tnpsc.gov.in. The official notification PDF on tnpsc.gov.in is the sole authoritative source for the complete post-wise and district-wise vacancy list, post-wise eligibility conditions, qualification requirements, age limits and all other terms. Vacancy numbers are tentative and may be revised up to the Preliminary Examination result. Admission to any stage is provisional. All subsequent schedules, hall tickets and results will be published only on tnpsc.gov.in. All links above lead only to the official TNPSC website and the official TNPSC examination portal tnpscexams.in.
