The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has released the Combined Civil Services Examination-I (Group 1 Services) Notification 2026 for recruitment to administrative positions in various state government departments. Issued under Advertisement No. 736 and Notification No. 05/2026, the notification provides details regarding vacancies, eligibility requirements, examination schedules, reservation provisions and the selection process.
Group 1 recruitment is one of Tamil Nadu’s major civil service examinations. Officers selected through this process are appointed to roles connected with district administration, registration, taxation, labour administration and cooperative governance. The recruitment supports staffing requirements across departments responsible for implementing government programmes and delivering public services.
Important Dates
The following schedule has been announced by TNPSC for the 2026 recruitment cycle.
|
Status |
Event |
Date |
|
Confirmed |
Notification Release |
June 23, 2026 |
|
Confirmed |
Online Application Begins |
June 30, 2026 |
|
Confirmed |
Last Date to Apply |
July 29, 2026 |
|
Confirmed |
Last Date for Fee Payment |
July 29, 2026 |
|
Confirmed |
Application Correction Window |
August 2–4, 2026 |
|
Confirmed |
Preliminary Examination |
September 6, 2026 |
|
To Be Announced |
Main Examination |
Date Notified Later |
Source: TNPSC Combined Civil Services Examination-I (Group 1 Services) Notification No. 05/2026, published on June 23, 2026. Information retrieved on June 23, 2026.
Vacancy Details
A total of 26 vacancies, including backlog and shortfall vacancies, have been announced.
|
Post |
Vacancies |
|
Deputy Collector |
12 |
|
District Registrar |
8 |
|
Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies |
3 |
|
Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes) |
2 |
|
Assistant Commissioner of Labour |
1 |
|
Total |
26 |
Statistics Note: Vacancy figures are based on TNPSC Notification No. 05/2026 released on June 23, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. For certain posts, including Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes), preference may be given to candidates holding qualifications such as B.Com, B.L. or a Diploma in Taxation Laws, subject to the conditions specified in the notification.
Age Limit
The age requirement will be calculated as on July 1, 2026.
|
Category |
Maximum Age |
|
General Category |
34 Years |
|
Reserved Categories |
39 Years |
|
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities |
Additional 10 Years Relaxation |
|
Ex-Servicemen |
As Per Applicable Rules |
The minimum age requirement is 21 years.
Tamil Language Requirement
Applicants must possess adequate knowledge of Tamil through educational qualifications or language eligibility conditions prescribed by TNPSC.
Selection Process
The recruitment process consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Written Examination
- Interview / Oral Test
Candidates shortlisted at each stage will proceed to the subsequent stage. Document verification, counselling and medical fitness requirements will be completed before final appointments are made.
Examination Pattern
Preliminary Examination
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Number of Questions |
200 |
|
Total Marks |
300 |
|
Duration |
3 Hours |
|
Negative Marking |
No |
The Preliminary Examination functions as a screening test. Marks secured in this stage are not included in the final merit list.
Main Examination and Interview
|
Component |
Marks |
|
Tamil Eligibility Test |
100 |
|
General Studies Paper II |
250 |
|
General Studies Paper III |
250 |
|
General Studies Paper IV |
250 |
|
Interview / Oral Test |
100 |
The Tamil Eligibility Test is qualifying in nature. Final ranking will be based on marks obtained in Papers II, III and IV along with the Interview, carrying a total of 850 marks.
Salary Structure
Selected candidates will be placed under Pay Level 22 of the Tamil Nadu Government Pay Matrix.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Pay Level |
22 |
|
Basic Pay Scale |
₹56,100 – ₹2,05,700 |
|
Additional Benefits |
As Admissible Under Government Rules |
Allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) and other benefits may be provided in accordance with applicable government regulations.
Statistics Note: Pay-scale information is based on TNPSC Notification No. 05/2026 and the Tamil Nadu Government Pay Matrix provisions applicable at the time of publication.
Application Fee
|
Fee Category |
Amount |
|
One-Time Registration (OTR) |
₹150 |
|
Preliminary Examination Fee |
₹100 |
|
Main Examination Fee |
₹200 |
Fee concessions and exemptions are available for eligible categories as specified in the official notification.
Reservation Policy
The recruitment will follow the reservation framework applicable in Tamil Nadu.
|
Category |
Reservation |
|
BC |
26.5% |
|
MBC/DC |
20% |
|
SC |
15% |
|
BCM |
3.5% |
|
SC(A) |
3% |
|
ST |
1% |
Horizontal reservation provisions for women and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities will apply in accordance with government rules.
Statistics Note: Reservation figures are sourced from TNPSC Notification No. 05/2026, retrieved on June 23, 2026.
Examination Centres
The Preliminary Examination will be conducted at multiple centres across Tamil Nadu. Candidates may indicate their preferred centres while submitting applications.
The Main Examination will be conducted in Chennai.
Administrative Significance
The Group 1 examination serves as an entry point to several senior state administrative services. Officers appointed through this recruitment are involved in revenue administration, public service delivery, regulatory functions and implementation of government policies at district and departmental levels. The recruitment therefore plays a role in maintaining administrative capacity across multiple sectors of governance in Tamil Nadu.
Fraud and Safety Advisory
Applicants should use only the official TNPSC portal for registration, fee payment and document submission. Candidates should not share OTPs, passwords, Aadhaar details, banking information or login credentials with any individual claiming to offer recruitment assistance.
TNPSC does not authorize agents or intermediaries to guarantee selection, examination success or appointment. Any request for money in exchange for recruitment-related benefits should be independently verified through official channels before taking action.
Official Source
Authority: Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC)
Examination: Combined Civil Services Examination-I (Group 1 Services) 2026
Advertisement No.: 736
Notification No.: 05/2026
Publication Date: June 23, 2026
Editorial Disclaimer
Last Updated: June 23, 2026
This article is based on TNPSC Notification No. 05/2026 available at the time of publication. Examination schedules, eligibility conditions, reservation provisions, fee details and recruitment rules may be revised through subsequent notifications, corrigenda or official announcements. Readers should verify the latest information through official TNPSC communications before making application-related decisions. In case of any discrepancy, the official notification and related government instructions shall prevail.