The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission has all three of its big general recruitments in motion right now. The Group 4 application window is open until 11.59 pm on 5 November 2026 for 6,574 tentative posts, the Group 2 and 2A preliminary exam is on Sunday 1 November, and Group 1 candidates who sat the prelims on 27 September are waiting for results.
Below is where each exam stands as of 18 October, drawn from TNPSC notices as reported by education news outlets. The commission’s own site, tnpsc.gov.in, remains the final word, and its toll-free helpline is 1800 425 1002.
Group 4: applications close on 5 November
TNPSC issued Notification No. 11/2026 for the Combined Civil Services Examination IV on 6 October, according to CareerIndia’s report on the notification. Key dates:
- Online applications: 6 October to 5 November 2026, 11.59 pm
- Correction window: 9 to 11 November 2026
- Written exam: Sunday 10 January 2027, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm
The posts include Junior Assistant, Typist, Steno Typist, Tax Collector, Bill Collector, Village Administrative Officer, Forest Guard and Forest Watcher. Most require a Class 10 pass, with typewriting or shorthand qualifications for the typist and steno posts. Age is counted as on 1 July 2026. The minimum is 21 for VAO, Forest Guard and Forest Watcher and 18 for the rest. Post-wise counts quoted by some coaching sites do not add up to the headline total, so read the vacancy table in the official notification before choosing posts.
Apply well before the last day. The portal tends to slow down in the final 48 hours of any big recruitment, and a payment that fails at 11.50 pm on 5 November leaves no time to try again. Check your photo and signature uploads against the size rules in the notification before you pay.
Group 2 and 2A: prelims on 1 November
The Group 2 and 2A notification came out on 11 August with 821 posts: 41 in Group II services and 780 in Group IIA, according to the Free Press Journal’s report. Applications closed on 9 September. Most posts need a bachelor’s degree held on 11 August 2026, plus adequate knowledge of Tamil.
The preliminary exam runs from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm on 1 November. DT Next’s explainer sets out the format: a single OMR paper of 200 questions for 300 marks. That is 100 questions in General Tamil or General English, 75 in General Studies and 25 in aptitude and mental ability. The minimum qualifying mark is 90 for all communities. The main exam date will be announced with the prelims results.
Practical points for exam day in Chennai:
- Download the hall ticket (Memorandum of Admission) from the TNPSC portal. It is not posted.
- Reach the venue an hour early. Gates shut 30 minutes before the start.
- Carry the printed hall ticket and a photocopy of a photo ID such as Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, PAN or voter ID.
- Use only a black ballpoint pen, and leave phones and smartwatches at home.
Group 1: prelims written, result awaited
The 2026 Group 1 notification came out in late June. The prelims were originally set for 6 September, and an addendum moved them to 27 September for administrative reasons, according to Adda247. TNPSC has since published a provisional answer key for candidates to check.
We found no prelims result or mains date announced as of 18 October. The answer keys and results sections of tnpsc.gov.in are where both will appear first. Coaching websites disagree on the number of vacancies, so check the official notification rather than relying on any figure you see online.
At a glance
| Exam | Status on 18 Oct 2026 | Next date |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (CCSE I) | Prelims held 27 Sep; provisional key out | Prelims result awaited |
| Group 2 and 2A (CCSE II) | 821 posts; applications closed | Prelims 1 Nov 2026 |
| Group 4 (CCSE IV) | 6,574 posts; applications open | Last date 5 Nov; exam 10 Jan 2027 |
Free preparation help in Chennai
The state’s Directorate of Employment and Training runs the Tamil Nadu Career Services portal. It hosts previous TNPSC question papers for Groups I, II, IIA and IV, mock tests, syllabi and e-learning content at no cost. The directorate’s office is on Alandur Road in the Thiru Vi Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, and its listed phone numbers are 044-22501002 and 044-22501006.
Every applicant needs a one-time registration on the TNPSC portal before applying; the fee and validity are set out on the site. Exam fees are paid separately with each application, and several reserved categories get exemptions or free attempts under the notification rules, so read the fee section of each notification.
Quick answers
What is the last date for the TNPSC Group 4 2026 application?
5 November 2026, 11.59 pm. Corrections are allowed from 9 to 11 November.
When is the Group 4 exam?
Sunday 10 January 2027, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, as per the notification.
Is the Group 1 2026 prelims result out?
We found no result announcement as of 18 October. Watch the results section of tnpsc.gov.in.
When is the Group 2 prelims?
Sunday 1 November 2026, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission official website (TNPSC)
- Tamil Nadu Career Services portal (Directorate of Employment and Training)
- TNPSC Group 2, 2A Prelims 2026: Hall Ticket, exam rules (DT Next)
- TNPSC Group 2 recruitment 2026: registration begins for 821 posts (Free Press Journal)
- TNPSC Group 4 Notification 2026 Out for 6,574 Posts (CareerIndia)
- TNPSC Group 1 Exam 2026 postponed (Adda247)
