Quick Answer
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has released Advertisement No. 740 / Notification No. 07/2026 dated 11 August 2026 for the Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and Group IIA Services).
TNPSC has announced 821 vacancies, consisting of 41 Group II posts and 780 Group IIA posts across Tamil Nadu government departments and organisations. Online applications are open from 11 August to 9 September 2026 at 11:59 PM. The application correction window will run from 13 to 15 September 2026.
The common Preliminary Examination will be held on 1 November 2026 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
A major point for candidates familiar with older TNPSC Group II cycles: the current 2026 notification lists Preliminary Examination → separate Group II/IIA Main Examination → Certificate Verification → Counselling. An interview/oral-test stage is not listed in this recruitment cycle.
View Details & Important Dates
| View Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
| Examination | Combined Civil Services Examination-II |
| Services | Group II and Group IIA |
| Advertisement | 740 |
| Notification | 07/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 821 |
| Group II | 41 |
| Group IIA | 780 |
| Application Start | 11 August 2026 |
| Last Date | 9 September 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Correction Window | 13–15 September 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam | 1 November 2026, 9:30 AM–12:30 PM |
| Main Exam | To be announced with/after Prelims result |
| Application Mode | Online through TNPSC exam portal |
| Job Location | Tamil Nadu |
| OTR | Mandatory for applicants |
| Selection | Prelims → Main → Certificate Verification → Counselling |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 11 August 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | 11 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 9 September 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Preliminary Exam Fee Payment | With online application, where applicable |
| Correction Window Opens | 13 September 2026, 12:01 AM |
| Correction Window Closes | 15 September 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Preliminary Examination | 1 November 2026 |
| Main Examination | To be announced later |
TNPSC’s official application portal currently shows Notification 07/2026 as active with an Apply Now option.
TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Vacancy Details
The 821 vacancies are split as follows:
| Service | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Group II Services | 41 |
| Group IIA Services | 780 |
| Total | 821 |
Major Group II Posts
The Group II section contains executive and supervisory posts such as:
- Assistant Inspector – Labour
- Deputy Commercial Tax Officer
- Junior Employment Officer
- Probation Officer
- Sub Registrar, Grade-II
- Jailor (Men)
- Jailor – Special Prison for Women
- Special Assistant – Vigilance and Anti-Corruption
- Special Branch Assistant – Greater Chennai Police
- Special Branch Assistant – Criminal Investigation
- Assistant Section Officer in specified services
- Assistant Section Officer cum Programmer
The notification lists 41 Group II vacancies across the notified post codes.
Major Group IIA Posts
The much larger Group IIA component includes posts such as:
- Senior Inspector
- Audit Inspector
- Handloom Inspector
- Supervisor / Junior Superintendent
- Senior Revenue Inspector
- Assistant in multiple departments and district units
- Accountant
- Junior Accountant
- Executive Officer, Grade III
- other ministerial and subordinate-service posts
There are 780 Group IIA vacancies in total.
TNPSC states that the number of vacancies is liable to modification according to the vacancy position before finalisation of selection. Candidates should therefore use the current notification table for their exact post, service, district and reservation category.
Eligibility & Age Limit
Educational Qualification
A Degree from a UGC-recognised university is the basic qualification for many Group II and Group IIA posts.
However, eligibility is post-specific. Some posts prescribe or prefer particular degrees, technical qualifications, typing/shorthand credentials, law qualifications, computer qualifications or other conditions.
Examples include:
- Deputy Commercial Tax Officer — degree with preferential qualification rules stated by TNPSC;
- Sub Registrar Grade-II — recognised degree, with preference for a law degree where applicable;
- Special Branch Assistant — degree plus typewriting/shorthand-related preference/requirements under the post rules;
- Assistant Section Officer / Programmer-related posts — post-specific qualification rules;
- Accountant and other specialised Group IIA posts — relevant commerce/accounting or other notified qualifications where prescribed.
Candidates should identify every post they plan to claim in the application and verify the exact qualification in Notification No. 07/2026.
General Age Framework
Age is calculated as on 1 July 2026.
For candidates not claiming the special reserved-category upper-age provisions, the current notification generally provides:
| Candidate / Post | Age Framework |
|---|---|
| Most posts | Minimum 18 years; maximum 32 years |
| Executive Officer Grade III | Minimum 25 years; maximum 37 years |
| PwBD for most posts | Up to 42 years under the stated framework |
| Ex-Servicemen for most posts | Up to 50 years under the stated framework |
| Destitute Widows | No maximum age limit where notification permits |
Some posts have a higher minimum age or a separate post-specific age condition.
Reserved Categories
For eligible SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM) and BCM candidates, many posts carry no maximum age limit under the notification.
TNPSC clarifies that “no maximum age limit” does not mean unlimited age: such candidates should not have completed 60 years as on 1 July 2026 or at the time of selection/appointment.
Candidates should check the post-wise age table before applying, particularly for Jailor, Probation Officer, Executive Officer and other posts with special conditions.
OTR & Examination Fee
One Time Registration
TNPSC One Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory.
The OTR fee is ₹150 and the registration remains valid for five years, subject to TNPSC rules. Candidates with a valid existing OTR do not need to create a fresh registration for every notification.
Preliminary Examination Fee
The Preliminary Examination fee is:
₹100
The fee is payable with the online application unless the candidate claims an eligible fee exemption/concession.
Main Examination Fee
Candidates admitted to the Main Examination pay:
- ₹150 when admitted for one service/main examination; or
- ₹300 when admitted for both Group II and Group IIA Main Examinations,
unless eligible for exemption.
Fee Concessions
TNPSC provides fee concessions/exemptions according to the notification, including provisions for:
- SC / SC(A)
- ST
- Persons with Benchmark Disability
- Destitute Widows
- eligible Ex-Servicemen
- eligible BC / BCM / MBC / DC candidates under the permitted free-chance rules
Candidates must correctly claim the concession in the online application and maintain supporting certificates.
Selection Process & Exam Pattern
Selection Process
The current CCSE-II 2026 selection stages are:
- Common Preliminary Examination
- Separate Main Examination for Group II and Group IIA
- Onscreen / Physical Certificate Verification as applicable
- Counselling / final selection according to merit and reservation
No interview/oral test is listed in the current 2026 selection stages.
The Preliminary Examination is a screening test. Its marks are not used for final ranking.
Common Preliminary Examination
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Studies | 75 | 75 | Degree |
| B | Aptitude & Mental Ability | 25 | 25 | SSLC |
| C | General Tamil or General English | 100 | 200 | SSLC |
| Total | 200 | 300 |
Duration: 3 hours
Minimum qualifying marks: 90 for all communities
The Prelims will be held on 1 November 2026 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
Group II Main Examination
Group II has a separate descriptive Main Examination.
Paper I – Tamil Eligibility Test
- Descriptive
- SSLC standard
- 100 marks
- Qualifying paper
- Minimum qualifying mark: 40
Paper II – General Studies
- Descriptive
- Degree standard
- 300 marks
- Used for ranking
Only candidates who qualify Paper I have their ranking paper evaluated according to the notified rules.
Group IIA Main Examination
Group IIA has a separate Main Examination.
Paper I – Tamil Eligibility Test
- Descriptive
- Qualifying
- 100 marks
Paper II – General Studies + General Intelligence and Reasoning
- Objective / Computer-Based Test
- 200 questions
- 300 marks
- General Studies: 150 questions
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: 50 questions
- Minimum qualifying standard as notified
Final ranking is based on the marks from the ranking component of the Main Examination, subject to eligibility, verification and reservation rules.
How to Apply & Documents Required
How to Apply Online
- Open the official TNPSC online application portal.
- Complete One Time Registration if you do not already have a valid OTR.
- Log in using your TNPSC OTR credentials.
- Find Notification No. 07/2026 – Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and IIA Services).
- Click Apply Now.
- Review the OTR details populated in the application.
- Select the eligible posts/services you want to claim.
- Enter education, community, PSTM, disability, ex-servicemen and other details where applicable.
- Upload the photograph, signature and certificates/documents required by the current TNPSC instructions.
- Select examination-centre preferences.
- Pay the ₹100 Preliminary Examination fee if you are not entitled to exemption.
- Preview the complete application.
- Submit it before 9 September 2026 at 11:59 PM.
- Save/download the submitted application and payment details.
- If necessary, use the correction window from 13 to 15 September 2026.
After the correction window closes, TNPSC states that no further modification will be allowed to the online application.
Documents to Keep Ready
Candidates should prepare:
- TNPSC OTR login details
- Aadhaar details as required for OTR/application
- SSLC/Class 10 certificate for date of birth
- Degree certificate and marksheets
- post-specific additional qualification certificates
- Tamil-medium/PSTM certificates where claimed
- community certificate
- PwBD certificate where applicable
- Destitute Widow certificate where applicable
- Ex-Servicemen certificate where applicable
- NOC for serving government/public-sector candidates where required
- recent photograph according to TNPSC specifications
- signature
- valid photo identity document
- active mobile number and email ID
- fee payment proof
- submitted application copy
Useful Regal Career Links
| Regal Career Resource | Action |
|---|---|
| Latest Government Jobs | Click here to view |
| Job Eligibility Checker | Click here to view |
| Recruitment Age Calculator | Click here to view |
| Application Document Checklist | Click here to view |
| Photo & Signature Resizer | Click here to view |
| Application Tracker | Click here to view |
| All Application Tools | Click here to view |
Important Official Links
| Official Resource | Action |
|---|---|
| TNPSC Notification / Advertisement Dashboard – 07/2026 | Click here to view |
| Apply Online – TNPSC CCSE-II 2026 | Click here to view |
| TNPSC Exam Dashboard – Group II & IIA 2026 | Click here to view |
| TNPSC Official Website | Click here to view |
| TNPSC Online Application Portal | Click here to view |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are available in TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026?
TNPSC has announced 821 vacancies in total: 41 Group II and 780 Group IIA.
What is the last date to apply?
The last date is 9 September 2026 at 11:59 PM.
When is the TNPSC Group 2 Prelims exam?
The Common Preliminary Examination will be held on 1 November 2026 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
What qualification is required?
A recognised university degree is required for many posts, but candidates must satisfy the exact post-wise educational and technical qualification in Notification No. 07/2026.
What is the general age limit?
For many posts the general framework is 18–32 years as on 1 July 2026. Executive Officer Grade III uses a different 25–37 framework, and other post/category-specific variations apply.
What is the Preliminary Examination fee?
The Preliminary Examination fee is ₹100, subject to eligible TNPSC fee concessions.
How much is TNPSC One Time Registration?
The OTR registration fee is ₹150, and a valid OTR is normally usable for five years under TNPSC rules.
Is there an interview for TNPSC Group 2 in 2026?
The current Notification No. 07/2026 lists Preliminary Examination, separate Main Examinations, certificate verification and counselling. An interview/oral-test stage is not listed in the 2026 cycle.
Are Group II and Group IIA mains the same?
No. Group II has a descriptive ranking paper, while Group IIA has an objective/CBT ranking paper after the qualifying Tamil Eligibility Test.
Is the Preliminary Examination counted in final merit?
No. The common Preliminary Examination is a screening test. Final selection is based on the relevant Main Examination ranking marks and subsequent verification/counselling rules.
Can reserved-category candidates have no maximum age limit?
For many posts, eligible SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC/BCM candidates have no maximum age limit under the notification, subject to TNPSC’s clarification that such candidates should not have completed 60 years.
Where should candidates apply?
Applications must be submitted through the official TNPSC online application portal.
Official Source & Editorial Verification
The primary official sources for this article are the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission Exam Dashboard, TNPSC official online application portal and Notification No. 07/2026 / Advertisement No. 740 dated 11 August 2026.
The official TNPSC online portal confirms:
- Notification No. 07/2026
- application window 11 August–9 September 2026
- payment last date 9 September 2026
- Preliminary Examination on 1 November 2026
The notification confirms:
- 41 Group II vacancies
- 780 Group IIA vacancies
- 821 total vacancies
- correction window 13–15 September
- separate main examinations
- certificate-verification/counselling stages
- post-wise education and age rules
- OTR and examination-fee framework
Candidates should always verify their exact post code, educational qualification, age concession, reservation claim and pay level against the official notification before final submission.
