TNPSC Group 4 (Combined Civil Services Examination IV)
What is TNPSC Group 4, who can apply, and how does the single written exam lead to a Tamil Nadu government post?
TNPSC Group 4, officially the Combined Civil Services Examination - IV (Group IV Services), is how the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission fills Village Administrative Officer, Junior Assistant, Typist, Steno Typist and other posts in state departments, boards and corporations. It is a single written exam on OMR sheets, followed by certificate checks and counselling. The minimum education for most posts is a pass in SSLC (Class 10), and you need adequate knowledge of Tamil. This page follows TNPSC Notification No. 11/2026 (Advertisement No. 747), dated 6 October 2026.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 31 January 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Notification 11/2026: applications from 6 October to 5 November 2026, exam on 10 January 2027. The notification says the English version is final if the Tamil and English versions differ.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC)[1]
- Posts (2026)
- 46 post codes: Village Administrative Officer, Junior Assistant, Bill Collector, Typist, Steno Typist, Forest Watcher and others. 6,574 vacancies in all, tentative.[1]
- Education
- SSLC (Class 10) pass for most posts. Typist and Steno Typist posts also need the Government Technical Examination in typewriting (and shorthand for stenos).[1]
- Tamil
- Adequate knowledge of Tamil on the notification date, for example SSLC with Tamil as a language[1]
- Age limit
- Counted on 1 July 2026. For most posts, 18 to 30 for candidates outside the reserved communities; higher or no upper limit for reserved communities.[1]
- Exam
- One OMR paper: 200 questions, 300 marks, 3 hours, SSLC standard[1]
- Exam date (2026 notification)
- 10 January 2027, 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.[1]
- Fee
- Rs 100, unless you claim a fee exemption you are eligible for[1]
300 marks: half Tamil, half General Studies and Aptitude
| Part | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A: Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test | 100 | 150 |
| B: General Studies | 75 | 150 (B and C together) |
| C: Aptitude and Mental Ability | 25 | 150 (B and C together) |
| Total | 200 | 300 |
3 hours, objective, OMR answer sheet, SSLC standard. Minimum qualifying marks: 90 for all communities. Parts B and C are evaluated only if you score at least 60 (40%) in Part A.[1]
| Post | Minimum age | Must not have completed |
|---|---|---|
| Village Administrative Officer | 21 | 30 |
| Junior Assistant, Bill Collector, Typist, Steno Typist and most other posts | 18 | 30 |
| Executive Officer (Grade IV) | 25 | 35 |
| Forest Watcher, Forest Guard with Driving Licence | 21 | 30 |
For SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM) and BCM candidates the maximum is higher (40 for Village Administrative Officer; 32 or 35 for most other posts), and for most posts there is no maximum if you hold a qualification above the minimum. Persons with benchmark disability, ex-servicemen and destitute widows get further concessions. Check your post in the notice.[1]
For most posts the education rule is the minimum general educational qualification, which means a pass in SSLC. Typist posts also need the Government Technical Examination in typewriting in Tamil and English, and Steno Typist posts need typewriting and shorthand. A few posts have other rules, so read the row for your post code in the notification.
You must have adequate knowledge of Tamil on the date of the notification. SSLC, HSC or a degree with Tamil as one of the languages counts, and so does study in Tamil medium or a pass in TNPSC's Second Class Language Test (Full Test) in Tamil. If you can't show proof, you must pass that test within two years of appointment or be discharged.
Candidates outside the reserved communities who have served five years or more in central, state or union territory government service are not eligible, even if they are within the age limit. Posts in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department are for Hindus only, and two Tamil Nadu Waqf Board posts are for Muslims only.[1]
Group 4 posts are spread across the Tamil Nadu Ministerial and Judicial Ministerial Services, municipal councils and corporations (including Greater Chennai Corporation) and state companies such as the power distribution corporation. Each post has its own pay level, listed in the notification, and a few corporation posts mention posting outside Tamil Nadu.
Junior Assistant (Non Security) in the Tamil Nadu Ministerial Service is the largest single group in 2026, with 2,610 of the 6,574 vacancies. Vacancy numbers are tentative and can change before counselling.[1]
- One written exam. The rank list is made on the total marks of Parts A, B and C.
- Ties are broken by higher qualification, then age (older first), then application number. For Typist and Steno Typist posts, higher typewriting or shorthand grades come first.
- Onscreen certificate verification for shortlisted candidates (1:3 for general category and 1:2 for reserved categories, for most posts).
- Forest Guard and Forest Watcher candidates also take a Physical Standards Test and an Endurance Test in Chennai: a walk of 25 km for men or 16 km for women and third gender candidates, within four hours.
- Physical certificate verification and counselling, where you choose a post by rank.
Source[1]
- 6 October 2026: notification and start of online applications on tnpscexams.in (One Time Registration first).
- 5 November 2026, 11.59 p.m.: last date to apply.
- 9 to 11 November 2026: application correction window.
- 10 January 2027, 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.: written exam.
- Before you apply: confirm your SSLC pass, your Tamil proof and, for typist or steno posts, your typewriting and shorthand certificates.
- Until the exam: prepare for Part A (Tamil) as seriously as the rest. Below 60 marks in Part A, your other answers are not evaluated.
Source[1]
Tips and tricks
- Register on One Time Registration (OTR) first, with your Aadhaar linked, then fill in the Group 4 application. OTR alone is not an application.[1]
- If you are applying for typist or steno posts, check that your typewriting and shorthand results were published by the notification date. Certificates issued later need proof of that.[1]
- Decide on the Forest Guard and Forest Watcher option before you submit. You pick "All the Posts" or "Posts other than Forest Guard with Driving Licence / Forest Watcher" in the form.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the qualification for TNPSC Group 4?
For most posts, a pass in SSLC (Class 10). Typist posts also need typewriting certificates from the Government Technical Examination, and Steno Typist posts need typewriting and shorthand. You also need adequate knowledge of Tamil.[1]
Is there negative marking in TNPSC Group 4?
The 2026 notification does not mention negative marking. It does say no answer bubble should be left blank: if you don't know an answer, you darken option E.[1]
Can I apply without studying Tamil?
You need adequate knowledge of Tamil on the notification date. If you can't prove it with SSLC, HSC or degree marksheets or Tamil-medium study, you can still be appointed, but you must pass TNPSC's Second Class Language Test (Full Test) in Tamil within two years or be discharged. Some differently abled candidates can take General English instead of Part A.[1]
Is there an interview in TNPSC Group 4?
No. Ranking is on the written exam marks. After that come onscreen and physical certificate verification and counselling, plus physical and endurance tests for the forest posts.[1]
What is the age limit for Village Administrative Officer?
On 1 July 2026 you must be at least 21. The upper limit is 30 (you must not have completed 30) for candidates outside the reserved communities and 40 for SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM) and BCM candidates.[1]
Connected pages
- Related · PathwayArts (Humanities) after Class 10The humanities, arts and skill subjects CBSE offers in Class 11, the CLAT route to law, and which entrance exams a pure Arts combination closes.
- Related · ExamSSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination)SSC CHSL 2026 from the official SSC notice: LDC/JSA and Data Entry Operator posts, the 18-27 age rule, Tier-I and Tier-II pattern and the typing or skill test.
Official and partner links
Sources
- Notification No. 11/2026, Advertisement No. 747: Combined Civil Services Examination - IV (Group IV Services), dated 06.10.2026 (English), Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. Paras 1.2-1.3, 3, 4.1-4.5, 5, 6 and Annexure I (pp. 1-28); linked from TNPSC's application portal apply.tnpscexams.in. Accessed 17 October 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 17 October 2026.