The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission has released the TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026 notification for 821 Group II and Group IIA vacancies. Online applications are now being accepted for posts including Assistant Inspector, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Sub Registrar Grade-II, Jailor, Assistant Section Officer, Senior Revenue Inspector, Assistant, Accountant and Executive Officer.
According to TNPSC Notification No. 07/2026, issued on August 11, candidates can submit their applications until September 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM. The common preliminary examination for Group II and Group IIA Services will be conducted on November 1, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
Candidates interested in Tamil Nadu government jobs should carefully check the post-specific educational qualification and age requirements before applying. Although a degree is sufficient for several posts, the eligibility conditions are not identical for all 821 vacancies.
Table of Contents
TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission |
| Examination | Combined Civil Services Examination-II |
| Services | Group II and Group IIA |
| Notification No. | 07/2026 |
| Advertisement No. | 740 |
| Notification Date | August 11, 2026 |
| Group II Vacancies | 41 |
| Group IIA Vacancies | 780 |
| Total Vacancies | 821 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date | September 9, 2026 |
| Correction Window | September 13-15, 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam | November 1, 2026 |
| Main Exam | To be announced later |
| Preliminary Exam Fee | Rs 100 |
| Selection | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Certificate Verification and Counselling |
The Commission has stated that the notified vacancies are tentative and can be modified until publication of the preliminary examination results.
TNPSC Group 2 Vacancy 2026: 821 Posts Announced
The biggest attraction of this recruitment cycle is the availability of 821 vacancies across Group II and Group IIA Services.
The distribution is:
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Group II Services | 41 |
| Group IIA Services | 780 |
| Total | 821 |
TNPSC Group II Vacancy Details
TNPSC has notified 41 Group II vacancies across 14 post categories.
Some of the prominent posts include:
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Assistant Inspector | 7 |
| Deputy Commercial Tax Officer | 1 |
| Junior Employment Officer | 1 |
| Probation Officer | 5 |
| Sub Registrar Grade-II | 3 |
| Jailor (Men) | 3 |
| Jailor – Special Prison for Women | 1 |
| Special Assistant | 2 |
| Special Branch Assistant – Greater Chennai Police | 6 |
| Special Branch Assistant – Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| Assistant Section Officer – Law | 5 |
| Assistant Section Officer – Legislative Assembly | 2 |
| Assistant Section Officer – TNPSC | 1 |
| Assistant Section Officer-cum-Programmer | 1 |
| Total | 41 |
Some vacancies in this table are specifically designated as backlog or shortfall vacancies.
TNPSC Group IIA Vacancy 2026
A much larger 780 vacancies have been notified under Group IIA Services.
The recruitment covers Senior Inspector, Audit Inspector, Handloom Inspector, Senior Revenue Inspector, departmental Assistant posts, Accountant, Executive Officer and several other positions.
Among the larger vacancy blocks are:
- School Education – Assistant: 83 vacancies
- Medical and Rural Health Services – Assistant: 80 vacancies
- Highways – Assistant: 50 vacancies
- Police – Assistant: 45 vacancies
- Public Health and Preventive Medicine – Assistant: 42 vacancies
- Forest – Assistant: 30 vacancies
- Tamil Nadu Industrial Co-operative Bank – Assistant: 30 vacancies
- Treasuries and Accounts – Accountant: 25 vacancies
- Registration – Assistant: 17 vacancies
- Labour – Assistant: 17 vacancies
- Industries and Commerce – Assistant: 16 vacancies
- Transport – Assistant: 16 vacancies
There are also district-wise vacancies for Senior Revenue Inspector and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Assistant posts. TNPSC has stated that vacancies for the Assistant post in Water Resources-Public Work will be announced later.
TNPSC Group 2 Important Dates 2026
Candidates should keep the following schedule in mind:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | August 11, 2026 |
| Online Application | Started |
| Last Date to Apply | September 9, 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Application Correction Starts | September 13, 2026, 12:01 AM |
| Correction Window Ends | September 15, 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Preliminary Examination | November 1, 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam Timing | 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Main Examination | To be announced with prelim result |
TNPSC’s earlier annual planner had tentatively listed October 25 for the examination. However, the subsequently issued recruitment notification fixes the preliminary examination for November 1, 2026; candidates should follow the notification schedule.
TNPSC Group 2 Eligibility Criteria 2026
Educational requirements differ according to the post.
A degree from a University recognised by the University Grants Commission is sufficient for a number of posts, including Assistant Inspector, Junior Employment Officer, Probation Officer and Jailor.
For some posts, however, TNPSC prescribes specific qualifications or gives preference to candidates possessing particular degrees.
For example, applicants for Deputy Commercial Tax Officer must possess a B.A., B.Sc. or B.Com degree. Preference is assigned according to qualifications in Commerce, Law and Taxation Law.
Candidates applying for posts such as Assistant Section Officer, Accountant, Executive Officer and other specialised positions should therefore check the post-wise qualification before choosing their preferences.
TNPSC Group 2 Age Limit 2026
The age limit is calculated as on July 1, 2026 and varies considerably depending on the post and category.
For candidates outside the reserved SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM) and BCM categories, the maximum age for many Group II and Group IIA posts is 32 years.
Some notable variations include:
- Probation Officer: minimum age 22 years
- Sub Registrar Grade-II: minimum age 20 years
- Most Group IIA posts: minimum age 18 years and maximum 32 years for the general category
- Executive Officer Grade III: minimum age 25 years and maximum 37 years for the general category
- Deputy Commercial Tax Officer: different concessions apply, including provisions for Law graduates
For several posts, candidates belonging to the specified reserved communities have no maximum age limit under the notification. TNPSC clarifies that “no maximum age limit” means the candidate should not have completed 60 years as on July 1, 2026 or at the time of selection/appointment.
Because the age conditions differ post by post, candidates should verify their eligibility for each selected post rather than relying on one general age limit.
TNPSC Group 2 Application Fee
The preliminary examination fee is Rs 100. Candidates eligible for examination-fee exemption can claim the applicable concession.
Candidates shortlisted for the Main Examination who have not claimed exemption will have to pay:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | Rs 100 |
| Main Examination – one service | Rs 150 |
| Main Exam – shortlisted for both Group II and IIA | Rs 300 |
| One Time Registration for new candidates | Rs 150 |
TNPSC’s One Time Registration is valid for five years from the registration date. Candidates who already possess a valid OTR do not need to register again merely for this recruitment.
TNPSC Group 2 Selection Process 2026
Selection takes place through a common preliminary examination followed by separate Main Examinations for Group II and Group IIA Services.
The broad process is:
- Common Preliminary Examination
- Group II or Group IIA Main Examination
- Onscreen Certificate Verification
- Physical Certificate Verification
- Counselling and final allotment
The preliminary examination is only a screening test. Marks obtained in the prelims are not included in the final merit ranking.
Candidates shortlisted for the Main Examination are normally admitted at 10 times the number of vacancies, subject to reservation rules and candidates tied at the respective cut-off marks.
Final ranking for both services is based on Paper II marks in the respective Main Examination.
TNPSC Group 2 Salary and Pay Levels
Salary differs depending upon the post and employing department.
Group II positions include posts carrying pay levels as high as Level 18, while Assistant Section Officer positions listed in the notification include Level 16 posts.
Group IIA appointments span several pay levels, including Levels 9, 10, 11 and 12. Certain corporation posts follow EPF or other organisation-specific service benefit structures instead of an identical state pay arrangement.
Candidates should therefore check the pay level against the exact post code they intend to choose.
How to Apply for TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026
Applications must be submitted online.
Candidates should:
- Visit the TNPSC online application portal.
- Complete One Time Registration if they do not already have a valid OTR.
- Log in using their registered credentials.
- Select Combined Civil Services Examination-II, Notification No. 07/2026.
- Check the information imported from the OTR profile.
- Enter the required recruitment-specific information.
- Select eligible post preferences carefully.
- Upload the prescribed photograph and signature.
- Pay the preliminary examination fee if exemption is not applicable.
- Preview the complete application.
- Submit it before September 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
- Preserve the submitted application details for future reference.
Aadhaar linking with OTR is mandatory under the notification. TNPSC also requires candidates to upload a fresh passport-size photograph taken on or after the notification date while submitting the application.
Application Correction Window
Candidates who discover an error after submitting their form will get a separate correction opportunity.
The correction window will operate from September 13, 2026, at 12:01 AM to September 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
After this period closes, TNPSC will not permit modification of the online application. Candidates should therefore review details such as category, qualification, post preferences, claims and supporting information during this window.
What Candidates Should Do Now
With the application process underway, eligible candidates have until September 9 to complete their TNPSC Group 2 application. Applicants should first identify the Group II and Group IIA posts for which they satisfy the exact qualification and age requirements rather than submitting preferences solely on the basis of the overall 821 vacancies.
The common preliminary examination is scheduled for November 1, 2026, giving candidates a defined preparation timeline. Since the prelim is a screening examination and the Main Examination determines the eventual ranking, applicants should also understand the separate Group II and Group IIA Main patterns before beginning preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are available in TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026?
TNPSC has announced 821 vacancies, consisting of 41 Group II and 780 Group IIA vacancies.
What is the last date to apply for TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026?
The last date and time to submit the application is September 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
When will the TNPSC Group 2 preliminary exam be held?
The preliminary examination is scheduled for November 1, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
What is the TNPSC Group 2 preliminary examination fee?
The preliminary examination fee is Rs 100, unless the candidate is entitled to an applicable fee exemption.
Is graduation compulsory for TNPSC Group 2 posts?
Degree-level qualifications are prescribed for many posts, but the precise educational requirement differs between posts. Candidates should check the qualification specified against their selected post code.
Are preliminary examination marks counted in final selection?
No. The preliminary examination serves as a screening test. Final ranking is determined by marks obtained in Paper II of the respective Main Examination, subject to the applicable selection and reservation rules.
