TNPSC Group 2 & 2A 2026: Tamil Nadu Combined Civil Services — Complete Guide

Live Official Notification Update (August 2026): TNPSC has officially released the Combined Civil Services Examination II (CCSE-II) 2026 Notification (Notif No: 07/2026, Advt No: 740) on August 11, 2026 for 821 Vacancies. Online applications are active until September 9, 2026 (11:59 PM). The Preliminary Examination will be held on November 1, 2026 (Sunday, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM). Apply directly on apply.tnpscexams.in or monitor our TNPSC Group 2 Exam Portal.

The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has officially released the recruitment notification for the Combined Civil Services Examination II (CCSE-II) 2026 for Group 2 (Interview Posts) and Group 2A (Non-Interview Posts). If you are searching for "TNPSC Group 2 notification 2026", "Group 2 exam date 2026", or "TNPSC Group 2 last date to apply 2026", this complete guide covers all verified dates, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, salary, and direct application links.

---

What is TNPSC Group 2 & Group 2A?

TNPSC CCSE-II recruits for executive, administrative, supervisory, and ministerial posts across Tamil Nadu state government departments:

Group 2 (Interview Posts)

• Sub-Registrar, Grade II (Registration Dept)
• Municipal Commissioner, Grade II (Municipal Administration Dept)
• Probation Officer (Social Welfare / Welfare of Differently Abled Dept)
• Junior Employment Officer (Employment and Training Dept)
• Assistant Section Officer (ASO) (Secretariat / TNPSC / Law / Finance Depts)

Group 2A (Non-Interview Posts)

• Senior Inspector of Co-operative Societies
• Audit Inspector (Audit Dept)
• Personal Assistant (Secretariat / Finance / TNPSC)
• Revenue Assistant (Revenue Dept in various districts)
• Assistant (in various State Govt Departments)

Detail Domain	Information
Conducting Body	Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC)
Exam Name	Combined Civil Services Examination II (CCSE-II 2026)
Notification No. & Advt.	Notification No. 07/2026
Total Vacancies	821 Posts
Notification Date	August 11, 2026 (Released)
Application Window	August 11, 2026 – September 9, 2026 (11:59 PM)
Application Correction Window	September 13 – September 15, 2026
Preliminary Exam Date	November 1, 2026 (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
Selection Funnel	Prelims OMR → Mains Written Exam → Interview (Group 2) / Counselling (Group 2A)
Official Portals	tnpsc.gov.in & apply.tnpscexams.in

---

TNPSC Group 2 2026 Important Dates

The 2026 schedule has been officially confirmed by TNPSC:

Event / Milestone	Official Date / Schedule
TNPSC Group 2 & 2A 2026 Notification Release	August 11, 2026 (Released)
Online Application Start Date	August 11, 2026
Last Date to Apply Online & Pay Fee	September 9, 2026 (11:59 PM)
Application Form Correction Window	September 13 – September 15, 2026
Admit Card / Hall Ticket Release	October 2026 (10 days prior)
Preliminary Examination Date	November 1, 2026 (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
Tentative Answer Key Release	November 2026
Prelims Result Declaration	December 2026 / January 2027
Main Written Examination	Early 2027

---

TNPSC Group 2 2026 Vacancy Details

For the 2026 recruitment cycle, TNPSC has notified 821 total vacancies across Group 2 and Group 2A cadres:

Recruitment Cycle	Total Vacancies
TNPSC Group 2 / 2A 2022	5,831 Vacancies
TNPSC Group 2 / 2A 2024	2,327 Vacancies
TNPSC Group 2 / 2A 2026 (Official)	821 Vacancies

---

TNPSC Group 2 2026 Eligibility Criteria

A. Age Limit (As of July 1, 2026)

Candidate Category	Minimum Age Limit	Maximum Age Limit (General Posts)	Maximum Age Limit (Reserved Categories)
General / Unreserved (OC)	18 / 20 / 21 Years*	32 Years	N/A
BC / BCM / MBC / DNC	18 / 20 / 21 Years*	32 Years	No Upper Age Limit (with Degree)
SC / SC(A) / ST	18 / 20 / 21 Years*	32 Years	No Upper Age Limit (with Degree)
Destitute Widows	18 Years	32 Years	No Upper Age Limit
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities	18 Years	Up to 42 Years	No Upper Age Limit

*Note: Minimum age is 18 years for most Group 2A posts, 20 years for Sub-Registrar Grade II, and 21 years for Probation Officer and Municipal Commissioner.

B. Educational Qualification

• General Requirement: A Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a UGC-recognized university.
• Specific Posts Requirement:
  • Sub-Registrar Grade II: Bachelor's Degree in Law or Commerce preferred.
  • Junior Employment Officer: Degree in Arts, Science, or Commerce (Economics/Statistics preferred).
  • Probation Officer: Degree in Criminology, Sociology, Psychology, or Social Work.
• Tamil Language Requirement: Must possess adequate knowledge of Tamil (SSLC level or pass TNPSC Tamil Language Test within 2 years of appointment).
• PSTM Quota: 20% horizontal reservation for candidates who completed education in Tamil Medium (Person Studied in Tamil Medium).

---

1. Preliminary Examination (Common OMR Test - Screening Round)

• Duration: 3 Hours (180 Minutes)
• Total Questions: 200 Objective Questions
• Total Marks: 300 Marks
• Minimum Qualifying Marks: 90 Marks out of 300
• Negative Marking: NONE (No deduction for incorrect answers)

Part	Subject / Section	Standard	Questions	Marks
Part A	General Tamil OR General English	SSLC Standard	100	150
Part B	General Studies	Degree Standard	75	112.5
Part C	Aptitude and Mental Ability Test	SSLC Standard	25	37.5
Total	Combined Prelims Paper	--	200	300

---

2. Main Written Examination

Paper I: Mandatory Tamil Eligibility Test (SSLC Standard - Descriptive)

• Duration: 3 Hours | Total Marks: 100 Marks | Qualifying Cut-off: 40 Marks (40%)
• Includes Translation (English to Tamil & Tamil to English), Precis Writing, Comprehension, Hints Development, Essay on Socio-Economic Issues of TN, Official Letter Writing.
• Paper II will be evaluated only if the candidate clears Paper I with at least 40 marks.

Paper II for Group 2 (Interview Posts - Descriptive Type)

• Duration: 3 Hours | Total Marks: 300 Marks
• Advanced General Studies: State Administration, Socio-Economic Issues in India and Tamil Nadu, Role of Science & Technology.
• Final Ranking: Mains Paper II (300 Marks) + Oral Test/Interview (40 Marks) = 340 Marks Total.

Paper II for Group 2A (Non-Interview Posts - Objective Type)

• Duration: 3 Hours | Total Marks: 300 Marks (200 Questions)
• General Studies (100 Qs), Aptitude & Mental Ability (40 Qs), General Tamil / English (60 Qs).
• Final Ranking: Based strictly on Mains Paper II (300 Marks). No Interview.

---

Detailed Syllabus Overview

High Weightage General Studies Units

1. Unit 8: History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu: Sangam Literature, Archaeological Findings (Keezhadi, Adichanallur), Thirukkural, Freedom Movement in TN, Self-Respect Movement & Justice Party.
2. Unit 9: Development Administration in Tamil Nadu: Human Development Indicators, Social Welfare Schemes (Pudhumai Penn, Naan Mudhalvan, etc.), e-Governance in TN, Economic Trends.
3. Unit 5: Indian Polity: Constitution, Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Union & State Legislature, Panchayati Raj.
4. Part C: Aptitude & Mental Ability: Simplification, Percentage, HCF & LCM, Ratio & Proportion, Simple/Compound Interest, Area & Volume, Logical Reasoning.

---

TNPSC Group 2 Salary Structure

Designation	Pay Level	Pay Scale	Approx. In-Hand Monthly
Sub-Registrar Grade II	Level 11	₹35,900 – ₹1,31,500	₹52,000 – ₹62,000
Municipal Commissioner Grade II	Level 11	₹35,900 – ₹1,31,500	₹52,000 – ₹62,000
Assistant Section Officer (ASO)	Level 9 / 11	₹30,300 – ₹1,11,600	₹45,000 – ₹55,000
Senior Inspector of Co-operative Societies	Level 10	₹32,000 – ₹1,18,000	₹48,000 – ₹56,000
Revenue Assistant	Level 8	₹20,600 – ₹75,900	₹32,000 – ₹38,000

---

Previous Year Cut-Off Marks (Prelims out of 300)

Category	Group 2 / 2A 2024 Prelims	Group 2 / 2A 2022 Prelims
General (OC)	135 – 150 Marks	140 – 155 Marks
BC / BCM	128 – 142 Marks	130 – 145 Marks
MBC / DNC	120 – 135 Marks	122 – 138 Marks
SC / SC(A) / ST	110 – 125 Marks	112 – 128 Marks

---

Preparation Strategy for TNPSC Group 2 2026

1. Master Samacheer Kalvi Textbooks (Classes 6 to 12): Essential for General Tamil/English, Science, and Social Sciences.
2. Focus on Unit 8 & Unit 9: Allocate 30% of your GS study time to Tamil Nadu History, Thirukkural, and State Welfare Schemes.
3. Daily Aptitude Practice: Solve 25 MCQs daily to secure full marks (37.5 marks) in Part C.
4. Take Full-Length OMR Mock Tests: Practice completing 200 questions within 180 minutes under exam conditions.

---

FAQs — TNPSC Group 2 & 2A 2026

Q1. When is the TNPSC Group 2 Prelims Exam Date 2026?
The Preliminary Examination for TNPSC Group 2 & 2A (CCSE-II) is officially scheduled for November 1, 2026 (Forenoon, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM).

Q2. What is the last date to apply online for TNPSC Group 2 2026?
The online application portal on apply.tnpscexams.in closes on September 9, 2026 (11:59 PM). Correction window will open from September 13 to September 15, 2026.

Q3. How many vacancies are announced in TNPSC Group 2 2026?
A total of 821 vacancies have been notified under Notification No. 07/2026 for Group 2 (Interview) and Group 2A (Non-Interview) posts.

Q4. Is there negative marking in the TNPSC Group 2 Preliminary Exam?
No. There is no negative marking in the TNPSC Group 2 Preliminary Examination (200 questions, 300 marks).

---

Official Links Hub

• TNPSC Official Website: https://www.tnpsc.gov.in
• TNPSC Online Application Portal: https://apply.tnpscexams.in
• ExamDetail Exam Page: /exams/tnpsc-group-2-2026

Last Updated: August 23, 2026 | Source: Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC)