TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 821 Assistant, Clerk & More Posts
This information is from a third-party source. Always verify job details, eligibility, deadlines, and application procedures from the official government website before applying.
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission has opened one of the year's biggest state-level recruitment drives, combining two examinations under a single notification. The TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Recruitment 2026 (Combined Civil Services Examination-II) covers 821 posts ranging from Assistant Inspector and Deputy Commercial Tax Officer to Assistant, Accountant, and Lower Division Clerk across dozens of departments and districts. Online applications are open from 11 August 2026 to 9 September 2026. Here's the complete breakdown of eligibility, exam pattern, and how to apply.
Table of Contents
About Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC)
TNPSC is the constitutional body responsible for recruiting staff into Tamil Nadu's state civil services, running its major hiring drives through Combined Civil Services Examinations at multiple levels. This particular round, CCSE-II, covers Group II and Group IIA services together — a mix of inspectorial, clerical, and departmental assistant roles spread across dozens of Tamil Nadu government departments, from Commercial Taxes and Prisons to Rural Development, Police, and School Education.
TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Recruiting Body | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
|---|---|
| Examination Name | Combined Civil Services Examination – II (Group II and IIA Services) |
| Notification / Advertisement No. | 07/2026 / Advertisement No. 740, dated 11.08.2026 |
| Post Names | Assistant Inspector, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Probation Officer, Jailor, Assistant, Accountant, Lower Division Clerk & more |
| Total Vacancies | 821 (Group II: 41 + Group IIA: 780) |
| Category | State Government Job |
| Job Location | Various departments and districts across Tamil Nadu |
| Application Mode | Online (One Time Registration required) |
| Application Start Date | 11 Aug 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 09 Sep 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 01 Nov 2026, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Official Website | https://tnpsc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Notification | 11 Aug 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 11 Aug 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Online Application | 09 Sep 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Application Correction Window | 13 Sep 2026 (12:01 AM) – 15 Sep 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Preliminary Examination Date | 01 Nov 2026, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Main Examination Date | Not yet announced — will be declared with the Preliminary result |
Vacancy Details
The 821 vacancies split into 41 Group II Services posts (across 14 distinct post types, including Assistant Inspector, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Probation Officer, Jailor, and Assistant Section Officer) and 780 Group IIA Services posts (across 44 post types/units, including Senior Inspector, Audit Inspector, Senior Revenue Inspector, Accountant, and a large number of department-specific Assistant posts).
| Service | Post Types | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Group II Services | 14 (Assistant Inspector, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Junior Employment Officer, Probation Officer, Sub Registrar Grade-II, Jailor Men/Women, Special Assistant, Special Branch Assistant, Assistant Section Officer & Programmer, etc.) | 41 |
| Group IIA Services | 44 (Senior Inspector, Audit Inspector, Handloom Inspector, Supervisor/Junior Superintendent, Senior Revenue Inspector, Assistant across multiple departments, Accountant, Executive Officer, Junior Accountant, Male Warden, etc.) | 780 |
| Total | 821 | |
The Group IIA "Assistant" and "Senior Revenue Inspector" categories carry a large district-wise and department-wise split — for example, the Assistant post under Rural Development & Panchayat Raj alone spans 122 posts across all 32 districts, Assistant (School Education) carries 83 posts, Assistant (Police) has 45 posts, and Assistant (Highways) has 50 posts. A few of the larger post-code allocations are summarised below; the full district-and-department-wise breakup runs across several pages of the official notification, so candidates should check it directly to find the exact post code and vacancy count relevant to their district.
| Post (Selected) | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Assistant, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj (all districts) | 122 |
| Assistant, School Education | 83 |
| Assistant, Highways | 50 |
| Assistant (Post Code 2268) | 50 |
| Senior Revenue Inspector (various codes) | 45 |
| Assistant, Police | 45 |
| Assistant (Post Code 2273) | 42 |
| Accountant (Post Code 1062) | 25 |
| Assistant, HR&CE (Post Code 2278) | 30 |
| Assistant Inspector (Post Code 1068) | 7 |
| Probation Officer (Post Code 1023) | 5 |
| Sub Registrar, Grade-II (Post Code 1071) | 3 |
TNPSC has clarified that the number of vacancies notified is tentative and may be revised up to the publication of the preliminary examination result.
Eligibility Criteria
Age is reckoned as on 01.07.2026, while educational qualification must be held as on the date of notification, 11.08.2026.
Knowledge of Tamil
Candidates must have adequate knowledge of Tamil as on the notification date — either by having passed SSLC/HSC/Degree with Tamil as a language subject, by having studied in Tamil medium, or by clearing TNPSC's Second Class Language Test (Full Test) in Tamil.
Post-Specific Restrictions
- Candidates outside SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC(OBCM)/BCM categories who have completed 5+ years of government service are not eligible, even if within the age limit
- Only candidates professing the Hindu religion are eligible for Audit Inspector (1029), Executive Officer Grade III (1654), and Assistant, HR&CE (2271)
- Male candidates cannot apply for Jailor (Special Prison for Women) or Male Warden; female candidates cannot apply for Jailor (Men)
- Candidates with colour blindness or night blindness are disqualified for Assistant Inspector (1068) and Handloom Inspector (1868)
- Persons with Benchmark Disability are not eligible for Jailor (Men/Women), Special Assistant, and Special Branch Assistant (2279, 3116)
Educational Qualification
| Post(s) | Minimum Qualification |
|---|---|
| Assistant Inspector, Junior Employment Officer, Probation Officer, Jailor (Men/Women) | Degree from any UGC-recognised university (preference for specific diplomas/degrees) |
| Deputy Commercial Tax Officer | B.A./B.Sc./B.Com., with preference order for Commerce/Law combinations |
| Sub Registrar Grade-II, Special Assistant, Special Branch Assistant, most Assistant Section Officer posts | Degree from any UGC-recognised university |
| Assistant Section Officer (Post Code 1073), Assistant (Post Code 1076) | B.L. degree from a UGC-recognised university |
| Assistant Section Officer cum Programmer (Post Code 2215) | MCA, or M.Sc. in IT/Computer Science |
| Assistant Section Officer (Post Code 2201) | Master's degree; or Bachelor's + B.G.L.; or Bachelor's with 1st class (relaxed to a plain Bachelor's for SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC/BCM) |
| Assistant (Post Code 1077) | Bachelor's in Commerce, Economics, or Statistics |
| Most Group IIA posts (Senior Inspector, Handloom Inspector, Supervisor/Jr. Superintendent, Assistant, Accountant, Executive Officer, LD Clerk, Male Warden, etc.) | Degree from any UGC-recognised university (B.Com specifically for Accountant, Post Codes 3357/3823) |
Several posts carry additional preferential qualifications — specific diplomas, typewriting/shorthand certificates, or prior experience — detailed in Sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 of the official notification, so candidates should verify the exact requirement for their chosen post code before applying.
Age Limit (as on 01 Jul 2026)
| Category | Minimum Age | Max Age (Others) | Max Age (SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC/BCM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Group II & Group IIA posts | 18 years (20 for Sub Registrar Gr-II; 22 for Probation Officer) | 32 years | No maximum (37 years for Executive Officer Grade III) |
| Probation Officer (1023) | 22 years | 42 years | No maximum |
| Deputy Commercial Tax Officer (1013) | 18 years | 32 (34 for Law degree holders) | 37 (39 for Law degree holders) |
| Executive Officer, Grade III (1654) | 25 years | 37 years | 47 years |
Further relaxation applies for Persons with Benchmark Disability (up to 50 years or no maximum, depending on post) and Ex-servicemen (up to 42–55 years depending on post/qualification). "No maximum age limit" means the candidate must not have completed 60 years as on 01.07.2026. Exact post-wise figures are in Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 of the official notification.
Salary Details
The notification specifies pay only as a "Level of Pay" in the Tamil Nadu revised pay matrix — exact in-hand rupee figures are not stated. Candidates should refer to the current Tamil Nadu Pay Matrix for the corresponding rupee range at each level.
| Post(s) | Level of Pay |
|---|---|
| Assistant Inspector, Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Junior Employment Officer, Probation Officer, Sub Registrar Gr-II, Jailor, Special Assistant, Special Branch Assistant | Level 18 |
| Assistant Section Officer (most posts) | Level 16 |
| Senior Inspector, Audit Inspector, Handloom Inspector | Level 12 |
| Supervisor / Junior Superintendent | Level 11 |
| Senior Revenue Inspector, most Assistant posts, Accountant, Executive Officer Grade III/II | Level 10 (some EPF/EGF scheme posts) |
| Junior Accountant, Male Warden, Assistant Grade III | Level 10 (EPF/EGF) |
| Assistant (Law/Finance/TNPSC/Legislative Assembly), Lower Division (Counter) Clerk | Level 9 |
Selection Process
- Common Preliminary Examination — a single objective-type screening paper; marks are not counted toward final merit
- Main Examination — separate papers for Group II and Group IIA, each with a qualifying Paper I (Tamil Eligibility Test) and a ranking Paper II
- Onscreen Certificate Verification — 1:3 ratio (General), 1:2 (Reserved), based on Main Exam Paper II marks
- Physical Certificate Verification & Counselling — 1:3 ratio (General), 1:1.5 (Reserved), based on rank
| Stage | Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary (Common) | Single Paper | General Studies, Aptitude & Mental Ability, Language (Tamil/English) | 200 | 3 hrs | Objective (OMR) |
| Group II Main | Paper I | Tamil Eligibility Test | 100 (Qualifying, min 40) | 3 hrs | Descriptive |
| Group II Main | Paper II | General Studies | 300 (min 90) | 3 hrs | Descriptive |
| Group IIA Main | Paper I | Tamil Eligibility Test | 100 (Qualifying, min 40) | 3 hrs | Descriptive |
| Group IIA Main | Paper II | General Studies + General Intelligence & Reasoning | 300 (min 90) | 3 hrs | Objective (CBT) |
Differently abled candidates can claim exemption from Paper I (Tamil Eligibility Test) of the Main Examination by furnishing the relevant details and a Certificate of Disability during the online application.
Application Fee
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination Fee | ₹100/- |
| Main Examination Fee (1 service — Group II or Group IIA) | ₹150/- |
| Main Examination Fee (shortlisted for both Group II and Group IIA) | ₹300/- |
Payment is online only, via Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, or UPI — offline modes (DD, postal order) aren't accepted. SC, SC(A), ST, Persons with Benchmark Disability, and Destitute Widow candidates get full fee exemption; Ex-servicemen get two free chances; and Backward Classes, Backward Class (Muslim), and Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities candidates get three free chances.
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official application portal: www.tnpscexams.in.
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) by paying the ₹150 registration fee, if not already registered — OTR stays valid for five years.
- Log in with your OTR User ID and Password, and click "APPLY" against this recruitment.
- Verify the auto-filled OTR details and fill in the additional details specific to this recruitment.
- Upload your photograph (taken on or after 11.08.2026) and signature in the specified format and size.
- Choose two examination centres for the Preliminary Examination (only one centre for benchmark-disability candidates).
- Pay the ₹100 Preliminary Examination fee online, unless you're claiming fee exemption.
- Preview and verify every detail carefully, then click "SUBMIT" to finalise your application.
- Note down the Application Number/Applicant ID generated after successful payment for future reference.
Important Instructions
- Applications are accepted online only; no offline or postal applications are entertained.
- The Application Correction Window is open only from 13.09.2026 to 15.09.2026 — no modifications are allowed outside this period.
- Linking Aadhaar with your One Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory.
- Admission to any stage of the examination is purely provisional; ensure you meet all eligibility conditions before applying.
- Don't wait until the last date to apply — register early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
- The notification is published in Tamil and English; in case of any doubt, the English version is treated as final.
Why Should You Apply?
With 821 posts spread across dozens of departments and every district in Tamil Nadu, this drive gives degree-holders an unusually wide spread of options to choose from, whether they're aiming for an inspectorial role, a departmental assistant post closer to home, or a clerical position. The relatively low Preliminary Exam fee, generous fee exemptions for reserved categories, and no maximum age limit for several posts under SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC/BCM categories make this an accessible option for a broad range of Tamil Nadu graduates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Recruitment 2026?
Ans: It is the Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and IIA Services), Notification No. 07/2026, released by TNPSC on 11 August 2026 to fill 821 vacancies across Group II (41 posts) and Group IIA (780 posts) Services.
Q2. How many vacancies are available in TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026?
Ans: There are 821 total vacancies — 41 in Group II Services and 780 in Group IIA Services, spread across multiple departments and districts in Tamil Nadu.
Q3. What is the last date to apply for TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026?
Ans: The last date to submit the online application is 9 September 2026, 11:59 PM.
Q4. What is the qualification required for TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026?
Ans: Qualification varies by post. Most posts require a degree from a UGC-recognised university, while a few posts require a B.L. degree or a specific postgraduate qualification.
Q5. What is the age limit for TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026?
Ans: Age is reckoned as on 1 July 2026. Minimum age is generally 18 years (up to 22 years for Probation Officer); maximum age is generally 32 years for Others category, with no maximum age limit for SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC/BCM candidates for most posts.
Q6. What is the application fee for TNPSC Group 2 Recruitment 2026?
Ans: The Preliminary Examination fee is ₹100. The Main Examination fee is ₹150, or ₹300 if shortlisted for both Group II and Group IIA Main Examinations, payable only by candidates who haven't claimed fee exemption.
Important Links
Final Words
The TNPSC Group 2 & 2A Recruitment 2026 is a major opportunity for Tamil Nadu graduates, spanning 821 posts across departments and districts statewide. With registration open until 9 September 2026 and the Preliminary Exam set for 1 November 2026, there's a fair runway to identify the right post code for your district and qualification, and start preparing early. If this was useful, share it with graduate friends across Tamil Nadu who might be eligible, and join our Telegram channel above for more TNPSC and state government job alerts.