Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC)
TNPSC Group 2 2026 — Tamil Nadu State Services Recruitment
Quick Information
| Post Name | Assistant Section Officer (ASO), Junior Employment Officer, Sub-Registrar, Municipal Commissioner Grade III, Block Development Officer, Cooperative Sub-Registrar, and other Group 2 posts |
| Total Vacancies | 874 |
| Salary | Pay Level 8–13 (Tamil Nadu state pay scales) — ₹37,200–₹1,17,800/month basic + DA + HRA + state allowances. Sub-Registrar/Cooperative Sub-Registrar: ~₹60,000–₹80,000/month gross. ASO posts: ~₹45,000–₹55,000/month gross. |
| Organization | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
Application Fee
| General | ₹150 |
| OBC | ₹150 |
| SC / ST | Nil |
| Women | Nil |
| PH / Divyang | Nil |
Important Dates
| Start Date | 15 January 2026 |
| Last Date | 14 February 2026 |
| Exam Date | 7 June 2026 |
Eligibility
| Age Limit | 18–32 years for most posts (18–35 years for some posts). Age relaxation: BC/MBC +3 yrs, SC/ST +10 yrs, PwBD as per Tamil Nadu Govt rules. Tamil Nadu domicile required. |
| Education | Bachelor's Degree from a recognised university. Tamil language proficiency (SSLC Tamil OR higher level Tamil) mandatory for most posts. |
Selection Process
- 1**For Group 2 (Interview Posts) — 3 Stages:** **Stage 1 — Preliminary Exam** - 300 marks
- 23 hours - General Studies (150 marks) + Aptitude & Mental Ability Test (AMCAT) (150 marks) - Objective MCQ. No negative marking. - Qualifying only — marks not counted in merit **Stage 2 — Main Exam** | Paper | Marks | Duration | |---|---|---| | Paper I: General Studies | 300 | 3 hours | | Paper II: General Tamil or English | 300 | 3 hours | | **Total Merit Marks** | **600** | — | **Stage 3 — Interview** 120 marks. Final stage for Group 2 (with interview) posts. **For Group 2A (Non-Interview Posts) — 2 Stages:** - Main Exam only (written) — 600 marks - No interview. Recruitment on merit from Main Exam.
How to Apply
Official Links
What is TNPSC Group 2?
TNPSC Group 2 is a combined recruitment conducted by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission for Group 2 (with interview) and Group 2A (non-interview) posts in Tamil Nadu state services. It is one of Tamil Nadu's most popular state government exams, attracting lakhs of applicants every cycle.
Group 2 includes posts like Sub-Registrar, Cooperative Sub-Registrar, and Senior Grade posts — higher-responsibility roles. Group 2A includes Assistant Section Officer, Supervisor, Inspector-level posts — slightly lower level but still highly coveted.
Posts Offered
| Post | Service | Interview |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Section Officer (ASO) | Secretariat | No |
| Sub-Registrar | Registration | Yes |
| Municipal Commissioner Grade III | Municipality | No |
| Junior Employment Officer | Employment | No |
| Block Development Officer | Rural Dev. | Yes |
| Cooperative Sub-Registrar | Cooperative | Yes |
| District Backward Classes Welfare Officer | Welfare | Yes |
| Other Group 2/2A Posts | Various | Varies |
Eligibility
Age Limit (as on July 1, 2026)
- General: 18–32 years (18–35 for some posts)
- BC/MBC: Up to 35 years (38 for some posts)
- SC/ST: Up to 42 years
Tamil Nadu domicile required.
Educational Qualification
- Bachelor's Degree from a recognised university
- Tamil language (written) proficiency required — either SSLC level Tamil as a subject, OR Tamil Nadu government Tamil proficiency test
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹150 |
| SC/ST | Nil |
| PwBD | Nil |
| Women | Nil |
Exam Pattern
Prelims (for Group 2 Interview posts — Qualifying only)
| Section | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 150 | — |
| Aptitude & Mental Ability (AMCAT) | 150 | — |
| Total | 300 | 3 hours |
No negative marking. Qualifying only.
Main Exam
| Paper | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General Studies | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper II: General Tamil / English | 300 | 3 hours |
| Total | 600 | — |
Descriptive + objective mix. Candidates choose General Tamil or English for Paper II (most choose Tamil for higher familiarity).
Interview (Group 2 posts only)
120 marks. Conducted at TNPSC offices.
Final merit = Main Exam (600) + Interview (120) for Group 2. Final merit = Main Exam (600) for Group 2A.
Syllabus Highlights
General Studies: Unit 1 (General Science + Applied Science), Unit 2 (Current Events of National & International Importance), Unit 3 (History of India + History of Tamil Nadu), Unit 4 (Indian Polity + Tamil Nadu Polity), Unit 5 (Indian Economy + Tamil Nadu Economy), Unit 6 (Indian Geography + Tamil Nadu Geography), Unit 7 (Aptitude & Mental Ability — Prelims only).
Tamil Nadu-specific content is crucial — Sangam literature, Chola/Pandya/Chera kingdoms, Dr. Ambedkar & Periyar contributions to Tamil society, Tamil Nadu economy (textiles, IT, agriculture), and recent Tamil Nadu government schemes.
Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start | January 15, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | February 14, 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam | June 7, 2026 (Group 2 Interview posts) |
| Main Exam | August–September 2026 (expected) |
| Interview | November–December 2026 (expected) |
Group 2A (non-interview) directly appears for Main Exam without Prelims.
Preparation Strategy
Tamil Nadu History (high weightage): Ancient Tamil history — Sangam period, three kingdoms, literature (Thirukkural, Silappathikaram). Medieval — Pallava, Chola, Vijayanagara. Modern — British rule, freedom struggle in Tamil Nadu, social reform movements (Periyar, Ambedkar's connection). This section has 30–40 consistent questions per paper.
Current Events: Both national and Tamil Nadu state-level current affairs. TNPSC Current Affairs magazines (monthly) published by Tamil Nadu study publishers are popular resources.
Tamil Paper (Paper II): This paper is scored in Tamil by most candidates since it's a familiarity advantage. Prepare essay, summary, and Tamil grammar thoroughly.
Aptitude & Mental Ability (AMCAT — Prelims): Reasoning, Basic Maths at 10th level, Data Interpretation. Standard level — practice with TNPSC previous year papers.
Official Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| TNPSC Official Website | tnpsc.gov.in |
| Apply Online | tnpscexams.in |
| Official Notification | tnpsc.gov.in |