TNPSC Group 1 2026: Eligibility, Age Limit, Vacancy & Selection Process
The 32 in the age column is not the age limit — it is the age limit for candidates who have not availed reservation. For SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC and BCM candidates most TNPSC recruitments carry no upper age limit at all, which is a rule with no equivalent anywhere else in India and the reason a 40-year-old should check rather than assume.
TNPSC Group 1 2026 at a glance
| Conducting body | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission |
|---|---|
| Examination | Combined Civil Services Examination I (Group I Services) |
| Total vacancies | Not announced |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree in any discipline, plus Tamil study or a pass in the commission's Tamil eligibility test not yet verified as published ↗ |
| Age limit | 21–33 years as on 01 Jul 2026 (relaxation below) from the notification as published ↗ |
| Application dates | Not announced |
| Application fee | A one-time registration fee with a per-examination fee on top; concessions apply as set out in the notification |
| Exam date | Not announced |
| Salary | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 per month (Tamil Nadu pay matrix Level 22 and above) not yet verified as published ↗ |
| Official website | tnpsc.gov.in ↗ |
Are you eligible for TNPSC Group 1 2026?
TNPSC Group 1 counts your age on 01 Jul 2026, and its reservation and age relaxation belong to Tamil Nadu domicile candidates only. Enter your details and we will check age, qualification and domicile together.
TNPSC Group 1 age limit and relaxation 2026
The age limit for TNPSC Group 1 2026 is 21 to 33 years as on 01 Jul 2026. The Tamil Nadu domicile certificate is what unlocks any relaxation, and it is checked at document verification — apply for it before the form opens, not after you clear the written stage.
| Category | Relaxation | Effective maximum age |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | No relaxation | 33 years |
| SCs, SC(A)s | As printed in the notification | 38 years |
| STs | As printed in the notification | 38 years |
| MBCs/DCs, BC(OBCM)s and BCMs | As printed in the notification | 38 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability (Others) | As printed in the notification | 43 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (Others) | As printed in the notification | 49 years |
| Destitute Widow (Others) | As printed in the notification | 38 years |
What the latest TNPSC notification says
From Advertisement No.736, Notification No.05/ 2026 ↗. Read twice, independently, from the commission's own PDF; only what both readings agree on is shown, each line with the sentence and page it comes from, so you can check it.
Applications ran from 30 Jun 2026 to 29 Jul 2026 — this window has closed; the next notification may change these figures.
Vacancies in this notification: 26 “Labour Total 26 # including Backlog vacancy” (p. 2)
How this compares with the other state commissions →
| Post | Age, as printed | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy Collector, Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes) [any degree], Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, District Registrar, Assistant Commissioner of Labour | 21–33 (must not have reached 34) years (General), as on 01 Jul 2026 “3. Deputy Registrar of 1004 Co-operative Societies 34 44 39” (p. 3) Table 4.1.1's column header is 'Maximum Age (Should not have completed)'; pdftotext splits the header across lines, so the quote is the flattened table row. SCs, SC(A)s: up to 38 years “4. District Registrar 1005 39 49 39” (p. 3) STs: up to 38 years “4. District Registrar 1005 39 49 39” (p. 3) MBCs/DCs, BC(OBCM)s and BCMs: up to 38 years “4. District Registrar 1005 39 49 39” (p. 3) Persons with Benchmark Disability (Others): up to 43 years “3. Deputy Registrar of 1004 Co-operative Societies 34 44 39” (p. 3) Ex-Servicemen (Others): up to 49 years “possessing B.L. degree 50 3. Deputy Registrar of 1004” (p. 3) Destitute Widow (Others): up to 38 years “3. Deputy Registrar of 1004 Co-operative Societies 34 44 39” (p. 3) | A degree of any University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India (or an institution established by Act of Parliament / deemed University) “Candidates must possess a degree of any of the Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India” (p. 4) Also: Adequate knowledge of Tamil on the date of notification (SSLC/HSC/Degree with Tamil as a language, Tamil-medium schooling, or the Second Class Language Test in Tamil) “Candidates should possess adequate knowledge in Tamil on the date of this Notification.” (p. 6) Also: SC/ST status (and the higher age limit) only for persons belonging to Tamil Nadu; persons of other States are treated as Others “Persons belonging to other States shall not be treated as belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes even though they may belong to any one of the communities specified in the list.” (p. 38) Also: Ex-servicemen age concession does not apply to ex-servicemen already recruited to any class or service or category “The above mentioned age concession will not apply to the Ex-Servicemen candidates who have already been recruited to any class or service or category” (p. 4) |
| Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes) — for candidates possessing B.L. degree | 21–34 (must not have reached 35) years (General), as on 01 Jul 2026 “(ii) For candidates 35 45 40 possessing B.L. degree” (p. 3) Table 4.1.1's column header is 'Maximum Age (Should not have completed)'; pdftotext splits the header across lines, so the quote is the flattened table row. SCs, SC(A)s: up to 39 years “(ii) For candidates 40 50 40 possessing B.L. degree” (p. 3) STs: up to 39 years “(ii) For candidates 40 50 40 possessing B.L. degree” (p. 3) MBCs/DCs, BC(OBCM)s and BCMs: up to 39 years “(ii) For candidates 40 50 40 possessing B.L. degree” (p. 3) Persons with Benchmark Disability (Others): up to 44 years “(ii) For candidates 35 45 40 possessing B.L. degree” (p. 3) Ex-Servicemen (Others): up to 49 years “possessing B.L. degree 50 3. Deputy Registrar of 1004” (p. 3) Destitute Widow (Others): up to 39 years “(ii) For candidates 35 45 40 possessing B.L. degree” (p. 3) | A degree (the higher age limit applies to holders of a B.L. degree) “(ii) For candidates 35 45 40 possessing B.L. degree” (p. 3) Also: Adequate knowledge of Tamil on the date of notification “Candidates should possess adequate knowledge in Tamil on the date of this Notification.” (p. 6) Also: SC/ST status only for persons belonging to Tamil Nadu “Persons belonging to other States shall not be treated as belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes even though they may belong to any one of the communities specified in the list.” (p. 38) Also: The Ex-Servicemen age concession does not apply to Ex-Servicemen already recruited to any class, service or category. “The above mentioned age concession will not apply to the Ex-Servicemen candidates who have already been recruited to any class or service or category” (p. 4) |
For every post in this notification
- Standard of vision III or better “Standard III or better” (p. 6)
- Candidates not belonging to SCs, SC(A)s, STs, MBCs/DCs, BC(OBCM)s and BCMs who have five years or more of service under the Government of India or a State/UT are not eligible, even within the age limit. “who have put in five years or more of service, since his/her first appointment to a service of Government of India or Government of a State / Union Territory, are not eligible to apply even if they are within the age limit.” (p. 7)
- PwBD candidates may apply under the PwBD category only with the disability categories listed as suitable for the post (para 4.6.1). “Persons with Benchmark Disability with only those category (ies) of disability (ies) mentioned above shall be eligible to apply” (p. 7)
- Qualification must be held on the date of notification; final-year degree candidates may apply for the Preliminary but must prove passing before the Main Examination. “The candidates who have written the final year degree examination, may also apply for the preliminary examination, subject to the condition that they should produce the proof of having passed the degree examination” (p. 5)
- Visual acuity: Standard III or better; certificate of physical fitness required on joining. “1004 Standard III or better” (p. 6)
TNPSC Group 1 posts and salary
| Post | Department | Pay level | Monthly pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Collector | Revenue | Level-22 | ₹56,100–1,77,500 |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police | Home | Level-22 | ₹56,100–1,77,500 |
| Assistant Commissioner | Commercial Taxes | Level-22 | ₹56,100–1,77,500 |
| District Registrar | Registration | Level-22 | ₹56,100–1,77,500 |
TNPSC Group 1 selection process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Preliminary examination | One objective paper covering general studies and aptitude, used only to select candidates for the mains. |
| Main examination | Three descriptive papers, writable in Tamil or in English — papers written in Tamil are evaluated by examiners working in Tamil. |
| Oral test | An interview carrying a modest share of the final marks relative to the descriptive papers. |
Who should apply for TNPSC Group 1
For graduates aiming at Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police or Assistant Commissioner in Tamil Nadu. Uniquely, it is also for reserved-category candidates who believe they have aged out of administrative service elsewhere.
- Tamil-medium candidates receive a preference applied at the selection stage, not a token one.
- The age ceiling in the notification is the Others figure; read your own category row.
- Uniformed and a few statutory posts carry their own ceilings and are listed separately.
TNPSC Group 1 2026 — आयु सीमा और योग्यता
तमिलनाडु संयुक्त सिविल सेवा परीक्षा-I (समूह 1) (TNPSC Group 1) 2026 के लिए आयु सीमा 01 Jul 2026 को 21 से 33 वर्ष है। आरक्षित श्रेणियों की आयु छूट Tamil Nadu सरकार के नियमों से तय होती है और केवल राज्य के मूल निवासियों को मिलती है — अपनी श्रेणी की ऊपरी आयु अधिसूचना में देखें।
शैक्षणिक योग्यता: किसी भी विषय में स्नातक, साथ ही तमिल की पढ़ाई या आयोग की तमिल पात्रता परीक्षा। पदों की संख्या अभी घोषित नहीं · वेतन ₹56,100 से ₹1,77,500 प्रति माह · आवेदन की तिथियाँ अभी घोषित नहीं।
अपनी योग्यता मुफ़्त जाँचें →TNPSC Group 1 2026 — frequently asked questions
Is there no upper age limit for reserved categories in TNPSC Group 1?
Can I write the TNPSC Group 1 mains in Tamil?
What is the Tamil eligibility test?
What TNPSC Group 1 is actually like
Candidates in their late thirties who have given up on administrative service elsewhere are frequently still eligible here, and never find out, because every other state has taught them that a ceiling is a ceiling.
TNPSC Group 1 2026 — important links
| Official website | tnpsc.gov.in ↗ |
| Check your eligibility | Am I eligible for TNPSC Group 1? — free |
| Admit card, result, answer key | Admit cards · Results · Answer keys |
| Syllabus and exam pattern | Selection process for TNPSC Group 1 |
| Where TNPSC publishes them | Admit cards, results and syllabus appear on the official site linked above. |
| How we track this exam | |
| Not yet on an automated watch. This exam is maintained by hand, so confirm the dates on the official website before you apply. | |
Questions about TNPSC Group 1
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Vacancy figures, dates and salaries are compiled from official notifications and change between cycles. Age limits vary between posts within the same exam. Always confirm against the official notification on tnpsc.gov.in before applying.