Direct Answer: TNPSC Group 4 Exam Date 2026 & Official Schedule
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has officially announced the TNPSC Group 4 Exam Date 2026 under Notification No. 11/2026 for 6,574 tentative vacancies. The single-stage written examination will be conducted on Sunday, 10 January 2027, from 09:30 AM to 12:30 PM in offline OMR mode across Tamil Nadu. Online applications opened on 6 October 2026 and close on 5 November 2026 (11:59 PM) at the official website apply.tnpscexams.in, with an application correction window from 9 to 11 November 2026. Candidates must upload an official 200 × 230 px photo (20–50 KB) with Name & Date printed and a 140 × 60 px signature (10–20 KB) in running cursive handwriting.
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1. TNPSC Group 4 Exam Date 2026: Official Notification & Annual Planner Schedule
Every year, over 20 lakh candidates in Tamil Nadu compete in the Combined Civil Services Examination - IV (Group 4 Services & VAO). There was widespread discussion regarding the TNPSC group 4 exam date 2026 annual planner, which originally indicated a tentative exam date of 20 December 2026. However, upon publishing the formal recruitment notification (Notification No. 11/2026), the Commission confirmed that the exam will take place on 10 January 2027.
| Recruitment Milestone | Official Schedule / Date | Official Portal / Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Official Notification Release Date | 6 October 2026 | Notification No. 11/2026 on tnpsc.gov.in |
| TNPSC Group 4 Apply Online Start Date | 6 October 2026 | OTR login on apply.tnpscexams.in |
| TNPSC Group 4 Application Last Date | 5 November 2026 (11:59 PM) | Fee payment & final submission window closes |
| Online Application Correction Window | 9 November (12:01 AM) – 11 November 2026 (11:59 PM) | 3-day window to edit errors in application data |
| Annual Planner Tentative Date | 20 December 2026 | Preliminary schedule replaced by official notification |
| Confirmed TNPSC Group 4 Written Exam Date | 10 January 2027 (Sunday) | 09:30 AM to 12:30 PM (Single 3-hour offline OMR session) |
| Hall Ticket Release Date | Last Week of December 2026 | Available for download via candidate OTR dashboard |
2. TNPSC Group 4 Vacancy 2026: Post-Wise Distribution (6,574 Posts)
The 2026 notification advertises a total of 6,574 vacancies across various departments in the Government of Tamil Nadu. Successful candidates are recruited into prestigious clerical and administrative cadres with job stability, government allowances, and promotion pathways:
| Post Name | Department / Service | Minimum Qualification | Pay Matrix Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village Administrative Officer (VAO) | Tamil Nadu Ministerial Service (Revenue Dept) | SSLC (10th Pass) | Level 8 (₹19,500 – ₹71,900) |
| Junior Assistant (Non-Security & Security) | Ministerial / Judicial / Board Services | SSLC (10th Pass) | Level 8 (₹19,500 – ₹71,900) |
| Bill Collector (Grade-I) | Tamil Nadu Ministerial Service / Town Panchayats | SSLC (10th Pass) | Level 8 (₹19,500 – ₹71,900) |
| Typist | Secretariat / Legislative / Judicial / Ministerial | SSLC + Govt Technical Exam in Typewriting | Level 8 (₹19,500 – ₹71,900) |
| Steno-Typist (Grade-III) | Ministerial / Judicial / Board Services | SSLC + Technical Typewriting & Shorthand | Level 10 (₹20,600 – ₹75,900) |
| Field Assistant & Store Keeper | Forest / Industries / Technical Education | SSLC (10th Pass) | Level 8 (₹19,500 – ₹71,900) |
3. TNPSC Group 4 Eligibility Criteria & Age Limit 2026
Candidates must satisfy strict educational and age eligibility criteria as on 1 July 2026. One of the most sought-after benefits of TNPSC recruitment is the absence of an upper age limit for reserved category candidates with qualifications above SSLC.
Huge Advantage: NO MAXIMUM AGE LIMIT for Reserved Candidates with Higher Qualifications!
Under TNPSC Commission Rules (Section 20 of Tamil Nadu Government Servants Conditions of Service Act), candidates belonging to BC, BCM, MBC/DC, SC, SC(A), and ST categories who possess educational qualifications higher than the minimum SSLC requirement (such as HSC / 12th Pass, 3-Year Polytechnic Diploma, or any Bachelor's / Master's Degree) have NO MAXIMUM AGE CEILING for Junior Assistant, Typist, and Steno-Typist posts! Candidates aged 35, 40, 45, or above are fully eligible to apply and secure state government employment.
🎓 Minimum Educational Qualifications
- Standard Posts (VAO, Junior Assistant, Bill Collector): Must have passed the S.S.L.C Public Examination or its equivalent with eligibility for admission to Higher Secondary Courses.
- Typist Post: Passed SSLC + Government Technical Examination in Typewriting:
- Higher Grade in Tamil & English, OR
- Higher Grade in Tamil & Lower Grade in English, OR
- Higher Grade in English & Lower Grade in Tamil.
- Steno-Typist (Grade-III): Passed SSLC + Technical Typewriting AND Shorthand exams in specified grades.
- Computer Qualification: Passing the Certificate Course in "Computer on Office Automation" (COA) awarded by the Directorate of Technical Education is mandatory for typist posts within the probation period.
📅 Age Limit Parameters (as on 01/07/2026)
- Village Administrative Officer (VAO):
- General / Others: 21 to 32 Years
- BC, BCM, MBC/DC: 21 to 34 Years (37 Years if higher educated)
- SC, SC(A), ST, Destitute Widows: 21 to 37 Years (42 Years if higher educated)
- Junior Assistant, Typist & Steno-Typist:
- General / Others (SSLC pass): 18 to 32 Years
- BC, BCM, MBC/DC (SSLC only): 18 to 34 Years
- SC, SC(A), ST, DW (SSLC only): 18 to 37 Years
- Candidates with Higher Qualification: For SC, ST, MBC, BC candidates who have passed HSC, Diploma, or Degree, there is NO MAXIMUM AGE LIMIT!
4. TNPSC Group 4 Syllabus 2026 in Tamil & Exam Pattern (Syllabus PDF Breakdown)
The TNPSC Group 4 written examination is a single-stage objective test comprising 200 multiple-choice questions for a total of 300 marks. The total duration of the exam is 3 hours (180 minutes) with no negative marking.
| Test Component | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Part-A: General Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test SSLC Standard (பொதுத் தமிழ்) |
100 Questions | 150 Marks | 40% (60 Marks mandatory) |
|
Part-B (i): General Studies (பொது அறிவு) SSLC Standard Core Subjects & Current Affairs |
75 Questions | 112.5 Marks | Evaluated only if Part-A is qualified (Marks added for overall state ranking) |
|
Part-B (ii): Aptitude & Mental Ability Test Mathematics, Reasoning & Data Interpretation |
25 Questions | 37.5 Marks | |
| Total Examination Aggregate | 200 Questions | 300 Marks | 90 Marks (30% aggregate pass) |
📖 Part-A: General Tamil Syllabus (பொதுத் தமிழ்)
Divided into 3 core sections according to the official Tamil Nadu State Board Samacheer Kalvi syllabus:
- பகுதி-அ: இலக்கணம் (Grammar - 21 Units): பொருத்துதல், பிரித்தெழுதுதல், எதிர்ச்சொல், பிழை திருத்தம் (சந்திப்பிழை, ஒருமை பன்மை), வேர்ச்சொல் தேர்வு, அகரவரிசை, பெயர்ச்சொல் வகைகள், வினைமுற்று, வினையெச்சம்.
- பகுதி-ஆ: இலக்கியம் (Literature - 10 Units): திருக்குறள் (அன்புடைமை, பண்புடைமை, ஒழுக்கமுடைமை, போன்ற அதிகாரங்கள்), நாலடியார், நான்மணிக்கடிகை, சிலப்பதிகாரம், மணிமேகலை, கம்பராமாயணம், எட்டுத்தொகை, பத்துப்பாட்டு.
- பகுதி-இ: தமிழ் அறிஞர்களும் தமிழ்த் தொண்டும் (Scholars - 20 Units): பாரதியார், பாரதிதாசன், நாமக்கல் கவிஞர், கவிமணி, உ.வே.சா, திரு.வி.க, தேவநேயப் பாவாணர், ஜி.யு.போப், வீரமாமுனிவர், தந்தை பெரியார், பேரறிஞர் அண்ணா.
🧠 Part-B: General Studies & Aptitude Syllabus
Focuses on Indian Constitution, Modern India, Tamil Nadu socio-economic growth, and arithmetic:
- General Science: Scientific Knowledge, Nature of Universe, Mechanics, Elements & Compounds, Nutrition, Environmental Ecology.
- Geography & History: Earth & Universe, Monsoon, Natural Disasters, Indus Valley Civilization, Guptas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals, Marathas, South Indian Kingdoms.
- Unit 8: History & Culture of Tamil Nadu: History of Tamil Society, Archaeological discoveries (Keezhadi), Thirukkural relevance, Justice Party, Self-Respect Movement.
- Unit 9: Development Administration in Tamil Nadu: Human Development Indicators, Social Justice, Welfare schemes, Economic trends, E-Governance in TN.
- Aptitude & Mental Ability: Simplification, Percentage, HCF & LCM, Ratio & Proportion, Simple & Compound Interest, Area & Volume, Time & Work, Logical Puzzles.
5. Critical Competitor Gap: TNPSC Digital Photo & Signature Upload Audit
While most online portals publish exam dates and syllabus summaries, they consistently neglect the #1 reason candidates are rejected or held under scrutiny during certificate verification: non-compliant digital uploads on apply.tnpscexams.in.
Visual Guide: Accepted vs. Rejected TNPSC Photo & Signature
Over 60,000 TNPSC aspirants face application objections during verification due to minor digital formatting errors. Compare the official Clause 3 compliance specimens below:
📸 Passport Photograph Specs 200 × 230 px • 20–50 KB
- White background (75% face)
- Name & Date printed at bottom
- Taken within last 3 months
BOX FOUND CASUAL SELFIE
- Plain photo without name/date
- Selfie, dark glasses, or cap
- Blurry scan or > 50 KB size
✍️ Scanned Signature Specs 140 × 60 px • 10–20 KB
- Natural cursive handwriting
- Blue or black ballpoint pen
- Clean unruled white paper
- ALL CAPITAL / BLOCK letters
- Faint pencil or red/green ink
- Under 10 KB or over 20 KB
Free automated tools: format Clause 3 photo with Name/Date & resize cursive signature in 5 seconds.
📸 Candidate Photograph Specifications (Clause 3)
- Dimensions: 200 pixels width × 230 pixels height (3.5 cm × 4.5 cm).
- File Weight: Strictly between 20.0 KB and 50.0 KB in JPG format.
- The Stamping Rule: The candidate Name and the Date on which the photo was taken (within the last 3 months) must be clearly printed in a white box at the bottom.
- Rejection Cause: Uploading plain photographs without the name and date stamp causes automatic rejection during manual certificate verification.
✍️ Candidate Scanned Signature Specifications
- Dimensions: 140 pixels width × 60 pixels height (3.5 cm × 1.5 cm).
- File Weight: Strictly between 10.0 KB and 20.0 KB in JPG format.
- Ink & Paper: Dark blue or black ballpoint pen on plain white paper.
- Handwriting Style: Natural running cursive handwriting.
- Disqualification: Signatures in ALL CAPITAL / BLOCK letters or faint gel ink are automatically disqualified by portal scrutiny algorithms.
📜 Persons Studied in Tamil Medium (PSTM) 20% Reservation Rule
Under the Tamil Nadu PSTM Act, 20% of all departmental vacancies are reserved for Tamil medium students. By High Court ruling, candidates claiming PSTM quota for Group 4 must have completed their entire education from 1st Standard through 10th Standard (SSLC) in Tamil medium. The certificate must be issued in the prescribed format by the Headmaster/Principal of the schools studied and uploaded as a clear PDF strictly under 200 KB.
Pre-Application Desk Checklist: Keep These 8 Items Ready
Before opening the online application form on apply.tnpscexams.in, have these credentials and scanned files ready on your desktop to prevent session timeouts:
6. How to Apply Online for TNPSC Group 4 2026 on apply.tnpscexams.in
- Access the Official Portal: Visit apply.tnpscexams.in or tnpsc.gov.in.
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR): If you are a new applicant, create your OTR profile with your Aadhaar verification and pay the ₹150 registration fee (valid for 5 years). Existing candidates can directly log in using their Login ID and Password.
- Select Recruitment Notification: Under the active applications dashboard, select "Combined Civil Services Examination - IV (Group-IV Services & VAO) (Notification No. 11/2026)" and click Apply.
- Fill Educational & Technical Details: Enter your SSLC marksheet registration number, board of examination, year of passing, community certificate number, and technical typewriting qualifications (if applying for typist posts).
- Format and Upload Photo & Signature: Use our free TNPSC Photo Resizer and TNPSC Signature Resizer to generate perfectly sized, portal-ready files that pass the gateway check on the first attempt.
- Pay the Examination Fee: Pay the online exam fee of ₹100 via Net Banking, UPI, or Credit/Debit Card (exemptions apply to SC/ST/PwBD/DW candidates).
- Download Application PDF: Submit your application before 5 November 2026 (11:59 PM) and save the generated confirmation receipt for future reference.
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Frequently Asked Questions (6 Clarified)
Practical answers about this workflow and its limits.
Q1 What is the official TNPSC Group 4 exam date 2026?
Q2 Why does the TNPSC Group 4 exam date 2026 differ from the Annual Planner?
Q3 What are the application dates and last date for TNPSC Group 4 2026 apply online?
Q4 What is the educational qualification and age limit for TNPSC Group 4 2026?
Q5 What is the TNPSC Group 4 syllabus and minimum qualifying marks in Tamil?
Q6 Why are photos and signatures rejected on the TNPSC apply online portal?
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Resize Documents for TNPSC (Tamil Nadu PSC)
Official Specs: 140×60 px (3.5×1.5 cm), file size strictly 10 to 20 KB (Black or Blue Ink).