TNPSC Group 1 Apply Online 2026: Notification PDF, Registration Steps, Dates, Fees & Eligibility

TNPSC Group 1 Apply Online 2026 Details

TNPSC Group 1, officially the Combined Civil Services Examination – I, is conducted to fill vacancies across five services: Tamil Nadu Civil Service, Tamil Nadu Commercial Taxes Service, Tamil Nadu Co-operative Service, Tamil Nadu Registration Service, and Tamil Nadu Labour Service.

It is a three-stage examination — Preliminary, Main, and Interview — and admission to every stage is purely provisional, subject to candidates meeting all eligibility conditions on the date of notification. The Commission has the right to reject any candidature at any stage, even after selection, if a wrong claim or violation of instructions is confirmed.

The Main Examination and Interview are conducted only in Chennai, while the Preliminary Examination is held across 38 centres in Tamil Nadu.

The number of vacancies notified is tentative and may be revised until the Preliminary Examination results are published. The post-wise reservation break-up will be announced separately by TNPSC.

TNPSC Group 1 Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Qualification  & Age Limit

Educational Qualification

• Deputy Collector, Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies, District Registrar: A degree from any university incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature, or an institution deemed to be a university under the UGC Act, 1956.
• Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes): A degree as above. Preference order for equal merit: (1) B.Com + B.L. + Diploma in Taxation Laws, (2) B.Com + B.L., (3) B.Com or B.L. + Diploma in Taxation Laws, (4) B.Com or B.L. alone.
• Assistant Commissioner of Labour: A degree as above; preference to freedom fighters and their families where candidates are otherwise equal.

Final-year degree candidates and MBBS candidates awaiting internship completion can also apply, subject to producing proof at later stages.

Age Limit (as on 01.07.2026)

Minimum age: 21 years for all posts.

For “Others” category (not SC/SCA/ST/MBC/DC/BC(OBCM)/BCM):

For SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC(OBCM)/BCM candidates:

Other Eligibility Conditions

• Candidates not belonging to SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC(OBCM)/BCM who have already completed 5+ years of service under the Central or State Government are not eligible to apply, even if within the age limit.
• Candidates must possess adequate knowledge of Tamil (via SSLC/HSC/Degree with Tamil as a subject, Tamil-medium schooling, or TNPSC’s Second Class Language Test).
• Vision standard III or better is required for all five posts; candidates with defective vision can join subject to a fitness certificate.

How to Apply for TNPSC Group 1 Online 2026 – Step-by-Step

TNPSC Group 1 applications are accepted only in online mode through www.tnpscexams.in. Here is the complete process:

Step 1: Complete One Time Registration (OTR)

If you haven’t registered before, visit the TNPSC website and complete One Time Registration by paying a registration fee of Rs. 150. OTR is valid for 5 years and is not an application by itself — it’s a candidate profile used across all TNPSC recruitments.

• Keep a scanned photograph (20–50 KB, “Photograph.jpg”, taken in the last 3 months, 200 DPI) and signature (10–20 KB, “Signature.jpg”, 200 DPI) ready before starting.
• Furnish your correct SSLC Register Number, Certificate Number, Month/Year of Passing, Medium of Instruction, and Board name — any error here can lead to rejection later.
• Linking Aadhaar with OTR is mandatory for all new registrations and renewals.

Step 2: Log In and Click “Apply”

Once OTR is complete, log in using your registered user ID and password, and click “Apply” against the TNPSC Group 1 (Notification No. 05/2026) listing.

Step 3: Verify OTR Details

Your OTR details (including your photograph) will auto-populate. Review them carefully. If anything is wrong, use the “OTR Edit” option and save changes before proceeding — errors carried into the final application can result in rejection after due process.

Step 4: Fill the Application Form

Enter recruitment-specific details: post preference, communal category, examination centre preferences (you can choose two centres for the Preliminary Exam), educational qualification, employment status, and special category claims (PwBD, Ex-servicemen, Destitute Widow, PSTM, Transgender, etc.), if applicable.

Step 5: Upload Photograph and Signature

Upload a fresh colour, passport-size photograph taken on or after the date of notification (23.06.2026), against a white background, with your name and photo date printed at the bottom. Selfies, phone photos, and old photographs will not be accepted.

Step 6: Preview Your Application

Before final submission, use the preview option to check every field carefully. An SMS confirming preview availability will be sent to your registered mobile number.

Step 7: Pay the Application Fee

Pay online via Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI (unless you’re claiming fee exemption). Offline modes like Demand Draft are not accepted.

Step 8: Submit and Save the Application Number

Once payment is successful, an Application Number/Applicant ID is generated. Note this down — it’s essential for all future correspondence with TNPSC. You are considered to have applied only once you click “SUBMIT,” not merely after previewing.

Step 9: Use the Correction Window if Needed

Between 02.08.2026 and 04.08.2026, you can edit details in your submitted application. After this window closes, no further modification is allowed under any circumstances.

TNPSC Group 1 Application Fee 2026

Fee Exemption: Candidates belonging to SC, SC(A), ST, Destitute Widow, and Persons with Benchmark Disability are eligible for full fee exemption, while BC/MBC/DC/BC(M) candidates get 3 free chances and Ex-servicemen get 2 free chances. False claims for fee exemption lead to rejection and a one-year debarment.

TNPSC Group 1 Selection Process 2026

1. Preliminary Examination – Screening stage; candidates 20 times the number of vacancies (per reservation category) are shortlisted for the Main Exam.
2. Onscreen Certificate Verification – Conducted before Main Exam admission.
3. Main Examination – Four descriptive papers, with Paper I as qualifying.
4. Interview – Carries 100 marks with no minimum qualifying marks; assesses personality, aptitude, and general/technical knowledge. Candidates are called at 2x or 3x the vacancy number depending on category size.
5. Medical Examination – Conducted after the Interview for all provisionally selected candidates.
6. Final Merit List & Counselling – Based on total marks in Papers II, III, IV, and Interview, subject to reservation rules.

TNPSC Group 1 Exam Pattern 2026 – Prelims & Mains

Preliminary Examination (Objective, OMR-based)

Minimum qualifying marks: 120 for “Others,” 90 for SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC(OBCM)/BCM. The Preliminary Exam is only a screening test — these marks are not counted for the final merit list.

TNPSC Group 1 Main Examination 2026 (Descriptive)

Paper I is qualifying in nature; Papers II, III, and IV are evaluated only if the candidate clears Paper I. Final merit is based solely on Papers II, III, IV, and the Interview.

Documents Required for TNPSC Group 1 Application 2026

Keep these ready before you start:

• SSLC/10th mark sheet (for OTR)
• Degree certificate / provisional certificate / consolidated mark sheet
• Community certificate (SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC/BC(M)), if applicable
• Disability certificate in the prescribed format, if claiming PwBD benefits
• Destitute Widow certificate from RDO/Assistant Collector/Sub-Collector, if applicable
• Ex-servicemen bonafide certificate, if applicable
• Tamil Medium study certificate (for PSTM claims), if applicable
• No Objection Certificate, if already employed in government service
• Recent passport-size photograph and signature scan in the prescribed format

Reservation of Appointments — TNPSC Group 1 Recruitment 2026

Note: Reservation for Destitute Widows and Ex-servicemen does not apply to this particular recruitment.

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