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The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) conducted the Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and IIA Services) preliminary exam on 1 November 2026 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, for 821 vacancies. Lakhs of candidates are now waiting to check their answers, estimate their score and, if needed, challenge the key.
This guide covers the prelims key first, since that is the one candidates are searching for right now. It also includes the Main Written Examination key for the earlier 2025 notification cycle.
Download TNPSC Group 2 Answer Key 2026 PDF — Direct Link Here!
The TNPSC Group 2 Answer Key 2026 PDF is available for candidates to download and verify their answers. Check the official answer key, compare your responses, and calculate your tentative score using the direct PDF link provided below.
TNPSC’s Group 2 & 2A cycle runs across two stages — the Preliminary Examination and the Main Written Examination (MWE) — and each stage gets its own separate answer key.Make sure you’re checking the key for the correct stage before you calculate your score.
TNPSC Group 2 Prelims Answer Key 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
| Exam name | Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and Group IIA Services) |
| Vacancies | 821 |
| Prelims exam date | 1 November 2026 (Sunday) |
| Timing | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm |
| Questions and marks | 200 questions, 300 marks (1.5 marks per correct answer) |
| Mode of exam | OMR-based |
| Official answer key status | Awaited (as of 4 November 2026) |
| Unofficial keys | Available from coaching platforms; not valid for objections |
| Objection mode | Online only, through tnpsc.gov.in |
| Result | Reported as expected in December 2026 (not confirmed by TNPSC) |
| Official website | tnpsc.gov.in, tnpscexams.in |
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Enroll Now!When Will the TNPSC Group 2 Prelims Answer Key 2026 Be Released?
TNPSC has not announced a confirmed release date. Reports from education portals point to the key arriving roughly a week to ten days after the exam, which would mean the second week of November. Treat this as an expectation, not an official date.
For reference, in the 2025 cycle the prelims was held on 28 September 2025 and the objection window closed on 14 October 2025.
The key is released online only, before the prelims result.
How to Download the TNPSC Group 2 Answer Key 2026 PDF
Once released, follow these steps:
- Visit the official website tnpsc.gov.in.
- Check the What’s New section on the homepage, or open the Answer Keys section under the recruitment menu.
- Click the link for Combined Civil Services Examination-II in Group II and Group IIA Services.
- Open the specimen question booklet with the correct answers marked.
- Download the PDF and save it on your device.
How to Calculate Your TNPSC Group 2 Prelims Score
Each correct answer carries 1.5 marks (200 questions = 300 marks).
Score = Number of correct answers x 1.5
| Correct answers | Estimated score (out of 300) |
|---|---|
| 100 | 150 |
| 120 | 180 |
| 140 | 210 |
| 160 | 240 |
Steps:
- Download the official key and your own response record.
- Match each answer.
- Count the correct answers.
- Multiply by 1.5.
- Compare your score with the expected cut-off for your category. See our detailed TNPSC Group 2 Cut Off 2026 guide.
The prelims is a screening test, and its marks are not added to your final rank. Check the notification for the minimum qualifying mark for your category.
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Enroll Now!How to Raise an Objection Against the TNPSC Group 2 Answer Key 2026
As per the process followed in recent cycles:
- Log in to your candidate account on tnpsc.gov.in.
- Open the objection or representation link given with the answer key.
- Select the question number, using the numbering in the specimen question booklet, not your own booklet code.
- Explain your objection clearly and attach supporting evidence such as textbook or authoritative references.
- Submit before the deadline and save the acknowledgment.
Important guidelines
- Objections are accepted online only, usually within 7 days of the key’s release.
- Submissions by post or email are not considered.
- Late submissions after the cut-off time (5:45 pm on the last date in recent notices) are rejected.
- Valid objections are reviewed by an Expert Committee before the key is finalised.
- Always confirm the exact window in the official notice issued with the key.
Provisional vs Final TNPSC Group 2 Answer Key
| Basis | Provisional Answer Key | Final Answer Key |
|---|---|---|
| When released | Shortly after the Main Written Exam | After objection review and completion of the full selection process |
| Can be challenged? | Yes, within the 7-day online window | No, it is the confirmed version |
| Basis for objections | Candidate representations reviewed by Expert Committee | Reflects the Expert Committee’s final decisions |
| Use for score calculation | Gives an estimated/expected score | Reflects the marks used for actual evaluation |
What to Do After Checking the Answer Key
- Match your responses against the downloaded Paper II answer key and your saved response sheet to estimate your Mains score.
- Compare your expected score with previous Group 2 & 2A cut-off trends for your category and preferred post to gauge your standing.
- Keep checking tnpsc.gov.in and this page for the Mains result and Certificate Verification / Endurance Test (where applicable) schedule.
- If your expected score looks competitive, start preparing document verification requirements early rather than waiting for the official result.
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Enroll Now!Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download the TNPSC Group 2 Answer Key 2026?
You can download it from the official TNPSC website, tnpsc.gov.in, under the Answer Keys section, once you log in with your registration number and date of birth.
When will the TNPSC Group 2 answer key 2026 be released?
TNPSC has not confirmed a date. Portals expect it within about a week to ten days of the 1 November exam.
Can I challenge the TNPSC Group 2 Answer Key 2026?
Yes. Objections can be raised online, with supporting evidence, within seven days of the answer key’s release. Objections by post or email are not accepted.
Which question numbering should I use while raising an objection?
Always use the question number as given in the specimen question booklet on the TNPSC website, regardless of the booklet code you received in the exam hall.
Is Paper I counted in the final TNPSC Group 2 ranking?
No. Paper I (Tamil/English Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test) is qualifying in nature; only Paper II (General Studies, Aptitude & Mental Ability) marks count toward the final ranking.
When will the final TNPSC Group 2 Answer Key 2026 be released?
The final answer key is published only after the Expert Committee reviews all objections and the entire selection process for this examination is complete.
