TNPSC Group 1 Recruitment 2026: 26 Posts Including Deputy Collector, Apply by 29 July

The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has released its most prestigious recruitment of the year, and TNPSC Group 1 Recruitment 2026 is now open for graduates aiming at the state’s top administrative posts. Under Notification No. 05/2026 for the Combined Civil Services Examination-I, there are 26 posts on offer, including Deputy Collector and Assistant Commissioner roles. Any degree holder can apply within the prescribed age limits, and the pay sits at Level 22 of the state pay matrix. Applications opened on 30 June 2026 and the last date is 29 July 2026, with the Preliminary exam set for 6 September 2026.

26 Group I posts, from Deputy Collector to Assistant Commissioner

Here is the quick reference, with every figure taken from the commission’s own notice.

The 26 posts break down as Deputy Collector 12, District Registrar 8, Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies 3, Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes) 2 and Assistant Commissioner of Labour 1. These vacancies are tentative and can be revised until the Preliminary result is published.

Who is eligible: any degree works

The good news for most graduates is that any Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university qualifies you for all five posts, so you do not need a specialised background. The degree must be held on the notification date of 23 June 2026, though final-year candidates can sit the Preliminary and prove their pass before the Main exam. One post carries a preference: for Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes), candidates with B.Com and B.L. and a Diploma in Taxation Laws get first preference, but this is an order of preference, not a bar on other graduates. If a Tamil Nadu posting is not for you, our job finder lets you filter every fresh government opening by qualification and state.

Age limits and category concessions

The minimum age is 21 years, counted as on 1 July 2026. For candidates in the Others category, the upper limit is 34 years, rising to 35 for Commercial Taxes applicants who hold a B.L. degree. For SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM) and BCM candidates, the upper limit is 39 years, and 40 for the B.L. holders. Persons with benchmark disability can go up to 44 or 49 by category, and ex-servicemen up to 50 or 55. Candidates in the Others category who already have five or more years of government service are not eligible.

Application fee and free chances

There are two charges at the application stage. The one-time registration fee is Rs 150, valid for five years, and the Preliminary examination fee is Rs 100. A Main examination fee of Rs 200 is paid later, only if you are shortlisted for the Main exam. SC, SC(A), ST, persons with benchmark disability and destitute widows are fully exempt from the exam fee. Backward class candidates under MBC/DC, BC(OBCM) and BCM get three free chances, and ex-servicemen get two.

Pay: what Level 22 works out to

Here is the honest version of the salary question. The notification fixes the pay for all five posts at Level 22 of the Tamil Nadu pay matrix, and it does not print a rupee figure. The commonly cited band of Rs 56,100 to Rs 2,05,700 is the standard pay-matrix value for Level 22, so treat it as the matrix reference rather than a figure quoted in this notice. All five posts sit at the same level, so there is no pay difference between Deputy Collector and the other roles at entry.

Selection: three stages plus a Tamil test

The selection runs through three stages, Preliminary, Main and Interview, followed by a medical examination. The Preliminary is a screening test of 200 questions for 300 marks in 3 hours, and its marks are not counted in the final ranking; it only decides who moves to the Main exam, at 20 times the number of vacancies. The Main exam has a qualifying Tamil eligibility paper of 100 marks and three General Studies papers of 250 marks each. The final rank is built from the three General Studies papers plus a 100 mark interview, a total of 850 marks.

The Tamil language rule every applicant must meet

This is the condition that catches out-of-state candidates. You must have adequate knowledge of Tamil as on the notification date, which you can prove by having passed SSLC, HSC or your degree with Tamil as a language, or by studying in Tamil medium, or by clearing the TNPSC Second Class Language Test in Tamil. If you cannot prove it upfront, you would have to pass that test within two years of appointment. There is no separate domicile bar beyond this Tamil knowledge requirement and the usual community certificate rules. For every other current opening in the state, our Tamil Nadu jobs page keeps a running list.

How to apply on tnpscexams.in

Applications are accepted online only. Work through it in this order:

1. Complete the One-Time Registration on the TNPSC website first, pay the Rs 150 OTR fee and link your Aadhaar; the OTR is valid for five years.
2. Keep your photo and signature scanned in the sizes the form asks for, at 200 DPI.
3. Open the exam-specific application for Notification 05/2026 and fill your details exactly as your degree reads.
4. Pay the Rs 100 Preliminary fee, unless you are exempt, through net banking, card or UPI, then submit.
5. Use the correction window from 2 to 4 August 2026 if you need to edit anything, since no changes are allowed afterwards.

One safety note that matters: apply only on the official website, and remember that a genuine government recruiter never asks you to pay any unofficial fee.

A few points graduates keep asking about this TNPSC Group 1 drive:

Can any degree holder apply for TNPSC Group 1 2026?

Yes. Any Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university qualifies you for all five posts. Only the Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes) post lists a preference order for commerce and law graduates, and even that does not bar other degree holders.

What is the last date to apply for Notification 05/2026?

The application window opened on 30 June 2026 and closes on 29 July 2026 at 11:59 PM. The Preliminary exam is scheduled for 6 September 2026.

Do the Preliminary marks count in the final selection?

No. The Preliminary is only a screening test to shortlist candidates for the Main exam, at 20 times the vacancies. Your final rank is decided by the three Main General Studies papers plus the interview, a total of 850 marks.

Is Tamil language knowledge compulsory?

Yes. You must have adequate Tamil knowledge as on the notification date, proven through your schooling or by passing the TNPSC Second Class Language Test in Tamil. If not proven upfront, you must clear it within two years of appointment.

How much is the application fee?

You pay a one-time registration fee of Rs 150 and a Preliminary fee of Rs 100. SC, SC(A), ST, persons with benchmark disability and destitute widows are exempt, while backward class candidates get three free chances and ex-servicemen get two.

✍️ Written & reviewed byLokesh Rathore

Lokesh Rathore is a content writer with over 4 years of experience covering Government Jobs, Sarkari Result, Admit Card and Sarkari Yojana. He turns complex official notifications into clear, accurate and easy-to-follow updates for job seekers across India - with every post cross-checked against official government sources.

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