TNPSC Group 4 Eligibility 2026: Age Limit & Qualifications

TNPSC Group 4 eligibility in the 2026 recruitment depends on the exact post, community/category, qualifications and applicable concessions. SSLC is sufficient for several posts, while others require Higher Secondary, a degree, B.Com, typing, shorthand, computer training or driving experience. Most ordinary “Others” rows require candidates to be at least 18 and below 30 on 1 July 2026. VAO, Executive Officer and forest posts have different minimum ages.

This guide explains Notification 11/2026, dated 6 October 2026. Find your post code first, then check its age, educational and additional requirements. Admission to the examination is provisional and does not by itself confirm eligibility or appointment.

Which dates determine eligibility?

• Check: Recruitment notification
  Date / rule: 11/2026, dated 6 October 2026
• Check: Age calculation date
  Date / rule: 1 July 2026
• Check: Education, technical qualifications and experience
  Date / rule: Generally held by 6 October 2026; only expressly stated exceptions apply
• Check: Application closing date
  Date / rule: 5 November 2026, 11:59 PM
• Check: Written examination
  Date / rule: 10 January 2027; this remains the 2026 recruitment notification

Use the notification page for application updates and the exam date page for the examination schedule.

Source: Notification §1.2 and §4.2.1, pages 1 and 14

TNPSC Group 4 age limit: read the upper boundary correctly

All ages below are assessed on 1 July 2026. The notification says the minimum age must have been completed and the maximum age must not have been completed. For example, “below 30” excludes a candidate who had already turned 30 on that date, unless a valid concession applies. “Others” means candidates outside the SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM) and BCM groups specified in the notification.

• Post / rule group: The 29 ordinary post codes listed below
  Minimum age completed: 18
  Others: Below 30
  BC(OBCM) / BCM / MBC/DC: Below 32#
  SC / SC(A) / ST: Below 35#
• Post / rule group: The 11 post codes listed below†
  Minimum age completed: 18
  Others: Below 30
  BC(OBCM) / BCM / MBC/DC: No maximum†
  SC / SC(A) / ST: No maximum†
• Post / rule group: Village Administrative Officer — 2025
  Minimum age completed: 21
  Others: Below 30
  BC(OBCM) / BCM / MBC/DC: Below 40
  SC / SC(A) / ST: Below 40
• Post / rule group: Executive Officer Grade IV — 1655
  Minimum age completed: 25
  Others: Below 35
  BC(OBCM) / BCM / MBC/DC: Below 37# for BC(OBCM), MBC/DC; BCM not listed
  SC / SC(A) / ST: Below 40#
• Post / rule group: Waqf Board Typist / Steno Typist — 3846, 3847
  Minimum age completed: 18
  Others: Below 30
  BC(OBCM) / BCM / MBC/DC: BCM: below 32#; other reserved groups not listed
  SC / SC(A) / ST: Not listed in this row
• Post / rule group: Forest Guard with Driving Licence / Forest Watcher — 3318, 3319
  Minimum age completed: 21
  Others: Below 30
  BC(OBCM) / BCM / MBC/DC: Below 33
  SC / SC(A) / ST: Below 35

Ordinary age rows: 2400, 2500, 2600, 4600, 3842, 3843, 3840, 3512, 3851, 3854, 3214, 3835, 3836, 3804, 2200, 4200, 3834, 3844, 3852, 2300, 4300, 3837, 3838, 3845, 3841, 3853, 3822, 1095 and 3839. The reserved-category limits in these rows carry the # qualification-based concession described below.

† Direct no-maximum rows: post codes 3521, 3788, 3816, 3520, 3321, 3848, 3817, 3672, 3746, 3103 and 3806. For these rows, the specified reserved groups have no maximum age limit; the ordinary Others limit remains below 30. The post names and qualifications are listed below.

# Higher-general-education concession: for the entries marked #, the specified reserved-category candidates with a general educational qualification higher than the Minimum General Educational Qualification have no maximum age limit. Apply this only to the marked entries; it does not extend to VAO or the forest posts. A technical certificate should not be assumed to establish a higher general educational qualification.

“No maximum age limit” has a defined ceiling: the candidate must be below 60 on 1 July 2026 and at selection/appointment. Religion-specific restrictions still apply to Executive Officer and Waqf Board posts.

Source: Notification §4.1, pages 5–8

Age concessions for disability, ex-servicemen and destitute widows

The following are upper-age boundaries, not extra years to add automatically. Disability suitability, category evidence and the exact post row still control.

• Rule group: Ordinary # rows
  Persons with benchmark disabilities: Others: below 40; BC(OBCM)/BCM/MBC/DC: below 42#; SC/SC(A)/ST: below 45#
  Ex-servicemen: Others: below 48; specified reserved groups: below 53#
  Destitute widows: Below 35; # concession where marked
• Rule group: The 11 direct no-maximum rows
  Persons with benchmark disabilities: Others: below 40; specified reserved groups: no maximum†
  Ex-servicemen: Others: below 48; specified reserved groups: no maximum†
  Destitute widows: No maximum†
• Rule group: VAO — 2025
  Persons with benchmark disabilities: Others: below 40; specified reserved groups: below 50
  Ex-servicemen: Others: below 48; specified reserved groups: below 53
  Destitute widows: Below 40
• Rule group: Executive Officer — 1655
  Persons with benchmark disabilities: Others: below 45; BC(OBCM)/MBC/DC: below 47#; SC/SC(A)/ST: below 50#
  Ex-servicemen: Others: below 48; eligible reserved groups: below 53#
  Destitute widows: Below 40; # concession where marked
• Rule group: Waqf Board — 3846, 3847
  Persons with benchmark disabilities: Others: below 40; BCM: below 42#
  Ex-servicemen: Others: below 48; BCM: below 53#
  Destitute widows: Below 35; # concession where marked
• Rule group: Forest posts — 3318, 3319
  Persons with benchmark disabilities: Persons with benchmark disabilities are not eligible for these posts
  Ex-servicemen: After deducting defence-service duration, age must be below 35
  Destitute widows: Below 35

The ex-servicemen concession is subject to §4.1.5, including its restriction after previous recruitment to a post in any class, service or category. It does not extend automatically to an ex-serviceman’s dependants. Serving Armed Forces personnel may apply under the stated rule if their engagement will finish within one year of the application closing date, subject to the prescribed undertaking, Commanding Officer’s certificate and eventual release evidence.

A destitute widow must have total monthly income of no more than ₹8,000 from all sources, including family pension. The status is assessed on the notification date, and the husband’s death must have occurred on or before 6 October 2026. A divorcee or a woman deserted by her husband does not fall within this definition. The prescribed certificate must come from the Revenue Divisional Officer, Assistant Collector or Sub-Collector; a general widow certificate is insufficient. Supporting documents are required for each concession.

Source: Notification §4.1, pages 5–8; Annexure II §§1 and 3, pages 33–36 and 46–47

Educational and technical qualification by post

MGEQ means Minimum General Educational Qualification; §4.2.2 defines it as a pass in the Tamil Nadu SSLC examination. The notification also addresses the Tamil Nadu Board of Open School 10th-standard examination and recognized equivalence. A higher qualification does not automatically replace a specifically required technical skill or specialized degree.

• Post and code(s): Village Administrative Officer — 2025
  Junior Assistant (Security) — 2400
  Bill Collector — 2500
  Junior Assistant (Non Security) — 2600
  Junior Assistant (Non Security) — 4600
  Bill Collector — 3214
  Junior Administrative Assistant — 3835
  Required education / technical qualification: Minimum General Educational Qualification (SSLC as defined in the notification).
• Post and code(s): Junior Assistant — 3842
  Revenue Assistant — 3843
  Junior Assistant — 3840
  Junior Assistant — 3512
  Junior Assistant — 3851
  Tax Collector — 3854
  Record Clerk (Grade III) — 3839
  Required education / technical qualification: SSLC pass.
• Post and code(s): Junior Assistant — 3521
  Required education / technical qualification: A degree from a UGC-recognized university.
• Post and code(s): Junior Assistant — 3788
  Required education / technical qualification: Any degree plus a Diploma in Co-operative Management, or Co-operation as a special subject in the degree.
• Post and code(s): Junior Assistant — 3816
  Required education / technical qualification: Any degree from a recognized university.
• Post and code(s): Junior Assistant — 3520
  Junior Assistant (Accounts) — 3848
  Required education / technical qualification: B.Com from a recognized university.
• Post and code(s): Junior Assistant — 3321
  Required education / technical qualification: A degree from a recognized university/institution and the prescribed Computer on Office Automation (COA) certificate.
• Post and code(s): Junior Administrative Assistant (Computer Operator) — 3836
  Required education / technical qualification: SSLC; Higher Grade Typewriting in both English and Tamil; prescribed COA certificate.
• Post and code(s): Junior Assistant cum Typist — 3804
  Typist — 2200
  Typist — 4200
  Typist — 3834
  Required education / technical qualification: MGEQ; Government Technical Examination in Typewriting with Higher/Senior in both Tamil and English, or Higher/Senior in one language and Lower/Junior in the other; prescribed COA. The stated COA deferral is available.
• Post and code(s): Typist — 3846
  Required education / technical qualification: MGEQ/SSLC or the equivalent specified in the row; Higher/Senior Typewriting in both Tamil and English; prescribed COA, with the stated deferral. Muslim religion requirement applies.
• Post and code(s): Typist — 3844
  Typist — 3852
  Required education / technical qualification: SSLC; Senior Grade Typewriting in both Tamil and English. These qualification rows do not prescribe COA.
• Post and code(s): Typist — 3817
  Required education / technical qualification: Higher Secondary or equivalent from a recognized Board of Secondary Education/approved Government institution; Higher Typewriting in English plus Lower Tamil, or Higher Tamil plus Lower English; prescribed COA.
• Post and code(s): Steno Typist (Grade III) — 2300
  Steno Typist (Grade III) — 4300
  Steno Typist (Grade III) — 3837
  Steno Typist (Grade III) — 3838
  Required education / technical qualification: MGEQ; Government Technical Examination in both Typewriting and Shorthand, with Higher/Senior in Tamil and English, or Higher/Senior in one and Lower/Junior in the other; prescribed COA, with the stated deferral.
• Post and code(s): Steno Typist (Grade III) — 3847
  Required education / technical qualification: MGEQ/SSLC or the equivalent specified in the row; Higher/Senior in both Tamil and English for both Typewriting and Shorthand; prescribed COA, with the stated deferral. Muslim religion requirement applies.
• Post and code(s): Steno Typist (Grade III) — 3672
  Required education / technical qualification: Degree in the 10+2+3 pattern; Higher Typewriting in both English and Tamil; Higher Shorthand in English plus Lower Tamil, or Lower English plus Higher Tamil; prescribed COA.
• Post and code(s): Steno Typist — 3845
  Personal Clerk — 3841
  Required education / technical qualification: SSLC; Senior Grade in both Tamil and English for both Typewriting and Shorthand.
• Post and code(s): Shorthand Typist (Grade III) — 3853
  Required education / technical qualification: SSLC; Senior Typewriting in both languages; Shorthand Senior in both, or Senior in one and Junior in the other; prescribed COA.
• Post and code(s): Telephone Operator — 3822
  Required education / technical qualification: SSLC and the prescribed Telephone Department/government-recognized institute certificate for training in operating a telephone board.
• Post and code(s): Executive Officer (Grade IV) — 1655
  Required education / technical qualification: MGEQ/SSLC or the specified UGC-recognized Tamil Pulavar title. Hindu religion requirement applies. The notification gives a preference, other things equal, to religious-institution employees other than government servants who have at least five years of service.
• Post and code(s): Junior Inspector of Co-operative Societies — 1095
  Required education / technical qualification: SC/SC(A)/ST/MBC/DC/BC(OBCM)/BCM: MGEQ or the college-course eligibility certificate for Madras, Madurai and Annamalai Universities issued by the Board of Secondary Education or another competent authority. Others: Intermediate or Pre-University examination pass from a university/institution recognized by UGC for its financial grant. Other things equal, the stated preference sequence is a Commerce degree, then a Higher Diploma in Co-operative Management from Natesan Institute of Cooperative Management, Chennai, or Institute of Co-operative Management, Madurai.
• Post and code(s): Senior Laboratory Assistant — 3746
  Required education / technical qualification: Higher Secondary/Plus Two with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology or Botany as one subject.
• Post and code(s): Laboratory Assistant — 3103
  Required education / technical qualification: Higher Secondary with Science as a subject.
• Post and code(s): Sales Assistant — 3806
  Required education / technical qualification: Any degree; the notification expresses preference for Business Administration, Commerce, Corporate, Marketing or Economics qualifications.
• Post and code(s): Forest Watcher — 3319
  Required education / technical qualification: MGEQ plus the applicable forest physical/endurance requirements. Other things equal, the notification gives preference to those discharged from Army (Land Force) service.
• Post and code(s): Forest Guard with Driving Licence — 3318
  Required education / technical qualification: Higher Secondary with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology or Botany as one subject; valid driving licence; at least three years of LMV/HMV driving experience after the licence; basic automobile-mechanism knowledge; prescribed first-aid certificate from a recognized organization in Tamil Nadu; forest physical, vision and endurance requirements. Other things equal, preference is given to those discharged from Army (Land Force) service.

Degree qualifications must follow the prescribed sequence: 10th, then HSC/Diploma or equivalent, then the undergraduate degree. The special rule for a matriculate ex-serviceman with at least 15 years in the Armed Forces concerns posts requiring graduation; do not assume it establishes B.Com or any other specialized-degree equivalence.

Source: Notification §4.2, pages 9–14

Computer on Office Automation: which posts allow later completion?

COA refers to the Certificate Course in Computer on Office Automation conducted by the Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Tamil Nadu. A private computer-course certificate should not be assumed to satisfy this prescribed qualification.

The qualification rows expressly allow COA completion during probation or within two years of appointment, as applicable, for codes 3804, 2200, 4200, 3834, 3846, 2300, 4300, 3837, 3838 and 3847. This concession concerns COA; it does not waive the prescribed typing or shorthand qualification.

Do not extend that provision to codes 3321, 3836, 3817, 3672 or 3853, whose rows require COA without that stated deferral. The rows for 3844, 3852, 3845 and 3841 do not prescribe COA. Use the exact post row instead of assuming one computer-certificate rule applies to all posts.

Source: Notification qualification table, pages 9–12

Tamil knowledge and PSTM are separate requirements

The notification requires adequate knowledge of Tamil on the notification date and lists acceptable evidence, including Tamil as a language in the relevant school/degree examination, qualifying Tamil-medium study, or TNPSC’s Second Class Language Test (Full Test). Clause 4.4.3 addresses candidates unable to produce the specified proof: they must pass that Tamil language test within two years of appointment, failing which they will be discharged from service. This provision does not create a general English-paper option.

PSTM is a separate claim based on Tamil-medium education through the qualification prescribed for the post. Generally, proof must cover the entire course history from first standard to that qualification, including each institution attended. Tamil as a language subject alone does not establish this claim. The notification expressly applies the PSTM Act as amended by Act 12 of 2026.

The stated exceptions include age-based direct admission to classes 2–8 under the Right to Education Act followed by Tamil-medium study, and Tamil-medium study in another state followed by continued Tamil-medium education in Tamil Nadu. Regular Tamil-medium students who failed subjects in classes 10, 11 or 12 and later passed those subjects privately can qualify under the stated continuation rule. Passing examinations directly as a private candidate without attending school does not qualify. Partial-course Tamil-medium evidence is insufficient.

The Part A General English replacement is a different, conditional accommodation: differently abled candidates, irrespective of disability percentage, who studied English subject only at Board/University level may claim it under clause 6.2, with the required application details and disability certificate. English-medium education alone does not create this option. General Studies and Aptitude questions being bilingual is also a separate matter.

Source: Notification §4.4, pages 15–16; §6.2, pages 20–21; Annexure II PSTM, pages 47–50

Forest-post physical, vision and endurance requirements

These requirements concern Forest Watcher (3319) and Forest Guard with Driving Licence (3318). They are additional to the age and educational conditions.

• Candidate group: Male
  Minimum height: other than ST: 163 cm
  Minimum height: ST: 152 cm
  Chest on full expiration: 79 cm
  Chest expansion: 5 cm
• Candidate group: Female / third gender
  Minimum height: other than ST: 150 cm
  Minimum height: ST: 145 cm
  Chest on full expiration: 74 cm
  Chest expansion: 5 cm

The Forest Guard with Driving Licence post also prescribes vision without glasses: distance vision 6/6 in each eye and near vision 0.5 (Snellen) in each eye. Each eye must have a full field of vision. Colour blindness, squint and the specified morbid eye/eyelid conditions are disqualifying; Lasik, Laser or Excimer Laser surgery in either eye is also disqualifying. Obtain the prescribed eye-fitness certificate from an ophthalmology specialist in a Government hospital.

The endurance test requires a walk of 25 km for male candidates or 16 km for female/third-gender candidates, completed within four hours. The notification states that the physical standards and endurance tests will be conducted in Chennai. For other posts, a physical-fitness certificate must be submitted at joining. Visual acuity must be Standard III or better; candidates with defective vision must obtain the stated eye-fitness certificate from a qualified eye specialist in a Government hospital. Forest height/chest measurements do not apply universally.

Forest-post physical measurements require the prescribed certificate from a Government medical officer above Assistant Surgeon rank. Code 3318 also requires the driving-experience certificate and automobile-mechanism self-declaration. Forest Watcher applicants claiming the outstanding-sportsperson reservation must still meet the basic eligibility, minimum written marks and physical/endurance requirements; their recognized sporting achievements must fall within the five years before the notification, with the prescribed competition-level and certificate conditions. Ranking for that quota is based on sports achievements.

Source: Notification §4.3, page 15; §§5.5 and 5.13, pages 18–20; Annexure II §9, pages 54–55

Other restrictions to check before applying

• For “Others”, five or more years of service since first appointment in the Government of India or a State/Union Territory government triggers the restriction in §4.5.1, even when the candidate is within the age limit.
• The specified HR&CE posts, including Executive Officer Grade IV, are restricted to persons professing Hindu religion. Waqf Board Typist 3846 and Steno Typist 3847 are restricted to persons professing Muslim religion. Provide the prescribed evidence.
• Persons with blindness or low vision are not eligible for the specified Judicial Department/Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority posts. Check the department-specific disability-suitability table; a general age concession does not establish suitability for every post.
• Benchmark-disability claims require the prescribed disability certification and generally at least 40% of the specified disability. The exact category, affected body part and percentage must match the application. This differs from the disability-percentage rule for the conditional General English accommodation.
• Tamil Nadu community benefits are subject to the notification’s state and community rules. An out-of-state community certificate does not automatically establish Tamil Nadu reservation eligibility. The prescribed community certificate must cite a parent’s name, not a spouse’s name. Transgender claims require the stated Tamil Nadu Transgender Welfare Board ID and the applicable community-choice rules.
• For nationality and any eligibility-certificate conditions, read the current Instructions to Applicants incorporated by the notification. This page does not replace those conditions with an unsupported nationality shortcut.

Source: Notification §4.5–4.6, pages 16–17; incorporated Instructions to Applicants

Employment, qualification documents and disclosure

Candidates in regular government, local-body, university, quasi-government or public-sector employment must disclose that employment, inform their employer in writing and produce the prescribed No Objection Certificate. Changes in employment during recruitment must also be reported. Criminal or disciplinary cases and their outcomes must be disclosed with the required records; the notification does not make every pending case an automatic disqualification, but selection is subject to the outcome.

For SSLC/HSC completed over multiple attempts, upload the marksheets for all attempts. Foundation or Pre-Foundation certificates are not substitutes. A claimed equivalent qualification requires the relevant Government Order at document upload or on/before physical certificate verification.

Source: Notification §4.2.6, pages 14–15; Annexure I §§4–5, pages 31–32; Annexure II disability and community documents, pages 36–54

Your eligibility check before submitting the application

• Record the exact post code and service/organization you want to be considered for.
• Calculate age on 1 July 2026, then check the correct category row and any supported concession.
• Confirm that the required education, technical qualifications and experience existed on 6 October 2026, subject to the specific stated exceptions.
• Keep the prescribed age, qualification, community, concession, Tamil/PSTM and post-specific certificates ready. If a qualification certificate was issued later, check the accepted proof that results were published by the required date.
• Check forest-post options and the additional medical/driving requirements if relevant.
• Read the salary and job-profile comparison and syllabus after identifying the posts for which you meet the conditions.

Sources and update basis

Prepared from TNPSC Notification 11/2026, dated 6 October 2026, and reviewed on 7 October 2026. Read the full English notification PDF — GovtJobsNet-hosted copy, the Tamil notification PDF and the official TNPSC notification listing. Later applicable TNPSC addenda or corrections take precedence.