TNPSC Group 4 & VAO (Combined Civil Services Examination-IV) is the most popular TNPSC exam, open to SSLC (10th-pass) candidates and conducted by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC). It recruits Village Administrative Officer (VAO), Junior Assistant, Typist, Bill Collector and Forest Guard posts at Pay Level 8, basic pay ₹19,500 with ₹23,000–₹28,000 in hand. Selection is through a single objective (OMR) written exam with no interview, making it the most accessible entry into Tamil Nadu government service.
Worth knowing
Salary range
₹20k – ₹62k
7th Pay · in-hand / month
Posts per cycle
9
Across Group 4 & VAO services
Frequency
Annually
Conducted by TNPSC
Next exam
20 Dec 2026
Notification: 6 Oct 2026
Every TNPSC Group 4 & VAO topic in one place, notification, eligibility, syllabus, cut-off, salary, hall ticket and more.
Four hard requirements. Miss any one and the application is rejected at scrutiny.
Prelims screen the field. Mains decides the merit list. The interview tunes it.
Marks
150
Questions
100
Duration
3 hours (combined)
Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test (SSLC level)
60 marks (40%)
Marks
150
Questions
100
Duration
Combined with Part A
General Studies (75 Qs) + Aptitude & Mental Ability (25 Qs)
90 marks (30%) overall
What happens from prelim day to final posting.
Written Examination (Objective type, OMR sheets)
Part B evaluated only if Part A minimum (40%) is cleared
Document Verification & Counselling
No interview
The complete TNPSC Group 4 & VAO syllabus, subject by subject, with the approximate weightage of each section and the key topics it covers. Use it as a checklist while you prepare.
| Post | Pay level | Basic pay | In-hand (incl. allowances) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village Administrative Officer (VAO) | Level 8 | ₹19,500 | ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 |
| Junior Assistant (Non-Security) | Level 8 | ₹19,500 | ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 |
| Junior Assistant (Security) | Level 8 | ₹19,500 | ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 |
| Bill Collector | Level 8 | ₹19,500 | ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 |
| Typist | Level 8 | ₹19,500 | ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 |
| Steno-Typist (Grade 3) | Level 8 | ₹19,500 | ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 |
| Field Surveyor | Level 8 | ₹19,500 | ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 |
| Forest Guard | Level 8 | ₹19,500 | ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 |
| Forest Watcher | Level 8 | ₹19,500 | ₹23,000 - ₹28,000 |
On top of basic pay, these push the in-hand figure up considerably.
Dearness Allowance (DA)
22% of Basic Pay
House Rent Allowance (HRA)
8% - 16% of Basic Pay
Travel Allowance (TA)
As per government norms
Medical Allowance
As per government norms
Three quick on-ramps. All free while we are in beta.
Salary, cut-off and eligibility figures on this page are compiled from official TNPSC sources. Sources: TNPSC official notifications. Figures are indicative and may change with each official notification. Data last reviewed: June 2026.
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