How does TNPSC counselling work?
After certificate verification, candidates are called in rank order to choose from available posts and departments. Your final allotment depends on rank, category, communal rotation and the preferences you submit.
Higher ranks get the widest choice; later ranks pick from what remains. Some cycles run single window counselling in person, others collect web-based preferences.
Related questions
CV is the stage where TNPSC checks your original certificates, education, age, community, PSTM and any special claims, against what you entered at application.
Communal rotation is the 200-point roster Tamil Nadu uses to distribute vacancies across categories: GT, BC, BCM, MBC/DNC, SC, SCA and ST, in a fixed repeating order.
TNPSC publishes a tentative answer key after the exam and opens an objection window, usually about a week, where you submit representations with evidence through the official portal.
For Group 1 and Group 2, prelims qualifiers write a descriptive mains exam. Group 4 is a single-stage exam, so qualifiers go directly to certificate verification and counselling.
Group 1 posts and Group 2 (interview posts) include an oral test after mains. Group 2A and Group 4 have no interview; selection is written marks plus certificate verification.
Total marks in the qualifying papers decide rank, and the communal rotation roster distributes vacancies across categories. Post allotment then follows rank plus your submitted preferences.
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This answer is verified against official TNPSC notifications and scheme documents. Sources: TNPSC official notifications. Figures are indicative and may change with each official notification. Data last reviewed: July 2026.
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