| Conducting body | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC). Official website ↗ |
|---|---|
| Posts | Junior Draughting Officer, Overseer, Special Overseer, Draughtsman Grade III, Assistant Agricultural Officer, Assistant Horticultural Officer, Motor Vehicle Inspector Grade II, Sub-Inspector of Fisheries, Surveyor cum Assistant Draughtsman, Technician (Electrical / Operation), Junior Training Officer, Junior Engineer (Civil) |
| Qualification | A diploma or ITI qualification in the subject linked to the post, as set out post-wise in the notification. Some posts also require experience, which the department checks during certificate verification. |
| Age limit | At least 18 years on 1 July 2026 (general category) |
| Domicile | See the notification |
| Selection stages | Written exam: Paper I (OMR) and Paper II subject paper (computer-based) → Onscreen certificate verification → Physical certificate verification and counselling (where applicable) |
| Latest notification | Notification No. 06/2026: Combined Technical Services Examination (Diploma / ITI Level) · 856 vacancies |
Last checked . Sources
We could not confirm every detail on this page against a current official notice. Check the TNPSC website before you apply.
About TNPSC CTSE Diploma
The Combined Technical Services Examination (Diploma/ITI level) is how TNPSC fills technical posts that need a diploma or ITI qualification, such as Junior Draughting Officer, Overseer, Assistant Agricultural Officer and Motor Vehicle Inspector Grade II. Notification No. 06/2026, dated 7 July 2026, listed 839 vacancies across departments including Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Water Resources, Highways and Fisheries, and addendum 6A/2026 (18 September 2026) raised the total to 856. You write a common general paper and a subject paper matched to your diploma or trade.
Eligibility
Age limit
General category: At least 18 years, counted on 1 July 2026.
Age relaxation
- Minimum age is 21 for Motor Vehicle Inspector Grade II (as on 1 July 2026) and for Junior Training Officer posts (as on 1 August 2026).
- For the Others category the upper limit is 32 for many posts, 34 for Motor Vehicle Inspector Grade II, and 37 for Special Overseer, Overseer/Junior Draughting Officer and Road Inspector in Rural Development, Hostel Superintendent cum Physical Training Officer and all Junior Training Officer posts. Reserved categories have no upper limit for nearly every post; check the post-wise table.
Qualification
A diploma or ITI qualification in the subject linked to the post, as set out post-wise in the notification. Some posts also require experience, which the department checks during certificate verification.
Selection process
- Written exam: Paper I (OMR) and Paper II subject paper (computer-based)
- Onscreen certificate verification
- Physical certificate verification and counselling (where applicable)
Exam pattern
Paper I (SSLC standard)
Mode: Objective, OMR · Duration: 3 hours
| SUBJECT | QUESTIONS | MARKS |
|---|---|---|
| Part A: Tamil Eligibility Test | 100 | 150 |
| Part B: General Studies | 75 | |
| Part C: Aptitude and Mental Ability | 25 |
Paper II: subject paper (Diploma / ITI standard)
Mode: Computer-based test · Duration: 3 hours
| SUBJECT | QUESTIONS | MARKS |
|---|---|---|
| Subject paper for your post | 200 | 300 |
TNPSC CTSE Diploma syllabus
Paper I Part B: General Studies
- General science (5 questions)
- Geography (5)
- History, culture of India and Indian national movement (10)
- Indian polity (15)
- Indian economy and development administration in Tamil Nadu (20)
- History, culture, heritage and socio-political movements of Tamil Nadu (20)
Paper I Part C: Aptitude and Mental Ability
- Aptitude (15 questions)
- Reasoning (10 questions)
Paper II example: Agriculture (Assistant Agricultural Officer)
- Agronomic principles, practices and meteorology (30 questions)
- Farming systems, dry farming and agro-forestry (10)
- Soils and fertility management (30)
- Horticultural crop cultivation (10)
- Breeding and seed production (20)
- Plant protection principles and practices (30)
- Livestock, poultry, artificial insemination and calf rearing (10)
- Farm machinery, post-harvest technology, energy and environment (10)
- Commercial agriculture (20)
- Agricultural extension, agricultural economics and digital agriculture (30)
What they ask
Paper I is an SSLC-level OMR paper: a 100-question Tamil Eligibility Test worth 150 marks, where the minimum is 60, followed by 75 General Studies and 25 aptitude questions worth 150 marks. Paper II is a 200-question computer-based subject paper for 300 marks at diploma or ITI level, for example Civil Engineering for Junior Draughting Officer or Agriculture for Assistant Agricultural Officer. Your rank uses Parts B and C of Paper I plus Paper II, 450 marks in all, and you need 180 (Others) or 135 (reserved categories) to qualify.
How to prepare
- Paper II carries 300 of the 450 ranking marks, so give most of your time to the subject paper for your diploma or trade.
- If you are writing the Agriculture paper, four units carry 30 questions each: agronomy and meteorology, soils and fertility management, plant protection, and agricultural extension, economics and digital agriculture.
- Paper I General Studies uses the same SSLC-level units as TNPSC Group 4, so Group 4 question papers make good practice material.
- The Tamil Eligibility Test has its own minimum of 60 out of 150; prepare for it early instead of in the final week.
- Daily topic-wise practice quizzes on the free Improvam app help keep the General Studies and aptitude units fresh while you focus on your subject.
TNPSC CTSE Diploma is one of the exams in the Improvam app. Open it to start a practice quiz.
Open in the Improvam appPrevious papers and answer keys
Sources
- TNPSC Notification No. 06/2026, CTSE (Diploma / ITI Level) ↗ (official, checked )
- TNPSC Addendum 6A/2026 to Notification 06/2026 (856 vacancies, exam dates) ↗ (official, checked )
- TNPSC exam dashboard: CTSE Diploma / ITI 06/2026 ↗ (official, checked )
Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.
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