Updated 25 July 2026 · TNPSC Combined Technical Services Examination (CTSE) 2026 — 839 posts, applications open now.
- 839 vacancies in technical posts across TN government departments.
- Notification No. 06/2026, released 7 July 2026.
- Apply online 17 July → 15 August 2026; correction 19–21 August.
- Qualifications: ITI, Diploma, HSC (12th) or Engineering, depending on the post.
- These are non-interview posts — selection is by written examination.
- Apply at tnpsc.gov.in; you need the one-time registration (OTR) first.
What the CTSE 2026 is
The Combined Technical Services Examination is TNPSC's recruitment for technical posts that sit across several Tamil Nadu government departments. Because it is "combined", one application and one examination are used to fill a wide range of engineering and technical roles at once, which is why the eligibility spans everything from an ITI certificate to a full engineering degree. With 839 vacancies this is one of the larger technical recruitments of the year, and the application window is short.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 7 July 2026 (No. 06/2026) |
| Online application opens | 17 July 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 15 August 2026 |
| Correction window | 19–21 August 2026 |
Dates are from Notification No. 06/2026. The examination date is announced separately by TNPSC — watch the portal and your registered email.
Who can apply
Eligibility depends on the specific post, but across the CTSE the qualifications accepted include ITI, Diploma, Higher Secondary (12th), an Engineering degree, and Agriculture/Horticulture diplomas, along with the various engineering branches — civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics and others. Read the notification's post-wise eligibility carefully and apply only for posts your qualification matches, because a mismatch is rejected at scrutiny.
How to apply
Everything is done on the official TNPSC portal. The one thing that catches first-timers is the one-time registration (OTR) — a single profile TNPSC keeps for you, valid for five years, which you must create before you can apply for any notification.
The last day of any TNPSC application always sees the portal under heavy load, and a payment failure or an OTR problem on the final day can cost you the attempt. Complete your OTR early, apply a few days before the deadline, and keep the application printout. If you must estimate your likely score later, our TNPSC marks calculators can help you plan.
Fee, in brief
TNPSC charges a one-time registration fee (₹150, valid five years) separately from the examination fee for each notification, and fee concessions apply to eligible categories as set out in the notification. Confirm the exact examination fee and any exemption you qualify for in Notification No. 06/2026 before paying.
What kind of posts these are
Because the CTSE is a combined technical recruitment, the 839 vacancies span a range of engineering and technical roles across departments — the sort of posts that keep public infrastructure and services running. This is why the eligibility net is wide, from an ITI certificate through to a full engineering degree. The practical point for you is to read the post-wise vacancy and qualification table in the notification and identify precisely which posts your certificate or degree qualifies you for, rather than assuming a single cut-off applies to all.
How the selection works
These are non-interview posts, which means your selection rests on the written examination and the subsequent certificate verification — there is no interview stage to prepare for or worry about. That makes the written paper decisive, so your preparation time is best spent on the syllabus for your post group. Once results are out and you have an estimate of your standing, planning tools such as our TNPSC marks calculators can help you gauge where you sit relative to the likely cut-off.
What to do right now
With the window closing on 15 August, the sensible order is: complete your one-time registration today, gather your certificates, apply for the posts you genuinely qualify for a few days before the deadline, and keep the printout. Use the 19–21 August correction window only to fix a real error, not as a reason to delay applying. The single biggest avoidable mistake is leaving the application to the final day, when portal load and a payment failure can cost you the attempt entirely.
Documents to keep ready
Have your 10th and 12th certificates, your technical qualification (ITI/Diploma/Degree), community certificate if you are claiming reservation, and a scanned photo and signature ready before you start the form. Details must match your certificates exactly — a name or date-of-birth mismatch between the application and your marksheets is a common reason applications are rejected at scrutiny.
After you apply
Once submitted, TNPSC releases the hall ticket closer to the examination on the same portal — download it and check every detail, because errors on the hall ticket should be sorted before exam day. Watch your registered email and the portal for the examination date, the syllabus and the hall-ticket release. Nothing further is needed from you between applying and the hall ticket, so use that time to prepare for the written paper for your post group.
In short
TNPSC CTSE 2026 is a rare 839-post technical recruitment with a short window — applications close on 15 August 2026. If your qualification fits, complete your one-time registration, apply well before the deadline, and keep preparing for the written examination. A large vacancy count with non-interview selection makes this a strong opportunity for technically qualified candidates in Tamil Nadu.
Frequently asked questions
About ComplyKraft. Built by Dinesh Kumar S in Chennai — B.Sc. Mathematics, M.Sc. IT. Plain-language guides to Tamil Nadu government services and schemes.
Disclaimer: Informational guide, updated 2026. This is not official government communication. Processes, fees and timelines are set by the Government of Tamil Nadu and can change — confirm on the official portal before acting.