Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission have to discharge the duties and functions specified in various Articles of the Constitution of India.

The main functions of the Commission are:

  Make direct recruitment to State, Subordinate and Ministerial services;
  Conduct department examinations for Government Servants and
  Advice Government on all matters relating to framing of recruitment rules;
  Advice Government on principles to be followed in making appointments and promotions and transfers from    one service to another service;
  Advice Government on disciplinary matters affecting Government Servants;
  Conduct the examinations on behalf of Ministry of Defence, Government of India, for admission to Rashtriya    Indian Military College, Dehra Dun.

TNPSC is mandated with the task of recruiting persons for various services of the State Government of Tamil Nadu, including State, Subordinate and Ministerial Services. TNPSC has always strived to upgrade and improvise systems and procedures of selection in order that the best among applicants are selected to public service, while rigorously adhering to the policy of recruitment and reservation of the State Government.

With every passing year, more candidates are seen to take TNPSC exams. During the 1960’s, the ratio between posts and the number of candidates applied was 1:6 and 1:7, whereas it has increased to 1:35 during 1970’s. From 1980’s onwards due to establishment of numerous colleges and Universities and consequent increase in the number of candidates coming out of these institutions, the ratio has become quite high. During 1990, the ratio for Group I Service was 1:700 and in 1992 it rose upto 1:1000. For Group IV Services, the ratio is found to be 1:200 in 1991, 1:120 in 1993 and 1:860 in 1997. Preliminary examinations were therefore introduced in order to reduce the number of candidates to the main written examination.

It is seen from the above facts and figures that recruitment has become highly competitive. The selection process varies from service to service and is a combination of written and oral tests. For services like Group-I, the premier recruitment in the State, a three-stage process is adopted with preliminary examination followed by main written examinations and oral test. For other services the process generally consists of a main written exam followed by oral test. For services like Group-IV, the procedure involves a Main examination only.

In order to ensure a fairer and faster selection process the Commission has been increasingly resorting to use of Multiple-choice Questions (Objective type). Objective type examinations were introduced to replace the system of manual valuation for most exams. TNPSC uses sophisticated Optical Mark Reading Scanners (OMR Scanners) and computers for this important task of computerised valuation.

TNPSC has continued the practice of issuing advertisements of notifications to various recruitment in major newspapers. Examinations schedules are generally drawn up keeping in view convenience of applicants, who are likely to appear for other major competitive exams. Results of various stages of recruitment are also publicised widely for benefit of applicants.

As far as the oral interview is concerned the Commission followed the number based “Hall” system designed for interview boards consisting of either two or three members. Sir Hall was the Governor of Madras Presidency and also the Chairman of the Madras Service Commission. This system was followed for a number of years till 1987, when it was replaced by a grade-based system.

Over 170 tests meant for Government servants as required under various service rules, including those of TNEB, TWAD & Chennai Metrowater, are conducted by TNPSC every six months. This is also a fairly large piece of work as about 60,000 personnel take the exams every May and 25,000 every December. Besides, these exams, TNPSC also conducts Half-Yearly tests for probationers of All India Services, i.e., IAS, IPS, IFS, State Civil Service, TN Police Service, TN Forest Service, etc. Notifications and Results of these tests are provided in this web-site.