TNPSC Group 1 Answer Key 2026, Prelims Answer Key & Objection

TNPSC Group 1 Answer Key 2026 – Overview

What is an Answer Key and Why Does It Matter? (Simple Explanation)

Answer Key Status Right Now (28 September 2026)

• The TNPSC Group 1 Prelims exam was conducted on 27 September 2026
• As per the reference source, the official answer key has not been released yet on tnpsc.gov.in and is expected in the coming days
• TNPSC has not announced an official date for the answer key. Going by the usual pattern, it may come out around the end of September or the first week of October 2026, but this is only an expectation and not an official date
• Some coaching institutes have already put out unofficial answer keys made by their own teachers. These can give you a rough idea, but they are not issued by TNPSC and can have mistakes

Note: A few websites have written that the official key is already out. Please do not rely on that — open tnpsc.gov.in yourself and confirm before you calculate your final score.

Important Dates — TNPSC Group 1 2026 Cycle

About This Recruitment — Posts and Vacancies

The Group 1 exam is one of the most respected state government exams in Tamil Nadu, because it selects officers for top administrative posts. The 2026 recruitment started with 26 vacancies, and later an addendum raised the total to 46 vacancies by adding more posts.

Posts covered under Group 1 Services include:

• Deputy Collector
• Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes)
• Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies
• District Registrar
• Assistant Commissioner of Labour
• Assistant Director of Rural Development
• District Employment Officer

Basic qualification: A Bachelor’s degree, with some preferences depending on the post. The exact post-wise details are given in Notification No. 05/2026 on tnpsc.gov.in.

Exam centres: The Prelims was held at 38 district centres across Tamil Nadu, while the Mains exam will be held only in Chennai.

How to Download TNPSC Group 1 Answer Key 2026 (Once Released)

• Go to the official website — tnpsc.gov.in
• Open the Answer Keys section or the latest announcements link
• Click on the answer key link for the “Combined Civil Services Examination-I (Group-I Services) Preliminary Examination”
• The answer key PDF will open on your screen
• Download the PDF and save a copy on your phone or computer
• Check your question booklet code (series) first, and then match each answer you marked with the key

How to Calculate Your Expected Marks (Easy Method)

The Prelims paper has 200 questions for 300 marks, so every correct answer gives 1.5 marks. Use this simple formula:

Expected Marks = Number of Correct Answers × 1.5

TNPSC Group 1 Exam Pattern and Selection Process

Prelims (already held): 200 objective-type questions, 300 marks, 3 hours. This stage is only for shortlisting — Prelims marks are not added to your final rank.

The selection has three stages:

• Stage 1 — Preliminary Examination: Candidates are shortlisted for Mains in a ratio of about 1:20 (roughly 20 candidates for every 1 vacancy)
• Stage 2 — Main Examination: A descriptive exam with a Tamil language paper (qualifying in nature) plus three descriptive General Studies papers of 250 marks each. It will be held only in Chennai
• Stage 3 — Interview: An interview of 100 marks

Marks used for final ranking = 850 (three Mains papers × 250 = 750, plus 100 for the Interview). Prelims marks and the Tamil paper marks do not count in this total.

Can You Challenge the Answer Key? (Objection Process)

• The exact objection window and process for this exam has not been announced yet
• In most TNPSC exams, candidates are allowed to send objections online through the official website within a few days after the tentative answer key is published
• You are usually asked to give the question number, your suggested answer, and proof or a reference (like a textbook page or an official source)
• If you think an answer is wrong, keep your proof ready in advance so that you do not lose time once the window opens
• Follow only the process given on tnpsc.gov.in — do not send money or personal details to anyone offering to “correct” the key

Important Instructions and Warnings for Candidates

• Rely only on tnpsc.gov.in for the official answer key, dates and objection rules
• Do not pay anyone for a “confirmed” answer key or a promise of changing your marks — this is a fraud
• Check your question booklet code carefully before matching answers, since the order of questions can differ between booklet series
• Keep your admit card and application number ready for any login or objection step
• Do not treat an unofficial score as your final result — your actual result depends on the official key and the final cut-off

What to Do While You Wait for the Official Key

• Do not stop studying. Since Mains is a descriptive exam, start revising the Mains syllabus and practising answer writing now, so you do not lose time if you clear the Prelims
• Note down the questions you were unsure about and check them from reliable books or the official Tamil Nadu textbooks, so you can prepare a proper objection with proof if needed
• Compare your answers with two or three unofficial keys, not just one — if all of them match, that answer is more likely to be correct
• Keep in mind that the final cut-off depends on how many candidates score well and how many vacancies there are, so a good score does not guarantee a place, and a slightly low score does not always mean failure
• Keep the mark sheet of your own estimated score safely, so that you can compare it later with the actual result
• Keep visiting tnpsc.gov.in regularly for the answer key, objection link and result announcements

important links