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TNPSC annual planner 2026: planned dates, what has already shifted

By the PrepMatic team · Updated 8 Oct 2026 · 6 min read

The TNPSC annual planner is the Commission's tentative calendar of the exams it expects to hold in a year, with a planned notification date and exam date for each. The 2026 edition went up on tnpsc.gov.in on 3 December 2025. It is a guide, not a promise, and the 2026 dates have already moved: Group 4 was notified on schedule on 6 October 2026, but the exam shifted from the planned 20 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.

What the planner is, and what it is not

The planner is a table on the Commission's website (in Tamil and English) listing each examination, a planned notification date, a planned exam date and the number of exam days. TNPSC's own wording is cautious: the programme is tentative, there may be additions or deletions to the examinations, and the syllabus or scheme can still be modified until the notification is published.

So treat it as follows.

• A planned notification date is a window to be ready by, not a date you can wait for. Group 4 was notified on its planned day.
• A planned exam date is the weakest part. The same cycle showed exam dates sliding by one to three weeks.
• Vacancies, final dates and rules come only from the notification. The Group 4 2026 vacancy figure of 6,574, for instance, is itself marked tentative until counselling.
• Third-party tables can be wrong. One news site printed two entries with dates that differ from the official page. The official page is the one to trust.

The 2026 planner, and what has happened since

The Group 4 row is confirmed from the official notification. The Group 1 and Group 2 shifts come from news reports, so check the exam date on tnpsc.gov.in before you build around them. The pattern is consistent, though: where we can see the outcome, notifications kept to the planner and exam dates moved later.

The Group 4 notification also gives the working details for the January exam: the paper runs from 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM, applications close at 11.59 PM on 5 November 2026, and the correction window runs from 9 to 11 November 2026. See TNPSC OTR and how to apply for the steps.

How a TNPSC cycle runs, from the last three notifications

Three things stand out.

1. The application window is about 30 days, followed by a three-day correction window.
2. The gap between the last date and the exam is short. It was 66 days for Group 4 2026, and 46 days for the Group 2 prelims (2025) and the Group 1 prelims (2025). The full notification-to-exam gap was 96, 75 and 75 days. That means roughly six to ten weeks of exam countdown, so you cannot start from zero when the notification arrives.
3. Multi-stage exams stretch out. Group 1's mains came about 24 weeks after its prelims. Group 2's mains date was announced with the prelims results. After the written stage there are further steps such as certificate verification and counselling. In the Group 4 2024 cycle, the exam was on 9 June 2024 and marks were published on 28 October 2024, about 20 weeks later.

Group 2's mains shortlist is 1 to 10 per reservation group, and Group 1's is 1 to 20, so the prelims is a screening step only. Its marks are not counted for rank. The stages are set out in TNPSC groups explained.

Planning a study year around the planner

Because the countdown after a notification is short, the sensible rhythm is to learn first and let the planner decide when to switch gears.

1. Base phase (before the notification). Cover the whole syllabus of your target group once: Tamil, General Studies units and Aptitude. Use the planned notification month as your deadline for a first full pass.
2. Application phase (about 30 days). Register OTR, link Aadhaar, prepare the photo and signature, and apply early. Don't let the application eat study days.
3. Countdown phase (from the last date). With six to ten weeks left, move to unit tests, revision and full-length mocks. A rough shape for a 12-week countdown:

1. Stack related exams. Group 4 and the Group 2 prelims share the same six General Studies units and an Aptitude section, with General Studies at degree standard in Group 2. In 2026 the reported Group 2 prelims date (1 November) falls about ten weeks before the Group 4 exam (10 January 2027), so one syllabus pass serves both.

The step-by-step versions are on the Group 4 study plan and Group 2 study plan, and the beginner roadmap covers starting from zero.

Keeping up with date changes

• Check the planner page and the notifications page on tnpsc.gov.in rather than relying on coaching or news sites, which sometimes print wrong dates.
• This guide covers the 2026 planner. If a newer edition has been published, use it.
• Once a notification is out, the dates in it replace the planner's.

Planning with PrepMatic

PrepMatic builds a study plan from your exam date, your daily study hours (light, moderate or intense pace) and your study days, with a Today view and a Roadmap that runs from months to weeks to topics. Enter the date from the notification, not the planner, so the plan counts back from the real exam. You can log study time, take topic tests and coverage checkpoints on what you have finished, and set study reminders by browser notification or email. The free assessment, about 15 untimed questions, shows your weakest subjects first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the TNPSC annual planner?

It is the Commission's tentative programme of examinations for a year, published on tnpsc.gov.in. It lists each exam with a planned notification date, exam date and number of exam days. The 2026 edition was published on 3 December 2025.

Is the planner date the final exam date?

No. The planner is tentative, and the Group 4 2026 exam moved from the planned 20 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. The notification gives the date to rely on.

When is the TNPSC Group 4 exam in 2026-27?

The Group 4 exam under Notification No. 11/2026 is on 10 January 2027 from 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM. Applications are open until 5 November 2026.

How long after the notification is the TNPSC exam held?

In the three cycles above, it was 75 to 96 days from notification to the first exam, and 46 to 66 days from the last date to apply. Prepare before the notification, not after it.

Can TNPSC add or drop exams from the planner?

Yes. The planner states there may be additions or deletions to the examinations, and the syllabus or scheme can be modified until a notification is published.

Official sources

• TNPSC Annual Planner: the tentative programme of examinations.
• TNPSC notifications: current notifications and dates.
• Group 4 Notification No. 11/2026
• Group 2 and 2A Notification No. 11/2025
• Group 1 Notification No. 04/2025

Dates change. Confirm each date in the latest notification or press release on tnpsc.gov.in. The full set of guides is on the TNPSC exam hub.

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