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BC, MBC, SC, SC(A) and ST categories in TNPSC
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TNPSC notifications sort candidates into community categories: BC(OBCM), BCM, MBC/DC, SC, SC(A) and ST, plus Others for candidates with no community concession. Tamil Nadu reserves a fixed share of vacancies for each, and your category also sets your age limit and fee concession.
Full forms and reservation shares
| Abbreviation | Full form | Share of vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| BC(OBCM) | Backward Classes other than Backward Class Muslims | 26.5% |
| BCM | Backward Class Muslims | 3.5% |
| MBC/DC | Most Backward Classes / Denotified Communities | 20% |
| SC | Scheduled Castes | 15% |
| SC(A) | Scheduled Castes (Arunthathiyars) | 3% |
| ST | Scheduled Tribes | 1% |
| General Turn (GT) | Not a community: the unreserved remainder, see General Turn | 31% by subtraction |
"Others" in the age tables means candidates who claim no community concession; it is a different idea from the General Turn share. SC and SC(A) together make up the Scheduled Castes' 18%. These shares are those printed in the Group 4 2026 notification; the 31% for General Turn is arithmetic, not a printed figure. Other reservations, such as 30% for women and 4% for persons with benchmark disabilities, are separate.
How the category changes your application
Using the Group 4 2026 notification for most SSLC-level posts:
| Category | Maximum age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Others | 30 | Pays |
| BC(OBCM), BCM, MBC/DC | 32 | 3 free chances |
| SC, SC(A), ST | 35 | Fully exempt |
The age figures are for the standard posts. VAO and some other posts have different limits, and qualification can remove the upper limit entirely, as explained under higher qualification age relaxation. Fee concessions are explained under fee concession.
Reading your row correctly
- Use your own community name exactly as on your community certificate. A BC certificate does not support an MBC claim.
- How reserved-category candidates are considered for General Turn vacancies is set out in the notification's reservation rules, so read that annexure.
- Reservation shares can differ across recruitments, so check the annexure for the one you apply to.
An example
A BC(OBCM) candidate aged 31 applies for Junior Assistant in the Group 4 2026 recruitment. The limit for BC(OBCM) is 32, so the candidate is within the age limit, while an Others candidate of the same age is not. The candidate also has three free chances for fee concession. How the vacancies are spread across categories is explained under communal rotation.
For the full eligibility rules, see TNPSC age limit and eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
What does MBC/DC stand for in TNPSC?
Most Backward Classes / Denotified Communities, which share one 20% reservation.
Is BCM the same as BC?
No. BCM means Backward Class Muslims and has its own 3.5% share, while BC(OBCM) is the 26.5% share for other backward classes.
Is the reservation the same in every TNPSC exam?
The community shares are set in each notification. Some other reservations differ by group. For example, ex-servicemen and destitute widow reservations do not apply to Group 1.
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- General Turn (GT)General Turn (GT) is the unreserved share of TNPSC vacancies. Learn what GT means, how it differs from Others in age tables, and where its 31% comes from.
- Community certificateA community certificate proves the category you claim in a TNPSC application. See where it matters, the categories involved and how to avoid mismatches.
- Fee concessionHow TNPSC fee concession works: full exemption for SC, SC(A), ST, PwBD and destitute widows, free chances for BC, MBC and ex-servicemen, with fees by exam.
- Communal rotationCommunal rotation is the roster that decides which community each TNPSC vacancy goes to. See how it works and why the percentage alone misleads.
- TNPSC age limit & eligibilityTNPSC age limits for Group 1, Group 2/2A and Group 4 by community, PwBD, ex-servicemen and widows, plus qualification, Tamil knowledge and attempt rules.
More in TNPSC
- Backlog vacancyA backlog vacancy is a reserved post left unfilled in an earlier recruitment and carried forward. See how TNPSC shows it, with Typist as an example.
- Application correction windowThe TNPSC application correction window is a 3-day period after the last date to apply. See the Group 4, Group 2 and Group 1 windows and how to use them.
- CCSECCSE is TNPSC's Combined Civil Services Examination series. See which group each number covers, CCSE-I, II and IV, with notification numbers and posts.
- Certificate verificationCertificate verification is the TNPSC stage where your age, community and fee-concession claims are checked against documents. See when it happens.
- Age reckoning dateTNPSC counts your age on a fixed date, 1 July of the notification year in Groups 1, 2 and 4. See how to calculate it, with worked examples.
- Computer-based test (CBT)A computer-based test (CBT) is answered on a screen, not an OMR sheet. See which TNPSC exams use it: Group 2A Main Paper II and CTSE Interview Posts.
- CTSECTSE is TNPSC's Combined Technical Services Exam for engineering, agriculture and other technical posts. See its three streams and the 2026 planner dates.
- Dearness allowance (DA)Dearness allowance (DA) is an add-on to basic pay that adjusts for price rises. See how DA is worked out for TNPSC posts and why no fixed rate appears here.