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Counselling in TNPSC recruitment
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Counselling in TNPSC is the final allotment stage. Candidates who have cleared the written exam and certificate verification are called in rank order to be allotted a post and department from the vacancies available. It has nothing to do with advice or guidance, and it is not the same as MCC or state counselling for NEET.
Where counselling sits
For Group 4, the sequence in the 2026 notification is the written exam, then on-screen certificate verification, then counselling. At each step the number of candidates called is limited by a shortlist ratio. For VAO, Junior Assistant and Steno-Typist posts, the counselling ratio is 1:3 for general candidates and 1:1.5 for reserved candidates. Typist posts use 1:3 and 1:2.
What decides what you get
- Rank: the higher your rank, the earlier you are called and the wider the choice of posts and departments that remain.
- Community: each vacancy sits in a community turn under the communal rotation, so the posts open to you depend on your category too.
- Vacancies: the vacancy table in the notification is tentative. Group 4 2026 says its 6,574 vacancies are "liable for modification before counselling", so the final list of posts on offer can differ from the table. The count may include backlog vacancies.
- Post code: posts are identified by a post code in the lists.
What the list looks like
TNPSC publishes lists of the register numbers called for counselling. The Group 4 2024 counselling list, published for Notification 01/2024, covers post codes such as 1655 (Executive Officer Grade IV) and 1095 (Junior Inspector of Co-operative Societies), and it lists register numbers only, with no cut-off marks. So you check your own register number against the list.
An example
A candidate ranked within the 1:3 shortlist for Junior Assistant is called to counselling with documents. Posts and departments still open at that rank are offered, and the candidate picks from them. A later-ranked candidate sees fewer choices. Which posts remain at a given rank cannot be predicted from last year, because it depends on this year's vacancies and community turns.
For the step-by-step process, documents and timing, see the TNPSC counselling guide. For vacancy tables, see TNPSC vacancies.
Frequently asked questions
Is TNPSC counselling the same as NEET counselling?
No. NEET counselling allots seats and colleges. TNPSC counselling allots posts and departments.
Does a counselling call mean I have a job?
It means you are shortlisted for allotment. The post you receive depends on your rank, your community turn and the vacancies at that time.
Where do I check the counselling list?
On TNPSC's official website, listed against the recruitment. The list uses register numbers.
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- Shortlist ratioA shortlist ratio is how many candidates TNPSC calls per vacancy at each stage. See the ratios for Group 1, Group 2 and Group 4 and how to read 1:3.
- Certificate verificationCertificate verification is the TNPSC stage where your age, community and fee-concession claims are checked against documents. See when it happens.
- 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.
- TNPSC counsellingHow TNPSC counselling works after Group 4: the 1:3, 1:2 and 1:1.5 shortlist ratios, certificate verification, documents to keep ready and choosing posts.
- TNPSC vacanciesTNPSC vacancy 2026 by exam: Group 4's 6,574 vacancies post by post, Group 2/2A and Group 1 counts, where TNPSC announces them and how they change.
More in TNPSC
- TNPSC answer keyA TNPSC answer key lists the correct options for an objective exam. Learn the tentative and final keys, where to find them and how to work out your score.
- TNPSC cut-off marksTNPSC cut-off marks are the last scores that earned a stage or selection. Learn how they differ from minimum marks and which published numbers to ignore.
- Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring TestPart A of TNPSC Group 4 is a Tamil-only test of 100 questions, 150 marks. Score under 40% and Parts B and C go unevaluated; above it, marks count for rank.
- TNPSC notificationA TNPSC notification is the official document that opens a recruitment. Learn what the notification number and Advt number mean and what to read first.
- Syllabus codeA TNPSC syllabus code is the number printed on each exam's syllabus: Group 4 is 496, Group 2 prelims 495, Group 1 prelims 497. See the Group 2 mains codes too.
- TNPSC rank listA TNPSC rank list orders candidates by the marks that count in their exam. See what counts in Group 1, Group 2 and Group 4, and what does not enter your rank.
- tnpscexams.intnpscexams.in is where you register (OTR) and apply for TNPSC exams; tnpsc.gov.in is the information site. See which to use, plus helpdesk contacts.
- Steno-Typist Grade IIISteno-Typist Grade III is a TNPSC Group 4 post at Level 10 needing typewriting and shorthand. See the 2026 vacancies, code 2300 and counselling ratio.