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Destitute widow in TNPSC recruitment
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In TNPSC notifications, a destitute widow is a widow whose total monthly income is not more than the ceiling stated in the notification. A divorcee or a deserted woman is not counted. In the Group 4 2026 notification the ceiling is ₹8,000 a month, and destitute widows get a fee exemption, an age concession and a share of the women's reservation.
What the Group 4 2026 notification gives
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Income ceiling | Total monthly income not more than ₹8,000 |
| Excluded | Divorcees and deserted women |
| Exam fee | Full exemption |
| Reservation | 10% of the 30% women's reservation, for posts up to Level 10 |
| Maximum age, most ministerial posts | 35 |
| Maximum age, VAO | 40 |
| Maximum age, some corporation posts | No maximum, varies by post |
For the pay levels, see pay matrix. Posts in the Group 4 table up to Level 10 fall within the reservation.
The ceiling has changed
The Group 2 notification of 2025 put the income ceiling at ₹4,000 a month. The Group 4 2026 notification raised it to ₹8,000. Do not carry a ceiling from one notification to another, and use the exact figure and wording in the notification for the exam you apply to.
It does not apply everywhere
The destitute-widow reservation does not apply to Group 1, although that notification lists an age concession for destitute widows. In the Group 2 2025 notification, destitute widows have no maximum age limit for most posts. Rules therefore differ by group, so read the paragraph for your exam.
An example
A widow aged 34 in the Others category applies for a Junior Assistant post in Group 4 2026 and meets the income test. The limit for Others is 30, but the destitute-widow limit for most ministerial posts is 35, so she is within the age limit. She also pays no exam fee. At 36 she would be over both limits unless a higher qualification removed the upper limit, which is a separate rule.
Proof you will need
TNPSC checks the claim at certificate verification. Keep the documents the notification asks for ready before you apply, because a false fee-concession claim leads to rejection and a one-year debarment.
Frequently asked questions
Does a divorced woman count as a destitute widow?
No. The notification excludes divorcees and deserted women.
Is the income ceiling still ₹8,000?
That is the figure in the Group 4 2026 notification. Check the ceiling in every new notification.
Does the destitute widow reservation apply to Group 1?
No, though age concessions are listed.
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- 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.
- BC, MBC, SC, ST categoriesWhat BC(OBCM), BCM, MBC/DC, SC, SC(A) and ST mean in TNPSC notifications, with Tamil Nadu's reservation percentages, age limits and fee rules for each.
- Ex-servicemanHow TNPSC treats ex-servicemen: age limits of 48 or 53 in Group 4, 50 and 55 in Group 1, two free fee chances, and no reservation in Group 1.
- 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.
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