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Who is a destitute widow for TNPSC?
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In the TNPSC Group 4 2026 notification, a destitute widow is a widow whose total monthly income is not more than Rs.8,000. A divorcee or a deserted woman does not count. If you qualify, you get a fee exemption, an age concession and a share of the women's reservation.
The definition
Annexure II (para 3.1) of Notification No. 11/2026 defines the term by income. The ceiling changed between cycles:
| Notification | Monthly income ceiling |
|---|---|
| Group 2/2A, No. 11/2025 | Rs.4,000 |
| Group 4, No. 11/2026 | Rs.8,000 |
Use the ceiling in the notification you are applying under, because the figure can differ from one to the next.
What a destitute widow gets in Group 4 (2026)
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee | Full exemption from the exam fee |
| Reservation | 10 percent of the women's 30 percent, for posts up to Level 10 |
| Age, most ministerial posts | Maximum 35 |
| Age, VAO | Maximum 40 |
| Age, Executive Officer Grade IV | Maximum 40 |
| Age, some corporation posts | No maximum age limit |
"No maximum age limit" in TNPSC notifications means you must not have completed 60 years. Check the age row of your own post in para 4.1 of the notification.
Other exams
- Group 2 and 2A (2025): the age limit shows no maximum for destitute widows for most posts.
- Group 1 (2025): the destitute-widow reservation does not apply, but an age concession of up to 39 is listed.
What you need to claim it
Claim the concession in the application, as with other fee exemptions, and keep your documents ready for certificate verification. A false claim leads to rejection and a one-year debarment. The fee exemption answer lists who else is exempt.
The wider women's quota is explained in reservation for women, and the age tables for each group are on the TNPSC age limit and eligibility page.
Source
- TNPSC Group 4 Notification No. 11/2026, para 4.1 and Annexure II
- TNPSC Group 2/2A Notification No. 11/2025
Confirm the income ceiling in the current notification.
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- Women's reservation in TNPSCTNPSC Group 4 reserves 30 percent of posts for women, with a further 10 percent of that for destitute widows up to Level 10. How the quota works in 2026.
- TNPSC fee exemptionSC, SC(A), ST, disabled candidates and destitute widows pay no TNPSC exam fee. BC, MBC and DC get 3 free chances and ex-servicemen 2. How the count works.
- Group 4 age limitGroup 4 age limit as on 1 July 2026: 30 for Others, 32 for BC/MBC, 35 for SC/ST on most posts, and no maximum for higher-qualified reserved candidates.
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