CHENNAI, September 28: The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) is expected to release the provisional answer key for the Combined Civil Services Examination-I (Group-I Services) 2026 shortly after conducting the preliminary examination on September 27. Candidates who appeared for the exam will be able to check the tentative key on the Commission’s official website once it is uploaded.
TNPSC has not announced an exact release date for the 2026 answer key. However, the Commission’s published procedure says tentative answer keys for objective examinations are generally hosted within six working days of the examination.
TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Exam Held on September 27
The Group 1 preliminary examination was conducted on Sunday, September 27, 2026, as part of the recruitment process for senior Tamil Nadu government posts.
According to the latest TNPSC recruitment information reported on September 28, the selection exercise covers 46 vacancies under Group-I Services.
More Than 1.65 Lakh Candidates Appeared
Around 1,65,828 candidates appeared for the preliminary examination across Tamil Nadu.
A total of approximately 2,23,440 candidates had applied, while 57,612 were absent, according to a Times of India report published after the examination.
The examination was conducted for 300 marks, with candidates answering 175 General Studies questions and 25 questions testing mental ability.
Answer Key Expected Within Six Working Days
TNPSC has not provided a specific calendar date for publication of the provisional answer key.
However, its answer-key guidelines state that tentative keys for objective examinations are normally uploaded within six working days after the exam. Candidates should therefore continue monitoring the TNPSC website for an official release.
How to Download TNPSC Group 1 Answer Key 2026
Once released, candidates will be able to access the provisional answer key through the official TNPSC website.
Candidates will need to visit the answer-key section, locate the Combined Civil Services Examination-I (Group-I Services) entry and download the relevant provisional key.
The answer key can then be compared with the responses marked during the examination to estimate performance before the preliminary result is announced.
Candidates Will Be Allowed to Raise Objections
TNPSC’s answer-key process allows candidates to challenge answers they believe are incorrect.
Once the provisional key is published, candidates will need to submit objections according to the procedure and deadline specified by the Commission.
TNPSC will examine valid challenges before finalising the answers used for evaluation.
Candidates Advised to Keep Question Papers and Responses
Candidates are advised to retain their question papers and marked responses while waiting for the provisional answer key.
These can be compared with the official solutions after publication to identify possible discrepancies and calculate an approximate score according to the applicable marking scheme.
Recruitment Includes Senior Government Posts
The TNPSC Group 1 recruitment process is used to select candidates for senior administrative posts in the Tamil Nadu government.
The current recruitment covers positions including Deputy Collector, Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Registrar and District Registrar, among others.
Candidates qualifying in the preliminary examination will move to subsequent stages of the recruitment process.
Candidates to Be Shortlisted for Main Examination
TNPSC will use the preliminary examination to shortlist candidates for the next stage.
According to the examination details reported after Sunday’s test, candidates are expected to be shortlisted for the Main Examination in a 1:20 ratio.
The preliminary examination therefore serves primarily as a screening stage before candidates move on to the more detailed Main Examination.
Some Candidates Call Paper Moderately Difficult
Candidates interviewed after the examination described the paper as moderately difficult and time-consuming.
Some candidates also said they were surprised that the current-affairs portion did not include several recent events or questions relating to the Tamil Nadu budget and state government schemes.
These are candidate assessments and do not represent an official TNPSC evaluation of the difficulty level.
TNPSC Group 1 Result Date Not Announced
The Commission has also not announced a date for the preliminary examination result.
For now, candidates are awaiting the provisional answer key, after which objections will be considered as part of TNPSC’s examination process.
Candidates should rely on the official TNPSC portal for the answer key, objection instructions and subsequent result announcements rather than unofficial answer keys circulating online.
Source – Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission / Times of India
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