Counselling
The post-CV stage where candidates are called in rank order to choose posts and departments from available vacancies.
Your rank decides when you pick, and your submitted preference order decides what you get at that turn, so a strong rank with careless preferences still lands the wrong post. Some cycles run counselling in person, others collect web-based preferences. Leaving preferences blank can forfeit options at counselling: list every post you would genuinely join.
Related terms
Certificate Verification (CV)
The stage where TNPSC checks original certificates, education, age, community, PSTM and special claims, against your application. Unproved claims are dropped.
Single Window Counselling
Counselling conducted in one centralised sitting where verification and post allotment happen together, instead of department-by-department rounds.
Prelims (Preliminary Examination)
The screening stage of multi-stage exams like Group 1 and 2: objective paper whose marks shortlist candidates for mains but don't count in final merit.
Mains (Main Written Examination)
The merit-deciding descriptive stage for Group 1 and Group 2 interview posts. Final selection lists are built from mains marks (plus interview where applicable).
Interview Post
A post whose selection includes an oral test after the written exam, Group 1 posts and Group 2 (CCSE-II) interview posts.
Non-Interview Post
A post filled purely on written marks plus certificate verification, all of Group 2A and Group 4. No oral test stage.
This definition follows official TNPSC notifications and Tamil Nadu government orders. Sources: TNPSC official notifications. Figures are indicative and may change with each official notification. Data last reviewed: July 2026.
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