Merit List
The rank order of qualified candidates by total marks, onto which communal rotation is applied to produce the selection list.
For interview posts, oral test marks are added to the written score before ranking; for everything else the written total is the rank. Ties are typically resolved by criteria such as date of birth, as specified in the notification. The merit list is not the selection list: communal rotation is applied on top of it to allot roster points.
Related terms
Reserve List
The waitlist after the main selection list. Filled only when selected candidates don't join, and it lapses after the notified period.
Communal Rotation
The 200-point roster Tamil Nadu uses to distribute vacancies across categories (GT, BC, BCM, MBC/DNC, SC, SCA, ST) in a fixed repeating order.
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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