Reserve List
The waitlist after the main selection list. Filled only when selected candidates don't join, and it lapses after the notified period.
A reserve list position is not a job offer: it converts only when a selected candidate fails to join and a replacement is drawn in merit order. The list exists per recruitment, lapses after the period specified in the notification, and carries nothing into the next cycle, a point candidates on it often misread as a standing claim.
Related terms
Merit List
The rank order of qualified candidates by total marks, onto which communal rotation is applied to produce the selection list.
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.
Answer Key Challenge
The objection window after TNPSC publishes its tentative answer key, where candidates submit evidence-backed representations against disputed answers.
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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