For most TNPSC Group 4 posts the age limit is 18 to 32 for general category candidates, up to 34 for BC and MBC, and up to 37 for SC, SC(A) and ST - and if you belong to a reserved category and studied above 10th standard, there is no maximum age limit at all for the Junior Assistant type posts. VAO and the forest posts need a minimum age of 21 and follow stricter caps. These are the rules from the last notification (No. 07/2025); the 2026 notification expected on 6 October will print its own tables, and we will update this page the same day.
General Category ("Others")
| Post | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|
| Junior Assistant, Junior Revenue Inspector, Typist, Steno-Typist, Personal Clerk, Assistant, Field Assistant | 18 | 32 |
| Village Administrative Officer (VAO) | 21 | 32 |
| Forest Guard / Forest Watcher | 21 | 32 |
BC, BCM, MBC/DC, SC, SC(A) and ST
| Post | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|
| Junior Assistant type posts (as above) | 18 | 34 for BC / BCM / MBC-DC; 37 for SC / SC(A) / ST - and no limit at all if you studied above 10th (see below) |
| Village Administrative Officer (VAO) | 21 | 42 |
| Forest Guard / Forest Watcher | 21 | 37 |
The No-Limit Rule - Group 4's Biggest Age Relaxation
The notification's footnote says it directly: there is no maximum age limit for BC, BCM, MBC/DC, SC, SC(A) and ST candidates who hold a qualification higher than the minimum - that is, anything above 10th standard: 11th, 12th, ITI, diploma or a degree. Three things to know about this rule:
- It applies to the Junior Assistant type posts - not to VAO and not to the forest posts, whose caps (42 and 37) stand even for reserved categories.
- "No limit" still has a ceiling: you should not have completed 60 years at selection.
- General category candidates do not get this rule - their cap stays 32 unless a concession below applies.
Extra Concessions on Top
| Category | General | BC / BCM / MBC / SC / SC(A) / ST |
|---|
| Persons with benchmark disability | Up to 42 (VAO 42) | Up to 44 (BC group) / 47 (SC group); VAO 52; forest posts 37 |
| Ex-servicemen | Up to 50 | Up to 55 (forest posts: service years are deducted from your age, and the result must be within 32 / 37) |
| Destitute widow | Up to 37 | Up to 37; VAO 42 |
Worked Examples in Plain Words
- MBC candidate, 36 years old, 12th pass: Junior Assistant - yes (no-limit rule). VAO - yes (cap 42). Forest Guard - no (cap 37 is fine, but check the 21+ minimum and physical rules).
- SC candidate, 45 years old, degree holder: Junior Assistant, Typist - yes (no-limit rule). VAO - no (cap 42). Forest posts - no (cap 37).
- General category, 33 years old: not eligible for most posts (cap 32), unless the disability, ex-serviceman or destitute widow concession applies.
- BC candidate, 33 years old, only SSLC: the no-limit rule needs a qualification above 10th - so the cap 34 applies. Eligible this year, not after 34.
Two Practical Points
- Age is counted as on 1 July of the notification year (the last notification used 01.07.2025), and your date of birth is verified against your SSLC or HSC mark sheet - make sure your OTR profile matches it exactly.
- There is no limit on the number of attempts - you can apply every time the notification comes, as long as you are within the age limit for your post and category.
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