TNPSC AE Civil 2026: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Cut Off & Free Mock Tests
TNPSC Combined Engineering Services — Assistant Engineer (Civil)
TNPSC Assistant Engineer (Civil) is recruited through the Combined Engineering Services Examination (CESE) for Tamil Nadu departments — PWD, Highways, Rural Development and allied bodies.
The written examination pairs a technical paper with general studies, followed by an interview, and questions for civil engineering are set in both English and Tamil.
TNPSC AE Civil 2026 — Overview
| Conducting body | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
| Post | Assistant Engineer (Civil) — TN departments |
| Exam | Combined Engineering Services Examination (CESE) |
| Stages | Paper-I (subject) + Paper-II (GS) + Interview |
| Eligibility | Degree in Civil Engineering + Tamil knowledge |
| Languages | Civil paper set in English and Tamil |
TNPSC AE Civil Exam Pattern
Paper-I: Engineering Subject
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering (degree standard) | As notified | 200 |
Duration: 3 hours
Negative marking: As per the current TNPSC notification
Paper-II: General Studies
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | As notified | As notified |
Duration: Per official notification
Negative marking: As per the current TNPSC notification
Interview / Oral Test
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Personality test | — | As notified |
Duration: —
Negative marking: Not applicable
ℹ️ Final selection = written + oral test combined, subject to reservation rules. Verify the current CESE notification for exact marks.
TNPSC AE Civil Syllabus — Key Subjects
See the detailed chapter-wise syllabus (built from real previous-year papers) on the TNPSC AE Civil test series page →
Eligibility
- ✓Degree in Civil Engineering (or the equivalent qualification chain specified: 10th + HSC/Diploma + UG) recognised by UGC.
- ✓Knowledge of Tamil as on the date of notification (per TNPSC rules).
- ✓Age limits per the current CESE notification with TN category relaxations.
Salary & Career
TNPSC AE posts are on the Tamil Nadu pay matrix at AE grade (₹56,100 starting basic band) — in-hand typically ₹65,000–₹75,000 per month with allowances.
TNPSC AE Civil Cut Off
TNPSC publishes cutoffs per CESE cycle on tnpsc.gov.in — they vary with department-wise vacancy distribution.
How to Prepare for TNPSC AE Civil
- 1The Tamil-knowledge requirement is a formal eligibility condition — confirm compliance before applying.
- 2PWD and Highways recruit the bulk of posts — transportation and construction-management topics reward extra depth.
- 3Bilingual papers let you answer in your faster language — practise accordingly.
- 4TNPSC's general studies has a strong Tamil Nadu flavour (state schemes, geography, history) — prepare it like a state-PCS GS paper.
Start Practising TNPSC AE Civil — Free
Exam-pattern mocks, previous-year papers, detailed solutions and chapter-wise analytics — built only for civil engineers, by a civil engineer who cleared these exams.
TNPSC AE Civil — Frequently Asked Questions
What is TNPSC CESE?▾
The Combined Engineering Services Examination — TNPSC's common recruitment exam for Assistant Engineer posts (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical) across Tamil Nadu departments.
Is Tamil compulsory for TNPSC AE?▾
Candidates must possess knowledge of Tamil as per TNPSC rules on the date of notification.
Where can I practise TNPSC AE civil mock tests?▾
CIVILGYAN TEST SERIES offers degree-standard civil mocks and chapter tests suited to CESE, with detailed solutions — free tests available.
Explore Other Exam Guides
Disclaimer: Exam patterns, cutoffs, vacancies and eligibility rules change between recruitment cycles. The figures above are compiled for guidance from past cycles — always verify details from the official notification of the conducting body before applying.