TNPSC AE Civil 2026: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Cut Off & Free Mock Tests

TNPSC Combined Engineering Services — Assistant Engineer (Civil)

Also searched as: TNPSC AE · TNPSC AE Civil · TNPSC CESE · TNPSC Combined Engineering Services · Tamil Nadu AE Civil

Last updated 9 Sept 2026

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TNPSC AE Civil mock test series

144 tests for TNPSC AE Civil

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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 2026

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 2026 — Key Subjects

Strength of Materials & Structural AnalysisRCC & Steel DesignBuilding MaterialsSoil Mechanics & FoundationsFluid Mechanics & HydraulicsWater Resources & IrrigationEnvironmental EngineeringHighways & TransportationSurveyingGeneral Studies (TN focus)

See the full chapter-wise syllabus, with the weightage each subject got in real previous papers: TNPSC AE Civil syllabus 2026 →

TNPSC AE Civil Eligibility 2026: Qualification & Age Limit

✓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.

TNPSC AE Civil Salary 2026

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.

TNPSC AE Civil Previous Year Papers — Attempt Online

📄 TNPSC AE 2024 PAPER

Every paper comes with detailed solutions, all-India comparison and chapter-wise analytics. All TNPSC AE Civil previous papers with subject-wise weightage →

How to Prepare for TNPSC AE Civil 2026

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.

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TNPSC AE Civil 2026 — 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.

What is the TNPSC AE Civil exam pattern?▾

TNPSC AE Civil has 3 stages. Paper-I: Engineering Subject: Civil Engineering (degree standard) (As notified Q, 200 marks); duration 3 hours. Paper-II: General Studies: General Studies (As notified Q, As notified marks); duration Per official notification. Interview / Oral Test: Personality test (— Q, As notified marks); duration —.

Is there negative marking in TNPSC AE Civil?▾

Paper-I: Engineering Subject: As per the current TNPSC notification. Paper-II: General Studies: As per the current TNPSC notification. Interview / Oral Test: Not applicable.

What is the age limit for TNPSC AE Civil?▾

Paper-I (subject) + Paper-II (GS) + Interview.

Who is eligible for TNPSC AE Civil?▾

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).

What is the salary after TNPSC AE Civil?▾

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.

What is the TNPSC AE Civil syllabus?▾

The key subjects are Strength of Materials & Structural Analysis, RCC & Steel Design, Building Materials, Soil Mechanics & Foundations, Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics, Water Resources & Irrigation, Environmental Engineering, Highways & Transportation, Surveying, General Studies (TN focus).

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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.