Checked 7 October 2026. From Notification 04/2026 (24.09.2026) and its Annexure I timetable for 14 to 23 November 2026. The Commission may "alter and modify" terms, change dates and shift centres; hall tickets appear seven days before the first paper. PC 162 and PC 155 are undated.
A TGPSC departmental test is identified by a paper code (PC), not by a name. The application form, the hall ticket, the timetable and the pass list all use the code, and one test can have up to six of them. This guide lists what the code means, how the paper is conducted, what you can carry in, and where each paper falls in the 14 to 23 November 2026 sitting.
Where other pages get this wrong
A departmental test is not an OMR paper any more: objective tests are computer-based, and so are the question papers of the descriptive tests.
Commonly published instead: Guides that still describe an OMR answer sheet and a paper booklet for every paper.
Notification 04/2026, para I.4: "Examinations shall be conducted in online mode in computer Based Test (CBT) method of examination." Para III(vi) adds that even the conventional papers show the question paper on the screen after login, with a pen-and-answer-book OMR sheet for the written answers. Notification 04/2024 (November 2024) already described the same online CBT mode.
Notification 04/2026 para III and the scheme-and-syllabus sheets, official.
- Art. 38: both sanction and funds needed
- Unused sanction lapses in 1 year (Art. 50)
- 12 traps and a 12-question self-test
- Arrear claims: 1 year; ₹500 within 3 years
- Pay on last working day; bill 5 days early
- Recoveries capped at one-third of pay
The pattern in one table
| Feature | Objective tests | Descriptive tests | Computer test (PC 162) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) at a Commission-allotted centre; four-option multiple choice; numerical-answer questions use an on-screen keypad | Question paper on the screen; answers written in an answer book attached to an OMR sheet, in blue or black ink | Typing and software tasks on a computer, theory and practical |
| Which paper codes | All tests except the language and survey tests | PC 5, 6, 7, 19, 28, 36, 49, 67, 37, 58, 74 (language) and PC 69, 87, 110, 112, 117, 119, 121, 122, 134, 135 (survey and settlement): 21 codes on our count | PC 162 only |
| Duration | 2 hours (120 minutes) | 3 hours, except PC 5 which is 2 hours | 1 hour |
| Sessions | 10.00 am to 12.00 noon; 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm | 10.00 am to 1.00 pm; 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm | Not yet dated |
| Maximum marks | 100 per paper (syllabus sheets) | 100 per paper in the syllabus scans we read; PC 6 and 7 are shown as 200 marks in Annexure III | 100 |
| Pass mark | 40 per paper; some tests must be passed together (see the results guide) | 40 per part in the scans we read | 40 |
| Language of questions | English only | English, plus the chosen language for the Translation tests and for the Survey and Settlement Surveyor’s tests | English |
Official (Notification 04/2026 para III, para VIII; syllabus sheets). Our count of descriptive codes comes from para III(iv). No negative marking is mentioned in the notification or in the syllabus sheets we read; none is claimed here. The 40 pass mark is from the syllabus sheets we read; we did not confirm a pass mark for the papers shown as 200 marks (PC 6 and 7), so do not assume 40 there.
- Art. 38: both sanction and funds needed
- Unused sanction lapses in 1 year (Art. 50)
- 12 traps and a 12-question self-test
- Arrear claims: 1 year; ₹500 within 3 years
- Pay on last working day; bill 5 days early
- Recoveries capped at one-third of pay
"With books" and "without books"
Every paper in Annexure I is tagged WITH BOOKS or WITHOUT BOOKS. Of the 146 papers that carry a date, 89 are with books and 57 without (our count of Annexure I). The rule for a with-books paper is narrow: "THE CANDIDATE IS PERMITTED TO BRING BARE ACTS ONLY. GUIDES, BOOKS CONTAINING COMMENTARIES, MADE EASY, WRITTEN OR ROENOED BOOKS, & XEROX COPIES, DIARIES, NOTES SUPPLIED BY THE TRAINING INSTITUTES & HAND BOOKS ARE NOT PERMITTED." Where a syllabus sheet lists "books to be allowed" (PC 8, PC 10), those are the codes and manuals the Commission has in mind.
A with-books test is not an easy test: the code in your hand only helps if you can find the right rule inside the paper’s time, which is why familiarity with the layout of the book matters. The "without books" papers tend to be technical or manual-based ones, for example the Forest first papers, the Divisional Test Part I, the Fire Service manual, the Sericulture papers, the Survey tests and PC 162.
| Without-books papers | Day | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Service Part I (PC 16, 25) | 14 Nov | FN and AN |
| Forest Law first paper (PC 17); Land Revenue first paper (PC 42); Office Procedure first paper (PC 76); Forest ministerial second paper (PC 125) | 14, 14, 20, 20 Nov | FN, AN, FN, FN |
| Excise Test-C first paper (PC 21); Test-D first paper (PC 54) | 14 and 20 Nov | FN and FN |
| Fisheries Test II (PC 15, 24, 56, 85) | 18, 14, 14, 20 Nov | AN, FN, AN, FN |
| Divisional Test (PC 30, 63, 81, 113) | 18, 14, 14, 20 Nov | AN, FN, AN, FN |
| Sericulture Part I and II (PC 32, 47, 65, 80, 90, 101, 115, 130, 143) | 14 to 20 Nov | various |
| Power utilities AO/AAO (PC 41, 59); State Audit Paper IV (PC 123); Subordinate Accounts Paper V (PC 53) | 14, 20, 14, 20 Nov | AN, FN, AN, FN |
| Employment Service (PC 96, 104); Mines & Geology (PC 150); Endowments first paper (PC 103); Criminal Judicial first and third papers (PC 98, 127); Civil Judicial Part II Paper I (PC 145) | 14 and 20 Nov | FN and AN |
| Language and survey papers; Office Automation (PC 162) | 21 and 23 Nov; PC 162 undated | 3-hour sessions |
Paper codes by test
Annexure III of the notification groups the codes. The pass-together rule printed beside a test is from the Commission’s syllabus sheet; "separately" means each paper can be passed in a different session.
| Test | Paper codes | Papers |
|---|---|---|
| Subordinate Accounts Service Examination | 1, 9, 23, 34, 53, 160 | Six, 100 marks each, five with books and Paper V (PC 53, accountancy) without |
| Deputy Inspector’s Test | 2, 12, 20 | Three; all three in the first attempt, singly afterwards |
| Excise Department Test | 3, 13, 21, 35, 54, 71 | Test-A, B, C (two papers), D (two papers) |
| Clerks in the Police Department | 4 | One, with books |
| Second Class, Gujarathi, Marwari language tests | 5, 6, 7 | Part A written, then viva-voce parts; all parts at a time |
| Accounts Test for Subordinate Officers | 8 (Part I), 10 (Part II) | One each, with books |
| Accounts Test for PW Workshop Officers | 14, 29 | Two, with books |
| Fisheries Department Test II / Test I | 15, 24, 56, 85 / 95 | Four papers without books / one with books |
| Fire Service Department Test | 16, 25, 39 | Part I two papers (pass both at a time), Part II one |
| Forest Department (officers) | 17, 26, 42, 61, 76, 86 | Three subjects, two papers each |
| The Revenue Test | 18, 27, 43, 62 | Four papers, with books |
| The Translation Test | 19, 28 | Two, three hours each |
| Labour, Factories and Boilers | 22, 40, 57, 75 | Parts A to D, with books |
| Divisional Test | 30, 63, 81, 113, 138 | Part I (PC 30, 63) and Part II (PC 81, 113, 138) |
| Treasuries & Accounts Service Examination | 31, 64, 89, 114 (Part I); 46, 79, 100, 129 (Part II) | Four papers in each part |
| Sericulture Department | 32, 65, 90, 115 (Part I); 47, 80, 101, 130, 143 (Part II) | Four and five papers, without books |
| Prisons Department | 33, 48, 66, 82 | Four, with books |
| Special Language Test (Lower, Higher, Advanced) | 36, 49, 67; 37; 58, 74 | Descriptive; Lower includes a viva-voce |
| Power utilities AO/AAO; JAO | 41, 59; 140 | Two papers without books; one with books |
| Works Accounts Service | 44, 78, 99, 128 | Two parts of two papers |
| Civil Judicial Test | 45; 145, 147 | Part I one paper; Part II two papers |
| Animal Husbandry; Registration; TGLI; Revenue Draughtsman; Evidence Act | 51; 52, 70, 83, 94; 60, 68; 69, 87; 77 | Registration has three groups |
| State Audit; Education (Gazetted) | 84, 93, 105, 123; 88, 97 | Four papers; two papers to pass at a time |
| Commercial Taxes; Employment Service; Criminal Judicial; Endowments; Transport | 92, 102; 96, 104; 98, 108, 127, 136; 103, 126; 106, 124 | Two to four papers each |
| Forest ministerial; Survey and Settlement; Computation | 107, 125, 139; 110, 119, 112, 121, 117, 134; 122, 135 | Survey papers are descriptive and without books |
| Press; Stationery; PWD Accounts; Executive Officers; Agriculture; Local Bodies | 131; 132; 137, 142; 141; 144; 146, 148 | With books |
| TGPSC staff; Mines & Geology; Marketing; Electrical Inspectorate; Third Class Language; Juvenile Welfare; Office Automation | 149, 161; 150; 151; 152, 153; 155; 156 to 159; 162 | PC 162: one hour |
Official, from Notification 04/2026 Annexure III. Fourteen numbers below 162 (11, 38, 50, 55, 72, 73, 91, 109, 111, 116, 118, 120, 133, 154) are not in the November 2026 notification. The notification says the Commission may cancel Andhra-region survey papers (PC 55, 72, 109, 118, 111, 120, 116, 133) and that PC 154 was repealed by G.O.Rt.No.09 of 06.01.2017; we could not find an official reason for the other five numbers.
November 2026 timetable at a glance
The sitting runs for nine days with 22 November left empty. These counts are ours, from Annexure I of the notification; the paper-by-paper list is in the lookup tool below and on the Commission’s notification.
| Day | Forenoon papers | Afternoon papers | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov (Sat) | 11 | 10 | 21 |
| 15 Nov (Sun) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 Nov (Mon) | 12 | 17 | 29 |
| 17 Nov (Tue) | 12 | 10 | 22 |
| 18 Nov (Wed) | 9 | 12 | 21 |
| 19 Nov (Thu) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 20 Nov (Fri) | 12 | 16 | 28 |
| 21 Nov (Sat) | 8 | 8 | 16 |
| 23 Nov (Mon) | 5 | 0 | 5 |
The two heaviest days, 16 and 20 November, carry 29 and 28 papers; 15 and 19 November carry two each: 15 November has PC 141 (Accounts Test for Executive Officers, forenoon) and PC 8 (Accounts Test for Subordinate Officers Part-I, afternoon); 19 November has PC 88 and PC 97 (Education Department Gazetted Officers, first and second paper).
Three timetable facts worth planning around
- The big open tests are on their own days. PC 141 (Accounts Test for Executive Officers) is on 15 November forenoon, PC 8 (Accounts Subordinate Part I) the same afternoon, and PC 88 and 97 (Education Gazetted Officers) on 19 November. The two Accounts tests therefore do not clash with each other.
- PC 10 (Accounts Subordinate Part II) is on 16 November forenoon, so a candidate taking Parts I and II has Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, in that order.
- Multi-paper tests spread over days. The Treasuries & Accounts examination uses 14, 16, 17, 18 and 20 November; the Revenue Test uses 17 and 18 November. Check each paper’s day, not only the test’s.
Our reading of Annexure I (official).
- Art. 38: both sanction and funds needed
- Unused sanction lapses in 1 year (Art. 50)
- 12 traps and a 12-question self-test
- Arrear claims: 1 year; ₹500 within 3 years
- Pay on last working day; bill 5 days early
- Recoveries capped at one-third of pay
On the day: what the notification requires
| Rule | What the notification says |
|---|---|
| Report to the venue | One and a half hours before the paper (one hour for PC 162); photo capture and checks happen then. Gates close half an hour before (15 minutes before for PC 162) |
| Entry after the start | Not admitted once the examination has commenced; no one may leave before the duration is complete |
| Bring | Hall ticket and an original ID (employee ID or Aadhaar); a ball-point pen in blue or black for descriptive papers |
| Do not bring | Phones, tablets, pen drives, Bluetooth devices, watches, programmable calculators, log tables, wallets, purses, notes, charts, loose sheets. Frisking is carried out; possession invalidates candidature |
| Login | Login ID is the hall ticket number; the password is announced by the invigilator 15 minutes before the paper |
| In the CBT | Question palette colours show unattempted, unanswered, answered and marked-for-review; responses are saved on a log-out and the exam resumes where it stopped; do not touch the keyboard or the ID locks |
| After the paper | Response sheets of objective papers are hosted on the Commission’s website until results are announced; question papers of descriptive tests can be downloaded for one month |
A conflict worth knowing about: paragraph VIII(xii) says calculators, including scientific ones, are not allowed except for the Survey departmental tests, while the descriptive-examination instructions say candidates "are permitted to use calculators for Descriptive examination" and that an on-screen calculator is provided inside the examination interface. The notification does not reconcile the two. Do not carry a physical calculator unless your descriptive paper is a Survey paper and the hall ticket says so.
Frequently asked questions
What is a paper code?
The number the Commission gives each paper of a test. A test such as the Revenue Test has four codes (18, 27, 43, 62). You select codes on the application form and the hall ticket lists them.
How many questions are in a departmental test paper?
The notification and the syllabus sheets do not state a question count. They state 100 maximum marks and 2 hours for an objective paper. We have not seen a published question count, so none is claimed.
Is there negative marking?
Neither the notification nor the syllabus sheets we read mention negative marking. We could not confirm it either way from the Commission’s documents; check the instructions on your hall ticket.
What is the exam centre?
Notification 04/2026 puts all papers in the HMDA jurisdiction, including Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal Malkajgiri, or as decided by the Commission.
When are hall tickets released?
Seven days before the commencement of the examination, on the Commission’s website. For a sitting that starts on 14 November 2026 that is about 7 November, by our arithmetic.
Can I take two tests in the same session?
No. Two papers in the same session on the same day cannot both be sat. The notification lets open-to-all applicants apply for more than one test only to the extent the timetable permits.
When is the office-automation test (PC 162)?
The notification says its dates "will be announced later". Watch tgpsc.gov.in and the hall ticket notice.
Sources
- official — TGPSC Notification No. 04/2026, dated 24.09.2026 (November 2026 session): eligibility, scheme, timetable (Annexure I), fee, instructions, list of tests and paper codes (Annexure III)
- official — TGPSC web note for Notification 04/2026: apply 26.09.2026 to 17.10.2026 by 5.00 PM; examinations 14.11.2026 to 23.11.2026 except 22.11.2026; PC 162 dates later
- official — TGPSC Notification No. 02/2026 (May 2026 session, 26.02.2026): same fee and scheme; G.O.Ms.No.237 and 238 on the office-automation test
- official — TGPSC departmental tests scheme and syllabus index (58 distinct PDFs by paper code), tspscdeptltest.telangana.gov.in
- official — TGPSC Departmental Examinations page: session table 2021 to 2026, twice a year (May and November), Notification 04/2026 window
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
