About the TN Police SI exam
TNUSRB recruits Sub-Inspectors of Police for the Taluk (law and order) and Armed Reserve wings through one written exam. Open-quota candidates are graduates from outside the force; departmental-quota candidates are serving police personnel, who write a different main paper.
The 2025 recruitment had 1,299 posts (933 Taluk and 366 Armed Reserve) plus 53 shortfall vacancies. Its written exam, first set for June 2025, was postponed over a Supreme Court case and held on 21 December 2025, with over 3 lakh candidates. The result came out on 27 January 2026, followed by the physical tests and viva-voce.
TNUSRB’s Annual Planner 2026–27 lists an SI (Taluk) recruitment for women in December 2026, SI (Technical) in February 2027 and the next joint SI recruitment in June 2027. These are tentative notification dates.
TNUSRB SI exam pattern
The written exam is objective-type, in two parts. There is no negative marking.
| Part | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | Tamil Language Eligibility Test | 100 | 100 | 100 minutes |
| Part II | General Knowledge (80) and Psychology (60) | 140 | 70 | 2½ hours |
- Pass Part I first. You need at least 40 of 100 in the Tamil test, otherwise Part II is not evaluated. Part I marks do not count towards merit.
- Minimum in Part II: 25 marks (35%) for the open quota and 30 for the departmental quota.
- No negative marking. A wrong answer costs nothing, so answer every question.
Eligibility, age limit and height
- Education: a bachelor’s degree from a university recognised by the UGC or the Government.
- Age (2025 notification): 20 to 30 for the general category; up to 32 for BC, BCM and MBC/DNC; up to 35 for SC, SC(A) and ST; up to 37 for destitute widows; up to 47 for ex-servicemen. Departmental-quota candidates have their own limits.
- Tamil: the Part I Tamil test is compulsory for every candidate.
Physical standards
| OC, BC, MBC | SC, SC(A), ST | |
|---|---|---|
| Height, men | 170 cm | 167 cm |
| Height, women | 159 cm | 157 cm |
| Chest, men | 81 cm, with at least 5 cm expansion | 81 cm, with at least 5 cm expansion |
Selection process
- Written exam: Part I (Tamil, qualifying) and Part II (main exam).
- Certificate verification.
- Physical Measurement Test (height and chest) and Endurance Test, both qualifying.
- Physical Efficiency Test, scored for open-quota candidates.
- Viva-voce.
| Stage | Open quota | Departmental quota |
|---|---|---|
| Main written exam (Part II) | 70 | 85 |
| Physical Efficiency Test | 15 | Exempted |
| Viva-voce | 10 | 10 |
| Special marks (NCC, NSS, sports) | 5 | 5 |
TN Police SI syllabus
Part I tests Tamil grammar, literature and Tamil scholars. Part II has General Knowledge (science, history, geography, economics, polity and current affairs) and a Psychology test (logical, numerical and mental ability, communication and information handling). Departmental candidates also answer questions on the new criminal laws and police administration.
How to prepare for the TN Police SI exam
- Make Part I safe early. The Tamil test only needs 40 of 100, but missing it ends your attempt.
- Give General Knowledge the most hours. Its 80 questions are worth 40 of the 70 written marks.
- Treat Psychology as scoring. Its 60 questions are reasoning, numerical and reading tasks that improve quickly with timed practice.
- Use the Samacheer Kalvi textbooks (Classes 6–12) for science, history, geography, polity and economics.
- Train for the physical tests alongside your studies. The PET is worth 15 marks and decides close ranks.
- Sit timed mock tests and go back over every wrong answer a few days later.
Free TN Police SI mock tests
Thervu’s TN Police SI mock tests are timed, set in both Tamil and English, and marked the moment you submit.
- Questions cover the Tamil test, General Knowledge and the Psychology test.
- Choose any length, from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
- Your result shows your score, each subject and the topics that cost you marks; wrong answers come back for revision.
- The free plan includes 3 tests a day, and no card is needed.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next TN Police SI notification?
TNUSRB’s Annual Planner 2026–27 lists an SI (Taluk) recruitment for women in December 2026, SI (Technical) in February 2027 and the next joint SI recruitment in June 2027. Watch tnusrb.tn.gov.in for the notices.
What is the age limit for TN Police SI?
In the 2025 notification: 20 to 30 for the general category, up to 32 for BC, BCM and MBC/DNC, up to 35 for SC, SC(A) and ST, up to 37 for destitute widows and up to 47 for ex-servicemen.
What qualification do I need for TN Police SI?
A bachelor’s degree from a university recognised by the UGC or the Government.
What is the height for TN Police SI?
At least 170 cm for men (167 cm for SC, SC(A) and ST) and 159 cm for women (157 cm for SC, SC(A) and ST). Men also need a chest of 81 cm with at least 5 cm expansion.
Is there negative marking in the TN Police SI exam?
No. A wrong answer loses nothing, so answer every question.
How is the final merit list made?
Out of 100. Open quota: the main written exam (70), the Physical Efficiency Test (15), the viva-voce (10) and special marks for NCC, NSS and sports (5). Departmental quota: the written exam (85), the viva-voce (10) and special marks (5).
Where can I take a free TN Police SI mock test?
On Thervu. Sign up free and take timed TN Police SI mock tests in Tamil and English, marked the moment you submit. The free plan includes 3 tests a day.
Where these facts come from
Pattern, eligibility and selection details are taken from the 2025 notification for Sub-Inspectors of Police (Taluk & AR) published by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB). They can change with each new notification, so check the official notice before you apply.
Official website: www.tnusrb.tn.gov.in
Thervu is an independent practice platform. It is not affiliated with the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB).
TN Police SI guides
TNUSRB SI Notification 2026: Women SI in December, Technical SI and the June 2027 SI Recruitment
TNUSRB's revised planner puts the next SI notices at December 2026 (SI Taluk, women only), February 2027 (SI Technical) and June 2027 (SI direct recruitment). Who can apply to which, what the 2025 notice tells us, and how to prepare.
· 7 min read