TNPSC VAO (Village Administrative Officer) Exam Preparation
The Village Administrative Officer (VAO) is the Tamil Nadu government's main revenue official at village level. VAOs are recruited through the TNPSC Group 4 exam (Combined Civil Services Examination IV), so you sit the same paper as Junior Assistant and Typist candidates. What differs is the job, the pay and the conditions of service. This page covers the VAO role, the 2026 vacancies, eligibility, salary, the exam and how to prepare.
Last updated: October 2026
VAO 2026 at a glance
| Detail | VAO 2026 |
|---|---|
| Recruiting exam | TNPSC Group 4 (CCSE-IV) 2026 |
| VAO vacancies | 291 (tentative) |
| Total Group 4 vacancies | 6,574 |
| Online application | 6 October to 5 November 2026 |
| Exam date | 10 January 2027, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Pay scale | ₹19,500 to ₹71,900 (Level 8) |
| Department | Revenue administration, under the Tahsildar |
| Selection | Written exam, then document verification and counselling. No interview. |
| Official website | tnpsc.gov.in |
Vacancy and pay details are taken from the 2026 notification listings and the previous Group 4 notification. Always confirm in the official 2026 notification.
What does a VAO do?
The VAO is the first point of contact between villagers and the revenue administration. The work is varied and people-facing, and it carries real responsibility for land records. Typical duties include:
- Maintaining village land records, such as the Adangal, Chitta and other village accounts, and updating them when land changes hands
- Collecting land revenue and other government dues in the village
- Verifying applications for certificates, such as community, income, nativity and legal heir certificates, before they are issued
- Reporting births, deaths and important events in the village to higher officials
- Assessing and reporting damage after floods, droughts, fires and other disasters, and helping deliver relief
- Helping identify beneficiaries for government welfare schemes
- Supporting elections, the census and surveys at village level
- Keeping officials informed about law and order matters in the village
A VAO reports to the Revenue Inspector and the Tahsildar of the taluk. With experience and departmental exams, VAOs can move up within the revenue administration.
How VAO differs from other Group 4 posts
| VAO | Junior Assistant | Typist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you work | In the village, in the field | Government office | Government office |
| Nature of work | Land records, certificates, field inspections, public contact | Office files and administration | Typing and document work |
| Extra qualification | None beyond SSLC | None beyond SSLC | Typewriting certificate |
| Special conditions | Must live in the village in your charge | Standard | Standard |
| Vacancies in 2026 | 291 | About 3,737 | About 1,572 |
Because there are far fewer VAO posts than Junior Assistant posts, VAO has historically needed a higher score. See our Group 4 cut-off marks guide.
Eligibility
- Education: a pass in SSLC (10th standard) or equivalent.
- Age: in the previous Group 4 notification, the VAO age limit was 21 to 32 years for "Others", and 21 to 42 years for SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC(OBCM), BCM and destitute widows. Extra relaxation applies to persons with benchmark disability and ex-servicemen. Check the 2026 notification for the current limits.
- Residence: a VAO must live in the village they are in charge of, for as long as they hold that charge.
- Physical fitness: a physical fitness certificate is required at joining, including a vision standard.
- Security deposit: a small cash security is payable after joining, depending on community.
- Tamil: candidates need adequate knowledge of Tamil, and the Part A Tamil test is compulsory.
Salary
The VAO post is on Level 8 of the Tamil Nadu pay matrix, ₹19,500 to ₹71,900. On top of basic pay you receive dearness allowance and other allowances, which vary with your posting. Deductions include pension contributions and health insurance. Pay rises with annual increments and promotion.
Exam pattern
VAO candidates take the standard Group 4 paper: one objective paper of 200 questions, worth 300 marks, in 3 hours.
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Tamil (eligibility cum scoring test) | 100 | 150 |
| B | General Studies | 75 | 150 (Part B total) |
| B | Aptitude and Mental Ability | 25 | |
| Total | 200 | 300 |
You must score at least 60 out of 150 in Part A for Part B to be evaluated. No marks are deducted for wrong answers. For the full exam details, see our TNPSC Group 4 exam page.
Syllabus
The VAO syllabus is the same as the Group 4 syllabus, at SSLC level and based mostly on Samacheer Kalvi textbooks. See the complete topic-by-topic syllabus.
Some topics are especially useful for a future VAO, both in the exam and on the job:
- Development Administration in Tamil Nadu: welfare schemes, rural development, social justice and e-governance
- Indian Polity: Panchayati Raj, local government and citizenship
- Indian Economy: rural employment, agriculture and poverty-reduction schemes
- Geography: rivers, soils, crops and natural disasters in Tamil Nadu
- General Tamil: official Tamil terms and translation, which VAOs use daily in records and certificates
Sample questions with answers
Try these before reading the answers. Questions 1 to 5 come from ExamSixer's Group 4 weekly quiz. For more practice, see our question banks and study packages or take the free TNPSC mini test.
General Tamil
1. 'Please collect the certificate from the office within a week.' என்பதற்கான சரியான தமிழாக்கம் எது?
(a) ஒரு வாரத்திற்குள் அலுவலகத்திலிருந்து சான்றிதழைப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ளவும் (b) சான்றிதழ் தபாலில் அனுப்பப்படும் (c) சான்றிதழ் தேவையில்லை (d) சான்றிதழுக்கு ஒரு மாதம் ஆகும்
விடை: (a). 'within a week' என்பது 'ஒரு வாரத்திற்குள்', 'collect' என்பது 'பெற்றுக் கொள்ளவும்' என்று பொருள்படும்.
2. 'அடுத்த ஆண்டு பரீட்சை முடிந்தது' என்பதில் உள்ள பிழையைச் சரி செய்யவும்.
(a) அடுத்த ஆண்டு பரீட்சை முடியும் (b) அடுத்த ஆண்டு பரீட்சை முடிகிறது (c) அடுத்த ஆண்டு பரீட்சை முடிந்துகொண்டிருந்தது (d) பிழை இல்லை
விடை: (a) அடுத்த ஆண்டு பரீட்சை முடியும். 'அடுத்த ஆண்டு' எதிர்காலத்தைக் குறிப்பதால், வினைச்சொல்லும் எதிர்காலத்தில் வர வேண்டும்.
3. 'Rank' (தேர்வு) என்ற சொல்லுக்கான தமிழாக்கம் எது?
(a) தரவரிசை (b) மதிப்பெண் (c) தேர்ச்சி (d) சான்றிதழ்
விடை: (a) தரவரிசை. தேர்வில் ஒருவர் பெற்ற இடத்தை 'தரவரிசை' குறிக்கிறது. 'மதிப்பெண்' என்பது Marks.
General Studies
4. What is the principal measure the government takes to attract industrial investment to Tamil Nadu? / தமிழ்நாட்டில் தொழில் முதலீட்டை ஈர்க்க அரசு மேற்கொள்ளும் முதன்மை நடவடிக்கை எது?
(a) By raising the rate of tax on industrial undertakings (b) Through industrial parks, a single-window clearance system and global investors' meets (c) By prohibiting foreign investment (d) By closing industrial parks
Answer: (b). The State works through SIPCOT industrial parks, single-window clearance, global investors' meets and sector-specific policies.
5. Which Part of the Constitution deals with Panchayats? / பஞ்சாயத்துகள் குறித்த விதிகள் அரசியலமைப்பின் எந்தப் பகுதியில் உள்ளன?
(a) Part VIII (b) Part IX (c) Part IX-A (d) Part X
Answer: (b) Part IX. Part IX (Articles 243 to 243-O) was added by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. Part IX-A deals with Municipalities.
6. How many days of wage employment does the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act guarantee to a rural household in a financial year? / மகாத்மா காந்தி தேசிய ஊரக வேலை உறுதித் திட்டம் ஒரு நிதியாண்டில் ஒரு ஊரகக் குடும்பத்துக்கு எத்தனை நாள் வேலையை உறுதி செய்கிறது?
(a) 50 days (b) 75 days (c) 100 days (d) 150 days
Answer: (c) 100 days. The Act guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment per household per financial year to adults willing to do unskilled manual work.
7. In which year was the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act enacted? / தமிழ்நாடு ஊராட்சிகள் சட்டம் எந்த ஆண்டு இயற்றப்பட்டது?
(a) 1958 (b) 1985 (c) 1994 (d) 2001
Answer: (c) 1994. Tamil Nadu passed the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, after the 73rd Amendment, to set up the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in the state.
Aptitude and Mental Ability
8. A village has 2,400 registered voters. If 75% of them voted, how many people voted? / ஒரு கிராமத்தில் 2,400 வாக்காளர்கள் உள்ளனர். அவர்களில் 75% பேர் வாக்களித்தால், எத்தனை பேர் வாக்களித்தனர்?
(a) 1,600 (b) 1,800 (c) 1,900 (d) 2,000
Answer: (b) 1,800. 75% of 2,400 = (75 ÷ 100) × 2,400 = 1,800.
How to prepare for the VAO exam
- Prepare for the full Group 4 paper. VAO has no separate syllabus, so cover every topic.
- Give General Tamil the most time. It's half the marks, and you must clear 60 out of 150.
- Strengthen development administration and polity. Focus on Tamil Nadu welfare schemes, rural development and Panchayati Raj.
- Practise official Tamil terms and translation. These appear in the exam and you'll use them every day as a VAO.
- Aim higher than for other posts. With only 291 VAO vacancies, aim for 180+ out of 300 in your mock tests.
- Take a full-length mock every week. Analyse each one and fix your weak topics before the next.
For a week-by-week schedule, read How to prepare for TNPSC Group 4 in 3 months. For tips on practising well, read our guide to using mock tests effectively.
Mock tests and study material
ExamSixer's Group 4 and VAO preparation follows the actual exam pattern, in Tamil and English:
- Question Bank: 4,300+ questions with detailed explanations
- Complete Study Package: full study material, topic quizzes, a question bank and full-length mock tests
- Mock Exam Series: 12 full-length mocks released weekly, with instant AI score analysis and a personalised study plan
- Success Bundle: the study package and mock series together
See the weekly mock exam schedule and all packages and prices, starting from ₹249.
Frequently asked questions
How is the TNPSC VAO recruited?
VAOs are recruited through the TNPSC Group 4 (CCSE-IV) exam. You apply for Group 4, choose VAO among your post preferences, and are allotted a post at counselling based on your rank.
How many VAO vacancies are there in 2026?
The 2026 Group 4 notification lists 291 tentative VAO vacancies, out of 6,574 Group 4 vacancies in total.
Is the VAO exam different from the Group 4 exam?
No. VAO candidates take the same Group 4 paper and follow the same syllabus. Only the job, pay and service conditions differ.
What is the VAO salary in Tamil Nadu?
The VAO post is on Level 8 of the pay matrix, ₹19,500 to ₹71,900, plus dearness allowance and other allowances.
What is the age limit for TNPSC VAO?
In the previous notification, it was 21 to 32 years for "Others" and 21 to 42 years for reserved categories and destitute widows, with further relaxations. Check the 2026 notification for the current limits.
Does a VAO have to live in the village?
Yes. A VAO must reside in the village under their charge for as long as they hold that charge.
What does a VAO do?
A VAO maintains village land records, collects land revenue, verifies certificate applications, reports births, deaths and disasters, helps identify welfare beneficiaries and supports elections and the census.
What score is needed for VAO?
There are far fewer VAO posts than other Group 4 posts, so VAO usually needs a higher score. Aiming for 180 or more out of 300 gives a safe margin. See our cut-off marks guide.
Start your VAO preparation today
With the exam on 10 January 2027, every week of practice counts. Take the free TNPSC mini test to find your starting level, then follow the weekly mock exam series to the exam.