Permanent Drug Inspector Recruitment through Combined Technical Services Examination

Applications are invited only through online mode for direct recruitment to the posts in Combined Technical Services Examination (Non - Interview Posts), TNPSC

Post : Drug Inspector

Post Code : 1972
Name of the Department / Organization : Drug Control Administration
No of posts : 9*
*Including backlog vacancies.
Level of Pay : Level 20

Age Limit : (as on 01.07.2026) The candidates should have completed the age of 21 years for all the posts. The category wise maximum age limit and age concession details are given below:
Others (Candidates not belonging to SCs, SC(A)s, STs, MBCs/DCs, BC(OBCM)s and BCMs) :
Maximum Age (Should not have completed) : 32
Persons with Benchmark Disability : 42
Ex- Servicemen : 50
Destitute Widow : No Maximum Age Limit
SCs, SC(A)s, STs, MBCs/DCs, BC(OBCM)s and BCMs : No Maximum Age Limit

Educational Qualification and Technical Qualification
Must possess a degree in Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences or Medicine with specialization in Clinical Pharmacology or Microbiology from a University or Institution recognized by the University Grants Commission for the purpose of its grant

Knowledge in Tamil:
1. Candidates should possess adequate knowledge in Tamil on the date of this Notification. The candidate shall be deemed to possess an adequate knowledge of Tamil if, he/she has passed the SSLC examination or its equivalent examination / HSC / Degree, etc., with Tamil as one of the languages or studied the High School Course in Tamil medium; or passed the SSLC examination or its equivalent examination in Tamil medium; or passed the Second Class Language Test (Full Test) in Tamil conducted by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission.
2. Candidates must upload either SSLC / HSC / Degree / PG Degree mark sheets or proof of having passed the Second Class Language Test (Full Test) in Tamil conducted by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, at the time of submission of online application.
3. Failure to produce documents in support of the possession of adequate knowledge of Tamil, shall result in the candidate being required to pass the Second Class Language Test (Full Test) in Tamil conducted by the Commission, within a period of two years from the date of his / her appointment, failing which he / she shall be discharged from service.

Important Instructions :
1. Candidates to ensure their eligibility for the examination: All candidates are requested to carefully read the “Instructions to Applicants” available in the Commission’s website www.tnpsc.gov.in and this Notification. The candidates applying for the examination should ensure that they fulfill all eligibility conditions for admission to the examination. Their admission to all stages of the examination will be purely provisional, subject to their satisfying the eligibility conditions. Mere admission to the written examination, certificate verification, counselling or inclusion of name in the selection list will not confer on the candidates any right to appointment. The Commission reserves the right to reject candidature at any stage, after due process even after selection has been made, if a wrong claim or violation of rules or instructions is confirmed.
2. Important Dates and Time :
Date of Notification : 20.05.2026
Date of commencement of receiving application : 27.05.2026
Last date and time for submission of online application : 25.06.2026 11:59 PM
Application Correction Window period : 29.06.2026 12:01 AM to 01.07.2026 11:59 PM
Date and Time of Examination
Paper - I
Subject : Tamil Eligibility Test, General Studies, Aptitude and Mental Ability
Subject Code : 503
Paper - II
Subject : Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacology and Micro Biology
Subject Code : 516

How to Apply
1. One Time Registration and Online Application: Candidates are required to apply online by using the Commission’s website tnpscexams.in. The candidate needs to register himself / herself first at the One Time Registration (OTR) platform, available on the Commission’s website, and then proceed to fill up the online application for the examination. If the candidate is already registered, he / she can proceed straightway to fill up the online application for the examination.
2. Application Correction Window: After the last date for submission of online application, the Application Correction Window will open for 3 days from 29.06.2026 to 01.07.2026. During this period, candidates will be able to edit the details in their online application. After the last date of the Application Correction Window period, no modification is allowed in the online application.
3. Subject Paper Options: Candidates should choose the subject paper(s) and specify in the online application. The candidates should only choose the subject paper(s) in which they have obtained the educational qualification or equivalent qualification for appearing in the examination.
4. The detailed instructions regarding how to apply and the examination centers are available in Annexure I of this Notification.
5. Any claim by the candidate after the submission of an online application will not be entertained.

Examination Fee :
1. The examination fee of Rs.100/- (Rupees One hundred only) should be paid at the time of submitting the online application for this recruitment, unless exemption of fee is claimed.
2. For every additional subject paper opted by the candidate in the online application Rs.100 for each subject paper should be paid additionally. Further, if he/she withdraws one or more subject paper(s) then the fee already paid by the candidate will not be refunded.
3. Candidates belonging to special categories can avail of exemption from paying examination fees as per eligibility criteria. For further details refer to Annexure II of this Notification.
4. The total number of free chances availed, will be calculated based on claims made in previous applications. The number of free chances availed by the candidate may be verified by the Commission at any stage of the selection process. In case a candidate makes a false claim for exemption from payment of the application fee by suppressing information regarding his/her previous application(s), his / her candidature shall be rejected after due process and he / she shall be debarred for a period of one year, from appearing for examinations conducted by the Commission.
5. Candidates are directed to carefully choose the option “Yes” or “No” regarding availing of the fee concession. The choice made, cannot be modified or edited after successful submission of the online application. Candidates are advised in their own interest, to keep an account of the number of times fee concession has been availed, irrespective of the information displayed in the <Application History> of the candidate dashboard.
6. An application (irrespective of the post applied for) claiming fee concession will operate to exclude one chance from the number of free chances allowed. Candidates who have availed the maximum number of free chances permitted / candidates who do not wish to avail of the fee concession / candidates who are not eligible for fee concession shall choose the option “No” against the query regarding fee concession. Such candidates shall thereafter pay the requisite fee through the prescribed mode of payment. 7. Failure to pay the prescribed fee in time, along with the online application, will result in the rejection of the application after due process.

Syllabus
Unit I : (20 Questions)
1) Historical background and development of profession of pharmacy: History of profession of Pharmacy in India in relation to pharmacy education, industry and organization, Pharmacy as a career, Pharmacopoeias: Introduction to IP, BP, USP and Extra Pharmacopoeia.
2) Calculations: Posology: Pediatric Dose calculations based on age, body weight and surface area. Pharmaceutical calculations: Percentage solutions, Alligation, Proof spirit and isotonic solutions based on freezing point and molecular weight.
3) Unit Operations: Size reduction, Size separation, Mixing, Filtration, Centrifugation, Evaporation, Drying, Distillation, Heat transfer, Tablet Compression and Tablet coating.
4) Coarse Dispersion: Suspension, interfacial properties of suspended particles, settling in suspensions, formulation of flocculated and deflocculated suspension. Emulsions and theories of emulsification, micro emulsion and multiple emulsion, stability of emulsions, preservation of emulsions, rheological properties of emulsions and emulsion formation by HLB method.
5) Pre-formulation studies: Introduction to pre-formulation, goals and objectives, study of physicochemical characteristics of drug substances a. Physical Properties: Crystal & amorphous form, particle size distribution and determination, shape, flow properties, derived properties, solubility profile (Pka, pH, Partition co-efficient) Polymorphism. b. Chemical properties: Hydrolysis, Oxidation, reduction racemisation, polymerisation. BCS classification of drugs and its significant Application of preformulation considerations in the development of solid, liquid oral and parenteral dosage forms and its impact on stability of dosage forms.
6) Pharmaceutical Excipients – Used in Liquid, Semisolids and Solid dosage forms.
7) Quality Control Tests of the following formulations: Oral Solid dosage forms, Semi solids, Oral Liquid dosage forms, Parenteral, Ophthalmic preparation and Pharmaceutical Aerosols.
8) Cosmetics: Formulation and preparation of the following cosmetics preparations- Lipsticks, Shampoos, Cold Cream, Vanishing Cream, Tooth Paste, Hair Dyes, Sunscreens.
9) Packaging Material Sciences: Materials used for packaging of Pharmaceutical products, factors influencing choice of containers, legal and official requirement for containers, Quality control tests for containers and rubber closures.
10) Bio availability and Bioequivalence: Definitions and objectives of Bioavailability, absolute and relative bioavailability, measurement of bioavailability, in-vitro drug dissolution models, in-vitro-in-vivo correlations, bioequivalence studies, methods to enhance dissolution rates and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.

Unit II : (15 Questions)
1) Pharmacokinetics: Definition and introduction of Pharmacokinetics, Compartment models, Non- compartment models, Physiological models, One compartment open model a) Intravenous Injection (bolus) b) Intravenous infusion c) Extra vascular administrations. Pharmacokinetic parameters – Elimination rate constant (KE), Half life (t1/2), Volume of distribution (Vd), Area under curve (AUC), Absorption rate constant (Ka), Total body clearance (CLt) and Renal Clearance (CLR) – definitions, methods of elimination, understanding of their significance and application.
2) Good manufacturing practices (GMP)
3) Good Laboratory Practices (GLP): Organisation and personnel, Facilities, equipment, Testing facilities operation, Test and control articles, Protocol for conduct of a Nonclinical Laboratory Study, Records and reports, Disqualification of Testing facilities.
4) Warehousing: Good Warehousing practice, Materials Management.
5) Quality management systems: Quality management and certification: concept of quality, Total Quality Management, Quality by Design (QbD), Six Sigma concept, Out Of Specifications (OOS), Change control, Introduction to ISO 9000 series of quality system standards, ISO 14000, NABL.
6) Over the counter (OTC) Sales: Introduction and sale of over the counter and Rational use of common over the counter medications.
7) Drug Store Management and Inventory Control: Organisation of Drug Store, types of materials stocked and storage conditions. Purchase and inventory control: Principles, Purchase procedures, Purchase order, Procurement and stocking, Economic order quantity, Reorder quantity level and methods used for the analysis of the drug expenditure.
8) Novel Drug Delivery Systems: Ocular Drug Delivery Systems, Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems, Implantable Newer Drug Delivery Systems, Targeted Drug Delivery and Controlled Drug Delivery Systems.
9) Blood products and Plasma Substitutes: Collection, Processing and Storage of whole human blood, dried human plasma, plasma Substitues
10) Fermentation methods and general requirements, study of media, equipments, sterilization methods, aeration process, stirring. Large scale production fermenter design and its various controls. Study of the production of – Penicillins, Citric acid, Vitamin B12, Glutamic acid, Griseofulviin.

Unit III : (15 Questions)
General Microbiology & Immunology
1. Morphology, classification and identification of Bacteria, Virus, Fungus & Parasite
2. Normal microbial flora & Bacterial genetics
3. Culture Media & Equipments in Microbiology Laboratory
4. Sterlization and disinfection
5. Testing of Sterlization & disinfection including sterility testing of pharmaceutical products.
6. Bio Safety in Microbiology Laboratory
7. Cultivation of Bacteria
8. Structures, Cells and functions of Immune system
9. The complement system
10. Antigen-Antibody reactions
11. Hypersensitivity
12. Tumour Immunity & Immuno Haematology
13. Immuno Prophylaxis against infectious Diseases
14. Immunotherapy

Unit IV : (20 Questions)
Clinical & Applied Microbiology
1. C.N.S infections
2. Respiratory Infections
3. Urinary Tract Infections
4. Gastro intestinal Infections
5. Genital Tract Infections
6. Congenital Infections
7. Infections of Eye, Ear & Skin
8. Infections of Cardio vascular System
9. Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (P.U.O)
10. Zoonotic Infections
11. Collection, Transport and Disposal of Specimens
12. Environmental Microbiology (Food, Water, Milk and Air)
13. Microbial Control – anti microbial susceptibility testing
14. Microbiological Assays for Standardisation of Antibiotics and Vitamins
15. Bio medical waste management
16. Emerging and reemerging infections – Bio Terrorism
17. Advanced Molecular Techniques in Relation to Diagnosis of Infectious diseases & Basic molecular biology related to infections
18. Anti microbial resistance and antibiotic policy
19. Newer Vaccines
20. Quality Control, Audit and Accredidation of Standard Microbiology Laboratory.

Unit V : (15 Questions)
1. Atomic structure and valency, Radioactivity, Radio isotopes and Pharmaceutical applications of Radio Pharmaceuticals, hazards and precautions.
2. Sources of impurities in Pharmaceutical substances: Limit test as per I.P; Fundamentals of volumetric Analysis. Errors: Sources, types, methods of minimizing errors, Accuracy, Precision, significant figures.
3. A systematic study of inorganic compounds for their preparation, assay and use which includes Gastrointestinal agents, Topical agents and Dental products.
4. Preparation and use of Chemical reagents and Volumetric Solutions as per Pharmacopeia in Pharmaceutical Analysis.

Unit VI : (25 Questions)
1. Principles and Pharmacopoeial Assay Procedures involving Non-aqueous Titration, Redox, Diazotization, complexometric methods, electrometric titration, gravimetric analysis.
2. Chromatography – Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Column, Paper, Gas Chromatography (GC), Ion exchange, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), Gel electrophoresis.
3. Theory, principle, instrumentation and applications of colorimetry, UV-Visible Spectrophotometry, Spectrofluorimetry, Nepheloturbidometry, Infra-Red (IR), Mass, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Radio Immuno Assay (RIA), Polarimetry, Refractometry, Thermal method of analysis – Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Atomic absorption spectroscopy.
4. ICH guidelines – Calibration and validation, calibration of electronic balance, UV spectrophotometer, IR spectrophotometer, Fluorimeter, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), Flame photometer.

Unit VII : (20 Questions)
1) General Pharmacology Sources of drugs, Routes of drug administration, Dosage formulations, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics - Good Clinical Practice- Patient compliance, and self medication, Placebo medicines and pharmacoeconomics. Discovery and development of drugs - Preclinical studies in animals - Clinicaltrials - Official regulatory guidelines. Orphan drugs, Pharmacovigilance – Pharmacogenetics - Adverse drug reactions and monitoring - Clinical importance of drug interactions (both pharmacokinetic and pharmaco dynamic interactions with special reference to antimicrobials, NSAIDS and cardiovascular drugs).
2) Drugs Acting on Nervous System – Central Nervous System General anaesthetics and Pre anaesthetic medication – Antiepileptics – Sedatives and Hypnotics – Alcohols and disulfiram – Psychopharmacological drugs (Anti-Psychotics, Anti-depressants, anti-anxiety agents, anti-manic and hallucinogens) – CNS Stimulants – Neurodegenerative disorders – Deaddiction – Drugs of abuse, drug tolerance and drug dependence.
3) Peripheral Nervous System & Autonomic Nervous System Neurohumoral transmission in Automatic nervous system, Para Sympathomimetics, Parsympatholytics, Sympathomimetics, Sympatholytics, neuromuscular blocking agents, Skeletal muscle relaxants (peripheral), Local anaesthetic agents, Drugs used in Myasthenia gravis and glaucoma.
4) Cardiovascular Drugs Drugs used in congestive heart failure, Anti-hypertensive drugs, Anti-Anginal Drugs, Anti-arrhythmic drugs, Hypolipidemic Drugs, Drugs used in the therapy of shock.
5) Drugs Acting on Hemopoeitic and Renal System Haematinics - Coagulants & Anticoagulants – Fibrinolytics & Antifibrinolytics – Antiplatelets– Diuretics.

Unit VIII : (20 Questions)
1) Drugs Acting on the Gastro Intestinal System Anti-ulcer agents, Drugs for constipation and diarrhea, appetite stimulants and Suppressants, Digestants and carminatives, Emetics and anti-emetics.
2) Drugs Acting on Endocrine System Anterior pituitary Hormones - Thyroid Hormones – Corticosteroids - Insulin & Oral Hypo glycemic drugs - Male & Female sex Hormones - Oral contraceptives - Uterine stimulants & relaxants.
3) Immunopharmacology & Autacoids Cell and biochemical mediators involved in allergy, immuno modulation and inflammation, hypersensitivity reactions - therapeutic agents for allergy, asthma and COPD - NSAIDs & DMARDs & gout – Antihistamines - Serotonin agonists & Antagonists.
4) Chemotherapy General Principles of Chemotherapy, Sulfonamides and co-trimoxazole, Anti-biotics: Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Chloramphenicol, macrolides, Quinolones and fluoroquinolones, tetracycline and amino glycosides, Anti-tubercular agents, Anti-leprotic agents, Anti-fungal agents, Anti-viral drugs, Anthelmintics, Anti-malarial drugs, Anti-amoebic agents, Urinary tract infection and sexually transmitted diseases, Chemotherapy of malignancy.
5) Bio-Assay Principles and applications of Bio-assay, types of bio-assay, bio-assay of insulin, oxytocin, Vasopressin, ACTH, d-tubocurarine, digitalis, histamine and 5HT.
6) Miscellaneous Vaccines - Dermatological preparations - Chelating Agents.

Unit IX : (20 Questions)
1. Alphabetical, Morphological, Taxonomical, Chemical and Pharmacological classification of crude drugs.
2. Adulteration and evaluation of drugs of natural origin. WHO guidelines for the assessment of herbal drugs.
3. General introduction, composition, chemistry and chemical classification, general methods of extraction and analysis, bio-sources, therapeutic uses and commercial application of following secondary metabolites.
a. Alkaloids - Vinca, Rauwolfia, Belladonna, Opium
b. Steroids, Cardiac Glycosides and Triterpenoids - Liquorice, Dioscorea, Digitalis
c. Glycosides - Senna, Aloes
d. Tannins - Black & Pale catechu
e. Volatile oils - Mentha, Clove, Cinnamon, Fennel, Coriander
f. Resins - Benzoin, Ginger, Asafoetida, Colophony
4. Isolation, Identification and Analysis of following phytoconstituents
(i) Terpenoids- Menthol, Citral, Artemisin
(ii) Glycosides -Glycyrrhetenic acid, Rutin
(iii) Alkaloids - Atropine, Quinine, Reserpine, Caffeine
(iv) Resins - Podophyllotoxin, Curcumin
5. Homeopathy: Introduction, Basic principles, Preparation and evaluation of Various Dosage forms of homeopathy system of medicine
6. Marine Drugs: Novel Medicinal agent from marine sources.
7. Herbal Cosmetics: Sources and description of raw material of herbal origin used via, fixed oils, waxes, gums, colours, perfumes, protective agents, bleaching agents, antioxidants in product such as skin care, hair care and oral hygiene products.

Unit X : (30 Questions)
1. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (As Amended from time to time)
2. The Drugs Rules 1945 (As Amended from time to time)
3. The Cosmetics Rules, 2020 (As Amended from time to time)
4. The Medical Devices Rules, 2017 (As Amended from time to time)
5. The New Drugs and Clinical Trials (NDCT) rules, 2019 (As Amended from time to time)
6. The Drugs (Price Control) Order 2013 (As Amended from time to time)
7. The Pharmacy Act, 1948 (As Amended from time to time)
8. The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954 and Rules, 1955 (As Amended from time to time)
9. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances Act and Rules, 1985 (As Amended from time to time)

Important Dates and Time :
Date of Notification : 20.05.2026
Date of commencement of receiving application : 27.05.2026
Last date and time for submission of online application : 25.06.2026 11:59 PM
Application Correction Window period : 29.06.2026 12:01 AM to 01.07.2026 11:59 PM