GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

Special Programme Implementation Department

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme 2024-26

Notification

The Government of Tamil Nadu invites applications from eligible candidates for the
prestigious Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme (TNCMFP) 2024-26.

1. The Government of Tamil Nadu seeks to achieve the best-in-class good

governance in all spheres. As a part of this initiative, the Government of Tamil
Nadu has introduced the two-year "Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Fellowship
Programme (TNCMFP).” It aims to harness the energy and talent of young
professionals to optimize the governance processes and enhance the service
delivery of various programme and policies in Tamil Nadu. The Fellows’ role will
be to monitor and evaluate, identify issues, and aid data-driven decision-
making on the assigned programmes to address the gaps, if any, in service
delivery and optimize the same in line with the global best practices. Special
Programme Implementation Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu is the
Nodal Department and Bharathidasan Institute of Management (BIM)
Tiruchirapalli is the academic partner in the implementation of the Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister's Fellowship Programme (TNCMFP).
2. A total of twenty-five (25) Fellows will be selected and assigned to various
departments under the following thematic areas:
(i) Augmentation of Water Resources
(ii) Agricultural Production, Productivity, and Creation of Marketing Linkages
(iii) Rural and Urban Housing
(iv) Improving Educational Standards
(v) Improving Health Indicators
(vi) Social Inclusion
(vii) Infrastructure & Industrial Development
(viii) Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Development
(ix) Institutional Credit
(x) Youth Welfare

Page 1 of 5
 (xi) Ecological Balance and Climate Change
(xii) Data Governance
3. The selection of candidates will be purely on merit (following the reservation
policy of the Government of Tamil Nadu for admissions to academic institutions)
based on the performance in the selection process (detailed in point 6 below).
They will be allowed to join the fellowship programme after verifying the
facts/information furnished by them in their online applications.
4. Duration and Stipend: The fellowship will be for a period of two years with a
monthly stipend of Rs. 65,000 and an additional allowance of Rs.10,000 to meet
their incidental expenses in performing their assigned work, such as travel,
mobile phone, data usage, etc. No additional financial assistance will be
provided.
5. Eligibility
(i) A candidate must hold a first-class in Bachelor’s degree in respect of
Professional Courses (Engineering, Medicine, Law, Agriculture, Veterinary
Science) or first-class in Master's degree in Arts/Science from any of the
Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in
India or other educational institutions established by an Act of
Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of
the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or possess an equivalent
qualification.
• Candidates with a Ph.D. degree will be preferred.
• Work experience will be an added advantage.
• Strong emphasis will be given to research experience.
• Working knowledge of Tamil is mandatory.
(ii) Age Limit: The applicant’s age shall be between 22-30 years as on
06.08.2024. For candidates belonging to SC/ST category, the maximum
age limit shall be 35 years, and for candidates belonging to BC/MBC
category, it shall be 33 years.
(iii) The final shortlisted 30 Fellows under TNCMP 2022-24 are not eligible to
apply to this programme.
6. Selection Process:
The selection process includes three stages as follows:
Stage 1: Preliminary Assessment (Computer-based Test)
Stage 2: Comprehensive Examination (Written Examination)
Stage 3: Personal Interview

Page 2 of 5
 (i) The Preliminary Assessment will be a computer-based test (CBT) of
objective type (multiple-choice questions) carrying a maximum of 150
points.
There will be three sections in the CBT: (1) General Awareness (to test a
candidate’s knowledge of current affairs) (2) Quantitative Aptitude (to
assess basic math skills, such as algebra, numbers, geometry, statistics,
and data interpretation at the level of tenth grade) (3) Verbal
Comprehension and Logical Reasoning (to assess a candidate's
comprehension and communication skills, analytical ability, decision-
making and problem-solving skills, and general mental ability)
The sole purpose of this exam is to serve as a screening test and will not
be counted for the final selection of Fellows. There will be negative marks
for incorrect answers (-0.33 for every incorrect answer). The test centers
will be in major cities in Tamil Nadu and at Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai,
Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ernakulam, Puducherry and Vishakapatnam. The
availability of test centers is subject to change.
(ii) Comprehensive Examination is a written examination. The questions are
essay type, case-based, and analytical in nature. Questions will focus on
topics including Governance, Social Justice and inclusion, Technology,
Economic and Social Development, Sustainable Development, Poverty,
Demographics, Environment, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Agriculture,
Disaster Management, Schemes and Policies of the Government of
Tamil Nadu, and Tamil Heritage and Culture. The test center will be at
Chennai.
Candidates will be shortlisted for the Personal Interview based on their
performance in the Comprehensive Examination.
(iii) Personal Interview will be conducted to test the candidate’s intellectual
and emotional quotient, knowledge of current affairs, problem-solving
skills, and ability of systemic thinking. Testing of working knowledge of
Tamil will be a part of this phase of the selection process. The personal
interview will be conducted in Chennai only.

The final merit list will be based on the combined score from the
candidate's Comprehensive Examination and Personal Interview.

7. The online applications can be accessed through the web portal

www.tn.gov.in/tncmfp or www.bim.edu/tncmfp. The last date for receiving the

Page 3 of 5
 online applications is 26th August, 2024. There is no application fee for the
fellowship selection process. Only online mode of submission of applications
will be accepted.
8. Important Dates
Dates are subject to change. Please visit www.tn.gov.in/tncmfp or
www.bim.edu/tncmfp for updated dates.
Acceptance of online applications will close at 11.59 P.M. on August 26, 2024.
Online Application opens August 06, 2024 (Tuesday)
Online Application deadline August 26, 2024 (Monday)
Downloading e-ticket for the September 05, 2024
Preliminary Assessment examination (Thursday)
Date of Preliminary Assessment September 15, 2024 (Sunday)
Comprehensive Examination Last week of September 2024
Personal Interview Last week of October 2024
Commencement of Fellowship November 2024

9. Induction to the Fellowship programme begins with a mandatory 30-days

orientation programme at the Anna Administrative Staff College, Chennai
(a detailed programme structure will be given on www.bim.edu/tncmfp). Upon
satisfactory completion of the orientation programme, Fellows will be attached
to various Government departments identified by the Special Programme
Implementation Department. Their primary role will be to identify issues, if
any, conduct data-driven analysis, and aid data-driven decision-making on the
assigned programmes to address the gaps and optimize the service delivery.
They have to undertake field visits to districts to assess the ground situation,
elicit feedback and assist in appropriate follow-up actions. The Fellows are
required to submit their monthly activity reports to the Special Programme
Implementation Department and BIM for review, guidance, and performance
assessment. They will be allocated responsibilities as per the requirements that
may arise from time to time. The Fellows will submit the final project report (s)
at the end of the two-year term. Upon successful completion of the fellowship
programme, the candidates are eligible for a Post-Graduate Certificate in
Public Policy and Management subject to satisfying the eligibility criteria laid
by the academic partter. In addition, Fellows having a Master’s degree will have
the option to enroll in the Ph.D. programme in Public Policy Management, in the
subsequent year, subject to satisfying minimum eligibility requirements.

Page 4 of 5
10. In case of selection for any other fellowship / paid assignment /public or private
recruitment during the tenure of the TNCMFP, the candidate will be required to
tender resignation from the fellowship with a 30 days prior notice. This
Fellowship is a temporary position, and it does not confer upon the Fellow any
right/claim for regular appointment or continuance in any post.
11. The fellowship is liable to cancellation in case of i) Misconduct, ii) Unsatisfactory
progress, iii) Candidate is later found to be ineligible, iv) Candidate is already
availing a similar fellowship from any other sources, v) false information
furnished by the Fellow or any fraudulent activity.
12. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme 2024-26 will commence
in November 2024.

Page 5 of 5