# Administrative terms: files, orders, posts, service, finance and law

> These study notes explain Administrative terms for the Group 4 / VAO (Combined Civil Services Examination-IV) exam in plain language: the same reviewed notes the TNPSC Guide app shows, published by our editors with their source. Read the key points first, then practise the unit's questions. For exam facts such as dates and vacancies, always check tnpsc.gov.in.

Last updated: 2026-11-02 · By TNPSC Guide editorial team
URL: https://www.tnpscguide.com/exams/group-4/notes/tamil-technical-terms-administrative

## Why the exam asks this

Unit IV of the syllabus asks for the exact Tamil words for technical terms of many fields, management and law among them. The 2024 paper (subject code 003) has no question marked for this unit. In the 2025 paper, administrative-term questions came in two forms: the exact Tamil for one English word (Q28, 32, 82, 93) and match the words (Q31, 40). For proposal (Q93), call book (Q40) and possession (Q31) the glossary form was the answer. So this lesson gives the words of those questions first, then the other words in the order of the office fields.

**2025 answers that were the glossary form**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| proposal (2025, Q93) | karuththuru, seyarkurippu, munmozhivu; propose: munmozhi |
| call book (2025, Q40) | maru kavanippup pathivedu |
| possession (2025, Q31) | udaimai, thuyppurimai, udaimaip porul |

## Where the answer key differed from the glossary

In the same 2025 paper some answer keys did not match the glossary form: two register names in match question Q40 (fair copy register, record issue register); two words asked in a legal or insurance sense in Q31 (premium, prescription); Q32 (veteran); Q82 (monopoly control). Their glossary forms are in the tables below. The rule is one: if the glossary's first form is among the options, choose it; if not, choose the option whose meaning fits. Example: for what a doctor writes out, the glossary gives marundhuk kurippu (prescription); in a legal sense the same English word may take another Tamil word.

## Files and registers

A letter that reaches an office goes into a file (koppu), and its details are written in a register (pathivedu). Many words here end in pathivedu: sevvaip padip pathivedu, anuppugaip pathivedu, maru kavanippup pathivedu, pathivuru vazhangum pathivedu. Tell them apart by the first word. The Tamil forms of receipt and acknowledgement both contain seettu, so they get swapped: kaiyoppach seettu, patruchseettu, peruthaal (receipt); oppugaich seettu (acknowledgement). Example: when you hand in a nativity certificate application at a government office, you get an oppugaich seettu; if the reply is late, you send a ninaivoottu (reminder).

**Words of office letters**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| file / file board / file cabinet | koppu / koppup palagai / koppup paezhai |
| register | pathivedu; perugaip pathivedu (register access control); penugaip pathivedu (register maintenance) |
| draft / draft amendment / draft bill | varaivu, varaivolai / varaivuth thiruththam / varaivuch sattam |
| fair copy / fair copy register | sevvaip padi / sevvaip padip pathivedu |
| acknowledgement | oppugaich seettu |
| reminder / reminder diary | ninaivoottu / ninaivoottuk kurippu |
| despatch / despatch book | anuppu, anuppugai / anuppugaip pathivedu (the class 11 textbook also gives anuppugai) |
| call book | maru kavanippup pathivedu |
| record issue register / record keeper / record office | pathivuru vazhangum pathivedu / pathivurup poruppaalar / aavanak kaappagam |
| receipt | kaiyoppach seettu, patruchseettu, peruthaal |

**Certificates and meeting words**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| certificate / attestation / nativity certificate | saandrithazh / saandroppam / pirappidach saandrithazh |
| affidavit | aanai uruthi aavanam, uruthi aavanam, aanai uruthi vaakkumoolam |
| agenda | porul niral |
| minutes | nadavadikkaik kurippu, nigazhchchik kurippu |
| quorum | kuraiven varambu, kurai niraiven, kora en (kora en is a transliteration of the English word; the first form is kuraiven varambu) |
| proposal / propose | karuththuru, seyarkurippu, munmozhivu / munmozhi |

## Orders and notices

In this lesson five words end in aanai; tell them apart by the first part: arasaanai (arasu + aanai, government order), aluvalaga aanai (office order), seyalmurai aanai (proceedings), kurippaanai (kurippu + aanai, memo), pidiyaanai (pidi + aanai, warrant). Aanai also comes in aanai uruthi aavanam (affidavit), but that is not an order; do not add it to these five. The glossary form for ordinance has no aanai: nerukkadi nilaich sattam. Split arivikkai (notification), arasithazh (arasu + ithazh, gazette) and sutrarikkai (sutru + arikkai, circular) the same way. Example: what the Commission issues for the Group 4 exam is an arivikkai; what goes round every section of an office is a sutrarikkai.

**Order words**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| government order | arasaanai |
| office order / office order book / office procedure | aluvalaga aanai / aluvalaga aanaik kurippedu / aluvalaga nadaimurai |
| proceedings | seyalmurai aanai |
| circular | sutrarikkai (the same form in the class 11 textbook's list) |
| notification / notified | arivikkai / arivikkai veliyidappetra |
| gazette / gazette extraordinary | arasithazh / sirappu arasithazh (the class 11 textbook also gives arasithazh) |
| memo | kurippaanai |
| ordinance | nerukkadi nilaich sattam |
| warrant / warrant case | pidiyaanai / pidiyaanai vazhakku, perungutra vazhakku |

## Petitions and appeals

These words name what people ask of an office: vinnappam, vendukol, korikkai (petition); manakkurai (grievance); mel muraiyeedu (appeal). Vinnappam ezhuthith tharubavar (petition writer) and kurai theer (grievance redressal) go with them. Example: at the people's grievance meeting in the Collector's office we hand in a vinnappam; if the decision does not satisfy us, we file a mel muraiyeedu.

## Offices and posts

Start from the basic words aluvalar (officer) and poruppu aluvalar (officer in charge). Then keep the offices in mind from the top down: seyalagam, thalaimaich seyalagam (secretariat); iyakkagam, iyakkunaragam (directorate); thandalaalar, maavatta aatchiyar (collector), whose office is the maavatta aatchiyar aluvalagam (collectorate); vattam (taluk); oor, sitroor (village). Example: on a letter's address we write the village, the taluk and the district; keep the words in the same order.

## Oor niruvaaga aluvalar and kiraama nirvaaga aluvalar

For the post of Village Administrative Officer the glossary gives oor niruvaaga aluvalar (niruvaaga). The name used for the post is kiraama nirvaaga aluvalar (nirvaaga). If the question asks for the glossary word, the printed form is the answer; if both forms are among the options, the question has two correct answers. On the same page the glossary also gives oork kanakkugal (village accounts). Example: one of the posts of the exam you are writing is kiraama nirvaaga aluvalar; its glossary form is oor niruvaaga aluvalar.

**Post words**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| officer / officer in charge | aluvalar / poruppu aluvalar |
| secretariat / secretariat department / secretary | seyalagam, thalaimaich seyalagam / thalaimaich seyalagath thurai / seyalaalar |
| directorate | iyakkagam, iyakkunaragam |
| collector / collectorate | thandalaalar, maavatta aatchiyar / maavatta aatchiyar aluvalagam |
| taluk / taluk accounts / taluk map | vattam / vattaatchik kanakkugal / vattaatchi varaipadam |
| village / village administrative officer / village accounts | oor, sitroor / oor niruvaaga aluvalar / oork kanakkugal |
| superintendent / stenographer | kankaanippaalar / surukkezhuththaalar |
| vigilance committee | kankaanippuk kuzhu, vizhippuk kuzhu |

## Service terms

These words run from joining service to retirement. The one English word probation takes two Tamil forms in two places: thaguthikaan paruvam (probation), but nannadaththai aluvalar (probation officer). Sort out the oyvu family: pani oyvu, muthir oyvu, muthumaip paruvam (superannuation); oyvoothiyam (pension); agavai muthirvu oyvoothiyam (superannuation pension). Thalli vaiththal, paniyidai neekkam (suspension) is not a retirement word. Do not mix up maatruppani, ayarpani (deputation) with probation either. Example: a day taken for a sudden need is tharseyal viduppu (casual leave); the days saved up by working are eettiya viduppu (earned leave).

**Service words**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| probation / probation officer | thaguthikaan paruvam / nannadaththai aluvalar |
| seniority / increment | panimooppu, muthunilai / oothiya uyarvu |
| casual leave / earned leave / earned leave surrender | tharseyal viduppu / eettiya viduppu / eettiya viduppu oppadaippu |
| deputation / deputation allowance | maatruppani, ayarpani / maatruppanip padi |
| suspension | thalli vaiththal, paniyidai neekkam |
| superannuation / superannuation pension | pani oyvu, muthir oyvu, muthumaip paruvam / agavai muthirvu oyvoothiyam |
| pension / pension application | oyvoothiyam / oyvoothiya vinnappam |
| ex-officio / ex-officio member | aluvalaal, aluvalvazhi, pathavivazhi / aluvalaal uruppinar |

## Finance terms

For budget the glossary gives paatheedu first and varavu-selavuth thittam next; both are correct. Words that come from thanikkai (audit) need care. The glossary gives kanakkuth thanikkaiyaalar, thanikkaiyaalar (auditor); the class 8 textbook's term box gives pattayak kanakkar for the same English word; in the glossary pattayak kanakkar is another word (chartered accountant). An auditor question has a single answer only when just one of these three forms is among the options. Example: just as a home plans its monthly spending, the government draws up a varavu-selavuth thittam every year.

**Finance table**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| budget / budget debate | paatheedu, varavu-selavuth thittam / paatheettuth tharukkam |
| audit / audit certificate / audit clerk | thanikkai / thanikkaich saandrithazh / thanikkai ezhuththar |
| treasury | karuvoolam (also in the class 9 textbook's term box) |
| revenue / revenue board | varuvaai / varuvaaik kuzhu, varuvaaik kuzhumam |
| tender | oppandhap pulli, oppandhappullik kattanam |
| premium | ookka oothiyam, thavanaik kattanam |
| prescription | marundhuk kurippu, marundhup parindhuraich seettu |
| subsidy / ceiling (class 11) | nalgai / uchchavarambu |
| sales tax / customer / consumer / account (class 11) | virpanaivari / vaadikkaiyaalar / nugarvor / patru varavuk kanakku |

## Land and law

Nilavurimai aavanam (patta) and nilavurimai maatru (patta transfer) are two words about land. For the one word encroachment the glossary gives these forms: varambu meeral, ellai meeral, valiya kavarthal, varambu kadappu. For pauper the glossary gives many forms; learn the whole list. Monopoly is thaniyurimai, mutrurimai; prima facie is muthal nokkil. Example: before buying land we check whose name the nilavurimai aavanam is in; after buying, we do the nilavurimai maatru.

**Land and law words**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| patta / patta transfer | nilavurimai aavanam / nilavurimai maatru |
| encroachment | varambu meeral, ellai meeral, valiya kavarthal, varambu kadappu |
| possession | udaimai, thuyppurimai, udaimaip porul |
| prima facie | muthal nokkil |
| monopoly | thaniyurimai, mutrurimai |
| veteran | pattarivulla, payirchimikka |
| pauper | ezhaimaiyar, ezhaimaiyaana, ondrumillai, variyavar, nodindhavar, nalguravar |

**Office words in the textbook term boxes**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| chief minister / member of legislative assembly / tax / leadership (class 8) | muthalamaichchar / satta mandra uruppinar / vari / thalaimaippanbu |
| constitution / round table conference / double voting (class 8) | arasiyalamaippu / vatta mesai maanaadu / irattai vaakkurimai |
| agreement / university / doctorate (class 8) | oppandham / palkalaikkazhagam / munaivar pattam |
| consulate / patent / document / guild (class 10) | thunaiththootharagam / kaappurimai / aavanam / vanigak kuzhu |
| cabinet (class 10) | amaichcharavai |
| auditor (class 8) | pattayak kanakkar (the glossary gives kanakkuth thanikkaiyaalar, thanikkaiyaalar) |

**Key facts**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| Syllabus | Unit IV: technical terms of many fields, including management and law (page 3) |
| proposal | karuththuru, seyarkurippu, munmozhivu (volume 3, page 158) |
| call book | maru kavanippup pathivedu (volume 1, page 192) |
| possession | udaimai, thuyppurimai, udaimaip porul (volume 3, page 120) |
| budget | paatheedu, varavu-selavuth thittam (volume 1, page 177) |
| ordinance | nerukkadi nilaich sattam (volume 3, page 25) |
| gazette | arasithazh (volume 2, page 85; class 11, page 167) |
| village administrative officer | oor niruvaaga aluvalar (volume 3, page 490) |
| auditor | kanakkuth thanikkaiyaalar, thanikkaiyaalar (volume 1, page 96); pattayak kanakkar (class 8, page 68) |
| chartered accountant | pattayak kanakkar (volume 1, page 225) |

> **Exam tip:** Memory hooks
Before a meeting, porul niral (agenda); after it, nadavadikkaik kurippu (minutes). Five words end in aanai: arasu, aluvalagam, seyalmurai, kurippu, pidi (aanai uruthi aavanam is not an order). Sort the pathivedu names by their first word: sevvaip padi, pathivuru vazhangum, maru kavanippu. The oyvu words: pani oyvu (superannuation), oyvoothiyam (pension), agavai muthirvu oyvoothiyam (superannuation pension). Look for the glossary's first form first; if it is not there, look for the option whose meaning fits.

**Easy to confuse**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| receipt / acknowledgement | kaiyoppach seettu, patruchseettu, peruthaal / oppugaich seettu; both end in seettu, so they get swapped |
| agenda / minutes | porul niral / nadavadikkaik kurippu |
| notification / gazette / circular | arivikkai / arasithazh / sutrarikkai |
| suspension / superannuation / pension | paniyidai neekkam (thalli vaiththal) / pani oyvu / oyvoothiyam |
| probation / probation officer | thaguthikaan paruvam / nannadaththai aluvalar |
| deputation / probation | maatruppani, ayarpani / thaguthikaan paruvam |
| oor niruvaaga aluvalar / kiraama nirvaaga aluvalar | glossary form / post name; if both are options, two correct answers |
| collector / collectorate | thandalaalar, maavatta aatchiyar / maavatta aatchiyar aluvalagam |
| auditor / chartered accountant | kanakkuth thanikkaiyaalar, thanikkaiyaalar (pattayak kanakkar in class 8) / pattayak kanakkar |
| budget | paatheedu (first in the glossary), varavu-selavuth thittam; both correct |
| premium / prescription | ookka oothiyam, thavanaik kattanam / marundhuk kurippu; in a field such as law or insurance another Tamil word may come |

> **Exam tip:** Quick check
1. For proposal, which glossary form was the 2025 answer? Answer: karuththuru.
2. What Tamil word does the glossary give for ordinance? Answer: nerukkadi nilaich sattam.
3. What is the Tamil for probation officer? Answer: nannadaththai aluvalar.
4. What is the Tamil for call book? Answer: maru kavanippup pathivedu.
5. Which form does the glossary give first for budget? Answer: paatheedu.

Source: ஆட்சிச் சொல்லகராதி, திருந்திய பதிப்பு (ஆங்கிலம் – தமிழ்), தொகுதி 1-3 (Glossary of Administrative Terms, revised edition, English – Tamil, volumes 1-3) (ஆட்சிச் சொல்லகராதி (திருந்திய பதிப்பு, 2022): தொகுதி 1 (A-E) பக்கம் 18, 34, 37, 72, 94, 96, 177, 192, 210, 219, 225, 237, 260, 376, 380, 400, 429, 446, 468, 504; தொகுதி 2 (F-N) பக்கம் 4, 23, 85, 103, 111, 212, 369, 389, 402, 426, 447; தொகுதி 3 (O-Z) பக்கம் 10, 25, 59, 68, 80, 120, 134, 136, 142, 147, 148, 158, 188, 203, 208, 217, 225, 244, 291, 299, 362, 382, 387, 398, 408, 435, 487, 490, 503; பாடத்திட்டம் பக்கம் 3, அலகு IV; 8ஆம் வகுப்புத் தமிழ், பக்கம் 68, 166, 213; 9ஆம் வகுப்புத் தமிழ், பக்கம் 175; 10ஆம் வகுப்புத் தமிழ், பக்கம் 182, 229; 11ஆம் வகுப்புப் பொதுத் தமிழ், பக்கம் 167-168)

## Sources

- [Official syllabus page](https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/english/syllabus.html)
- [Notifications](https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/English/Notification.aspx)