The Department of Posts has announced the India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 under Schedule-II, July-2026, opening another opportunity for candidates seeking postal jobs after Class 10. The recruitment covers Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS), Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), and Dak Sevak positions across different postal circles and divisions.
According to the recruitment details, more than 25,000 vacancies are expected in this cycle, while the exact division-wise vacancy position is to be checked through the GDS online engagement portal. Unlike conventional government recruitment, the GDS selection process does not involve a written examination or interview;
candidates are shortlisted through a merit list prepared on the basis of their Class 10 marks. For applicants planning to participate in this recruitment, the timeline is particularly important:
One-Time Registration (OTR) is scheduled from 31 August to 19 September 2026, followed by online application submission and fee payment from 2 September to 21 September 2026. Candidates should also pay close attention to the eligibility conditions, prescribed local-language requirement, age limit, Division selection rules, Class 10 marks details, application fee and document requirements before submitting the form.
The recruitment is especially relevant for 10th-pass candidates because there is no separate competitive examination to clear, but the merit-based nature of selection makes accurate academic details and the choice of an eligible Division extremely important.
The official GDS portal provides the recruitment notification, vacancy information, registration instructions, application process and other candidate guidelines. This article covers the India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Schedule-II July-2026 in detail, including important dates, vacancies, educational qualification, age limit, salary/TRCA, selection process, local-language rules, application fee, required documents, correction window, post-wise duties and the step-by-step online application process.
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 (Schedule-II, July-2026) – Overview
Descriptive Notification Out — BPM / ABPM / Dak Sevak Posts | One-Time Registration from 31 August 2026
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| Particulars | Details |
| Organization Name | Department of Posts (India Post), Ministry of Communications, Government of India |
| Recruitment Name | Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) Online Engagement — Schedule-II, July-2026 |
| Notification Number | 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20 August 2026 |
| Post Name | Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), Dak Sevak |
| Total Vacancies | 25,000+ (Indicative) — Circle/Division-wise breakup to follow on portal |
| Notification Release Date | 20 August 2026 (Descriptive Notification) |
| Selection Mode | No Written Exam / No Interview — Merit List based on Class 10th Marks |
| Application Mode | Online Mode Only |
| Job Location | Rural/Semi-Urban Post Offices across the applicant’s chosen Circle and Division |
| Official Website | indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement |
GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II July-2026 — Full Details
| Notification Name | Descriptive Notification for GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July-2026 |
| Notification Type | Fresh Recruitment Cycle for New GDS Engagement (Second cycle of 2026, after Schedule-I, January-2026) |
| Key Points to Note | No written test/interview; Selection purely on 10th marks converted to percentage (4 decimals); Only one Division can be applied to; Only one post finally offered even if shortlisted in multiple preferences |
Important Dates 2026
- Descriptive Notification Released: 20 August 2026
- Online One-Time Registration (OTR): 31 August 2026 to 19 September 2026 (upto 1700 Hrs)
- Submission of Online Application & Fee Payment: 02 September 2026 to 21 September 2026 (upto 1700 Hrs)
- Correction Window (Registration/Application, incl. fee if applicable): 23–24 September 2026 (2 Days Only)
- Mobile Number / Email ID: Cannot be changed at any stage, including during Correction Window
- Merit List / Shortlisting Result: To be notified on the GDS Online Engagement Portal (date not yet announced)
- Last date for closure of the entire engagement process (incl. supplementary lists): 31 December 2026
Analytical Note: This is India Post’s second GDS engagement cycle of 2026 — Schedule-I (January-2026) closed with 28,636 vacancies, and this Schedule-II cycle is running with an indicative 25,000+ posts. Going by the Schedule-I pattern, where the first merit list came roughly 12 days after the application window closed, candidates can reasonably expect the Schedule-II result window to open in early-to-mid October 2026, though the Department has not fixed a date.
Age Limit (As on 21.09.2026 — Last Date of Application)
- Minimum Age: 18 Years
- Maximum Age: 40 Years
Age Relaxation
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| EWS | No Relaxation |
| PwBD (General) | 10 Years |
| PwBD + OBC | 13 Years |
| PwBD + SC/ST | 15 Years |
Educational Qualification
- Pass in Secondary School Examination (SSE)/Class 10th with passing marks in Mathematics and English, from a Board recognized by the Central/State Government/UT.
- Candidate must have studied the prescribed local language of the Division applied for, at least up to 10th standard (see Local Language table below).
- Candidates having only an “equivalent” qualification from an unrecognized board are NOT eligible.
- Additional undertakings required at engagement stage: Knowledge of Computers, Knowledge of Cycling/riding a two-wheeler, and adequate alternate means of livelihood (GDS is not a full-time salaried government post).
Analytical Note: Unlike most competitive government exams, GDS has no minimum qualifying percentage — even a candidate who barely passed 10th can apply. However, because selection is 100% merit-based on 10th marks, in high-demand circles (UP, Bihar, MP, Maharashtra) the effective cut-off tends to run 90%+, while in low-competition Northeastern circles it can be considerably lower.
Application Fee
| Female / SC / ST / PwBD / Transwomen | Nil (Fully Exempted) |
| All Other Candidates (UR/OBC/EWS Male) | ₹100/- per Division applied |
| Fee Payment Window | 02 September 2026 to 21 September 2026 (upto 5:00 PM) |
| Fee Payment Methods | Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI |
Note: Fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances, including a category change during the Correction Window that later makes the applicant fee-exempt.
Vacancy Details — Schedule-II July-2026
Circle-wise / Division-wise / Category-wise vacancy break-up has NOT been released along with this descriptive notification.
- The Department has indicated 25,000+ vacancies in initial announcements for this cycle.
- As per official process, the Department publishes the Division-wise vacancy position separately on the GDS Online Engagement Portal once registration opens on 31 August 2026 — applicants should check their preferred Division on the portal before/while filling the application.
- Reservation break-up applicable per Division: OBC (as per state reservation %), SC (as per state %), ST (as per state %), EWS — 10%, PwBD — 4% (sub-categories: LV 1%, D/HH 1%, OA/OL/Leprosy Cured etc. 1%, Multiple/Intellectual Disability 1%), remaining UR.
Analytical Note: For reference, the previous Schedule-I January-2026 cycle was notified for 28,636 posts, and a state-wise sanctioned-strength report published in August 2026 pegged the overall existing GDS vacancy position nationally at approximately 49,596 (this figure reflects sanctioned strength versus persons-in-position as on 20 July 2026, and is not itself a recruitment announcement). Actual Schedule-II division-wise numbers will likely trend lower than this full sanctioned gap, since only a portion is typically released per cycle. Do not treat any number on this page as final — always cross-check the live Division-wise count on the portal before applying.
Salary / TRCA Structure 2026
| Category | TRCA Slab (Time Related Continuity Allowance) |
| Branch Postmaster (BPM) | ₹12,000 – ₹29,380/- |
| ABPM / Dak Sevak | ₹10,000 – ₹24,470/- |
| Additional Benefits | Dearness Allowance on TRCA, GDS Gratuity, Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (akin to NPS), annual 3% increment (subject to conditions) |
Important: GDS is NOT a regular Central Government post — it is a distinct Civil Post governed by the GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020, not Article 309 of the Constitution. Duty hours are 4–5 hours/day, and a Sevak is expected to have another source of livelihood besides TRCA. Retirement age is 65 years.
Post-Wise Job Profile
- Branch Postmaster (BPM): Overall in-charge of a single-handed Branch Post Office — day-to-day postal & IPPB operations, mail conveyance/delivery, marketing of Department products/CSC services. Must arrange own accommodation for running the Branch Post Office in the same post village.
- Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM): Sale of stamps/stationery, doorstep mail conveyance and delivery, IPPB transactions, assists BPM in operations; must reside within the delivery jurisdiction of the BO.
- Dak Sevak: Deployed in Post Offices, Sorting Offices, Mail Offices, Transit Mail Offices or Delivery Centres — handles mail/parcel sorting, transhipment of bags, delivery, IPPB transactions, and assists the Postmaster/Sub-Postmaster in daily functioning.
Local Language Requirement — Why It Matters
GDS is unique among government recruitments in requiring the applicant to have studied the local/regional language of the Circle up to 10th standard — not just any language. A candidate who studied Hindi in a Circle where the prescribed local language is, say, Marathi, Bengali or Telugu will not be shown that Division’s vacancies at all while filling the application, regardless of their 10th percentage.
- Special provisions apply for candidates applying to Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim and Nagaland, where knowledge of specific tribal dialects/Konkani is separately certified by the competent State authority (details in the official notification Annexure-III).
- North-East states (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura) and Jammu & Kashmir/Ladakh have distinct local-language rules by district/region.
Analytical Note: This is the single most common reason genuine, high-scoring applicants get zero eligible vacancies shown for their preferred state — always verify the local language column for your Circle before assuming eligibility.
Selection Process — How Merit Is Calculated
- No written examination and no interview — selection is entirely via a system-generated merit list.
- Merit is based on Class 10th marks, aggregated to a percentage accurate to 4 decimal places.
- If the marksheet shows Grades/Points instead of marks, each grade is converted using a multiplication factor of 9.5 (e.g., A1/Grade Point 10 → 95 marks for that subject).
- Where CGPA is given, marks = CGPA × 9.5; if both subject-wise grades and CGPA appear, the higher of the two is used.
- Candidates only enter grades/points as shown on their marksheet — the system does the conversion automatically; manual conversion by the candidate is not required and can cause errors if attempted.
- Tie-breaker priority order (in case of equal marks): older DOB first, then category/gender priority — ST trans-woman → ST female → SC trans-woman → SC female → OBC trans-woman → OBC female → EWS trans-woman → EWS female → UR trans-woman → UR female → ST trans-male → ST male → SC trans-male → SC male → OBC trans-male → OBC male → EWS trans-male → EWS male → UR trans-male → UR male.
- An applicant can give preferences for multiple posts within one Division, but if found meritorious for more than one, only the first preference post for which they qualify is offered — all other preferences are automatically forfeited.
Documents Required for GDS Application 2026
- Active personal Mobile Number and Email ID (verified via OTP — cannot be shared with another applicant’s registration, and cannot be changed later)
- Class 10th (SSE) Marksheet details — Board, Year of Passing, subject-wise marks/grades
- Recent Photograph (JPG/JPEG, 30–100 KB, 320×400 px, 4:5 ratio, plain white/light background)
- Scanned Signature on white paper with black/blue pen (JPG/JPEG, 20–100 KB, 300×120 px, 5:2 ratio)
- No certificates/documents need to be uploaded at the application stage — only required at physical verification after shortlisting: Marksheet, Identity Proof, Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD as applicable), Transgender Certificate (if applicable), DOB Proof, Medical Certificate from a Government Hospital/Dispensary/PHC, and local-language proficiency certificate (for AP/Sikkim/Goa/Nagaland applicants)
How to Apply Online for GDS Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official portal — indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement
- Click “New Candidate Registration” and complete One-Time Registration (OTR) — enter Mobile Number and Email ID (both OTP-verified) and basic personal details (Name, DOB, Gender, Parents’ Name, Community)
- Note the system-generated Registration Number and password sent via SMS/Email — required for all further steps
- Log in again during the application window (02–21 September 2026) using Registration Number and password
- Fill Board/Educational Details — Circle, Board name, passing year, subject-wise marks/grades from the Class 10 marksheet
- Select ONE Division — the system will show only those posts you’re eligible for, based on community, age, PwBD status and local language studied
- Rank your post preferences within the selected Division
- Upload photograph and signature as per prescribed specifications and check the preview carefully
- Pay the application fee (if applicable) within 10 minutes of initiating payment — do not close/refresh the window mid-payment
- Submit the form; no changes are possible after final submission except during the 23–24 September Correction Window
Correction Window — What Can and Cannot Be Changed
- Correction Window: 23–24 September 2026 (2 Days Only, upto 5:00 PM)
- Can be corrected: Name, DOB, Marks/Grades, Division/Post choice-filling, and other application data
- Cannot be changed under any circumstances: Mobile Number and Email ID
- If a category change during correction requires fee payment, the fee must be paid again during the window itself — the earlier submitted application becomes null and void once modification is submitted, and merit is decided on the corrected application
- If correction is started but not finally submitted (incl. fee payment) within the window, the changes are void and the original application stands
Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid
- Entering “marks” when the marksheet only has Grades/Points, or vice-versa — enter exactly what your marksheet shows; the system converts it
- Filling Name/Father’s Name/Mother’s Name/DOB differently from the Class 10 certificate — any mismatch can lead to cancellation of candidature
- Assuming a Division is eligible without checking the local-language requirement first
- Uploading a selfie or scanned printed photo instead of a proper studio-style photograph — leads to rejection
- Waiting until the last day to apply — heavy portal load near the closing date is common and the Department is not responsible for failed submissions due to server load
- Believing phone calls/SMS claiming to “help” with selection — the Department never makes such calls; all correspondence is only via @indiapost.gov.in / @indiapostgdsonline.gov.in and the registered mobile/email
important links |
|
| Apply Online / Registration Portal | click here (OTR opens 31 Aug 2026) |
| Download Official Notification PDF | click here |
| Official Website | click here |
| firstjob24 jobs | click here |
| join whatsapp channel | click here |
| subscribe on youtube | click here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is there any written exam for GDS Recruitment 2026?
No. Selection is entirely based on a merit list generated from Class 10th marks/grades — there is no written test or interview.
Q2. What is the total vacancy for GDS Schedule-II July-2026?
The descriptive notification does not carry a fixed total; initial announcements indicate 25,000+ posts, with the exact Division-wise numbers to be published on the portal once registration opens.
Q3. Can I apply to more than one Division?
No, an applicant can register for posts within only ONE Division per registration.
Q4. Is GDS a permanent government job?
GDS is a distinct Civil Post under the GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2020 — not a regular Central Government post under Article 309. It is a part-time engagement (4–5 hours/day) up to age 65, and a Sevak is expected to have another livelihood source besides TRCA.
Q5. What is the application fee?
₹100/- for General/OBC/EWS male applicants; fully exempted for all female, SC, ST, PwBD and Transwomen applicants.
Q6. Can BPM/ABPM/Dak Sevak preference be changed after final submission?
Only during the 23–24 September 2026 Correction Window; no changes are entertained after that under any circumstances.