India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Schedule-II: 10th Pass Vacancy, Apply Online, Merit List & Last Date

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 : The Department of Posts has released the Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) Online Engagement Schedule-II, July-2026 notification, numbered 17-12/2026-GDS and dated 20 August 2026. Applications are invited for Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM) and Dak Sevak posts across postal circles in India.

There is no written exam and no interview. Selection is done purely through a system-generated merit list based on Class 10 marks — which makes this one of the most accessible central government job openings for 10th pass candidates.

Online one-time registration opens on 31 August 2026 and the application window runs from 02 September to 21 September 2026 (up to 5:00 PM).

Apply only at the official portal: https://indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 — Overview

GDS Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

Two points candidates routinely get wrong here. First, registration and application are separate stages — registration opens two days earlier and closes two days earlier. Second, the 5:00 PM cut-off is absolute: an application with a pending or incomplete payment after closing time is rejected, and no extra time is granted.

GDS Vacancy 2026 — Post-Wise Details

Tentative vacancies for each circle and division are listed in Annexure-I of the notification, and division-wise vacancy positions are published on the portal. Each vacancy carries a unique Post ID, office name, TRCA, account/record office, prescribed local language and PIN code.

Community-wise reservation follows state percentages for SC, ST and OBC, with 10% reservation for EWS and 5% total for PwBD categories (1% each across five disability sub-categories).

GDS Eligibility Criteria 2026

Educational Qualification

• Secondary School Examination (10th standard) pass certificate with passing marks in Mathematics and English, from a board recognised by the Government of India, State Governments or Union Territories.
• Candidates holding an "equivalent" qualification from any other board are not eligible.
• The candidate must have studied the local language up to at least 10th standard from a recognised board. Circle-wise local languages are listed in Annexure-III of the notification.

Other Qualifications

1. Knowledge of computers
2. Knowledge of cycling
3. Adequate means of livelihood

Undertakings for all three must be submitted to the Engaging Authority at the time of engagement.

Age Limit (as on last date of application)

• Minimum age: 18 years
• Maximum age: 40 years

GDS Salary 2026 — TRCA Slabs

Gramin Dak Sevaks are paid a Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) with a 3% annual increase, plus Dearness Allowance as declared by the Government from time to time.

Additional benefits include GDS Gratuity and the Service Discharge Benefit Scheme, which works along the lines of the National Pension System applicable to regular employees.

Candidates should note clearly: GDSs are holders of civil posts but are not regular Central Government employees. Their service conditions are governed by the GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020, and their emoluments are not at par with regular employees. Working hours are 4 to 5 hours a day, and a Sevak cannot be retained beyond 65 years of age.

GDS Application Fee 2026

• Fee: ₹100 for all posts applied for within the chosen Division
• Exempted: All female applicants, SC/ST applicants, PwBD applicants and Transwomen applicants
• Payment modes: Credit card, Debit card, Net Banking, UPI
• Fee once paid is not refunded under any circumstance — including cases where a candidate later becomes fee-exempt after editing the application
• Payment must be completed within 10 minutes of opening the payment window; do not close or refresh the page

How to Apply Online for India Post GDS 2026

The process has two distinct parts.

Part A — One-Time Registration (OTR)

1. Visit https://indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement
2. Click Candidate Login/Register, then New Candidate Registration
3. Enter and verify your mobile number and email ID through OTP
4. Fill personal details — name, date of birth, gender, father's/guardian's name, mother's name, community
5. Note the registration number and password sent to your registered mobile and email
6. Keep your Matriculation board name and year of passing ready before you start

Part B — Online Application Form

1. Log in with your registration number and password during the application window
2. Open Apply Online under the Active Notification tab
3. Complete Personal Details (partly auto-filled from OTR)
4. Fill Board / Educational Details — circle, board name, year of passing and subject-wise marks
5. Choose your Division and post preferences
6. Upload photograph and signature
7. Check the preview, then make fee payment if applicable and submit

Critical Application Rules

• Only one registration per candidate. Duplicate or multiple registrations — including any created by altering basic details — will result in cancellation of the candidature of all such applications.
• Mobile number and email ID cannot be changed at any stage, not even during the correction window.
• The same mobile number and email ID cannot be reused for another candidate's registration.
• Name, father's name, mother's name and date of birth must match the Class 10 marksheet exactly.
• No documents are to be uploaded with the application — only the photograph and signature.
• Applications with incomplete data, wrong or unnecessary uploads, or blurred photographs/signatures will be rejected.

Photo and Signature Specifications

Do not upload selfies, scanned photocopies of photos, or typed/digital text in place of a signature. After uploading, verify the preview — no correction or replacement is allowed after final submission.

Division Selection and Post Preference

A candidate may apply for posts in only one Division. On selecting the Division, the portal displays all eligible posts filtered by community, age, PwBD status and the local language studied.

You will not be considered for any post you have not given a preference for. If shortlisted for more than one post, the first post in your preference order for which you are found most suitable is offered, and your claim on all remaining posts is forfeited.

Where a single office has several posts with the same name, each is identified by a distinct Post ID — give a preference against each Post ID you want.

GDS Selection Process 2026 — How the Merit List Works

There is no written test and no interview. Shortlisting is done by a system-generated merit list built on Class 10 marks, aggregated to a percentage accurate to four decimal places.

• If the marksheet shows marks, or both marks and grades, the marks obtained are used. Applying with grades where marks are available makes the application liable for cancellation.
• If the marksheet shows only grades, subject-wise marks are derived using a multiplication factor of 9.5 (A1=10, A2=9, B1=8, B2=7, C1=6, C2=5, D=4).
• Where CGPA is given, marks are CGPA × 9.5. If both subject grades and CGPA appear, the higher of the two is taken.
• Boards such as DBSE that award percentages alongside grade points — enter the percentage; entering grade points instead risks disqualification.
• Tamil Nadu SBSE, 2020-21 pass certificates carry a uniform 66.67%; select "Pass" against each subject.
• Candidates should not convert grades to marks themselves — the system does it before results are declared.

Tie-Breaker Order

Ties are resolved by date of birth (older candidate first), followed by category and gender order: 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, then the corresponding trans-male and male categories. The Department reserves the right to add further tie-break criteria.

Document Verification and Joining

1. Shortlisted candidates are informed through SMS and email, and the list is published on the portal. Non-receipt of SMS or email is not the Department's responsibility — check the portal regularly.
2. Report to the Divisional/Unit Head for physical document verification within 15 days of shortlisting. Failure to appear marks you as "Non-turned up" and cancels your candidature automatically.
3. Carry originals plus two sets of self-attested photocopies: marksheet, identity proof, date of birth proof, caste certificate, PwBD certificate, EWS certificate, transgender certificate (as applicable), and a compulsory medical certificate from a government hospital, dispensary or PHC.
4. On successful verification, a system-generated offer of provisional engagement is issued immediately.
5. Complete pre-engagement formalities within 30 days, including 3 days of basic training and, for BPMs, arrangement of accommodation.
6. Class 10 marksheets may be verified through DigiLocker / API Setu. Keep a DigiLocker account ready with your documents fetched in, and correct any discrepancy before applying — a mismatch leads to rejection.

Candidates who fail to report, whose verification is unsuccessful, who do not complete joining formalities, who do not submit the caste certificate in the prescribed format within the extended 15-day period, or who resign or fail to join within 30 days will have their candidature cancelled, and the post goes to the next candidate in a supplementary list.

Job Profile: BPM vs ABPM vs Dak Sevak

Branch Postmaster (BPM) handles day-to-day operations of the Branch Post Office and India Post Payments Bank, marketing of departmental products, and in single-handed BOs, full responsibility for mail conveyance and delivery. A selected BPM must arrange accommodation for running the Branch Post Office at their own cost and must reside in the post village itself.

Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM) sells stamps and stationery, conveys and delivers mail at the doorstep, exchanges mail with the account office, handles IPPB transactions and assists the BPM. ABPMs must reside within the delivery jurisdiction of the Branch Office.

Dak Sevak may be engaged in post offices, sorting offices, mail offices, transit mail offices or delivery centres — handling mail, bags and parcels, transhipment, delivery, IPPB transactions and business procurement. Dak Sevaks must reside within the delivery jurisdiction of the HO/SO they are attached to.

Points Candidates Must Not Ignore

• Candidates dismissed, removed or compulsorily retired from government service or GDS as a penalty are barred from applying.
• No person holding an elective office will be considered for engagement.
• Past experience or service of any kind is not considered for selection.
• The Department does not make phone calls to applicants. Do not share your registration number, mobile number or email with anyone claiming to represent India Post.
• If you begin editing during the correction window but do not finally submit, the modification is null and void and merit is decided on the previously submitted application.
• In case of any dispute between the English and Hindi versions of the notification, the English version prevails.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date to apply for India Post GDS Recruitment 2026? The last date for submission of the online application and fee payment is 21 September 2026 up to 5:00 PM. Registration closes on 19 September 2026.

Is there any exam for GDS Recruitment 2026? No. Selection is entirely on a system-generated merit list prepared from Class 10 marks. There is no written exam and no interview.

What is the minimum qualification for GDS 2026? A 10th standard pass certificate with passing marks in Mathematics and English from a recognised board, plus the prescribed local language studied up to 10th standard.

What is the application fee for GDS 2026? ₹100. Female candidates, SC/ST candidates, PwBD candidates and Transwomen are exempt from the fee.

What is the GDS salary in 2026? BPM: ₹12,000 to ₹29,380 per month. ABPM and Dak Sevak: ₹10,000 to ₹24,470 per month, plus Dearness Allowance.

Can I apply in more than one Division? No. A candidate may apply only within one selected Division, but can give preferences for multiple posts inside that Division.

Can I change my mobile number or email ID later? No. Mobile number and email ID cannot be modified under any circumstances, including during the correction window.

What happens if I submit two applications? Duplicate or multiple registrations are strictly prohibited. If detected at any stage, the candidature is cancelled and action may be initiated under the GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020.

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