India Post GDS Recruitment 2026: Apply Online, Dates, Fee, Eligibility & Vacancy
▣ Job Summary
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026: Apply Online, Dates, Fee, Eligibility & Vacancy

The Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India has released the Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) Online Engagement Notification for Schedule-II, July 2026, under Notification No. 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20 August 2026. Interested and eligible candidates can apply online for the posts of Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), and Dak Sevak across various Circles and Divisions of India Post. Online registration begins on 31 August 2026, and applications can be submitted through the official portal at indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement. Selection will be made purely on the basis of a merit list prepared from Class 10th marks — there is no written examination or interview involved.
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | OVERVIEW TABLE
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India |
| Notification Name | GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July 2026 |
| Notification No. | 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20.08.2026 |
| Post Names | Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), Dak Sevak |
| Mode of Application | Online only |
| Official Website | indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement |
| Selection Mode | Merit list based on Class 10th marks (no written exam) |
| Job Location | Rural/Urban Post Offices across India (Circle/Division wise) |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (with exemptions for certain categories) |
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | IMPORTANT DATES
| Activity | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Start of Online One-Time Registration (OTR) | 31 August 2026 |
| Last Date of Online One-Time Registration | 19 September 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) |
| Start of Online Application & Fee Payment | 2 September 2026 |
| Last Date of Online Application & Fee Payment | 21 September 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) |
| Correction/Edit Window (Application Form) | 23–24 September 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Closing the Entire Engagement Process | 31 December 2026 |
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | APPLICATION FEE
- General category (male) candidates: ₹100 application fee applies for the Division(s) chosen.
- No fee is charged from female candidates, SC/ST candidates, PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) candidates, and Transwomen candidates.
- Payment can be made online through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
- Once paid, the fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, so candidates should confirm their eligibility for a Division before making payment.
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | AGE LIMIT (as on the last date of application submission)
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Maximum Age | 40 years |
| SC/ST | +5 years relaxation |
| OBC | +3 years relaxation |
| EWS | No relaxation |
| PwBD | +10 years relaxation |
| PwBD + OBC | +13 years relaxation |
| PwBD + SC/ST | +15 years relaxation |
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | VACANCY DETAILS (Category-wise Structure)
The exact number of vacancies for each Circle/Division will be published separately on the official GDS portal along with the notification annexure. However, the reservation structure to be followed for filling these posts is as below:
| Category | Reservation Share |
|---|---|
| SC | As per applicable state-wise reservation norms |
| ST | As per applicable state-wise reservation norms |
| OBC | As per applicable state-wise reservation norms |
| EWS | 10% |
| PwBD (across 5 disability sub-categories) | 1% each — Low Vision; Deaf/Hard of Hearing; Locomotor disabilities (One Arm/One Leg/Both Leg etc.); Learning/Intellectual disability; Multiple disabilities |
| UR (Unreserved) | Remaining posts |
Tip for readers: Advise them to check the Division-wise vacancy PDF/annexure on the official portal once released, since numbers vary by Circle.
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
- Candidates must have passed the Class 10th (Secondary School Examination) from a recognised Board, with passing marks in Mathematics and English.
- Candidates must also have studied the local/regional language applicable to the post (as specified for each Circle) up to at least Class 10th level.
- Qualifications from boards or equivalent examinations not recognised for this purpose are not accepted.
- Special local-language provisions apply for candidates applying in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim, and Nagaland, where knowledge of a notified tribal/local dialect may be verified through a competent authority certificate.
- Additional requirements: basic computer knowledge, ability to ride a bicycle/two-wheeler, and an independent source of income besides the GDS allowance.
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | SELECTION PROCESS
Unlike most government jobs, GDS recruitment does not involve any written exam or interview. The selection is entirely merit-based:
- A merit list is generated automatically based on the marks obtained in the Class 10th board examination, converted to a percentage (up to 4 decimal points).
- Where a board issues grades instead of marks, a standard conversion formula (multiplying the grade point by 9.5) is applied.
- Shortlisted candidates are called for document verification at the concerned Divisional office.
- After successful verification, a provisional engagement offer is issued.
- Final engagement follows completion of joining formalities, including basic training and submission of pending certificates.
- In case of a tie in merit, priority is decided using a fixed order based on date of birth (older candidate preferred) followed by category and gender-based sequencing.
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | SALARY / PAY SCALE (TRCA Structure)
GDS employees are paid through a Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) system rather than a regular pay scale, along with Dearness Allowance and other benefits.
| Post | TRCA Slab (Monthly) |
|---|---|
| Branch Postmaster (BPM) | ₹12,000 – ₹29,380 |
| Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM) / Dak Sevak | ₹10,000 – ₹24,470 |
Additional benefits include:
- 3% annual increment (subject to conditions)
- Dearness Allowance (DA) as revised by the Government
- GDS Gratuity
- Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (similar to the National Pension System for regular employees)
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | EXAM PATTERN
There is no written examination for GDS recruitment. Selection is based purely on the Class 10th marks/merit list system described above. Candidates often search for “GDS exam pattern,” so it’s worth clearly stating in the blog that no exam is conducted — this alone can capture good search traffic from confused applicants.
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 |
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED (at the time of physical verification)
- Class 10th Mark Sheet
- Identity Proof
- Date of Birth Proof
- Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC, if applicable)
- EWS Certificate (if applicable)
- PwBD Certificate (if applicable)
- Transgender Certificate (if applicable)
- Medical Fitness Certificate from a Government hospital/dispensary/PHC (compulsory)
- Local/Tribal Language Proficiency Certificate (only for Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa, Nagaland applicants, where applicable)
- Recent passport-size photograph and signature (uploaded online in prescribed format)
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | HOW TO APPLY — STEP BY STEP
- Visit the official portal: indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) using an active mobile number and email ID (both verified via OTP).
- Note down the Registration Number generated after successful registration.
- Log in using the Registration Number and password, then click on “Apply Online.”
- Fill in personal details, educational details (Board, year of passing, marks/grades), and select your preferred Division and post(s).
- Upload a recent photograph (JPG/JPEG, 30–100 KB, 320×400 px, 4:5 ratio) and signature (JPG/JPEG, 20–100 KB, 300×120 px, 5:2 ratio) as per the prescribed format.
- Preview the application carefully before submission.
- Pay the applicable fee online (skip this step if exempted).
- Submit the application and save/print the confirmation for future reference.
- Use the 2-day correction window after the closing date if any edits are needed.
India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 | Older Posts
A. The online application and fee payment window closes on 21 September 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
A. No. Selection is based entirely on a merit list prepared from Class 10th marks; there is no written test or interview.
A. The fee is ₹100. Female candidates, SC/ST candidates, PwBD candidates, and Transwomen candidates are exempted from paying the fee.
A. Candidates must be between 18 and 40 years old as on the last date of application, with age relaxation available for SC/ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates.
A. BPM candidates get a TRCA of ₹12,000–₹29,380, while ABPM and Dak Sevak candidates get ₹10,000–₹24,470, along with Dearness Allowance and other benefits.

