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Postal | India Post

India Post GDS 2026 cycle

A merit-based Department of Posts recruitment for Gramin Dak Sevak, Branch Postmaster and Assistant Branch Postmaster roles. Open to Class 10 pass candidates, with no written exam — selection is on Class 10 marks alone.

Awaiting notification2 stages

Overview

Conducting body
India Postwww.indiapost.gov.in
Age limit
18 to 40 years
Application fee
₹0 to ₹100
Vacancies
To be announced
First stage duration
Varies
Negative marking
None

India Post Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS), Branch Postmaster and Assistant Branch Postmaster Engagement is conducted by Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications. Selection runs through 2 stages: Merit list from Class 10 marks, Document verification.

  1. Apply online for the postal circle and posts of your choice within the schedule.
  2. A computer-generated merit list is prepared from Class 10 marks — there is no exam.
  3. If shortlisted, attend circle-wise document verification with your originals.
  4. Engagement as GDS, BPM or ABPM follows on clearing verification.

Important dates

Important dates
EventDateStatus
Notification and online engagement schedule

India Post releases GDS engagement schedules on indiapostgdsonline.gov.in, often more than once a year and circle by circle. The most recent all-India cycle opened applications in late January 2026. Watch the portal for the next schedule.

To be announcedNot announced
Online application window

Opens with the schedule and usually runs for about two weeks, with a short correction window afterwards. The exact last date is stated in the notice.

To be announcedNot announced
First merit list

A computer-generated merit list from Class 10 marks is published a few weeks after applications close, followed by later lists against remaining vacancies.

To be announcedNot announced
Document verification

Shortlisted candidates are called circle-wise for verification of original certificates before engagement.

To be announcedNot announced

Eligibility

Educational qualification

Open toClass 10 pass

Passed the Class 10 (Secondary School) examination from a recognised board, with Mathematics and English studied as compulsory or elective subjects. Candidates must also have studied the local language of the postal circle at least up to Class 10.

There is no higher-qualification advantage: selection is on Class 10 marks, so a higher degree does not help the merit position. Basic computer knowledge is required, and for Branch Postmaster roles an adequate means of livelihood and the ability to manage a branch office are expected.

Age

18 to 40 years as on the cut-off date stated in the official engagement schedule.

Upper age relaxation

  • SC and ST+5 years
  • OBC (non-creamy layer)+3 years
  • EWS+0 years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disability+10 years

Nationality

A candidate must be one of the following:

  • A citizen of India

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Application fee

CategoryFee
General, OBC and EWS (male and trans-man)

Paid online through the GDS portal. The fee is non-refundable.

₹100
Women, SC, ST, PwBD and trans-woman candidates

Exempt from the application fee, as per India Post rules.

₹0

Exam pattern

Stage by stage structure with question counts, marks, timing and the marking scheme.

Stage 1: Merit list from Class 10 marks

Pen and paper

Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None

  • There is no written examination and no interview.
  • A system-generated merit list is prepared from the marks (percentage) secured in the Class 10 examination, computed to four decimal places, with the approved conversion for boards that award grades or CGPA.
  • Separate merit lists are drawn circle-wise and category-wise against the vacancies.

Stage 2: Document verification

Pen and paperQualifying only

Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None

  • Shortlisted candidates present original certificates — Class 10 marksheet, date-of-birth proof, category and computer certificates — at the divisional office.
  • Engagement follows successful verification; furnishing wrong information leads to cancellation.

How to apply

  1. Register on the GDS portal

    Create a one-time registration at indiapostgdsonline.gov.in with your name, Class 10 details and contact number, and keep the registration number safe.

  2. Fill the application and choose circles and posts

    Enter your Class 10 marks exactly as on the marksheet and select your preferred postal circle and posts in order of preference.

  3. Pay the fee and submit

    Pay Rs 100 online where applicable, or claim the exemption, then submit and save the printout.

Documents to keep ready

  • Class 10 (Secondary School) marksheet and certificate
  • Date-of-birth proof
  • Valid photo identity proof such as Aadhaar
  • Category certificate (SC, ST, OBC, EWS) where applicable
  • PwBD certificate where applicable
  • Basic computer knowledge certificate
  • Recent passport-size photograph and signature matching the uploads

Salary and job profile

Pay and allowances

Pay scale:
Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA), not a Pay Commission scale
Initial basic pay:
To be announced
Approximate in-hand:
To be announced

Allowances

  • Dearness Allowance revised periodically

Perks

  • Provident fund and gratuity benefits as per GDS rules
  • Circle welfare fund benefits
  • A local, village-level posting close to home for many roles

Recent notices place the monthly TRCA at roughly Rs 10,000 to Rs 24,470 for Gramin Dak Sevak and Assistant Branch Postmaster roles, and about Rs 12,000 to Rs 29,380 for Branch Postmaster, plus Dearness Allowance. Confirm the exact figure from the official schedule.

What the job involves

  • Branch Postmaster: run a village branch post office — mail, savings accounts, India Post Payments Bank services and government scheme payments.
  • Assistant Branch Postmaster: support branch operations, counter work and delivery.
  • Gramin Dak Sevak: delivery and conveyance of mail and allied postal work in rural areas.
  • A route into regular postal cadres over time through departmental channels.

How to prepare for India Post GDS

  • There is nothing to study for a test here — put your energy into an accurate application, since the merit list is built straight from your Class 10 marks.
  • Enter your marks exactly as printed; for CGPA or grade boards, use India Post's official conversion so your percentage is computed correctly.
  • Apply early and to the circle whose local-language condition you meet, and list post preferences thoughtfully.
  • Keep scanned Class 10 documents, category and computer certificates ready before the window opens, because it is often short.
  • While you wait for a list, a Class 12 pass opens far more exams — SSC CHSL, RRB NTPC undergraduate posts and more — so it is worth continuing your studies.

Frequently asked questions

Is there any written exam or interview for India Post GDS?

No. Selection is entirely on the marks scored in Class 10. A computer prepares the merit list to four decimal places, so there is no exam or interview to sit.

Who can apply for GDS?

Anyone who has passed Class 10 with Mathematics and English and is aged 18 to 40 (with the usual category relaxations), and who has studied the local language of the circle up to Class 10.

How can I improve my chance of selection?

Because selection is on Class 10 marks, the merit position is fixed by those marks. What you can control is applying to the right circle, entering your marks accurately, and keeping your documents ready — a small data-entry error can cost a place.

Is the application fee really waived for many candidates?

Yes. Women, SC, ST, PwBD and trans-woman candidates pay nothing. Only General, OBC and EWS male candidates pay the Rs 100 fee.

Last verified 20 August 2026(36 days ago, by editorial)

Not yet confirmed for this cycle: status, the schedule, the vacancy count and pay scale. Where we have a figure from previous cycles we show it and label it as expected; where we do not, the page says "to be announced". Check the official source below before you rely on any of it.

Official sources

Found something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it, citing the source.