India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Notification Out – Apply Online for 25000+ Gramin Dak Sevak Posts

The Department of Posts (India Post), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, has released the Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) Online Engagement Schedule-II, July-2026 notification vide Notification No. 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20 August 2026. Applications are invited from eligible candidates to fill tentative vacant posts of Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), and Dak Sevak in different offices of the Department of Posts across various Circles and Divisions in India. Interested candidates can apply online at the official GDS Online Engagement Portal.

Quick Answer: India Post (Department of Posts) is recruiting for Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) posts – Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), and Dak Sevak – under the Schedule-II, July-2026 engagement cycle. The exact number of vacancies by Circle/Division is not specified in this notification (Annexure-I refers candidates to the portal for tentative, division-wise vacancy positions). Candidates aged 18-40 years who have passed Class 10 (Secondary School Examination) with passing marks in Mathematics and English, and studied the prescribed local language up to 10th standard, can apply. Online One-Time Registration starts 31 August 2026, and online application submission runs from 2 September 2026 to 21 September 2026 (up to 1700 hrs), at https://indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement, for postings in rural offices of the Department of Posts across India.

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF Out

The Department of Posts has issued Notification No. 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20 August 2026 for the GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July-2026 cycle. Candidates are advised to read the full 38-page notification, including all annexures, before applying.

• Notification: India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF
• Apply Online Link: Apply Here
• Official Website: Check Here

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Overview

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

The GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July-2026 cycle follows a three-stage schedule for registration, application submission, and correction, as given below.

Candidates are strongly advised to complete registration and application submission well before the closing date and time, as the cut-off for both stages is strictly 1700 hrs, with no extensions granted for technical issues or heavy website load near the deadline.

India Post GDS Vacancy 2026 – Post Details

The notification covers three categories of Gramin Dak Sevak posts: Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), and Dak Sevak. The exact number of vacancies for each Circle and Division is not specified in the notification document itself – Annexure-I of the notification provides only a template format (“Gramin Dak Sevak Vacancy Position for___Division”), and candidates are directed to check the division-wise tentative vacancy position directly on the GDS Online Engagement Portal.

As per the notification, community-wise consolidation of posts (OBC, ST, SC as per state reservation percentage, EWS at 10%, UR, and PwBD sub-categories at 1% each) will be reflected in the division-wise vacancy annexure available on the portal.

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for all GDS posts (BPM/ABPM/Dak Sevak) is assessed as on the date of the notification (for qualification) and the last date of application submission (for age), as detailed below.

Note: Past experience or service of any kind is not considered for selection, as per the notification.

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Salary (TRCA)

GDS are not regular Central Government employees; they are paid emoluments in the form of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA), which carries an annual increase of 3% (subject to fulfilment of conditions under the GDS Rules), along with Dearness Allowance on TRCA as declared by the Government of India from time to time. GDS are also entitled to GDS Gratuity and the Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (akin to the National Pension System for regular employees).

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Application Fee

A fee of ₹100/- (Rupees One Hundred only) is payable by applicants for all posts notified in their choice of Division. Payment can be made online through recognized Credit/Debit cards, Net Banking, or UPI (usage charges as applicable will be levied). The fee, once paid, is non-refundable, and payment must be completed strictly within the application closing date and time (up to 1700 hrs).

• Fee-exempted categories: All female applicants, SC/ST applicants, PwBD applicants, and Transwomen applicants
• Applicants who are exempted may submit their application without making any payment

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Age Limit

The minimum age is 18 years and the maximum age is 40 years, to be determined as on the last date of submission of applications, subject to the following relaxations in the upper age limit.

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Selection Process

There is no written examination for GDS engagement. Selection is entirely merit-based, computed from the candidate’s Class 10 (SSE) academic record.

• Applicants are shortlisted on the basis of a system-generated merit list
• The merit list is prepared from marks obtained (or grades/points converted to marks) in the Secondary School Examination (10th standard), aggregated to a percentage up to 4 decimal places
• Where only grades are given, marks are computed using a multiplication factor of 9.5 against the grade point (e.g., A1 = Grade Point 10 × 9.5); where CGPA is given, marks are computed as CGPA × 9.5, and the higher of the two (individual subject grades vs. CGPA) is taken if both are provided
• Candidates must enter marks/grades exactly as shown on their marksheet – mixing marks and grades incorrectly, or entering grades where marks are required, can lead to cancellation/disqualification
• Tie-breaking in the merit list follows a fixed priority order based on date of birth (older preferred) followed by category and gender combinations (ST trans-woman, ST female, SC trans-woman, SC female, and so on down the prescribed order), with the Department reserving the right to apply additional tie-breaking criteria
• Shortlisted candidates must undergo physical verification of original documents by the Engaging Authority (Divisional/Unit Head), followed by an offer of provisional engagement, pre-engagement formalities (including 3 days of basic training and arranging accommodation), and final regularization after antecedent and document verification

How to Apply for India Post GDS Recruitment 2026

Applications must be submitted online only, in two stages – One-Time Registration (OTR) followed by the Online Application Form.

1. Visit the GDS Online Engagement Portal: https://indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement
2. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) using a valid mobile number and email ID (verified via OTP), entering personal details and Class 10 board/year of passing information, to generate a unique Registration Number
3. Log in using the Registration Number and password received via SMS, then click “Apply Online” under the “Active Notification” tab
4. Fill in Personal Details, Board/Educational Details (Circle, Board Name, passing year, marks obtained), and select Division and post preferences based on eligible vacancies
5. Upload a recent photograph (JPG/JPEG, 30-100 KB, 320×400 px, 4:5 aspect ratio) and signature (JPG/JPEG, 20-100 KB, 300×120 px, 5:2 aspect ratio) as per prescribed specifications
6. Preview the application and make any corrections before final submission
7. Pay the applicable fee (if not exempted) through the available online payment modes within 10 minutes of initiating payment
8. Submit the application on or before the last date, and use the two-day edit/correction window (23-24 September 2026) if any corrections are needed

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Important Instructions

• Only one registration is permitted per candidate; multiple or duplicate registrations/applications are strictly prohibited and will result in cancellation of candidature
• Candidates are not required to upload documents with the application, only their photograph and signature; original documents are verified physically at a later stage
• Name, Date of Birth, Father’s name, and Mother’s name must be entered exactly as recorded in the Class 10 (Matriculation) certificate, failing which candidature may be cancelled
• Mobile number and email ID, once registered, cannot be modified under any circumstances
• Candidates who have been dismissed/removed/compulsorily retired from Government service/GDS in the past as a penalty are barred from applying and must submit an undertaking to this effect
• SSE marksheets of selected candidates may be verified through DigiLocker/API Setu, and candidates must give consent for this verification
• Candidates dismissed/removed/retired from Government service in the past as a penalty are barred from applying; a false declaration will lead to termination and possible prosecution
• No person holding an elective office will be considered for engagement
• The Department does not make phone calls to applicants; all correspondence is through the Engaging Authority only, and applicants should be cautious of unscrupulous calls seeking personal information
• The Department reserves the right to modify, cancel the notification, or revise the number of posts at any time without assigning any reason

India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 Important Links

• Apply Online: Click here
• Official Notification PDF: Click here
• Official Website: Click here