Published: 25 August 2026 | Category: India Post Results & Notifications | Circle: Uttarakhand
The Office of the Chief Postmaster General, Uttarakhand Circle, Dehradun has declared the final result of the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) for the Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant cadre for vacancy year 2026.
The order was issued on 24 August 2026 under Memo No. Rectt./2-3/2026 — just one day after the DEST was held. That is an unusually fast turnaround, and it comes with a very tight deadline attached for the selected candidates.
If you appeared in this exam, read the deadline section carefully. You may have as little as five days to accept your promotion offer.
Quick Summary Table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Circle | Uttarakhand Circle, Dehradun |
| Exam | LDCE / CE for promotion to PA (CO), PA (PO) and SA (RMS) |
| Eligible groups | Category ‘A’, Category ‘B’ and GDS candidates |
| Vacancy year | 2026 (01.01.2026 to 31.12.2026) |
| Paper-I (Aptitude Test) held on | 28 June 2026 |
| Paper-II (DEST) held on | 23 August 2026 |
| Result order dated | 24 August 2026 |
| Total vacancies notified | 24 |
| Candidates finally selected | 20 |
| Vacancies left unfilled | 04 |
| Shortlisted for DEST | 57 (52 Cat A + 4 Cat B + 1 GDS) |
| Selection based on | Paper-I marks only |
| Paper-II (DEST) status | Qualifying in nature |
| Promotion offer to be issued by | 31 August 2026 |
| Time to accept/decline offer | 5 days from issue of offer order |
Vacancy Position — Cadre and Division Wise
The vacancies were finally approved and circulated vide office letter no. Rectt./1-6/DR/PA-SA/2026 dated 03.08.2026.
PA (Post Office) — 21 vacancies
| Division / Unit | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Almora | 02 |
| Chamoli | 01 |
| Dehradun | 11 |
| Nainital | 07 |
| Pauri | 00 |
| Pithoragarh | 00 |
| Tehri | 00 |
PA (Circle Office) and SA (RMS)
| Cadre | Unit | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| PA (CO) | Circle Office | 01 |
| S.A. | RMS | 02 |
Category Break-up (All Cadres Together)
| Type | Category | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical | UR | 17 |
| Vertical | SC | 00 |
| Vertical | ST | 07 |
| Horizontal | VH | 01 |
| Horizontal | HH | 01 |
| Horizontal | OH | 01 |
| Horizontal | Others (2025) | 01 |
| Total | 24 |
Point to note: Dehradun alone accounted for 11 of the 21 PA (PO) vacancies. Pauri, Pithoragarh and Tehri had zero PA (PO) vacancies this year — which is exactly why preference order became so important in this result. More on that below.
Qualifying Marks — Paper-I and Paper-II
As prescribed by the Directorate (letter No. 17-08/2018-SPB-I dated 10.05.2019 and the connected letters read with it):
| Paper | Maximum Marks | UR / Others | SC / ST / PWD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper–I (OMR) | 100 | 40 | 33 |
| Paper–II (DEST) | 25 | 18.75 (75%) | 15 (60%) |
Important: Selection is based only on Paper-I performance. Paper-II, the Data Entry Skill Test, is qualifying in nature. You must clear it, but the marks you score in DEST do not add to your merit position.
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of the PA SA departmental exam. Many candidates spend disproportionate time on typing speed and neglect the aptitude paper. Clear the DEST, yes — but your rank comes from Paper-I.
No OBC / EWS Reservation in This Exam
The circular states this plainly in para 4:
This is a promotional examination and no reservation in promotion for OBC and EWS candidates, hence, the minimum qualifying percentage of UR category will be applicable for them.
In simple words:
- OBC and EWS candidates appear in this exam, but there is no reserved quota for them in promotion.
- They must meet the UR qualifying marks — 40 in Paper-I and 18.75 in Paper-II.
- SC and ST candidates continue to have reservation in promotion, with the relaxed qualifying marks shown above.
This is a rule that catches a lot of candidates by surprise. Reservation in direct recruitment and reservation in promotion are governed by different rules. If you are an OBC or EWS candidate planning for a departmental promotion exam, plan your preparation on UR standards.
How Selection and Division Allotment Worked
This is the part every aspirant should understand, because it decides where you actually end up posted.
As per Directorate’s letter No. W/04/8/2022-SPN-I dated 26-10-2023 and the PA/SA Recruitment Rules:
- A single merit list is prepared at Circle level — not division-wise.
- Selected candidates are then allotted to Divisions/Units category wise, based on the order of preference exercised by the candidate.
- Allotment is subject to availability of vacancies in that Division/Unit.
So the sequence is: Circle merit first, then your preference list, then whether a seat is actually left in that division.
Why This Matters So Much This Year
Look at the vacancy table again. Dehradun had 11 seats. Pauri, Pithoragarh and Tehri had zero PA (PO) seats.
A candidate from Pithoragarh who scored well was still allotted a division elsewhere — because there was no vacancy at home. Candidates from Pauri, Pithoragarh and Tehri divisions all appear in the selected list, but allotted to Dehradun, Nainital, Almora or RMS.
Practical lesson: Before filling your preference form in any MTS to PA or Postman to PA exam, study the division-wise vacancy table carefully. A high preference for a division with zero vacancies is a wasted preference. Preference order can decide your posting even when your marks are excellent.
Result Highlights — Who Got Selected
The result is arranged in Circle-wise merit order in Annexure-I of the official order. We are not reproducing the full candidate list here, because it contains names, roll numbers, dates of birth and joining dates. Please download the official PDF from the Circle office or the India Post website for the complete list.
Here is the aggregate picture:
| Group | Selected |
|---|---|
| Category ‘A’ | 16 |
| Category ‘B’ | 03 |
| GDS | 01 |
| Total | 20 |
Cadres of Selected Candidates
The selected candidates came from a mix of existing cadres — Postman, Mail Guard, Mail Overseer and MTS, plus one GDS candidate. This shows the range of feeder cadres eligible for the PA/SA LDCE route.
Marks Pattern (Paper-I, out of 100)
- Highest mark in Category ‘A’: 96
- Lowest selected in Category ‘A’: 80
- Category ‘B’ selected range: 45 to 73
- GDS selected: 44
The Category ‘A’ cut-off sitting at 80 out of 100 is worth pausing on. That is a genuinely competitive score. Category ‘B’ and GDS candidates were selected at much lower marks because they compete against a separate, smaller pool of vacancies.
If you are preparing for MTS to PA or Postman to PA through the Category ‘A’ route, understand what the number means: qualifying is 40, but selection needed 80. Clearing the paper and clearing the cut-off are two completely different targets.
Unfilled Vacancies and Carry Forward
Out of 24 vacancies, only 20 could be filled. Here is what happened to the rest:
Left Unfilled This Year
- 03 ST vacancies in PA (PO) cadre — no qualified ST candidates available.
- 01 UR/PH (VH category) vacancy in PA (CO) cadre — no qualified VH candidate available.
Adjustments Made from Earlier Years
The circular records three separate PwBD adjustments:
| Case | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 01 unfilled UR/PH (HH) vacancy of PA (PO), vacancy year 2025 | Exchanged with an available qualified OH category candidate. The HH vacancy is to be identified in vacancy year 2027. |
| 01 UR/PH (Others) vacancy of PA (PO), vacancy year 2025 | Filled by a UR category candidate due to non-availability of a qualified PwBD candidate. Reservation (UR/HH) carried forward to 2027. |
| 01 unfilled UR/PH (OH) vacancy of SA cadre, year 2024 | Could not be exchanged. Filled with a UR candidate. OH reservation carried forward to 2027, after which it shall lapse. |
These adjustments were made in accordance with para 7 of Directorate letter No. X-20/17/2024-SPN-II dated 08-07-2025.
Plain language version: When a reserved PwBD seat has no qualified candidate, the department first tries to exchange it with another disability sub-category. If that also fails, a UR candidate fills it and the reservation is carried forward to a future year. But it does not carry forward forever — in the SA case above, the circular says it lapses after 2027.
Deadline Alert — Offer of Promotion by 31 August 2026
This is the most urgent part of the entire circular.
Para 18 states:
- Divisional / Unit Heads will issue the offer of promotion by 31.08.2026.
- Successful candidates must accept or decline within 5 days from the date of issue of the promotion offer order.
- Failing which, their promotion will be deemed to have been declined.
Read that last line again. Silence counts as refusal. There is no reminder, no second chance built into the rule.
What Selected Candidates Should Do Right Now
- Stay in touch with your Divisional Office from today onwards.
- Do not wait for a letter to reach you by post if you can confirm it at the office directly.
- If you are on leave, tour or field duty, inform your office how to reach you.
- Keep your acceptance in writing, submitted through proper channel, with a dated acknowledgement.
- If you intend to decline, understand the consequences first (see the embargo section below).
Embargo Period for Candidates Who Declined Earlier
Para 14 covers a specific situation, as per Directorate letter no. W-17/10/2023-SPN-I-DOP dated 06-03-2023:
Candidates who were declared successful in LDCE for PA/SA promotion earlier, declined their promotion for vacancy year 2024, and have now again been declared successful for vacancy year 2026 — should be promoted only after completion of their embargo period.
So declining a promotion is not a cost-free decision. It attaches a waiting period that follows you into your next successful attempt. Think carefully before declining an offer for personal or posting reasons.
Selection Is Provisional — Not Final
Para 15 makes the status clear. The selection is purely provisional, subject to fulfilment of conditions under the relevant Recruitment Rules.
Key conditions:
- No provisional candidate is to be given appointment without regularization of their candidature.
- Divisions/Units must verify the current status of qualified candidates before promoting.
- Candidates with vigilance or disciplinary cases pending, or those undergoing punishment, should not be promoted — such cases go back to the Circle Office (as per Directorate letter no. X-7/6/2022-SPN-II dated 17-05-2023, 22.09.2023 and 04.03.2024).
- SC/ST certificates of officials selected against SC/ST vacancies must be verified from concerned sources, and any discrepancy reported promptly.
Also, para 13 notes that candidate details were furnished by Divisions/Units. If there is any mistake, it should be intimated to the Circle Office. And if a selected candidate is later found ineligible under the rules, their name will be deleted from the list of successful candidates.
No Re-Totaling, No Re-Evaluation — But You Can Get Your OMR Copy
Because the exam used OMR answer sheets, requests for re-totaling or re-evaluation will not be entertained.
You can, however, obtain a photocopy of your answer sheet — only under the RTI Act, 2005.
How to Get Your OMR Answer Sheet Copy
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | RTI Act, 2005 only. Other applications will not be entertained. |
| Fee | Rs. 25/- per paper plus Rs. 10/- RTI application fee |
| Where to pay | In the post office |
| Apply to | CPIO / APMG (S & R), O/o Chief Postmaster General, Uttarakhand Circle, Dehradun – 248001 |
| Route of submission | Through your respective Division / Unit — proper channel only |
| Attach | Original receipt of fee payment |
| Must mention | Your Roll Number (mandatory) |
| Time limit | OMR sheets preserved for one year from the date of declaration of Main Result |
| Eligibility | Only candidates who actually appeared in the exam |
Applications received after the one-year preservation period will not be entertained.
Review of Failed SC/ST Candidates — Discontinued
Para 17 records that the provision of reviewing results of failed SC/ST candidates has been revisited by the Postal Service Board and decided to be discontinued, as communicated vide Postal Directorate’s letter No. 4-13/2015-SPN-I dated 08-04-2016.
This is an older policy position, but it is repeated in the circular so that candidates do not file review requests that cannot be processed.
DEST Shortlisting Ratio — 3× the Vacancies
Para 7 confirms the rule from Directorate’s letter no. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 19-12-2022:
the number of candidates to be shortlisted for DEST shall be kept as three time of the number of vacancies notified.
With 24 vacancies, 57 candidates were shortlisted for DEST across Category A, Category B and GDS pools.
What this means for your preparation: You are not competing for 24 seats in Paper-I. You are competing to be in the top 3× band of your category first. That is a much narrower gate than the qualifying mark suggests.
What This Result Teaches Every PA/SA Aspirant
Whether you are in Uttarakhand or any other circle, five lessons come straight out of this order:
1. Paper-I is everything. DEST is only qualifying. Your rank, your division, your promotion — all decided by Paper-I marks. Give it the study time it deserves.
2. But DEST can still eliminate you. 75% for UR is not a casual standard. You need consistent, accurate typing practice — not last-week panic practice. Speed without accuracy fails this test.
3. Cut-off is not the qualifying mark. Qualifying was 40. Category ‘A’ selection needed 80. Prepare for the cut-off, not the pass mark.
4. Preference order is a strategic decision. Study the division-wise vacancy table before you fill your form. Divisions with zero vacancies cannot give you a posting, however high you rank.
5. Deadlines are absolute. Five days to accept. No response equals declined. And declining brings an embargo period into your next attempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Has the Uttarakhand Circle LDCE PA/SA Result 2026 been declared? Yes. The Office of the Chief Postmaster General, Uttarakhand Circle, Dehradun declared the final result on 24 August 2026 vide Memo No. Rectt./2-3/2026, for vacancy year 2026.
Q2. How many candidates were selected in the Uttarakhand LDCE PA/SA 2026 result? A total of 20 candidates were selected — 16 from Category ‘A’, 3 from Category ‘B’ and 1 GDS candidate — against 24 notified vacancies.
Q3. Why were 4 vacancies left unfilled? Three ST vacancies in the PA (PO) cadre and one UR/PH (VH category) vacancy in the PA (CO) cadre remained unfilled because no qualified candidates from those categories were available.
Q4. Is DEST counted in the merit list for PA/SA LDCE? No. Selection is based only on Paper-I (Aptitude Test) performance. Paper-II, the Data Entry Skill Test, is qualifying in nature only.
Q5. What are the qualifying marks for PA/SA LDCE Paper-I and Paper-II? Paper-I is out of 100 with qualifying marks of 40 for UR/Others and 33 for SC/ST/PWD. Paper-II (DEST) is out of 25 with qualifying marks of 18.75 (75%) for UR/Others and 15 (60%) for SC/ST/PwD.
Q6. Do OBC and EWS candidates get reservation in the PA/SA departmental exam? No. This is a promotional examination and there is no reservation in promotion for OBC and EWS candidates. The minimum qualifying percentage of the UR category applies to them.
Q7. By when will the promotion offer be issued? Divisional and Unit Heads will issue the offer of promotion by 31 August 2026. Selected candidates must accept or decline within 5 days from the date of issue of the offer order, failing which the promotion will be deemed declined.
Q8. How is division allotment decided in PA/SA LDCE? A single merit list is prepared at Circle level. Selected candidates are then allotted to Divisions or Units category wise, based on the order of preference exercised by the candidate and subject to availability of vacancies in that Division or Unit.
Q9. Can I apply for re-totaling or re-evaluation of my OMR sheet? No. Since the examination was conducted using OMR answer sheets, requests for re-totaling or re-evaluation will not be entertained. Photocopies of answer sheets can only be obtained under the RTI Act, 2005.
Q10. How do I get a photocopy of my OMR answer sheet? Pay Rs. 25 per paper plus Rs. 10 RTI application fee at the post office, and submit an application under the RTI Act, 2005 to the CPIO/APMG (S & R), O/o Chief Postmaster General, Uttarakhand Circle, Dehradun – 248001, through your respective Division or Unit by proper channel, along with the original fee receipt and your roll number.
Q11. What happens if a selected candidate has a pending vigilance or disciplinary case? Such candidates should not be promoted. Their cases must be referred back to the Circle Office as per the Directorate’s instructions.
Q12. Which cadres are eligible to appear in the PA/SA LDCE? Category ‘A’, Category ‘B’ and GDS candidates are eligible. The selected candidates in this result came from Postman, Mail Guard, Mail Overseer, MTS and GDS cadres.
Preparing for Your PA/SA Departmental Exam
A cut-off of 80 out of 100 tells you what kind of preparation this exam now demands. Guesswork and last-month revision will not carry you across that line.
At Postoffice Coaching, we run structured preparation for departmental promotion exams across India Post — MTS to PA online classes, Postman to PA coaching, GDS to Postman and GDS to MTS departmental exam batches, with previous year question papers, mock tests, DEST typing practice and complete study material designed for working postal staff.
Our classes are built around the reality of your job — recorded sessions you can watch after duty hours, practice sets you can attempt on your phone, and doubt support that does not require you to travel anywhere.
👉 Join our India Post Departmental Exam preparation batch today — visit postofficecoaching.com