Published by Postoffice Coaching | Source: O/o Chief Postmaster General, Andhra Pradesh Circle, Vijayawada – Letter No. RE/3-5/R/2026 dated 25.08.2026
Quick Summary Table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Circle | Andhra Pradesh Circle, Vijayawada – 520 013 |
| Exam name | Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LGO Examination 2026) |
| Promotion to | Postal Assistant (CO/RO), Postal Assistant (PO), Sorting Assistant (RMS) |
| Eligible feeder cadres | Postman / Mail Guard / MTS (Category-A and Category-B) |
| Paper-I exam date | 28.06.2026 (Sunday) |
| DEST date | 02.08.2026 (Sunday) |
| Vacancy year | 2026 (01.01.2026 to 31.12.2026) |
| Result letter number | RE/3-5/R/2026 dated 25.08.2026 |
| Total notified vacancies | 122 (PA CO/RO – 4, PA PO – 97, SA RMS – 21) |
| Candidates selected | 121 |
| Vacancy carried forward | 1 UR (PwBD 4&5) carried to vacancy year 2027 |
| Acceptance / declination due date | 31.08.2026 (compliance to Circle Office) |
| Signed by | Assistant Director (Recruitment), AP Circle |
What Has Happened
The Andhra Pradesh Circle has declared the final result of the LGO Examination 2026. In simple words:
- The exam was held for promotion of serving Postman, Mail Guard and MTS officials to the Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant (PA/SA) cadre.
- Paper-I was held on 28.06.2026.
- The Data Entry Skill Test (DEST) was held on 02.08.2026.
- The notification for this exam was issued earlier vide office letter No. RE/3-5/LGO/N/2025 dated 11.05.2026.
- Provisional and Final Answer Keys of Paper-I (Series A, B, C and D) were already published on the departmental website under “Recruitment & Results”.
- The final Division-wise and Unit-wise vacancy position was published on 21.08.2026.
- The result is now out with a single Circle-level merit list and Division/Unit allotment for each selected candidate.
This is a result circular, so this post explains the numbers, the rules used and the lessons. Candidate-level details such as names, hall permit numbers, dates of birth and service entry dates are not reproduced here. Please check the official annexure on the India Post website for your individual entry.
Vacancy Position for Vacancy Year 2026
The vacancies notified under the Departmental Promotion Quota were as follows.
| Cadre | UR | SC | ST | Vertical Total | PwBD (Horizontal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postal Assistant (Circle Office / Regional Office) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 (VH) |
| Postal Assistant (Post Office) | 75 | 15 | 7 | 97 | 4 (VH 1, HH 1, OH 1, Others 1) |
| Sorting Assistant (Railway Mail Service) | 16 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 1 (VH) |
| Total | 93 | 19 | 10 | 122 | 6 |
Important point to note:
- PwBD vacancies are horizontal vacancies. They are adjusted inside the vertical UR/SC/ST figures. They are not extra posts over and above 122.
No OBC and No EWS Reservation in This Exam
The circular states this clearly, and it is one of the most common doubts among departmental candidates.
- The LGO Examination 2026 is meant for promotion / recruitment against vacancies under the Departmental Promotion Quota.
- Therefore, reservation for OBC and EWS categories is not applicable as per the extant rules and guidelines on this subject.
- Only SC and ST vertical reservation applies, along with horizontal PwBD reservation.
So an OBC candidate in a departmental promotion exam competes in the UR (open/unreserved) field on merit. This is a rule position and not a decision taken by the Circle.
How the Merit Was Prepared
The rules applied by the Circle are laid down in the circular. In simple language:
- A candidate must qualify in Paper-I and DEST separately to be considered for final selection.
- DEST marks are only qualifying in nature. They do not add to your merit.
- The final merit is drawn only in the order of marks secured in Paper-I.
- A single merit list at Circle level is prepared, covering successful Category-A candidates and selected Category-B candidates.
- Selected candidates are allotted to Divisions/Units as per merit, category wise (PwBD, UR, SC, ST), matched against the order of preference exercised by the candidate for Cadre and Division, subject to availability of vacancy in that Cadre/Division.
- SC/ST candidates who qualified on own merit and were selected against UR vacancies are to be adjusted against UR vacancies in the Roster.
The legal backing quoted in the circular includes Directorate Letter No. 17-08/2018-SPB-I dated 10.05.2019 (Annexure-C) and its subsequent amendments, Recruitment Rules 2022 of PA/SA cadre notified in GSR 459 (E) dated 17.06.2022 (amended by GSR 21 (E) dated 13.01.2023 and GSR 470 (E) dated 01.08.2024), and Directorate letter No. X-12/6/2021-SPN-II dated 31.12.2021.
Cut-Off Analysis (Paper-I Marks)
This is the part every future aspirant should study. The figures below are taken from the published annexure of selected candidates.
| Category | Highest Paper-I mark among selected | Lowest Paper-I mark among selected (general reading) |
|---|---|---|
| UR (open) | 85 | 74 |
| SC | 80 | 69 |
| ST | 77 | 66 |
| PwBD (horizontal, within UR/SC) | 78 | 34 |
What this tells us:
- The UR line stopped at 74 marks, and even at 74 marks not everybody could be selected.
- The SC line came down to 69 marks and the ST line came down to 66 marks.
- The gap between the top scorer (85) and the last UR selection (74) is only 11 marks. In a promotion exam, this is a very narrow band. Ten extra correct answers can move a candidate from “not selected” to “Circle Office posting”.
- PwBD selections are made within the horizontal quota, so those marks are naturally lower and should not be compared with the open cut-off.
- DEST marks of selected candidates cluster in the range of roughly 22 to 25, confirming again that DEST is a pass-or-fail gate, not a merit booster. Some PwBD candidates were shown as Exempted from DEST.
Please treat these as observed cut-offs for AP Circle, vacancy year 2026 only. They change every year with the number of vacancies and the difficulty level of the paper.
The Tie-Break Rule: 74 Marks Was Not Enough for Everyone
The circular contains a very important paragraph for exam aspirants.
- A group of eight candidates scored 74 marks in Paper-I and came under the zone of consideration in their respective category.
- Since they had equal marks, the inter-se-seniority was decided as per Directorate instructions vide Letter No. 04-08/2009-SPN-I dated 11.12.2020.
- Only the top meritorious candidate(s) on that basis were selected and allotted to the Division/Unit of their choice.
- Because vacancies were not available, the remaining candidates at the same mark did not get selection or allotment in their respective category.
Plain lesson for aspirants:
- Scoring the cut-off mark is not a guarantee. At the boundary, seniority decides.
- The only safe strategy is to score above the cut-off band, not equal to it.
- A junior official must aim for a clear margin, because at equal marks the senior official wins.
One Candidate Came in Merit but Got No Allotment
The circular records a case that every candidate should read carefully.
- One selected-merit candidate (SC category, 69 marks in Paper-I) could not be given Division/Unit allotment.
- The reason recorded is: limited options / order of preference exercised by him, either for Cadre or for Divisions/Units.
- On his turn of allotment, no vacancy remained in the Cadre/Divisions/Units he had opted for.
This is the single biggest avoidable loss in a departmental promotion exam. The candidate cleared Paper-I, cleared DEST, came in merit, and still lost the promotion for that vacancy year — purely because of a short preference list.
Practical guidance:
- Fill as many preferences as the form allows, not just the two or three near your home town.
- Preference order matters, but preference length matters more at the bottom of the merit list.
- The allotment engine moves down the merit list. If your name comes late and your list is short, the system simply has nothing left to give you.
- Look at the annexure: several selected candidates were allotted against preference number 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 16, 20 and even 23. Those candidates got promoted because they had filled that many options.
Vacancies Left for Category-B / GDS Candidates
Paragraph 17 of the circular deals with this directly.
- After announcing this result, no LGO vacancies remained unfilled for vacancy year 2026 to be offered to Part-(B) / Category-B / GDS candidates.
- The only exception is one (1) UR (PwBD 4&5) vacancy, which has been carried forward to vacancy year 2027.
- The reason recorded is that no eligible candidate under PwBD 4&5 was available in Category-A, Category-B or among GDS candidates.
So, for the AP Circle 2026 cycle, the LGO route is fully exhausted except for that one carried-forward PwBD vacancy.
What Selected Candidates Must Do Now
The circular gives clear instructions to Divisions and to candidates.
- Selection shown in the Annexure is provisional, subject to fulfilment of the conditions of the relevant Recruitment Rules for PA (CO/RO) / PA / SA cadre.
- Divisional Heads must re-check all eligibility conditions before issuing an offer of appointment, with reference to the recommendations made while forwarding the application forms.
- Before appointment, it must be ensured that no disciplinary or vigilance case is pending, contemplated, or punishment current against the selected candidate. If such a case exists, it must be referred to the Circle Office immediately.
- If it is later found that a candidate was not eligible, or applied with false information or declaration, the selection will be cancelled without any notice.
- Provisionally permitted candidates must not be appointed without regularisation of their candidature.
- Offer of appointment letters are to be issued immediately so that officials can join at the earliest.
- Candidates must submit acceptance or declination of the promotion in the enclosed format, and Divisions/Units must send compliance to Circle Office by 31.08.2026 without fail.
- Any discrepancy in name, hall permit number or category shown in the result should be intimated to the Circle Office immediately through the Region/Division/Unit.
- One candidate marked with a note in the annexure will get posting orders only after completion of the period of debarment, as issued by the Competent Authority.
Understand the Declination Format Before You Sign It
The acceptance/declination proforma enclosed with the circular contains a serious clause. Read it slowly.
- You state whether you are willing to accept or decline the promotion to PA/SA cadre for vacancy year 2026.
- If you decline, you accept in writing that you will have no further claim in respect of this result.
- Further, if you succeed in a future examination, your promotion will be effective only from the date after expiry of your embargo period, or as per the rules prevailing at that time.
In simple words: declining a promotion is not a neutral act. It carries a time cost that will follow you into the next attempt. Discuss it with your Divisional office before signing, especially if the reason is only the posting station.
What Future PA/SA Aspirants Should Learn From This Result
For serving Postman, Mail Guard and MTS officials preparing for the next cycle:
- Paper-I is the whole game. Merit is drawn only from Paper-I. Every mark is a rank.
- DEST must be cleared, not topped. Build steady, accurate typing speed with proper practice, then move your effort back to Paper-I.
- Aim above the cut-off band, not at it. In this result, 74 marks was both a selection and a rejection depending on seniority.
- Fill long preference lists. A single merit candidate lost his promotion this year for this reason alone.
- OBC candidates must plan for the UR line. In departmental promotion quota exams there is no OBC or EWS reservation, so the practical target is the open cut-off.
- SC/ST candidates selected on own merit are adjusted against UR in the roster, which protects the reserved vacancies for others in the category. Scoring high helps your whole category.
- Watch the vacancy announcement, not just the notification. Division/Unit-wise vacancy positions are published separately, and they decide how deep the merit list will go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Where can I check the AP Circle LGO 2026 result? The result is issued by the O/o Chief Postmaster General, AP Circle, Vijayawada vide letter No. RE/3-5/R/2026 dated 25.08.2026. The annexure with the list of selected candidates is circulated to Regions, Divisions and Units, and departmental results are published on www.indiapost.gov.in under Recruitment & Results.
Q2. Are DEST marks added to the merit? No. DEST is qualifying in nature only. The merit list is drawn purely on Paper-I marks, provided the candidate has qualified in Paper-I and DEST separately.
Q3. What was the AP Circle LGO 2026 cut-off? Based on the published annexure, the lowest Paper-I mark among generally selected candidates was 74 for UR, 69 for SC and 66 for ST. PwBD selections were made within the horizontal quota at lower marks. These are for AP Circle, vacancy year 2026 only.
Q4. I scored the cut-off mark but I was not selected. Why? If several candidates score the same marks, inter-se-seniority is applied as per Directorate letter No. 04-08/2009-SPN-I dated 11.12.2020. Only the top candidate(s) in that order were selected because vacancies were limited.
Q5. Is OBC reservation available in the LGO exam? No. As stated in the circular, no reservation for OBC and EWS categories is applicable, since these vacancies fall under the Departmental Promotion Quota.
Q6. Why did some candidates in merit not get a Division? Allotment is done as per merit against the order of preference exercised by the candidate. If a candidate opts for only a few Divisions or Cadres and no vacancy remains in those options on his turn, allotment cannot be made.
Q7. Are there LGO vacancies left for GDS candidates in AP Circle for 2026? No LGO vacancies remained unfilled for vacancy year 2026 for Part-(B)/Category-B/GDS candidates, except one UR (PwBD 4&5) vacancy which has been carried forward to vacancy year 2027.
Q8. By when must I accept or decline the promotion? Divisions and Units have been directed to send compliance to the Circle Office by 31.08.2026 without fail, using the enclosed acceptance/declination format.
Q9. Can my selection be cancelled after the result? Yes. The selection is provisional. It can be cancelled if eligibility conditions are not fulfilled, if a disciplinary or vigilance case is pending, or if false information or declaration was given in the application.
Prepare for the Next PA/SA Departmental Exam
The AP Circle result shows the truth in numbers: the difference between promotion and disappointment was often three or four questions. That gap can be closed with the right study plan.
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