Published on: 06 August 2026 | Category: India Post Latest News, India Post Circulars, India Post Notifications
Quick Summary (Read This First)
The Department of Posts has issued an important instruction to all Circles.
- Order No: Q-25/16/2023-PE-I
- Issued By: Department of Posts, PE-I Section, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110001
- Date: 04-08-2026
- Signed By: Prabha Sharma, Assistant Director General (PE-I)
- Sent To: All Heads of Circles
- Main Point: The existing manual process for Periodical Review of Post Offices is to be kept on hold
- Reason: A new Online Establishment Review Portal is coming
- Expected Rollout: 01.09.2026 (pan-India)
In one line — stop the manual review work, wait for the portal.
What Is Periodical Establishment Review?
Many staff members hear this term but are not fully clear about it. Here is the simple explanation.
Periodical Establishment Review is the exercise where the Department checks the actual workload of a post office and compares it with the sanctioned staff strength.
Based on this review, decisions are taken on things like:
- Whether the number of posts in an office should stay the same, increase or reduce
- Whether an office should be upgraded or downgraded
- Whether posts should be created, abolished or redeployed
- Whether staff strength matches the actual traffic and transactions
In short, it decides how many hands an office is officially allowed to have. That is why it directly affects postings, vacancies and workload for every official on the ground.
What Exactly Does the Order Say?
The circular is short, but every line matters. Here it is in bullet form:
- The Online Establishment Review Portal for conducting the Periodical Review of Post Offices is in the final stages of development.
- It is being prepared for a pan-India rollout.
- It is expected to be operationalized by 01.09.2026.
- Till the rollout of the portal, Circles are asked to keep the existing manual process on hold.
- All Circles must issue necessary instructions to all concerned field units under their jurisdiction.
- Strict compliance with these directions is required.
- Separate instructions will be issued later regarding the operationalization of the Portal and how the Periodical Review will be conducted through it.
- The order issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
Manual Process On Hold — What Does This Mean in Practice?
This is the part that affects daily office work.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Manual Periodical Review of Post Offices | On hold until portal rollout |
| Online Establishment Review Portal | Final stages of development |
| Expected go-live date | 01.09.2026 |
| Instructions for using the Portal | To be issued separately |
| Applicable to | All Circles, pan-India |
So if your office was in the middle of preparing manual establishment review statements, papers or returns — pause it. Wait for the portal and the separate instructions that will follow.
Why Is the Department Moving This Online?
The order does not spell out the reasons, but the shift itself tells the story. Moving establishment review to a portal generally means:
- Uniform data across all Circles instead of different manual formats
- Faster processing — no more files travelling office to office
- Less paperwork for divisional and circle offices
- Better transparency in how staff strength decisions are made
- Central visibility for the Directorate over establishment across India
This fits the wider pattern at India Post. APT 2.0, IPPB digital services, the BYOD Scheme for smartphones, online exam portals — one by one, manual systems are moving to digital platforms.
Action Points for Circles and Divisions
- Circle Offices — issue written instructions to all field units immediately, as directed.
- Divisional Offices — inform all subordinate offices in writing, including officials on leave.
- Field Units — stop the manual Periodical Review exercise until further orders.
- Do not initiate fresh manual establishment review proposals in the meantime.
- Preserve existing data — workload figures and transaction data will almost certainly be needed for portal entry.
- Wait for the separate instructions on how the Portal will work. Do not assume the procedure.
- Watch for updates around 01.09.2026, the expected operational date.
Key Dates to Remember
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 04-08-2026 | Order issued by PE-I Section, Directorate |
| From now | Manual Periodical Review kept on hold |
| 01-09-2026 (expected) | Online Establishment Review Portal operational |
| Later | Separate instructions on Portal usage to be issued |
Note the word “expected”. The order says the portal is expected to be operationalized by 01.09.2026, not that it is confirmed. Dates can shift.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is the subject of this order? Periodical Establishment Review of Post Offices, issued under order No. Q-25/16/2023-PE-I dated 04-08-2026.
Q2. Has the Periodical Review been cancelled? No. Only the manual process has been kept on hold. The review itself will continue through the new online portal.
Q3. When will the Online Establishment Review Portal start? It is expected to be operationalized by 01.09.2026, on a pan-India basis.
Q4. Which offices does this apply to? All Circles and all field units under their jurisdiction, across India.
Q5. Will separate instructions be issued for the portal? Yes. The order clearly states that instructions on operationalization and conduct of the review through the portal will be issued separately.
Q6. Who signed this order? Prabha Sharma, Assistant Director General (PE-I), Department of Posts.
Q7. Does this affect my promotion or transfer? Not directly. But establishment review decides sanctioned posts in an office, which over time affects vacancies and postings.
What This Means for India Post Employees Long-Term
Establishment review is not exciting news. But it quietly shapes your working life.
The number of sanctioned posts in your office decides your workload, your chances of getting a nearby posting, and how many vacancies open up in your division. When that whole exercise moves to a portal, decisions get faster and more data-driven.
For officials, the practical takeaway is simple: the department is digitising quickly. Everything from your smartphone reimbursement to your exam answer key to your office’s staff strength is moving online.
Thinking About Your Next Career Step?
Establishment reviews decide how many posts exist. Departmental exams decide who fills them.
If you are a GDS, MTS, Postman or Mail Guard, these are the routes open to you inside India Post:
- GDS to MTS Departmental Exam
- GDS to Postman / Mail Guard Exam
- MTS to Postal Assistant (PA/SA) Exam
- Postman to Postal Assistant (PA/SA) Exam
What serious aspirants prepare with:
- GDS to MTS Online Classes — live and recorded, so you can study after duty hours
- GDS to MTS Study Material and a proper question bank
- GDS to MTS Previous Year Question Papers PDF and GDS to MTS Syllabus PDF
- GDS to MTS Mock Test series and daily practice sets
- MTS to PA Online Classes and Postman to PA Coaching
- India Post Previous Year Question Papers and India Post Mock Tests
- India Post GK, Current Affairs and daily quiz
The syllabus, exam pattern and selection process are broadly the same across Delhi Circle, Punjab Circle, Haryana Circle, Rajasthan Circle, Uttar Pradesh Circle, Bihar Circle, Madhya Pradesh Circle, Maharashtra Circle, Gujarat Circle, Tamil Nadu Circle, Karnataka Circle, Kerala Circle, Odisha Circle, Assam Circle and West Bengal Circle. Only vacancy numbers and notification dates change.
Simple truth: waiting for a portal takes one month. Waiting for a promotion without preparation takes a career.
Final Word
Short circular, clear instruction. Manual Periodical Review is on hold. The Online Establishment Review Portal is expected by 01.09.2026. Separate instructions will follow.
Pass this on to your Divisional and Sub-Divisional colleagues so nobody wastes time on manual review work that has been paused.