India Post runs a scholarship scheme for school students who are interested in stamp collecting. It is called Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana. SPARSH stands for Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude and Research in Stamps as a Hobby.
The application form for 2026-27 (Level-I) is now out. If you are a student of Class 6 to 9, or a parent, or a teacher helping students, this post explains everything in simple words.
Important Notice About the Last Date
The form clearly says:
Last date of posting of this application (Level-I): 30.08.2026
This date has already passed. So please do this before doing anything else:
- Call or visit your nearest Head Post Office
- Ask the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices / Superintendent of Post Offices of your Postal Division
- Ask if the last date has been extended for your circle
Many circles extend the date. Some do not. Only your division office can tell you the correct answer. Do not depend on WhatsApp forwards.
If the date is extended, everything below will help you fill the form correctly the first time.
What is Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana?
It is a scholarship scheme by the Department of Posts, India.
In short:
- It encourages students to take up Philately (stamp collecting) as a hobby
- Students take part in a quiz competition and a project work
- Selected students get a scholarship paid into their account
- It is completely run by India Post at the divisional level
It is a small effort by the postal department to keep the hobby of stamp collecting alive in schools.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
Check these points before filling the form:
- Student must be studying in Class 6, 7, 8 or 9
- Student must be studying in a recognised school in India
- The school should have a Philately Club, and the student should ideally be a member of it
- If the school has no Philately Club, the student should have a Philately Deposit Account (PDA)
- Student must have scored 60% marks in the last annual exam
- For SC / ST students, the requirement is 55% marks
The Principal or Head Master has to verify and sign this marks condition on the form itself.
Documents and Things You Need
Keep these ready before you sit down to fill the form:
- Two recent colour passport size photographs
- One to be pasted on the application form
- One to be attached separately for the Hall Permit
- The photo on the form must be attested by the Head of the School
- PDA account number, if the student already has one
- Philately Club membership number, if the student is a member
- A blue or black ball pen
- Correct mobile number and email ID
- Complete residential address with PIN code
If the student does not have a mobile number or email ID, the parent’s or guardian’s details can be used. That is allowed.
What is a PDA Account?
PDA means Philately Deposit Account.
- It is a simple account opened at a Philately Bureau or a selected post office
- New stamps are credited to this account automatically
- You do not need to run to the post office every time a new stamp is released
The good news is you do not have to figure this out alone. As per the form, the visiting postal official will help the student open the PDA account. Just ask them.
Details Asked in the Application Form
The form is one page. It asks for:
- Name of the student
- Mother’s name
- Father’s name
- Date of birth
- Gender (Male / Female / Other)
- Class (Six / Seven / Eight / Nine)
- Whether the student belongs to SC or ST
- Name of school
- Whether the student has a PDA account (Yes / No)
- PDA account number, if yes
- Membership in school Philately Club, with membership number
- Residential address with PIN code
- Mobile number
- Email ID
Then place, date, and the signature of the student.
At the bottom there is a verification block which the Principal or HM has to sign with the school seal and date.
The top box marked “For Office Use Only” is not to be filled by the student. The division office will fill the Roll Number there.
Instructions You Must Not Ignore
These instructions are printed on the form itself. Applications get rejected because students ignore them.
- All columns are mandatory. Do not leave anything blank.
- Use a ball pen only, blue or black.
- Write everything in BLOCK LETTERS.
- Incomplete applications will not be entertained.
- Put your full signature. Initials and block letters are not accepted as a signature.
- The photo must be attested by the Head of the School.
- The application must be sent by Speed Post only.
- Applications sent by hand, ordinary post, or private courier will not be accepted.
- Write clearly on the envelope: “Application for SPARSH Quiz competition”
- Address the envelope to the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices or Superintendent of Post Offices of your Postal Division.
If you are not sure about your Postal Division name, ask your school office or the visiting postal official. Every school falls under one division.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Download or collect the Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana 2026-27 application form
- Fill all 14 columns in block letters using a ball pen
- Paste one passport size photo and get it attested by the Head of the School
- Attach the second photo separately for the Hall Permit
- Get the school verification part signed and sealed by the Principal or HM
- Put everything in an envelope
- Write “Application for SPARSH Quiz competition” on the envelope
- Address it to the SSPOs / SPOs of your Postal Division
- Send it by Speed Post only
- Keep the Speed Post receipt safely and track the article
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Sending the form by courier or dropping it by hand
- Leaving the PDA column blank because you did not understand it
- Writing in running handwriting instead of block letters
- Forgetting the school seal on the verification part
- Sending only one photograph
- Not writing the subject line on the envelope
- Sending it to the wrong Postal Division
Any one of these can get the form rejected without any information to you.
For Post Office Employees Reading This
A lot of readers of this blog are already working inside India Post. If you are a GDS, MTS, Postman or Mail Guard, this scheme is something you will be asked about by parents in your area. Knowing it well helps you help them.
And if you are preparing for your own promotion, these are the exams to focus on:
- GDS to MTS Departmental Exam — syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility and selection process
- GDS to Postman / Mail Guard — question papers and study material
- MTS to PA / SA Departmental Exam — mock tests and preparation
- Postman to PA / SA Departmental Exam — previous year question papers
We regularly publish India Post departmental exam updates, India Post previous year question papers, India Post study material, India Post mock tests, and India Post circulars and latest news on this site.
If you are looking for GDS to MTS online classes, GDS to MTS coaching, GDS to MTS study material, or a full GDS to MTS course with live classes and recorded classes, we cover the complete GDS to MTS syllabus, GDS to MTS previous year question papers, and GDS to MTS mock test series.
We also cover circle-wise updates for 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.
Whether it is GDS to MTS notification 2026, GDS to MTS result 2026, GDS to MTS exam date 2026, MTS to PA notification 2026 or Postman to PA syllabus 2026, we keep every update in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can a Class 10 student apply for SPARSH Yojana? No. Level-I is only for Class 6 to Class 9.
Q. Is a PDA account compulsory? If your school does not have a Philately Club, then yes, the student should have a PDA account. Postal staff will help you open it.
Q. What if my marks are 58%? General category students need 60%. SC / ST students need 55%. Confirm with your division office if you are borderline.
Q. Can I apply online? No. As per this form, the application is offline and must be sent by Speed Post.
Q. How will I know if my form is accepted? You will be issued a Hall Permit with a Roll Number for the quiz competition. Keep your mobile number active.
Q. Where do I send the form? To the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices or Superintendent of Post Offices of the Postal Division where your school is located.
Final Words
The Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana is a genuine and useful scheme, but it is also one that many students miss simply because nobody told them about it in time. If you know a student in Class 6 to 9, share this with them.
And please, before doing anything else, confirm the current last date with your Postal Division. The form printed 30.08.2026, which has already gone by. An extension may or may not be there in your circle.