The Department of Posts has released the GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July-2026 notification. The order number is 17-12/2026-GDS, dated 20 August 2026, signed by the Assistant Director General (GDS), Dak Bhawan, New Delhi.
If you are planning to apply, or you are already inside India Post and thinking about your next promotion, this post covers both sides.
Quick Summary — Read This First
- Notification No.: 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20.08.2026
- Posts: Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), Dak Sevak
- Apply online at: https://indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement
- Registration starts: 31 August 2026
- Application starts: 02 September 2026
- Selection: Merit list from Class 10 marks. No written exam.
Important Dates
| S. No. | Activity | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online One-Time Registration (OTR) | 31.08.2026 to 19.09.2026 (up to 1700 Hrs) |
| 2 | Submission of online application + fee payment | 02.09.2026 to 21.09.2026 (up to 1700 Hrs) |
| 3 | Correction window (registration/application/fee) | 23.09.2026 to 24.09.2026 (up to 1700 Hrs) |
Two things to note here:
- The 1700 Hrs cut-off is strict. If your fee payment is still pending at 5 PM on the last day, the application gets rejected. No extension.
- You get a 2-day correction window. So if you made a mistake, do not register again. Just wait and fix it in the edit window.
Who Can Apply — Eligibility
Age limit
- Minimum: 18 years
- Maximum: 40 years
- Age is counted as on the last date of application submission.
Age relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| EWS | No relaxation |
| PwBD | 10 years |
| PwBD + OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD + SC/ST | 15 years |
Educational qualification
- Class 10 (Secondary School Examination) pass, with passing marks in both Mathematics and English, from a recognised board.
- “Equivalent qualification” from other boards is not accepted.
- You must have studied the local language up to Class 10. Post-wise local language list is given in Annexure-III.
- Special language rules apply for Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim and Nagaland (tribal dialect certificate from the District Deputy Commissioner is accepted there).
Other requirements
- Knowledge of computers
- Knowledge of cycling
- Adequate means of livelihood
Application Fee
- Fee: Rs. 100
- Fee exempted for: all female applicants, SC/ST, PwBD, and Transwomen applicants
- Payment modes: Debit card, Credit card, Net Banking, UPI
- Fee once paid is not refunded. Check your eligibility for the Division before paying.
- Once you start the payment, finish it within 10 minutes. Do not refresh or close the window.
Salary — TRCA Slabs
GDS staff are paid a Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) with a 3% annual increase, plus DA as declared by the Government.
| Post | TRCA Slab |
|---|---|
| BPM | Rs. 12,000 – Rs. 29,380 |
| ABPM / Dak Sevak | Rs. 10,000 – Rs. 24,470 |
Other benefits include GDS Gratuity and the Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (similar to NPS).
Selection Process — No Exam, Only Merit
This is the part most people get wrong, so read slowly.
- Shortlisting is done through a system-generated merit list.
- Merit is based on Class 10 marks converted to percentage up to 4 decimals.
- If your marksheet has marks, enter marks. If you enter grades instead of marks, your application can be cancelled.
- If your marksheet has only grades, enter the grades. The system will convert them using a multiplying factor of 9.5 (A1 = 10 points, A2 = 9, B1 = 8, and so on).
- If both CGPA and subject marks are given, the higher of the two is taken.
- Delhi Board (DBSE) candidates must fill percentage, not grade points.
- Tamil Nadu SBSE 2020-21 Covid pass certificate holders get a uniform 66.67%.
Tie-breaker order: Older date of birth first, then a fixed category order (ST trans-woman, ST female, SC trans-woman, SC female, and so on, ending with UR male).
Division Preference — One Division Only
- You can apply in only one Division.
- Inside that Division, you can select multiple posts and give preferences.
- You will not be considered for any post you did not mark as a preference.
- If you clear more than one, only your top preference post is offered. The rest are forfeited.
- If an office has two posts with the same name, they are separated by Post ID. Give preference to all relevant Post IDs.
Documents & Uploads
You do not upload certificates with the application. Only:
- Photograph: JPG/JPEG, 30 KB to 100 KB, recommended 320 x 400 pixels
- Signature: as per prescribed format
Blurred or unclear photo/signature = rejection.
Enter your name, father’s name, mother’s name and date of birth exactly as written on your Class 10 marksheet. Any mismatch can cancel your candidature.
One more warning: One registration per candidate. Duplicate or multiple registrations are strictly prohibited and will lead to cancellation under GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020. Your mobile number and email ID cannot be changed later.
After Shortlisting — Document Verification
- Shortlisted names are published on the GDS Online Engagement Portal. SMS and email are also sent, but the Department is not responsible if they do not reach you. So keep checking the portal yourself.
- You must report to the Divisional/Unit Head within 15 days. Miss it and you are marked “Non-turned up”, and your candidature is cancelled automatically.
- Carry originals + two sets of self-attested photocopies: marksheet, ID proof, DOB proof, caste certificate, PwBD certificate, EWS certificate, transgender certificate, and a compulsory medical certificate from a Government hospital/dispensary/PHC.
- After verification, you get a provisional engagement offer. You must complete joining formalities within 30 days, including 3 days of basic training and arranging accommodation.
- BPM candidates must arrange the Branch Post Office accommodation at their own cost.
Job Profile in Short
Branch Postmaster (BPM) — Runs the Branch Post Office and IPPB operations, marketing and promotion of departmental products, CSC services.
ABPM / Dak Sevak — Sale of stamps and stationery, doorstep mail delivery, IPPB deposits and payments, handling mail bags and parcels in sorting/mail/transit offices and delivery centres, and assisting the Postmaster.
Dak Sevaks must live inside the delivery jurisdiction of the office they are attached to. Working hours are 4 to 5 hours a day, and service ends at 65 years of age.
Also be clear on this: GDS are not regular Central Government employees. They are holders of civil posts outside the civil services of the state, governed by GDS Rules 2020.
Now the Bigger Question — What Happens After You Join?
Getting into GDS is step one. The real career growth in India Post happens through departmental promotion exams.
Most people join as GDS and then stay stuck for years, simply because nobody told them the promotion path exists or how to prepare for it.
Here is the ladder:
1. GDS to MTS (Multi Tasking Staff)
The GDS to MTS Departmental Exam is the first and most popular jump. You move from a TRCA-based engagement to a regular Central Government post, with full pay scale, pension benefits and job security.
Search anything around GDS to MTS Syllabus, GDS to MTS Exam Pattern, GDS to MTS Previous Year Question Papers, GDS to MTS Salary or GDS to MTS Eligibility and you will see how many people are chasing this. That competition is exactly why proper GDS to MTS Preparation matters.
2. GDS to Postman / Mail Guard
The GDS to Postman Departmental Exam is the other direct route out of GDS. Same idea — regular post, better pay, defined career. Candidates usually look for GDS to Postman Syllabus, GDS to Postman Previous Year Question Papers and GDS to Postman Study Material once the notification drops.
3. MTS to PA / SA and Postman to PA / SA
Already an MTS or a Postman? Your next step is Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant. The MTS to PA Departmental Exam and the Postman to PA Departmental Exam are the two doors here. This is where salary and posting quality genuinely change.
The Circle Angle
Vacancies, cut-offs and notification timing differ from Circle to Circle. Whether you are in Rajasthan Circle, Punjab Circle, Haryana Circle, Delhi Circle, Uttar Pradesh Circle, Bihar Circle, Madhya Pradesh Circle, Maharashtra Circle, Gujarat Circle, Odisha Circle, West Bengal Circle, Assam Circle, Tamil Nadu Circle, Karnataka Circle or Kerala Circle — the syllabus is the same, but the competition is not. Preparing with Circle-specific previous year papers gives you a real edge.
How to Prepare for Departmental Exams (Simple Plan)
- Read the syllabus once, properly. Download the GDS to MTS Syllabus PDF or Postman to PA Syllabus and mark what you already know.
- Start with previous year papers. India Post Previous Year Question Papers tell you the real difficulty level better than any book.
- Cover the core areas: Postal Manuals and Rules, General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Mathematics, English, Reasoning and Computer Basics.
- Take mock tests weekly. A GDS to MTS Mock Test or MTS to PA Mock Test under timed conditions shows you where you actually stand.
- Follow India Post circulars. Rules change. India Post Latest News and departmental circulars often decide 4-5 marks in the paper.
- Join structured online classes if self-study is not working. GDS to MTS Online Classes, GDS to Postman Coaching, MTS to PA Online Classes and Postman to PA Online Classes exist because working postal staff rarely have time for offline coaching. Live classes, recorded classes, a question bank and practice sets in one place save months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any written exam for GDS recruitment? No. Selection is purely on Class 10 merit through a system-generated list.
Can I apply in two Divisions? No. Only one Division per candidate.
I made a mistake in my application. Should I register again? No. Duplicate registration cancels your candidature. Use the correction window on 23–24 September 2026.
Is the Rs. 100 fee refundable? No. Fee once paid is not refunded.
Do I have to upload my caste certificate while applying? No. Only photograph and signature. Certificates are checked at physical document verification.
Can a GDS become a regular government employee? Yes — through departmental promotion exams. GDS to MTS and GDS to Postman/Mail Guard are the two main routes.
Where do I check the vacancy list? Circle and Division-wise tentative vacancies are given in Annexure-I of the notification, and on the official portal.
Final Word
The GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II July 2026 window is short. Register from 31 August, apply from 02 September, and finish everything well before the 5 PM cut-off on the last day. Fill your Class 10 details exactly as printed on your marksheet — most rejections happen there, not in merit.
And if you are already in India Post, do not wait for the notification to start preparing. GDS to MTS, GDS to Postman, MTS to PA and Postman to PA notifications come with very little lead time. The people who clear them started months earlier.