Published on: 06 August 2026 | Category: India Post Latest News, India Post Circulars, Postal Assistant Exam
Quick Summary (Read This First)
The Data Entry Skill Test (DEST) for Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant promotion in Kerala Circle is confirmed.
- Exam Name: Data Entry Skill Test (DEST)
- Date: 09.08.2026 (Sunday)
- Reporting / Start Time: 10:00 AM
- Test Duration: 15 minutes
- Total Shortlisted: 185 candidates
- Order No: Rectt/10-3/2026[CON], dated 05-08-2026
- Issued By: Office of the Chief Postmaster General, Kerala Circle, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 033
- Signed By: Binu P, Assistant Director (Legal Cell), L/o to APMG (HR)
If your name is in the list, your exam is in 3 days. Read everything below carefully.
What Is This Order About?
The Kerala Circle has issued instructions to conduct the Data Entry Skill Test (DEST) for candidates who qualified in Paper-I of the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) / Competitive Examination (CE) held on 28.06.2026.
This exam is for promotion / recruitment to the cadre of Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant (PA/SA) for the vacancy year 2026, from eligible officials and GDS.
Reference Notifications:
- Rectt/10-3/2026 dated 11.05.2026
- Rectt/10-6/2026 dated 11.05.2026
The order has been sent to all SSPOs/SPOs in Kerala Circle, SSRM ‘TV’/SRM ‘EK’/’CT’ Divisions, SP PSD Thrissur, and the Officer-in-charge, P&T Admin Cell, APS Kamptee.
How Were Candidates Shortlisted?
This is the part most aspirants ask about. Here is the simple explanation:
- As per Directorate letter No. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 19.12.2022, the number of candidates shortlisted for DEST must be three times the number of vacancies to be filled.
- Shortlisting was done category-wise — UR / SC / ST / PwBD.
- Selection was strictly on merit in Paper-I.
- Priority order followed: Category A first, failing which Category B, failing which Category C.
So the list is not random. It is 3× vacancies, category-wise, purely on Paper-I marks.
DEST Exam Date, Time and Duration
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Date | 09.08.2026 (Sunday) |
| Start Time | 10:00 AM |
| Duration | 15 minutes |
| Mode | Computer-based Data Entry Skill Test |
| Shifts | Different shifts / batches |
The time schedule follows the syllabus communicated vide Directorate letter No. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 19.12.2022, which is enclosed with the order.
Minimum Qualifying Marks for DEST
This is the number you need to hit. There is no relaxation beyond this.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| Gen / OBC / EWS | 75% |
| SC / ST / PWD | 60% |
A 15-minute test with a 75% cut-off means accuracy matters more than raw speed. One careless line can pull you below the mark.
Where Will the DEST Be Held? (Venue Details)
The DEST will be conducted at DCTCs / DO / HO of the respective Postal Divisions.
But there are three special arrangements — check if you fall in any of these:
- RMS TV candidates → DEST at DCTCs/DO/HO of Trivandrum North Division
- Trivandrum South Division candidates → DEST at DCTCs/DO/HO of Trivandrum North Division
- RMS EK candidates → DEST at DCTCs/DO/HO of Ernakulam Division
- RMS CT candidates → DEST at DCTCs/DO/HO of Calicut Division
Everyone else reports to their own Division’s DCTC/DO/HO.
Practice the DEST Software Before the Exam (Very Important)
The order specifically advises candidates to familiarise themselves with the DEST software in advance.
- DEST software with dummy test materials is available on the CEPT website
- URL:
https://cept.gov.in/exam.html - This instruction is to be printed on the Hall Permit itself
Do not skip this. Many candidates lose marks not because of poor typing, but because they were seeing the software layout for the first time on exam day.
Other Important Instructions from the Order
- Candidates who wrote the examination on 28.06.2026 on a provisional basis and qualified for DEST are permitted to appear only on a provisional basis.
- A copy of the SOP of DEST will be supplied to every candidate along with the Hall Permit, under acquittance.
- The order must be brought to the notice of all concerned, including officials who are on leave.
- Enclosures: Annexure-I (shortlisted candidate list) and Directorate letter No. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 19-12-2022.
- The order has been sent to the Assistant Director (Technology), CO for uploading on the Kerala Circle website.
- Copy also marked to the Postmaster General, Central Region / Northern Region for necessary action.
Annexure-I: Division-Wise Number of Shortlisted Candidates
The official Annexure-I contains the names, hall permit numbers and categories of all 185 shortlisted candidates.
Since that list contains personal details of individual officials, we are publishing only the division-wise count here. Please download the official Annexure-I from the Kerala Circle website or collect it from your Divisional Office to confirm your name and hall permit number.
| Sl. | Division / Unit | Region | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alappuzha | CR | 5 |
| 2 | Aluva | CR | 8 |
| 3 | Calicut | NR | 9 |
| 4 | Changanassery | CR | 4 |
| 5 | Ernakulam | CR | 5 |
| 6 | Idukki | CR | 3 |
| 7 | Irinjalakuda | CR | 3 |
| 8 | Kannur | NR | 6 |
| 9 | Kasaragod | NR | 2 |
| 10 | Kollam | HQ | 10 |
| 11 | Kottayam | CR | 8 |
| 12 | Lakshadweep | CR | 4 |
| 13 | Manjeri | NR | 7 |
| 14 | Mavelikara | CR | 7 |
| 15 | Ottapalam | NR | 9 |
| 16 | Palakkad | NR | 13 |
| 17 | Pathanamthitta | HQ | 8 |
| 18 | RMS CT | NR | 12 |
| 19 | RMS EK | CR | 7 |
| 20 | RMS TV | HQ | 3 |
| 21 | Thalassery | NR | 3 |
| 22 | Thrissur | CR | 11 |
| 23 | Tirur | NR | 4 |
| 24 | Tiruvalla | HQ | 9 |
| 25 | TVM North | HQ | 14 |
| 26 | TVM South | HQ | 5 |
| 27 | Vadakara | NR | 6 |
| Total | 185 |
Region-wise total: Northern Region (NR) — 71 | Central Region (CR) — 65 | Circle HQ — 49
Also noted in the Annexure:
- 2 candidates (VH category) have been marked as “Exempted from DEST”
- 2 candidates are marked as “Provisional candidature”
- Categories appearing in the list include UR, SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD sub-types (VH, HH, OH, Others)
Checklist: What to Do in the Next 3 Days
- Confirm your name in Annexure-I on the Kerala Circle website or at your Divisional Office.
- Collect your Hall Permit along with the SOP of DEST, under acquittance.
- Note your correct venue — especially RMS TV, TVM South, RMS EK and RMS CT candidates.
- Download and practise the DEST dummy software from
https://cept.gov.in/exam.html. - Practise for accuracy, not just speed. Target well above 75% in mock attempts.
- Reach the venue early on 09.08.2026 — the test starts at 10:00 AM in batches.
- Carry valid ID proof along with your Hall Permit.
- Rest well on 08.08.2026. A 15-minute test rewards a calm hand.
Quick DEST Preparation Tips (Practical, Not Theory)
- Type on the same keyboard layout you will face — avoid switching between laptop and desktop keyboards in the last 2 days.
- Do not look at the keyboard. Looking down costs you 5–8 words per minute.
- Never go back to correct errors mid-passage unless the software allows it cleanly. Correcting eats more time than the mistake costs.
- Practise numbers and special characters separately. Most errors in DEST come from digits, not letters.
- Do 3 full-length 15-minute mock runs daily until the exam.
- Sit straight, wrists flat. Fatigue in a 15-minute test is real if your posture is wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. When is the Kerala Circle PA/SA DEST 2026? On 09.08.2026, Sunday, starting at 10:00 AM in different shifts and batches.
Q2. How long is the DEST? 15 minutes, as prescribed in the syllabus communicated vide Directorate letter dated 19.12.2022.
Q3. What are the minimum qualifying marks for DEST? 75% for Gen/OBC/EWS candidates and 60% for SC/ST/PWD candidates.
Q4. How many candidates have been shortlisted? 185 candidates across all Kerala Circle divisions.
Q5. On what basis was the shortlist prepared? Three times the number of vacancies in each category (UR/SC/ST/PwBD), based on merit in Paper-I, taking Category A first, then Category B, then Category C.
Q6. Where can I practise the DEST software? Dummy test materials are available at https://cept.gov.in/exam.html.
Q7. Where will RMS candidates write the DEST? RMS TV and Trivandrum South candidates at Trivandrum North Division, RMS EK candidates at Ernakulam Division, and RMS CT candidates at Calicut Division.
Q8. I wrote the 28.06.2026 exam provisionally. Can I appear for DEST? Yes, but your permission to appear is also only on a provisional basis.
Q9. Will I get the SOP of the DEST? Yes. A copy of the SOP is supplied with the Hall Permit under acquittance.
Not Shortlisted This Time? Start Now for the Next Cycle
If your name is not in the 185, this is not the end. It is a data point.
The MTS to PA, Postman to PA and GDS to MTS departmental exams run every vacancy year. The candidates who make the 3× shortlist are almost always the ones who started preparing a year in advance — not three weeks before the notification.
What to build over the next 12 months:
- MTS to PA Online Classes and Postman to PA Online Classes — live plus recorded
- GDS to MTS Online Classes for those still in the GDS cadre
- GDS to MTS Previous Year Question Papers PDF and MTS to PA Previous Year Question Papers
- Postman to PA Syllabus and GDS to MTS Syllabus PDF
- India Post Mock Tests, practice sets and a solid question bank
- Daily typing practice — because Paper-I is only half the battle; DEST decides the rest
- India Post GK, Current Affairs and daily quiz for the objective sections
This applies across circles — Kerala Circle, Tamil Nadu Circle, Karnataka Circle, Delhi Circle, Punjab Circle, Haryana Circle, Rajasthan Circle, Uttar Pradesh Circle, Bihar Circle, Madhya Pradesh Circle, Maharashtra Circle, Gujarat Circle, Odisha Circle, Assam Circle and West Bengal Circle. The syllabus and selection process are broadly the same; only vacancies and dates change.
One honest reminder: every year, hundreds of officials clear Paper-I and then lose the post in a 15-minute typing test. Do not let that be you. Start typing practice on day one of your preparation, not after the Paper-I result.
Final Word
If you are one of the 185 — confirm your venue, practise on the CEPT dummy software, and walk in calm on Sunday morning.
If you are not — the next notification will come. Make sure that when it does, you are already 12 months ahead.
Share this with your colleagues in Kerala Circle, especially those who are on leave and may not have seen the order.