Published on: 11 August 2026 | Category: India Post Departmental Exam, MTS to PA, Postman to PA, GDS to PA, DEST
Quick Summary (Read This First)
The Office of the Chief Postmaster General, Uttarakhand Circle, Dehradun has released the list of candidates shortlisted for Paper-II, the Data Entry Skill Test (DEST), of the PA/SA examination.
Here are the main points in one place:
- Paper-I exam date: 28.06.2026
- Shortlist released on: 10.08.2026
- Memo No.: Rectt/2-3/2026
- Circle: Uttarakhand Circle, Dehradun – 248001
- Candidates shortlisted: 57
- DEST date: 23.08.2026 (Sunday)
- DEST venue: Circle Training Centre, Circle Office Dehradun, GPO Dehradun compound
- Reporting time: 10:00 AM onwards — but report 30 minutes early
- DEST mode: Online
- Duration: 15 minutes
- Text length: 1000 key depressions (±5%)
- Maximum marks: 25 — qualifying in nature only
If your name is on this list, you have roughly twelve days to prepare. Read the DEST section below carefully — the qualifying bar is higher than most candidates expect.
Who Is This Exam For?
This examination covers two separate streams that sat the same Paper-I:
| Stream | Who It Is For | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| LDCE | Serving officials — MTS, Postman, Mail Guard, Mail Overseer | Promotion to PA/SA cadre |
| CE | Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) | Recruitment to PA/SA cadre |
So whether you are searching for MTS to PA DEST, Postman to PA DEST, or GDS to PA DEST — this notification applies to you.
Division-Wise Shortlist Count
Fifty-seven candidates have been shortlisted across the circle. Here is how they are spread:
| Division | Candidates Shortlisted |
|---|---|
| Dehradun | 15 |
| Almora | 14 |
| Pithoragarh | 7 |
| Chamoli | 6 |
| Nainital | 5 |
| Pauri | 5 |
| Tehri | 4 |
| RMS ‘DN’ Division | 1 |
| Total | 57 |
Community-Wise Break-Up
| Community | Candidates |
|---|---|
| UR | 32 |
| SC | 15 (including one SC-OH) |
| OBC | 5 |
| ST | 5 |
| Total | 57 |
Note: the full list with candidate names, roll numbers and dates of birth is available in the official notification. Check the official PDF or your Divisional Office notice board for your individual entry — we have not reproduced personal details here.
The Most Important Part: DEST Qualifying Marks
This is where candidates get caught out. Read it twice.
| Maximum Marks | UR / OBC / EWS | SC / ST / PWD |
|---|---|---|
| 25.00 | 18.75 (75%) | 15.00 (60%) |
Seventy-five percent for UR, OBC and EWS candidates. That is a genuinely demanding bar for a 15-minute online typing test. Sixty percent for SC, ST and PWD candidates.
DEST is compulsorily qualifying. If you do not cross your category’s cut-off, you are out — no matter how strong your Paper-I score was.
How Selection Actually Works
This is a crucial point that many candidates misunderstand:
- Paper-I decides your merit. Selection against available vacancies is based on the marks you scored in Paper-I on 28.06.2026, according to merit.
- Paper-II (DEST) is qualifying only. Your DEST marks do not add to your merit position.
In plain language: DEST is a gate, not a scoreboard. Clearing it keeps you in the race; scoring higher in it does not move you up. But failing it removes you entirely — regardless of how well you did in Paper-I.
So the goal is simple: clear the bar comfortably, then let your Paper-I rank do the work.
Understanding the DEST Format
Let’s break down what “1000 key depressions in 15 minutes” actually means.
- 1000 key depressions (±5%) means the passage will be roughly 950 to 1050 key depressions.
- Spread over 15 minutes, that works out to about 67 key depressions per minute.
- In practical terms, that’s a comfortable, steady pace — roughly 10 to 12 words per minute of continuous typing.
So why do people fail? Because DEST is scored on accuracy, not raw speed. The passage length is not the challenge. Mistakes are. At a 75% qualifying bar, you simply cannot afford a scatter of typing errors.
The circular itself says candidates are expected to be familiar with the DEST model and should prepare accordingly.
Your 12-Day DEST Preparation Plan
You have until 23.08.2026. Here is a realistic plan.
Days 1–3: Build Accuracy, Ignore Speed
- Type for 20–30 minutes daily at a comfortable pace.
- Focus entirely on zero errors. Do not chase speed yet.
- Practise on a standard keyboard layout, the kind you will get at the centre.
Days 4–7: Practise Full 15-Minute Sessions
- Do at least one complete 15-minute timed run every day.
- Use passages of about 1000 key depressions.
- Note your error count each day and try to reduce it.
Days 8–10: Simulate Exam Conditions
- Practise on a computer, in online mode, not on your phone.
- Sit upright at a desk, exactly as you will on exam day.
- Practise without looking at the keyboard if you can.
Days 11–12: Taper and Rest
- Reduce practice volume. Two short sessions daily is enough.
- Do not try to learn a new technique this close to the test.
- Sleep well the night before. Fatigue causes typing errors more than anything else.
Practical Tips for Exam Day
- Report 30 minutes early. This is stated in the circular, not optional.
- Your actual time slot will be displayed on the Notice Board at GPO Dehradun and Circle Office — check it in advance.
- Carry your call letter, ID proof and any documents your Division specifies.
- Take a moment at the start to check your keyboard before the timer runs.
- Do not panic if you fall behind. The passage length is generous. Steady and accurate beats fast and messy.
Instructions to Divisional Offices
The circular also directs all SSPOs / SPOs / SRM of Uttarakhand Circle to:
- Tally the candidates’ particulars — name, roll number, category and date of birth — against the published table.
- Relieve the shortlisted candidates well in time so they can attend the DEST on 23.08.2026.
What this means for you as a candidate: if you spot any error in your own details, report it to your Divisional Office immediately. Do not wait. And make sure your relieving arrangement is confirmed in writing — travelling from Pithoragarh or Almora to Dehradun needs planning.
What Happens After DEST?
Based on how these examinations normally run:
- Paper-I — done (28.06.2026)
- Final Answer Key and evaluation — done
- DEST shortlist — done (10.08.2026)
- DEST — 23.08.2026
- Declaration of result, with a merit list based on Paper-I marks
- Division and unit allotment for selected candidates
- Issue of promotion or appointment orders
- Joining and training
Keep checking your office notice board and the India Post website.
Not Shortlisted This Time? Here’s Your Plan
If your name is not on the list, the message is clear: your Paper-I score needs work. That is genuinely fixable.
1. Solve Previous Year Papers
Collect MTS to PA previous year question papers, Postman to PA previous year question papers and GDS to PA question papers. Aim for at least five years. The pattern repeats far more than most candidates expect.
2. Master Postal Rules
This is where most candidates lose marks. Postal Manual, Volume rules, savings schemes, IPPB and delivery procedures come up regularly.
3. Take Weekly Mock Tests
A regular MTS to PA mock test and Postman to PA mock test routine shows exactly where you are losing marks while there is still time to fix it.
4. Start Typing Now Anyway
Do not wait until you are shortlisted. Candidates who begin typing practice only after the shortlist arrives are the ones scrambling in a 12-day window. Thirty minutes a day, starting today, and DEST becomes a formality next cycle.
5. Consider Structured Online Classes
If self-study has not been working, India Post departmental exam coaching with live classes, recorded classes, a question bank and doubt-clearing support can save you months of trial and error.
Also Useful in Other Circles
The PA/SA exam and DEST format are broadly similar across India. Only vacancy counts, venues and cut-offs change from circle to circle.
Candidates from Uttarakhand Circle, 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 can use this DEST guidance directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When and where is the Uttarakhand Circle DEST? On 23.08.2026 (Sunday) at the Circle Training Centre, Circle Office Dehradun, in the GPO Dehradun compound, from 10:00 AM onwards.
Q2. How many candidates have been shortlisted? Fifty-seven, across eight divisions of the circle.
Q3. What are the DEST qualifying marks? Out of 25 marks: 18.75 (75%) for UR/OBC/EWS and 15 (60%) for SC/ST/PWD.
Q4. Do DEST marks count towards my final merit? No. DEST is purely qualifying. Selection is based on your Paper-I marks according to merit.
Q5. How long is the DEST and how much do I have to type? Fifteen minutes, in online mode, with 1000 key depressions (±5%).
Q6. What time should I reach the venue? Thirty minutes before your scheduled time. Your exact slot will be displayed on the Notice Board at GPO Dehradun and Circle Office.
Q7. What if my name, roll number or date of birth is printed wrongly? Report it to your Divisional Office immediately. SSPOs/SPOs/SRM have been directed to tally all candidate particulars.
Final Word
Fifty-seven candidates are twelve days away from a promotion that many have been working towards for years. The written paper is behind you. What remains is a fifteen-minute typing test — and the honest truth is that it is very passable with focused practice.
Do not overthink the speed. Practise accuracy, sit calmly, and let your Paper-I rank do the rest.
All the best to every shortlisted candidate from Uttarakhand Circle.