The Office of the Chief Postmaster General, North East Circle, Shillong has published the list of candidates who have qualified the written test and are now called for the Data Entry Skill Test (DEST).
The DEST will be held on Wednesday–no, Thursday, 03 September 2026 at the WTC/WCTC, 5th Floor, Office of the Chief PMG, N.E. Circle, Shillong.
This is the next step for both GDS to Postman (Competitive Examination) candidates and MTS to Postman / Mail Guard (LDCE) candidates in the NE Circle for vacancy year 2026.
Quick Summary Table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Circle | North East Circle, Shillong – 793001 |
| Circular No. | Staff/11-05/LDCE/2026 |
| Circular Date | 22.08.2026 |
| Issued By | R. Padmanabhan, Asstt. Postmaster General (Staff) |
| Subject | List of qualified candidates shortlisted for DEST |
| Written Exam Held On | 12.07.2026 (Sunday), Shillong Centre |
| DEST Date | 03.09.2026 (Thursday) |
| DEST Venue | WTC / WCTC, 5th Floor, O/o Chief PMG, N.E. Circle, Shillong |
| Total Shortlisted | 157 candidates |
| LDCE (MTS → Postman / Mail Guard) | 22 candidates (20 + 2) |
| CE (GDS → Postman, Mail Guard & MTS) | 135 candidates (112 + 23) |
| Number of Batches | 06 (Six) |
| DEST Duration per Batch | 15 minutes |
| Reporting Time | 1 hour before your DEST slot |
| Reference Notifications | Staff/11-05/LDCE/2026 and Staff/11-02/CE/2026, both dated 01.06.2026 |
What This Circular Actually Says
In simple words:
- Candidates who passed Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III of the written exam held on 12.07.2026 have now been shortlisted.
- Being shortlisted does not mean selection. It only means you are eligible to sit for the typing/data entry skill test.
- The shortlisting has been done as per existing Departmental instructions.
- The complete list is given in Annexure-A, which has four parts – (A), (B), (C) and (D).
- Divisional offices will issue Hall Permits / Admit Cards in the prescribed proforma (Annexure-I) to all shortlisted candidates.
Break-Up of the 157 Shortlisted Candidates
The Annexure is divided into four parts. Here is what each part covers:
| Part | Who It Covers | Vacancy Type | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| (A) | MTS to Postman candidates from LDCE | UR vacancies | 20 |
| (B) | GDS to Postman candidates from CE | UR vacancies | 112 |
| (C) | MTS to Postman candidates from LDCE | ST vacancies | 2 |
| (D) | GDS to Postman candidates | SC, ST & OBC vacancies | 23 |
| Total | 157 |
Check the maths yourself:
- LDCE route → Part A (20) + Part C (2) = 22 candidates
- CE route → Part B (112) + Part D (23) = 135 candidates
- Grand total = 157 candidates ✔
Both figures match exactly what the circular states in Para 1.
Two Different Examinations, One Common Skill Test
Many candidates get confused here, so let us keep it very clear.
1. LDCE – Limited Departmental Competitive Examination
- For promotion to the post of Postman and Mail Guard from MTS
- Vacancy year 2026
- Total candidates called for DEST: 22
2. CE – Competitive Examination
- For recruitment to the post of Postman, Mail Guard and MTS from GDS
- Vacancy year 2026
- Total candidates called for DEST: 135
Both groups will appear in the same DEST on the same day at the same venue, but they are separate examinations with separate vacancy pools.
DEST Batch-Wise Schedule – 03.09.2026 (Thursday)
The Data Entry Skill Test will be conducted in 06 (Six) batches. Find your Serial Number in the Annexure first, then match it with the batch below.
| Batch | Candidates (as per Annexure-A) | Reporting Time | DEST Timing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sl. No. 1 to 20 of Part (A) Sl. No. 1 to 6 of Part (B) | 09:00 AM | 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM | 26 |
| 2 | Sl. No. 7 to 32 of Part (B) | 10:00 AM | 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM | 26 |
| 3 | Sl. No. 33 to 58 of Part (B) | 11:00 AM | 12:00 PM – 12:15 PM | 26 |
| 4 | Sl. No. 59 to 84 of Part (B) | 12:00 PM | 01:00 PM – 01:15 PM | 26 |
| — | LUNCH BREAK | — | — | — |
| 5 | Sl. No. 85 to 110 of Part (B) | 02:00 PM | 03:00 PM – 03:15 PM | 26 |
| 6 | Sl. No. 111 to 112 of Part (B) Sl. No. 1 to 2 of Part (C) Sl. No. 1 to 23 of Part (D) | 03:00 PM | 04:00 PM – 04:15 PM | 27 |
| TOTAL | 157 |
Very important: All candidates must reach the examination centre one hour before the commencement of their DEST. That is why the reporting time is always one hour earlier than the DEST timing.
Documents You Must Carry on DEST Day
The circular is very strict on this point. Carry all of the following:
- ✅ Original Hall Permit / Admit Card issued by your Division
- ✅ Photocopy of the Hall Permit / Admit Card
- ✅ Identity Proof Document – preferably your Departmental Identity Card
- ✅ Photocopies of the identity proof
Two things to remember:
- The original Hall Permit / Admit Card will be collected from you during the DEST. So keep a photostat copy for your own record. You will not get the original back.
- No candidate will be allowed to sit in the DEST without the original Hall Permit / Admit Card and a valid identity proof document.
Do not take a chance on this. Candidates lose their attempt every year for missing documents.
What Should Be Printed on Your Admit Card
As per the circular, the Admit Card issued by your Division must clearly show:
- Candidate Name
- Employee ID
- Roll Number
- Designation
- Category
- DEST Timing as per the batch schedule
If any of these details are missing or wrong on your Admit Card, contact your Divisional Office immediately. Do not wait till 2nd September.
Divisions Covered Under This Circular
The circular has been addressed to the following offices in the North East Circle:
- The GM (PAF), N.E. Circle, Shillong – 793001
- The DPS, Nagaland, Kohima – 797001
- Sr. Supdt of Post Offices, Meghalaya Division, Shillong – 793001
- Supdt of Post Offices, Agartala Division, Agartala – 799001
- Supdt of Post Offices, Arunachal Pradesh Division, Itanagar – 791111
- Supdt of Post Offices, Dharmanagar Division, Dharmanagar – 799250
- Supdt of Post Offices, Manipur Division, Imphal – 795001
- Supdt of Post Offices, Mizoram Division, Aizawl – 796001
Copies have also been sent to PMG NE-I Region (Agartala), PMG NE-II Region (Dimapur), the Nodal Officer / Controller of Examination, and the Director, CEPT Mysuru – 570010, with a request to publish the document on the departmental web portal.
Where to Check the List
You can check your name and roll number through any of these:
- Office Notice Board of your Divisional Office
- Office Notice Board of your Head Post Office
- Departmental web portal (CEPT Mysuru has been requested to publish it)
Para 6 of the circular specifically directs that the DEST notification be displayed on the notice boards of all Divisional Offices and Head Post Offices. So if you cannot find it online, go to your HO or Divisional Office.
How to Prepare for the DEST in the Remaining Days
Para 3 of the circular gives a clear instruction: all shortlisted candidates should familiarise themselves with computer knowledge, particularly typing of all the keys on the keyboard, well in advance.
The DEST slot is only 15 minutes. That is a very short window, and there is no room for warming up on the day itself.
Practical preparation tips:
- Practise daily on a physical keyboard, not on a mobile phone screen.
- Learn the full keyboard layout – letters, numbers, special characters, punctuation. The circular specifically mentions “all the keys in the keyboard”.
- Focus on accuracy first, speed second. Wrong entries hurt more than slow typing.
- Practise sitting in one position for 15 minutes without looking at the keyboard.
- Type mixed content – names, addresses, numbers, PIN codes. Postal data entry is rarely plain English paragraphs.
- Do not learn a new keyboard on exam day. Practise on a standard QWERTY layout.
If you are appearing from a rural BO or a small SO where computer access is limited, request your SPM or Divisional Office for practice time on an office system.
Points the Circular Does NOT Mention
We are listing these honestly so that you do not rely on rumours:
- The circular does not state the required typing speed or accuracy percentage for qualifying the DEST.
- It does not state the DEST passage length or the software to be used.
- Some roll numbers in the Annexure carry a “(P)” suffix — for example, 242423-P, 245405(P), 245447(P), 245463(P), 245430(P), 245408(P), 242413-P, 242418-P, 242421-P. The circular does not explain what this notation means. Do not assume it is provisional, conditional or anything else. Ask your Divisional Office for clarification.
- The date of the final result after DEST has not been announced.
For all these points, follow only what your Divisional Office or the Circle Office tells you in writing.
Timeline at a Glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 01.06.2026 | LDCE and CE notifications issued |
| 12.07.2026 | Written examination held at Shillong Centre |
| 22.08.2026 | Shortlist for DEST published |
| Before 03.09.2026 | Divisions to issue Hall Permits / Admit Cards |
| 03.09.2026 (Thursday) | Data Entry Skill Test at Shillong |
| To be announced | Final result |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many candidates have been shortlisted for the NE Circle Postman DEST 2026? A total of 157 candidates have been shortlisted — 22 from the LDCE (MTS to Postman/Mail Guard) and 135 from the CE (GDS to Postman, Mail Guard and MTS) for vacancy year 2026.
Q2. When and where will the DEST be held? The DEST will be held on 03.09.2026 (Thursday) at the WTC/WCTC located on the 5th Floor of the Office of the Chief Postmaster General, North East Circle, Shillong – 793001.
Q3. How long is the Data Entry Skill Test? Each batch has been given a 15-minute DEST slot as per the batch schedule in the circular.
Q4. What time should I report for the DEST? You must reach the examination centre one hour before your DEST commencement time. Your exact reporting time depends on your batch — 09:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 02:00 PM or 03:00 PM.
Q5. What documents are required for the DEST? You need the original Hall Permit / Admit Card, its photocopy, an identity proof document (preferably the Departmental Identity Card) and photocopies of the same. Entry will be refused without the original admit card and identity proof.
Q6. Will my original Admit Card be returned after the DEST? No. The original Hall Permit / Admit Card will be collected during the DEST. Keep a photostat copy for your personal records.
Q7. Who will issue my Admit Card? Your Division concerned will issue the Hall Permit / Admit Card in the proforma attached to the circular as Annexure-I.
Q8. Does being shortlisted mean I am selected for Postman? No. Shortlisting only means you have qualified Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III and are now eligible to appear in the Data Entry Skill Test. Final selection follows the departmental process.
Q9. What is the difference between LDCE and CE here? The LDCE is for promotion of MTS to the post of Postman and Mail Guard. The CE is for recruitment of GDS to the posts of Postman, Mail Guard and MTS. Both are for vacancy year 2026.
Q10. Which divisions are covered by this circular? Meghalaya, Agartala, Arunachal Pradesh, Dharmanagar, Manipur and Mizoram Divisions, along with the DPS Nagaland at Kohima and the GM (PAF) NE Circle.
Q11. What is the qualifying typing speed for the DEST? The circular does not mention any specific speed or accuracy requirement. Candidates should confirm this with their Divisional Office.
Q12. Where can I see the full list of shortlisted candidates? The list is in Annexure-A of the circular, which will be displayed on the notice boards of all Divisional Offices and Head Post Offices, and has been sent to CEPT Mysuru for publication on the departmental web portal.
Final Word for Candidates
You have already cleared the hardest part — three written papers. What remains is a 15-minute typing test.
Use the days you have. Sit at a keyboard every single day until 3rd September. Check your Admit Card details the moment you receive it. Keep your Departmental ID card and photocopies ready in one folder the night before.
And reach Shillong early. A 15-minute test is not worth losing over a delayed bus.
All the best to every candidate from the North East Circle.
Prepare With Postoffice Coaching
Whether you are preparing for GDS to Postman, GDS to MTS, MTS to PA/SA or Postman to PA/SA, structured preparation makes the difference between shortlisted and selected.
At Postoffice Coaching we provide:
- India Post departmental exam online classes (live + recorded)
- Previous year question papers and full-length mock tests
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- Circle-wise notification, result and exam date updates