Published on: 08 August 2026 Category: India Post Departmental Exam | MTS to PA | Postman to PA | LDCE PA/SA Result Circle: Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar
Result Is Out — Here Is the Summary
Odisha Circle has declared the final result of the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) for promotion to Postal Assistant and Sorting Assistant posts for vacancy year 2026.
Unlike a shortlist, this is the final selection with division allotment. Promotion orders have already been ordered to be issued.
- Issued by: Office of the Chief Postmaster General, Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar – 751001
- Memo No.: RE/30-23/2026 (PA/SA)
- Dated: 07.08.2026
- Signed by: G.P. Kar, Assistant Director (RE)
- Paper-I written exam: 28.06.2026
- DEST (Paper-III): 02.08.2026
- Total candidates in result list: 75
- Total selected: 73
- Topper’s marks: 84 out of 100 in Paper-I
- Promotion orders to be issued by: 10.08.2026
- Refusals to be submitted by: 14.08.2026
Which Posts Were Filled
Three cadres were covered under one single circle-level merit list:
| Cadre | UR | SC | ST | Total | PwBD (Horizontal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postal Assistant (Circle Office / Regional Office) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Postal Assistant (Post Office) | 59 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 2 (VH-1, OH-1) |
| Sorting Assistant (Railway Mail Service) | 11 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 (HH-1) |
| Total | 71 | 2 | 0 | 73 | 3 |
The vacancy position was circulated earlier vide Circle Office letter no. RE/6-1/2026 dated 22.07.2026.
Qualifying Marks — Understand This Properly
This is the part most candidates get confused about.
Paper-I (Maximum 100 marks)
- UR category — 40 marks (40%)
- SC / ST / PwBD — 33 marks (33%)
DEST or Paper-III (Maximum 25 marks)
- UR category — 18.75 marks (75%)
- SC / ST / PwBD — 15 marks (60%)
Two key rules to remember:
- You must qualify Paper-I and DEST separately. Clearing one does not compensate for the other.
- DEST is only qualifying in nature. Your merit rank is decided purely by your Paper-I marks. Scoring a perfect 25 in DEST does not push you up the list.
Important note on OBC and EWS: this is a promotional examination, so there is no reservation for OBC and EWS. The UR qualifying percentage applies to them as well.
What the Marks Tell Us
Looking at the selected list, the pattern is clear:
- Highest Paper-I score: 84 marks
- Most selections fell between 60 and 71 marks
- Lowest Category “A” general selection: 59 marks
- One SC-OH candidate was selected at 45 marks, and the single Category “B” candidate at 41 marks, using their relaxed qualifying standard
So for a general candidate in Odisha this year, roughly 60+ in Paper-I was the practical cutoff for selection. That is the number to aim at if you are preparing for the next cycle.
On the DEST side, a large number of selected candidates scored a full 25 out of 25 — which confirms the point made earlier: DEST is where you must not slip, but it will not win you a rank.
Two Candidates Cleared but Were Not Selected
Two officials in the list scored well — 63 and 60 marks — yet were not allotted any post. The reason recorded against their names is:
Vacancy is not available in the Divisions/Units opted by the candidate on his/her turn of allotment.
This is an important lesson. Selection is done on merit-cum-preference. If your preferred divisions are already filled by the time your turn comes, you can clear the exam and still miss the promotion.
Takeaway for future candidates: think carefully while filling your division preference order. Do not list only the popular urban divisions.
Refusal of Earlier Promotion Has a One-Year Cost
Two selected candidates carry a remark about having refused an earlier promotion offer. Against them the circular records that they will only become eligible for promotion one year after the date of refusal — for example, a refusal on 20.09.2025 makes the official eligible from 20.09.2026.
If you are ever offered a promotion, understand the consequence before saying no.
PwBD Candidates — What the Result Shows
- One VH (Visually Handicapped) candidate was shown as “EXEMPTED” from DEST and still selected for PA (PO)
- One HH (Hearing Handicapped) candidate was selected under Category “B” for SA (RMS)
- One SC-OH candidate was allotted against a notified UR vacancy, with a note that the SC category is to be adjusted against a future vacancy of the Circle
Reservation guidelines for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities were applied as per DoPT and Directorate instructions.
Conditions Attached to This Result
Selected candidates should not treat the result as final and closed. The memo attaches several clear conditions:
- The selection is purely provisional, subject to fulfilment of Recruitment Rules
- Divisional and Unit Heads must verify candidate particulars before issuing promotion orders
- Category status of SC / ST / PwBD candidates is subject to verification
- No promotion where any disciplinary or vigilance case is pending or a punishment is in force
- Provisional candidates will not be promoted until their candidature is regularised
- If any candidate is later found ineligible, the name will be deleted from the selected list
- No request for change of cadre, division or unit allotment will be entertained under any circumstances
Important Dates to Note
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification issued | 11.05.2026 |
| Paper-I written exam | 28.06.2026 |
| Final answer keys circulated | 24.07.2026 |
| Vacancy position circulated | 22.07.2026 |
| DEST (Paper-III) | 02.08.2026 |
| Result declared | 07.08.2026 |
| Promotion orders to be issued by | 10.08.2026 |
| Unwillingness / refusals to be submitted by | 14.08.2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Where can I check the Odisha Circle LDCE PA/SA 2026 result? It is being uploaded on the Odisha Circle web portal of India Post. Your Divisional or Unit Head also holds a copy.
Q2. Does DEST score affect my rank? No. DEST is qualifying only. Merit is prepared strictly on Paper-I marks.
Q3. What happens if two candidates score the same marks? Inter-se merit is decided as per Directorate letter no. 04-08/2019-SPN-I dated 11.12.2020.
Q4. I cleared the exam but got no allotment. What now? This usually means no vacancy remained in the divisions you preferred. Check with your Divisional Office and plan your preferences differently next time.
Q5. Can I request a different division after allotment? No. The memo states clearly that no request for revision or change of allotment will be entertained.
Q6. What was the practical cutoff? Around 59–60 marks in Paper-I for general candidates this year, though the exact cutoff changes with vacancies every year.
Preparing for the Next LDCE Cycle
If you missed out this time, the numbers above give you a clear target.
- Aim for 65+ in Paper-I — clearing the 40% qualifying mark is not enough to get selected
- Treat DEST as pass or fail — a full 25 gives you no rank advantage, but a fail ends everything
- Solve previous year question papers first; they repeat heavily
- Take a full-length mock test weekly
- Revise postal manuals and departmental rules regularly
- Fill your division preferences realistically, not emotionally
The same discipline applies whether you are targeting MTS to PA/SA, Postman to PA/SA, GDS to MTS or GDS to Postman / Mail Guard.