India Post GDS Online Form 2026: Schedule-II Engagement for BPM, ABPM and Dak Sevak Posts

Quick Highlights

• Organization: Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India
• Notification No.: 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20.08.2026
• Posts: Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), Dak Sevak
• Vacancies: 23,757 posts across 23 Postal Circles (Annexure-I)
• Mode of Application: Online only
• Last Date to Apply: 21.09.2026 (up to 5:00 PM)

Important Dates

Candidates are advised not to wait until the last day to submit their application, since the portal can experience heavy traffic close to the closing date and time.

Application Fee

An application fee of Rs. 100 is payable by applicants for all posts applied for within a chosen Division. Female applicants, SC and ST applicants, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) and Transwomen applicants are exempted from paying this fee and may submit their application without any payment.

Fee can be paid through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking or UPI, with applicable bank charges. The fee, once paid, is non-refundable, so candidates should confirm their eligibility before making the payment. Fee payment must be completed within the online window and before the closing time on the last date; any payment attempted after the closing time will not be accepted or refunded.

Vacancy Details

As per Annexure-I of the notification, a total of 23,757 GDS vacancies are available across 23 Postal Circles under this Schedule-II, July-2026 engagement. The category-wise breakup of the total vacancies is as follows:

These vacancies are further divided by Circle and local language, since each Circle recruits candidates who have studied the prescribed local language up to Class 10. The Circle-wise and language-wise vacancy distribution is given below:

Within each row above, PWD-A refers to the low vision and deaf/hard of hearing sub-category, PWD-B to the locomotor disability sub-category covering conditions such as one arm, one leg and leprosy cured, PWD-C to further locomotor and associated sub-categories, and PWD-DE to multiple disabilities across these sub-categories. Applicants are advised to confirm the exact post-wise and office-wise vacancy break-up for their preferred Division on the GDS Online Engagement Portal, since this table shows the Circle-level totals from Annexure-I and not individual office or post ID level numbers.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit

Candidates must be between 18 and 40 years of age as on the last date of submission of the online application. Upper age relaxation is available as follows:

Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold a Secondary School Examination (Class 10) pass certificate with passing marks in Mathematics and English, from a Board recognized by the Central Government, a State Government or a Union Territory administration in India. Candidates with an equivalent qualification from any other board are not eligible.

The applicant must also have studied the local language prescribed for the concerned Circle at least up to Class 10 from a recognized board. Special provisions on local language apply for engagement in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim and Nagaland, where the Department accepts a language proficiency certificate from a designated authority in place of a Class 10 mark sheet in that language.

Other Requirements

Selected candidates must be able to declare, through prescribed undertakings at the time of engagement, that they have knowledge of computers, know how to ride a bicycle or two-wheeler for the purpose of duty, and have an adequate means of livelihood besides the GDS allowance.

Pay and Allowances (TRCA)

GDS posts are not paid on a regular Central Government pay scale. Instead, they are paid a Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA), which increases annually by 3 percent subject to fulfilment of conditions, along with applicable Dearness Allowance. The initial TRCA slabs are:

GDS are also entitled to other benefits, including GDS Gratuity and the Service Discharge Benefit Scheme, which functions on lines similar to the National Pension System available to regular employees.

Job Profile

The notification sets out separate duties for each post:

• Branch Postmaster (BPM): Overall responsibility for day-to-day postal operations and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) services at the Branch Post Office, including mail conveyance and delivery in single-handed offices, along with marketing of departmental products and services. BPMs selected for engagement must arrange their own accommodation for running the Branch Post Office in the post village.
• Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM): Sale of stamps and stationery, conveyance and delivery of mail, IPPB transactions, and assisting the BPM in postal operations and marketing activities. ABPMs must reside within the delivery jurisdiction of their Branch Post Office.
• Dak Sevak: Duties vary by posting and can include sale of stamps and stationery, IPPB transactions, handling of mail bags and parcels at sorting, mail or transit mail offices, delivery of mail at delivery centres, and assisting the Postmaster in the smooth functioning of the office.

All three categories are required to work for a minimum of four hours and a maximum of five hours a day and cannot be retained beyond 65 years of age. The notification is explicit that GDS posts are civil posts outside the regular civil services of the Union of India and are governed by the GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020, and not by the service rules applicable to regular Government employees.

Selection Process

There is no written examination or interview for GDS engagement. Selection is made purely on the basis of a system-generated merit list prepared from marks obtained in the Class 10 Secondary School Examination, aggregated to a percentage calculated to 4 decimal places.

• Where a mark sheet shows numerical marks, those marks are used directly.
• Where only grades or grade points are shown, they are converted to marks using a multiplication factor of 9.5 against the relevant grade point or CGPA.
• Candidates should enter grades or points as shown on their mark sheet; the system carries out the conversion for the purpose of merit, and candidates are not required to convert grades to marks themselves.
• In case of a tie in merit, preference is decided first by date of birth (older candidates preferred), followed by a defined order of category and gender combinations set out in the notification.

After the merit list is released on the portal, shortlisted candidates are informed through SMS and email on their registered contact details and must report for physical verification of original documents to the designated Divisional or Unit Head within 15 days of shortlisting. On successful verification, a system-generated offer of provisional engagement is issued, after which the candidate must complete pre-engagement formalities, including 3 days of basic training and arrangement of accommodation, within 30 days.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online only, through the GDS Online Engagement Portal. Applications received through any other mode will not be entertained.

1. Visit the official GDS Online Engagement Portal and open the One-Time Registration page for new candidates.
2. Complete One-Time Registration by entering your active mobile number and email ID and verifying both through OTP, then fill in your personal details and create a password to generate your Registration Number.
3. Log in to the portal using your Registration Number and the password received by SMS, then open the GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II application under the Active Notification tab.
4. Fill in your Board and Class 10 educational details, including the marks or grades obtained, exactly as recorded in your Secondary School Examination certificate.
5. Select your preferred Division and give your order of preference for the eligible posts shown to you based on your local language, community and age.
6. Upload your recent photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size, and check both carefully in the preview screen.
7. Pay the online application fee if it is applicable to you, then review the complete application in the preview screen and submit it before the closing date and time.

No documents need to be uploaded along with the application form, apart from the photograph and signature. Photographs must be in JPG/JPEG format, 30 KB to 100 KB in size, with a 4:5 aspect ratio and plain white or light background. Signatures must also be JPG/JPEG, 20 KB to 100 KB in size, with a 5:2 aspect ratio, scanned from a signature made on white paper with a black or blue pen. Applications with blurred photographs or signatures will be rejected.

Documents Required at Verification

Documents are not uploaded at the application stage, but shortlisted candidates must carry the following in original along with two self-attested photocopies at the time of physical verification:

• Class 10 mark sheet
• Identity proof
• Caste certificate, where applicable
• PwBD certificate, where applicable
• EWS certificate, where applicable
• Transgender certificate, where applicable
• Date of birth proof
• Medical certificate from a Government hospital, dispensary or Primary Health Centre (compulsory for all candidates)
• Local language proficiency certificate, for engagement in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa or Nagaland, where applicable

Reservation

Reservation benefits are available to SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD candidates as per the applicable Government rules, subject to the candidate holding a valid certificate in the prescribed format. EWS candidates who are not covered under SC, ST or OBC reservation are entitled to 10 percent reservation in GDS engagement, though no age relaxation is available to this category. PwBD candidates are covered under sub-categories including low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disabilities, and specific learning or intellectual disabilities, each carrying a defined percentage of reservation within the notified posts.

General Rules

• Only one registration is permitted per candidate. Multiple or duplicate applications will lead to cancellation of candidature.
• An applicant can apply for posts in only one Division, and if selected as meritorious for more than one preferred post, only the highest preference post will be offered; rights to the remaining posts are forfeited.
• Candidates dismissed, removed or compulsorily retired from Government service or as a Gramin Dak Sevak in the past as a measure of penalty are barred from applying.
• All entries in the application, including name, date of birth, and parents' names, must exactly match the Class 10 certificate; mismatches can lead to cancellation of candidature.
• The Department reserves the right to modify, cancel or extend the notification or revise the number of posts at any time without assigning any reason.
• The notification is available in both English and Hindi; in case of any dispute, the English version will prevail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What Is The India Post GDS Schedule-II July-2026 Recruitment About?

This is an online engagement drive by the Department of Posts to fill vacant Gramin Dak Sevak posts of Branch Postmaster, Assistant Branch Postmaster and Dak Sevak in Branch Post Offices, Sorting Offices, Mail Offices and Delivery Centres across the country. It has been issued vide Notification No. 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20th August 2026.

Q2. Who Can Apply For BPM, ABPM Or Dak Sevak Posts?

Any candidate who has passed the Secondary School Examination (Class 10) with passing marks in Mathematics and English from a recognized board, has studied the prescribed local language up to Class 10, and is between 18 and 40 years of age as on the closing date can apply, subject to age relaxation for reserved categories.

Q3. Is There A Written Exam For GDS Selection?

No. There is no written examination or interview for GDS engagement. Candidates are shortlisted through a system-generated merit list prepared from the marks obtained in their Class 10 Secondary School Examination, converted to a percentage.

Q4. How Many GDS Vacancies Are Available In This Notification?

As per Annexure-I of the notification, a total of 23,757 GDS vacancies are available across 23 Postal Circles, covering the posts of BPM, ABPM and Dak Sevak. Of these, 10,640 are unreserved, 4,433 are for OBC, 3,082 for SC, 2,773 for ST, 2,160 for EWS, and the remaining 669 are distributed across the various PwBD sub-categories.

Q5. What Is The Application Fee For GDS Recruitment 2026?

The application fee is Rs. 100 for all posts applied for within a chosen division. Female applicants, SC and ST applicants, PwBD applicants and Transwomen applicants are exempted from paying this fee.

Q6. What Is The Last Date To Submit The Online Application?

Online applications and fee payment can be submitted from 2nd September 2026 to 21st September 2026 up to 5:00 PM. A separate correction window will be open from 23rd September 2026 to 24th September 2026 for editing submitted details.

Q7. What Is The Pay For BPM, ABPM And Dak Sevak Posts?

GDS posts are paid through Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) rather than a regular pay scale. The initial TRCA slab for BPM is Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 29,380, and for ABPM and Dak Sevak it is Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 24,470, with a 3 percent annual increase and applicable Dearness Allowance.

Q8. Are GDS Posts Regular Central Government Jobs?

No. The notification clearly states that Gramin Dak Sevaks are not regular employees of the Department of Posts or the Central Government, and their service conditions are governed separately by the GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020, rather than the rules that apply to regular civil servants.

Source

This article is based on Notification No. 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20th August 2026, issued by the GDS Section, Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India, for GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July-2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is based on the official notification available at the time of writing. Candidates are advised to read the complete notification and check the official GDS Online Engagement Portal before applying, as the Department of Posts may revise dates, vacancy numbers or other details at its discretion.