India Post GDS Schedule-II July-2026 is out. The Department of Posts has released its second Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) engagement notification of 2026 — Notification No. 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20 August 2026 — with 23,757 vacancies for Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM) and Dak Sevak across 36 language/circle combinations.
If you are a Class 10 pass candidate deciding whether this cycle is worth applying for, this guide summarises what is actually in the notification — with circle-wise vacancy context, TRCA pay, merit rules and apply steps.
Notification: 17-12/2026-GDS (20 Aug 2026) · Vacancies: 23,757 · Registration: 31 Aug – 19 Sep 2026 · Apply + fee: 2 – 21 Sep 2026 (upto 1700 hrs) · Correction: 23–24 Sep 2026
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Current Status — What You Should Do Today
India Post GDS Schedule-II 2026 is in the live application stage. The safest order is: check eligibility and local-language rules → complete a fresh registration → choose the correct Division and post preferences → complete the actual application → pay the fee if applicable → submit and save the final details.
Important: Registration and application are separate steps. Getting a registration number does not by itself mean your application has been submitted. Complete the application and final submission within the official window.
Important for previous GDS applicants: Follow the Schedule-II 2026 portal instructions and do not assume a registration number from an earlier GDS schedule can be reused. Check the current official portal before starting.
Before paying any fee, verify your Class 10 details, local language eligibility, chosen Circle/Division and post preferences. These are candidate-specific decisions; the official notification and application portal are the final authority.
Before You Apply — 2-Minute Eligibility and Preference Check
Use this checklist before opening the application form:
- My Class 10 certificate satisfies the notification’s subject requirements, including Mathematics and English.
- I studied the required local language to the level specified for the Circle/post I intend to choose.
- My name, date of birth and other Class 10 details are ready to enter exactly as supported by my records.
- I have checked the official Circle/Division vacancy information instead of choosing only because a Circle has a large national vacancy total.
- I understand that post preferences are a real decision, not just a formality.
- I have checked the role conditions for BPM separately from ABPM/Dak Sevak.
- I know whether the ₹100 fee applies to me before making payment.
- I will use only the official GDS portal and will not share OTPs or login credentials with unofficial agents or websites.
This checklist is intended to prevent avoidable application errors; it does not replace the official eligibility rules.
BPM vs ABPM vs Dak Sevak — Choose With the Role in Mind
The vacancy total alone should not decide your preference. Read the official role conditions before ranking posts.
| Post | What candidates should understand before choosing |
|---|---|
| BPM (Branch Postmaster) | Higher listed TRCA range, but the role carries Branch Post Office responsibilities. Selected BPM candidates should carefully understand the official accommodation and operational requirements before accepting a post. |
| ABPM (Assistant Branch Postmaster) | A GDS role with postal and related duties under the applicable rules; check the specific office/post details shown in the official vacancy information. |
| Dak Sevak | A GDS role whose duties and working conditions depend on the assigned office and official rules. Check the specific post before ranking it. |
Practical advice: Do not rank BPM first only because the TRCA range is higher. Consider the actual role conditions, location, language eligibility and the requirements you would need to meet if selected.
Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting body | Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications |
| Notification | 17-12/2026-GDS |
| Total posts advertised | 23,757 (BPM, ABPM, Dak Sevak) |
| Registration window | 31 Aug 2026 – 19 Sep 2026 |
| Application + fee window | 2 Sep – 21 Sep 2026 (upto 1700 hrs) |
| Correction window | 23–24 Sep 2026 |
| Fee | ₹100 (waived for women, SC/ST, PwBD, transwomen) |
| Age limit | 18–40 years as on closing date |
| Qualification | Class 10 pass with Maths & English; local language to 10th |
| Selection mode | Merit list from Class 10 marks — no exam, no interview |
| Engagement process closes | Soft note: 31 December 2026 (unless extended) |
Soft note: vacancy numbers and Division lists can be revised — confirm on the portal and Annexure-Ia before fee payment.
Where the Vacancies Actually Are
This is the part most notification write-ups skip, and it helps if you are deciding whether to apply. The 23,757 posts are not spread evenly — a handful of circles account for a large share of openings.
The five largest circles by vacancy count:
| Circle | Language | Total Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra (Marathi) | Marathi | 2,297 |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil | 2,118 |
| West Bengal (Bengali) | Bengali | 1,619 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Hindi | 1,691 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Hindi | 1,450 |
Together these five circles hold roughly 9,175 posts — nearly 39% of all vacancies nationwide. Soft note: if you are eligible under one of these language requirements, openings near you may be more plentiful than in a smaller circle.
Smaller openings — useful if you hoped for a tight local circle: Delhi (about 16 posts), Punjab’s English/Hindi category (about 3 posts), and West Bengal’s Nepali category (about 7 posts) are among the smallest in the table.
Full circle-wise breakdown (UR / OBC / SC / ST / EWS)
Soft note: figures below follow the Schedule-II / Annexure-style circle table. Treat as a guide to which circles to check — Division and post-office lists appear only after you select a Division on the application portal.
| Circle | Language | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Telugu | 400 | 213 | 125 | 45 | 109 | 917 |
| Assam | Assamese | 159 | 80 | 31 | 26 | 21 | 322 |
| Assam | Bengali | 40 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 77 |
| Assam | Bodo | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Bihar | Hindi | 491 | 279 | 157 | 56 | 87 | 1,098 |
| Chhattisgarh | Hindi | 290 | 35 | 83 | 257 | 75 | 762 |
| Delhi | Hindi | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 |
| Gujarat | Gujarati | 234 | 118 | 24 | 74 | 38 | 499 |
| Haryana | Hindi | 36 | 22 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 87 |
| Himachal Pradesh | Hindi | 142 | 66 | 76 | 12 | 33 | 335 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Hindi/Urdu | 148 | 89 | 26 | 37 | 30 | 340 |
| Jharkhand | Hindi | 527 | 162 | 160 | 343 | 134 | 1,379 |
| Karnataka | Kannada | 446 | 286 | 176 | 64 | 115 | 1,116 |
| Kerala | Malayalam | 753 | 343 | 111 | 5 | 114 | 1,373 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Hindi | 563 | 215 | 225 | 272 | 133 | 1,450 |
| Maharashtra | Konkani/Marathi | 70 | 23 | 5 | 18 | 14 | 134 |
| Maharashtra | Marathi | 991 | 577 | 236 | 176 | 234 | 2,297 |
| North Eastern | Bengali/Kak Barak | 74 | 2 | 28 | 52 | 17 | 179 |
| North Eastern | English/Hindi | 926 | 0 | 21 | 297 | 87 | 1,354 |
| North Eastern | English/Hindi + Garo | 112 | 5 | 3 | 136 | 29 | 296 |
| North Eastern | English/Hindi + Khasi | 146 | 26 | 3 | 145 | 34 | 369 |
| North Eastern | English/Manipuri | 120 | 49 | 5 | 91 | 29 | 306 |
| North Eastern | Mizo | 44 | 5 | 0 | 47 | 10 | 110 |
| Odisha | Odia | 571 | 152 | 213 | 266 | 123 | 1,353 |
| Punjab | English/Hindi | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Punjab | Punjabi | 55 | 27 | 27 | 2 | 8 | 119 |
| Rajasthan | Hindi | 470 | 114 | 138 | 133 | 120 | 1,009 |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil | 921 | 524 | 385 | 18 | 203 | 2,118 |
| Telangana | Telugu | 201 | 85 | 59 | 17 | 45 | 419 |
| Uttarakhand | Hindi | 225 | 71 | 78 | 17 | 43 | 452 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Hindi | 720 | 453 | 301 | 48 | 139 | 1,691 |
| West Bengal | Bengali | 672 | 360 | 354 | 92 | 106 | 1,619 |
| West Bengal | Bengali/Nepali | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| West Bengal | English + Bhutia/Gurung/Lepcha/Nepali/Rai/Sherpa/Tamang | 42 | 21 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 86 |
| West Bengal | English/Hindi | 19 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 38 |
| West Bengal | Nepali | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
Soft note: PwBD vacancies (categories A–DE) are reserved within these totals per circle and may not appear as a separate column here — refer to official Annexure-Ia for the exact PwBD split if that applies to you.
Why This Notification Has No Exam
Unlike SSC or banking recruitment, GDS selection skips a written test. Soft note: the merit list is generated from your Class 10 (SSE) marksheet percentage, converted to 4 decimal accuracy where needed. If your marksheet shows grades instead of marks, the system converts them using a fixed multiplier (grade point × 9.5) — you enter what is on the marksheet; you do not invent your own conversion.
That makes two things unusually important:
- Your Class 10 percentage is the entire shortlisting criterion.
- Any mismatch between application details and the original marksheet (name, DOB, parents’ names) can cancel candidature — there is no interview stage to “explain” a data-entry mistake.
Pay: What TRCA Actually Means
GDS posts pay through Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA), not a standard regular civil-service pay matrix. Soft note: GDS staff are legally outside the regular civil service.
| Post | TRCA Range |
|---|---|
| Branch Postmaster (BPM) | ₹12,000 – ₹29,380 |
| ABPM / Dak Sevak | ₹10,000 – ₹24,470 |
Soft note: TRCA rises 3% annually subject to GDS Rules; Dearness Allowance, gratuity and a Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (similar in idea to NPS-style discharge benefits) apply as notified. The notification is explicit that GDS candidates are expected to have another source of income — applicants sign an undertaking confirming they understand this is not framed as a standalone livelihood.
Eligibility at a Glance
- Age: 18–40 years as on the closing date, with relaxation of 5 years (SC/ST), 3 years (OBC), 10 years (PwBD), up to 15 years (PwBD+SC/ST). Soft note: no upper-age relaxation for EWS in the notice.
- Education: Class 10 pass with passing marks in Maths and English, from a recognised board, plus the local language of the Circle/state you apply to, studied up to 10th. Soft note: a Telugu-medium student from Telangana may be eligible for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh circle posts where Telugu is required — confirm annexure language rules.
- Other declarations: basic computer literacy, ability to cycle or ride a two-wheeler, and confirmation of an independent income source — submitted as signed undertakings, not separately tested.
Registration vs Application — Do Not Stop Halfway
The current GDS process should be treated as two practical stages:
- Registration: create/obtain the registration credentials required for the current Schedule-II cycle.
- Application and final submission: log in, enter the required academic and preference details, upload the required files, pay the fee where applicable and complete final submission.
A common mistake is to finish registration and assume the recruitment application is complete. Always verify on the official portal that your application itself has been submitted successfully and save the relevant confirmation/details.
How to Apply — Step by Step
- Register once at indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement using a mobile number and email you have not used before; both are OTP-verified and cannot be reused for a second registration.
- Log in with your registration number and fill Class 10 board, year and marks/grades — this drives language-eligible posts.
- Pick one Division (only one Division per notification cycle) and rank post preferences within it. Soft note: you receive at most one offer — the highest-ranked post you qualify for — and other preferences are forfeited once selected.
- Upload photo (JPG, soft note: typically 30–100 KB, about 320×400 px) and signature (JPG, soft note: typically 20–100 KB, about 300×120 px) to the portal’s exact specification — wrong format is a common avoidable rejection.
- Pay ₹100 if not exempt, then submit. Soft note: fee is non-refundable — confirm Division and eligibility before paying.
One registration only — verify Annexure-Ia circle posts before fee payment
Open GDS Online Engagement Portal Annexure-Ia Vacancy PDFBefore Final Submission — Check These Details Again
Before pressing the final submit button, review:
- Class 10 board, year, marks or grades exactly against the original record.
- Name and date of birth for consistency with the documents you may need during verification.
- Required local-language eligibility for the selected Circle/post.
- Selected Division and the order of your post preferences.
- Photo and signature against the current portal specifications.
- Fee status, if a fee is applicable to you.
Save a copy or record of the final submission and payment/reference details. If the portal displays a different requirement from an older screenshot, article or video, follow the current official portal.
After You Apply
The 2-day correction window (23–24 September) lets you fix personal details, but soft note: any resubmission can fully replace your original application for merit purposes — do not treat it as a free redo of post choices unless you need to.
Once the merit list is out, soft note: shortlisted candidates typically get 15 days to appear for document verification with the Divisional Head, and about 30 days from the offer to complete joining formalities (including basic training). BPM candidates additionally need to arrange (and pay for) accommodation for the Branch Post Office before joining. Soft note: missing either deadline can auto-cancel candidature and move the post to the next name on the list — confirm exact timelines on your offer letter / portal.
Common Mistakes Applicants Make
| Mistake | Why it hurts |
|---|---|
| Wrong Class 10 marks / board year | Merit is built only from those marks |
| Name / DOB mismatch with marksheet | Candidature can be cancelled at verification |
| Applying for wrong language circle | Language studied to 10th must match circle rules |
| Choosing Division casually | Only one Division; preferences within it only |
| Paying fee before checking Annexure | Fee is non-refundable |
| Ignoring photo/signature size rules | Upload rejection / incomplete form |
What Happens Next — Follow the Official Stage, Not Rumours
After submission, the next action can change as the recruitment moves through correction, merit-list and document-verification stages. Check the official portal for the current stage rather than relying on social-media claims or old videos.
If you are shortlisted, read the official communication carefully and verify the required documents and deadlines from the source that issued the instruction.
Official Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply online | indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement |
| Full notification PDF | descriptive-notification.pdf |
| Circle-wise vacancy (Annexure-Ia) | Annexure-Ia.pdf |
| All India Jobs hub | All India Jobs |
| Latest Jobs | Latest Jobs |
Candidate-first recap: First confirm that you are eligible and meet the local-language rule. Then complete a fresh registration for the current cycle, complete the actual application and final submission, verify your Division and post preferences, and use the official portal for every status update.
Quick recap: India Post GDS Schedule-II 2026 → 23,757 posts → register 31 Aug–19 Sep → apply 2–21 Sep (1700 hrs) → ₹100 fee (many exempt) → 10th-pass merit, no exam → TRCA BPM ₹12,000–₹29,380 / ABPM–Dak Sevak ₹10,000–₹24,470. Apply only on indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement.