- Live Updates
- Registration date and last date to apply
- Who can apply and the age limit
- Circle wise vacancy breakup
- Category-wise reservation breakup
- Application fee and who pays nothing
- Monthly pay for BPM, ABPM and Dak Sevak
- How the GDS merit list is decided without an exam
- How to apply online step by step
- Important Links
The India Post GDS 2026 apply online window opens on 02.09.2026 for 23,757 Gramin Dak Sevak posts, and One-Time Registration is already live from 31.08.2026. The Department of Posts notified these vacancies under Notification No. 17-12/2026-GDS dated 20.08.2026. There is no written exam. Shortlisting runs on your Class 10 percentage alone.
Live Updates
31.08.2026: One-Time Registration opened today on the Department of Posts engagement portal. Checked the official notification and Annexure-Ia the same day: the confirmed figure is 23,757 vacancies, not the 25,000-plus being quoted on several aggregator pages. Application and fee payment start 02.09.2026.
20.08.2026: Notification No. 17-12/2026-GDS released for Schedule-II, July-2026. Candidates who registered for any earlier GDS cycle must register afresh, as old registration numbers are not carried forward.
Registration date and last date to apply
| What people are asking | Official schedule |
|---|---|
| Registration start date | 31.08.2026 |
| Registration last date | 19.09.2026 up to 17:00 hrs |
| When does apply online open | 02.09.2026 |
| Last date to apply and pay fee | 21.09.2026 up to 17:00 hrs |
| Correction window dates | 23.09.2026 to 24.09.2026, 17:00 hrs |
These are two separate steps, and candidates miss it every cycle. Registering on 31.08.2026 submits nothing. The application form itself opens only on 02.09.2026.
Who can apply and the age limit
| Eligibility question | What the notification says |
|---|---|
| Age limit | 18 to 40 years, counted as on 21.09.2026 |
| Educational qualification | Class 10 pass with Maths and English as passed subjects |
| Local language rule | Studied up to 10th standard from a recognised board |
| Other conditions | Knowledge of computers, knowledge of cycling, adequate means of livelihood |
| Retirement age | Cannot be retained as Sevak beyond 65 years |
The local language condition is the one that quietly disqualifies people. It is judged on what you studied up to Class 10, not on what you speak at home, so someone raised in the state can still fail it if that language was never a school subject.
Circle wise vacancy breakup
Annexure-Ia lists several circles across more than one language row, so no single row shows what a circle is really offering. Add those rows up and the ranking shifts. North Eastern Circle is split across six language rows, and once combined it is the biggest block in this cycle, ahead of both Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
| Circle | Combined vacancies |
|---|---|
| North Eastern (6 language rows) | 2,614 vacancies |
| Maharashtra (2 language rows) | 2,431 vacancies |
| Tamil Nadu | 2,118 vacancies |
| West Bengal (5 language rows) | 1,762 vacancies |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1,691 vacancies |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1,450 vacancies |
| Jharkhand | 1,379 vacancies |
| Smallest allocation, Delhi | 16 vacancies only |
Vacancies are notified division-wise inside each circle, and the Department reserves the right to revise the numbers at any time.
Category-wise reservation breakup
| Reservation category | Vacancies notified |
|---|---|
| UR | 10,640 posts |
| OBC | 4,433 posts |
| SC | 3,082 posts |
| ST | 2,773 posts |
| EWS | 2,160 posts |
| PwBD across all four sub-categories | 669 posts in total |
Those figures add up to exactly 23,757, so you can check the arithmetic yourself against Annexure-Ia.
Application fee and who pays nothing
| Fee question | Amount payable |
|---|---|
| Application fee amount | Rs. 100 |
| Female applicants | Exempted, no payment |
| Fee exemption for SC ST | Exempted, no payment |
| Fee exemption for PwBD | Exempted, no payment |
| Fee payment mode | Debit or credit card, net banking, UPI |
One payment covers every post you choose within a division. It is not refunded either, so check that you qualify for that division before you pay.
Monthly pay for BPM, ABPM and Dak Sevak
| Role | TRCA slab per month |
|---|---|
| Branch Postmaster (BPM) | Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 29,380 |
| ABPM and Dak Sevak | Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 24,470 |
A BPM selected for a Branch Office also has to arrange accommodation for that office and reside in the village where it is located.
How the GDS merit list is decided without an exam
| Selection question | How it works |
|---|---|
| Is there a written exam | No, shortlisting is system-generated |
| Merit list basis | Class 10 aggregate percentage, to four decimal places |
| Merit list tie breaker | Older date of birth is preferred first |
| After shortlisting | Document verification, then physical verification of documents |
The entire merit list rests on that one number. If anything on your Class 10 marksheet is wrong, get it corrected with your board before you apply, not after.
How to apply online step by step
- Open the Department of Posts engagement portal listed below.
- Complete One-Time Registration afresh, even if you registered in an earlier cycle.
- Note your registration number and keep it safe.
- From 02.09.2026, open the application form and fill your Class 10 details exactly as printed on the marksheet.
- Select your circle, then the division, then set preferences against the vacant posts shown.
- Pay Rs. 100 if you are not in an exempted category, and complete payment within 10 minutes of opening the window.
- Submit before 17:00 hrs on 21.09.2026 and save the confirmation.
Last updated: 31.08.2026
Important Links
| Official resource | Use |
|---|---|
| Register and Apply Online | One-Time Registration and application form |
| Official Engagement Portal | Current notification, vacant posts and helpdesk |
| Download Official Notification PDF | Notification No. 17-12/2026-GDS, 20.08.2026 |
| Download Circle-wise Vacancy PDF | Annexure-Ia, circle and category breakup |
| Department of Posts | Parent department website |
| Sarkari Naukri updates | Latest government job notifications |
Tracks central and state government recruitment notifications, admit cards, results and cut-offs for Global Drishti, verified directly against official recruitment portals and notification PDFs. Trusted by students and job aspirants nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does India Post GDS 2026 apply online start and end?
The application form opens on 02.09.2026 and closes on 21.09.2026 at 17:00 hrs. One-Time Registration runs separately from 31.08.2026 to 19.09.2026.
How many vacancies are there in this GDS cycle?
Annexure-Ia of the notification lists 23,757 vacancies across 23 circles. Some pages quote 25,000-plus, which the official annexure does not support.
Do I need to register again if I applied in an earlier GDS cycle?
Yes. The Department has stated that candidates must register afresh for Schedule-II, July-2026. Registration numbers from earlier cycles are not valid.
Is there any exam for Gramin Dak Sevak selection?
No. Shortlisting is system-generated from your Class 10 aggregate percentage, calculated to four decimal places. Ties are broken by older date of birth first.
Who is exempt from the Rs. 100 application fee?
All female applicants, SC and ST applicants, PwBD applicants and transwomen applicants are exempt and can submit without paying.
What is the monthly pay for BPM and ABPM posts?
BPM carries a TRCA slab of Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 29,380 per month. ABPM and Dak Sevak carry Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 24,470 per month.