India Post has opened the application process for Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) Recruitment 2026, where applications are invited for 28,740 posts in 23 postal circles across the country. This recruitment process includes the following posts: Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), and Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS).
According to the official notification released by India Post, candidates can apply for the posts through the GDS Online Engagement Portal – indiapostgdsonline.gov.in. The application process has started from January 31, 2026, and will continue until February 14, 2026. Candidates will be required to pay a registration fee of ₹100, but candidates belonging to reserved categories are exempted as per government rules.
Important dates and selection process
India Post said the last date for payment of the application fee is February 16 (up to 5 pm). The correction window for submitted applications will be open on February 18 and 19. The first merit list is expected to be released on February 28, 2026.
Selection will be done purely on the basis of merit, prepared using marks obtained in Class 10. There will be no written examination. The merit list will include details such as division name, post name, community category, registration number, percentage of marks and document verification venue.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates applying for GDS, BPM and ABPM posts must be aged between 18 and 40 years and should have passed Class 10 from a recognised board. Applicants must have studied Mathematics and English and should have knowledge of the local language of the postal circle up to Class 10.
In addition, India Post has specified that candidates must possess basic computer knowledge, cycling skills, and have adequate means of livelihood.
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Vacancy distribution and salary
The highest number of vacancies have been announced for Maharashtra (3,553), followed by Uttar Pradesh (3,169) and West Bengal (2,982). Other major states include Madhya Pradesh (2,120), Tamil Nadu (2,009) and Kerala (1,691).
The monthly pay for ABPM and GDS posts ranges between ₹10,000 and ₹24,470, while BPM posts offer a higher pay scale of ₹12,000 to ₹29,380.
India Post has advised candidates to apply only through the official portal and keep a printout of the submitted application for future reference.