India Post has kicked off its second GDS engagement cycle for the year. This time it's 23,757 Gramin Dak Sevak posts across the country, under Advt. No. 17-12/2026. OTR registration starts 31 August 2026, and the actual application form opens two days after that, on 2 September. Both windows shut within a few days of each other in late September, so there isn't much time to sit on it once things begin.
No written exam this cycle. Selection runs on Class 10 marks, so if you're eligible, the main job is picking the right circle and post office preference, not preparing for a test.
Important Dates
| OTR Registration Begins | 31 August 2026 |
| OTR Registration Closes | 19 September 2026 |
| Application Form Opens | 2 September 2026 |
| Application Form Closes | 21 September 2026 |
| Correction Window | 23-24 September 2026 |
| Merit List | To be announced |
Application Fee
- General / OBC: Rs. 100
- SC / ST / PH: No fee
- All female candidates (any category): No fee
- Payment modes: Debit card, credit card, net banking, IMPS, or mobile wallet
Age Limit (as on 21 September 2026)
- Minimum: 18 years
- Maximum: 40 years
- Age relaxation applies as per India Post GDS regulations
Total Vacancies: 23,757
| Post | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) | Class 10 pass with Mathematics and English from a recognised board, plus knowledge of the local language of the applied circle |
Category-Wise Breakup
| Category | Posts |
|---|---|
| General | 10,640 |
| EWS | 2,160 |
| OBC | 4,433 |
| SC | 3,082 |
| ST | 2,773 |
| PWD-A | 192 |
| PWD-B | 227 |
| PWD-C | 178 |
| PWD-DE | 72 |
Circle-Wise Vacancies
| State / Circle | Language | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Hindi | 1,691 |
| Bihar | Hindi | 1,098 |
| Delhi | Hindi | 16 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Hindi | 1,450 |
| Rajasthan | Hindi | 1,009 |
| Haryana | Hindi | 87 |
| Uttarakhand | Hindi | 452 |
| Chhattisgarh | Hindi | 762 |
| Himachal Pradesh | Hindi | 335 |
| Jharkhand | Hindi | 1,379 |
| Odisha | Oriya | 1,353 |
| Gujarat | Gujarati | 499 |
| Karnataka | Kannada | 1,116 |
| Kerala | Malayalam | 1,373 |
| Andhra Pradesh | Telugu | 917 |
| Telangana | Telugu | 419 |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil | 2,118 |
| Maharashtra | Konkani / Marathi | 2,431 |
| Punjab | Punjabi / English / Hindi | 122 |
| Assam | Assamese / Bengali / Bodo / Hindi / English | 414 |
| West Bengal | Bengali / Hindi / English / Nepali | 1,762 |
| North Eastern | Bengali / Hindi / English / Manipuri / Mizo | 2,504 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Hindi / Urdu | 340 |
North Eastern, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have the highest numbers this round. Delhi sits at the other end with just 16 posts, which fits with how GDS recruitment works in general. It's built around rural and semi-rural postal networks, not big cities.
Selection Process
- Merit list drawn up from Class 10 marks
- Document verification
- Final selection
That's the entire process. No interview, no written test.
How to Apply
A lot of candidates end up confusing OTR with the real application, so it helps to be clear about this from the start. OTR simply gets you registered and logged in. Choosing your circle and post office preference happens later, in a separate form.
- Complete OTR first, using a mobile number and email address you check regularly.
- Once the form opens on 2 September, log in and fill it out carefully. Take your time on the circle and division selection since this part decides your posting.
- Keep your Class 10 marksheet next to you while filling the form. Your marks go in directly and decide your merit position, so double-check every number before submitting.
- Upload your photo and signature in the exact size and format the portal asks for.
- If you notice a mistake after submitting, correct it during the 23-24 September window. Once that closes, no changes can be made.
- Pay the fee where it applies to you, and keep the receipt along with your final submission printout.
Useful Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| OTR Registration | Click Here |
| Circle-Wise Notification | Click here |
| Full Notification (PDF) | Click here |
| Signature Resizer, PDF Compress, Age Calculator and More Tools | View Tools |
| Official GDS Website | Click here |
Note: Recruitment dates and rules can change without much warning, so check everything against the official India Post GDS website before you actually apply.
Prep Tips
- There's nothing to study here. The real work is calculating your Class 10 percentage accurately and checking it twice before entering it.
- Pick your circle based on whether you can genuinely manage the local language requirement, not just because the vacancy count looks attractive.
- Maharashtra, North Eastern and Tamil Nadu have the largest vacancy numbers, which usually means more applicants too. Keep that in mind while deciding.
- Get scanned copies of your Class 10 certificate and other documents ready well ahead of time. A mismatch at verification is one of the most common reasons people get rejected.
- Check your application status after submitting instead of assuming it went through, especially since the OTR and form deadlines are so close together.
FAQs
What's the last date to apply for GDS 2026?
The application form closes on 21 September 2026. OTR closes a couple of days earlier, on 19 September.
How many total vacancies are there?
A total of 23,757 posts have been announced, spread across General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST and four PWD sub-categories.
Is there a written exam?
No. Selection is based purely on a merit list prepared from Class 10 marks, followed by document verification.
What's the application fee?
Rs. 100 for General and OBC candidates. SC, ST, PH candidates, and women across all categories are exempt from the application fee.
What qualification do I need?
Candidates must have passed Class 10 with Mathematics and English from a recognised board, along with knowledge of the local language required for the circle they are applying to.
Which circle has the most vacancies this time?
North Eastern has the highest number of vacancies with 2,504 posts. Maharashtra has 2,431 posts, while Tamil Nadu has 2,118 posts.
Is OTR the same thing as the final application?
No. OTR is only the registration process. The actual application form, where candidates can select their circle and post office preferences, opens separately on 2 September 2026.