India Post GDS 4th Merit List 2026 Date: Check Important Dates, Document Verification and More

India Post Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) recruitment is conducted by India Post, Department of Posts, Government of India, to fill various positions in rural post offices across the country. The GDS 4th Merit List 2026 is the fourth round of candidate selection for positions such as Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM), and Dak Sevak (Packer, Mail Delivery, Multi-Tasking). GDS employees are engagement-based rather than regular employees, serving in Gram Panchayat areas. This merit list follows earlier rounds and is published for circles where vacancies remain unfilled. Selected candidates undergo document verification before final appointment. The recruitment is circle-wise, with each postal circle releasing separate notifications and merit lists based on local vacancy requirements.

Important Dates (Typical / Indicative)

Vacancy Details (Typical / Indicative - Circle-wise variation)

Note: Total vacancies vary by postal circle. Each circle publishes separate vacancy numbers for BPM, ABPM, Dak Sevak positions.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Branch Postmaster (BPM):

• 10th pass from recognized board
• Computer knowledge (basic computer training certificate preferred)

Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM) & Dak Sevak:

• 10th pass from recognized board
• For certain states: Local language knowledge mandatory
• Cycling ability required for Dak Sevak posts

Age Limit

Age Relaxation:

Age Calculation: As on cut-off date mentioned in circle notification.

Nationality

• Indian Citizen
• Subject of Nepal or Bhutan
• Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962
• Person of Indian origin from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam

How to Apply

1. Visit the official India Post website for your postal circle (e.g., appost.in for Andhra Pradesh circle, mppost.gov.in for Madhya Pradesh circle)
2. Click on "GDS Recruitment" or "Engagement of GDS" link on homepage
3. Read the detailed notification PDF carefully for your circle
4. Click on "Apply Online" or "Registration" button
5. Register with basic details (name, email, mobile) and get registration number
6. Login with registration credentials
7. Fill online application form with personal, educational and other details
8. Upload scanned documents (photograph, signature, certificates as per specification)
9. Pay application fee through online mode (Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI)
10. Submit the application form and save acknowledgement slip
11. Take printout of submitted application for future reference

Application Fee

Payment Mode: Online only (Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI)

Selection Process

1. Merit-Based Selection: No written examination is conducted. Selection is purely based on merit calculated from 10th standard marks percentage. The formula considers marks obtained in 10th class as the primary criterion.

1. Merit List Preparation: Each postal circle prepares a combined merit list for all applicants. Candidates are ranked category-wise based on 10th marks. Separate merit lists are prepared for BPM, ABPM and Dak Sevak positions.

1. 1st, 2nd, 3rd Merit Lists: Initial merit lists are released covering top-ranked candidates. Candidates are called for document verification circle-wise as per their rank.

1. 4th Merit List Release: This is released for circles with remaining vacancies after first three rounds. Candidates who missed earlier rounds or where vacancies remain unfilled are considered.

1. Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates from merit list must appear for document verification at designated centres within specified dates. Original certificates (10th marksheet, domicile, category certificate, ID proof) are verified physically.

1. Medical Examination: After document verification, candidates undergo basic medical fitness examination to ensure they can perform GDS duties.

1. Final Selection: Based on successful document verification and medical fitness, final selection list is published and appointment orders are issued by respective postal circles.

Selection Pattern

No Written Examination is conducted for GDS recruitment.

Selection is entirely merit-based on 10th standard marks.

Merit Calculation Formula

Merit List Preparation:

• Candidates ranked based on 10th marks percentage
• Category-wise separate merit prepared
• Post-wise (BPM/ABPM/Dak Sevak) separate ranking
• Circle-wise independent merit lists

No Negative Marking: Not applicable as there is no examination.

Syllabus Details

Not Applicable

India Post GDS recruitment does not involve any written examination or interview. Selection is purely merit-based on 10th standard marks obtained from a recognized board.

Document Verification Requirements

Candidates must carry the following documents during verification:

• Educational Documents: 10th standard marksheet and certificate from recognized board
• Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport or Driving License
• Domicile Certificate: Issued by competent authority proving residency in the circle/state
• Category Certificate: SC/ST/OBC/EWS certificate in prescribed format (if applicable)
• Age Proof: Birth certificate or 10th certificate showing date of birth
• Recent Photographs: Passport size photographs (same as uploaded in application)
• Character Certificate: From local authority or Gazetted Officer
• Cycling Certificate: Self-declaration or certificate proving ability to ride bicycle (for Dak Sevak posts)
• Community Certificate: For reserved category candidates in prescribed format with validity
• Disability Certificate: For PwD candidates from competent medical authority (if applicable)

Salary & Allowances (Typical / Indicative)

GDS employees receive Time Related Continuity (TRC) Allowance rather than regular pay scale. Compensation varies by working hours and post type.

Additional Benefits:

• Annual increment based on satisfactory performance
• Bonus: One month TRC as annual bonus
• Leave encashment facility
• RELHS medical benefits after 10 years service
• Severance package on completion of engagement
• Provident Fund and other statutory benefits

Note: GDS employees are engagement-based, not regular government employees. Working hours: 4-5 hours daily depending on post and office workload.

GDS positions offer limited vertical career growth within the engagement framework. After gaining experience, GDS employees can apply for departmental examinations to become regular Postal Assistants or Postman through reserved quota (10% posts reserved for GDS). Performance-based annual increments are provided. Long-serving GDS employees receive preference in departmental promotions and can move from Dak Sevak to ABPM to BPM positions based on vacancies and seniority.

Admit cards are not applicable for India Post GDS recruitment as there is no written examination. Instead, shortlisted candidates whose names appear in the merit lists (1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th) receive document verification call letters. These call letters are published on respective postal circle websites along with the merit list. Candidates must download the call letter, which contains date, time and venue for document verification. The call letter must be carried along with all original documents during verification.

Results are declared in the form of merit lists published on respective postal circle websites. The 4th Merit List 2026 is released circle-wise after completion of document verification from earlier rounds. Candidates can check their selection status by searching their application number or name in the published merit PDF. Final selection lists are published after document verification and medical examination. Selected candidates receive appointment orders through registered post or can download from the circle website using their login credentials.

Cutoff for GDS selection varies significantly across postal circles and depends on the number of applicants and vacancies. Typically, candidates scoring 60-75% in 10th standard have good chances in general category, while reserved category cutoffs range from 45-65%. High-demand urban circles like Delhi, Mumbai have cutoffs around 75-85%, while rural circles may have lower cutoffs around 50-60%. The 4th merit list generally has slightly lower cutoffs than initial lists as top candidates have already been selected.

Document Verification Centres

Document verification is conducted at postal circle offices and divisional headquarters across India.

North: Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Shimla, Jammu, Dehradun

South: Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Visakhapatnam, Mysuru, Coimbatore

East: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi, Raipur, Guwahati

West: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Nagpur, Indore, Bhopal, Goa

Northeast: Guwahati, Shillong, Agartala, Imphal, Aizawl, Itanagar, Gangtok, Kohima

Central: Bhopal, Raipur, Indore, Jabalpur

Each postal circle conducts verification at its headquarters and major divisional offices. Candidates are allotted centres based on their applied circle and district preference.