PA/SA Exam 2026 Notification GDS to PA/SA Circle Wise

Subject: Competitive Examination for recruitment to the cadre of Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants from Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs) for the unfilled Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) vacancy for the year 2026 (01.01.2026 to 31.12.2026)

Applications are invited in the format enclosed (Annexure-I) from the willing and eligible candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria as given in subsequent paras, for appearing in Competitive Examination (CE) for recruitment to the cadre of Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants from Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs) for the unfilled Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) vacancies of Postal Assistants and Sorting Assistants for the vacancy year 2026 (01.01.2026 to 31.12.2026). The schedule of activities for the examination are as under:

*Exam will commence exactly at 10:00 AM.
The Regional Heads/Divisional Heads/controlling authorities are requested to start the activity as per the notified schedule immediately. The schedule should be strictly adhered to.

2. Vacancies: The vacancies will be filled up through GDS, only if, there are unfilled vacancies of promotion quota of eligible officials through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) to the post of PA/SA.
   3.
   Eligibility Criteria: As per the Department of Posts (Postal Assistant & Sorting Assistant) Recruitment Rules 2022, notified vide GSR 459 (E) dated 17-06-2022 as amended vide Department of Posts (Postal Assistant and Sorting Assistant) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules 2023, notified vide GSR 21 (E) dated 13-01-2023 and (Amendment) Rules 2024, notified vide GSR 470(E) dated 01.08.2024, following conditions are to be fulfilled:

(i) Educational Qualification:
(a) 10+2 standard pass from a recognized Board, and
(b) Knowledge of working on Computer
(ii) Age: Should be within forty (40) years of age (relaxable for different categories as notified by the Government of India from time to time) as on first day of January (As per Recruitment Rules) of the vacancy year.

(iii) Service eligibility:
(a) Gramin Dak Sevaks those who have joined on or before 17.06.2022 – Five (05) years of regular engagement.
(b) Gramin Dak Sevaks those who have joined after 17.06.2022 – Eight (8) years of regular engagement.
Note-1: The crucial date for reckoning the eligibility conditions shall be 01.01.2026.

4. Pattern & Syllabus of Examination: The examination will be conducted as per the revised
   pattern and syllabus circulated by Directorate vide letter no. 17-08/2018-SPB-1 dated 10.05.2019 under Annexure-C which shall be read with letter No. 17-08/2018-SPB-I (pt.) dated 10-06-2019 and 17-08/2018-SPB-I dated 20-06-2019, 26-06-2019, 28-06-2019, 11-07-2019, 23-07-2019, letter no. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 09-09-2021, letter No. 17-08/2018-SPN-1 (pt.) dated 21-11-2022 and letter No. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 19-12-2022, 24.04.2023 and 29.05.2024 enclosed as Annexure-II.
   Note: (i) The component of local language test (Paper-II) has been removed vide Directorate letter No. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 29.05.2024.
   Note: (ii) The Data Entry Skill Test (DEST) will be conducted subsequently as per the Instructions on the subject mentioned in Directorate’s letter no. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 19-12-2022.

5.
Preference/Option: Applicants are required to indicate the order of preference for Cadre and then give order of preference for Division/Unit in the proforma enclosed as Annexure-III, as per instructions issued vide DoP letter No. W-04/8/2022-SPN-I dated 26.10.2023. Allotment of Cadre/Division/Unit will be made as per merit-cum-preference basis subject to availability of vacancy.
6.
Centres for Examination: The examination will be conducted at Circle / Regional headquarters of the Circle. The Candidates will have to appear from the respective centres only.

7. The guidelines issued vide letter No. 29-6/2019-DD-III dated 10-08-2022 (as modified time to time) by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) regarding grant of scribe and compensatory time to eligible disabled persons and the guidelines for PwBDs circulated vide SC-12/9/2022-SCT-DOP dated 09.01.2024 shall be followed in letter and spirit.
8. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued vide letter No. A-34012/02/2022-DE dated 11-08-2022, letter dated 21-09-2023 and letter dated 13.01.2025 to be followed in the conduct of the examination at every stage.
9. The Competent Authority reserves the right to cancel this notification or change or modify in the schedule, pattern & syllabus of the examination partially or completely at any point of time.
10. The candidates who are willing to apply for the examination should ensure that they fulfil/satisfy all the eligibility criteria/conditions/instructions mentioned above for appearing in the examination.

The Divisional/Unit Heads should ensure proper verification of correctness of entries made in the application w.r.t. service record of each candidate. Applications in the prescribed format (Annexure-I) along with two recent passport size identical photographs, self attested copy of community certificate (if any) received from the eligible candidates duly verifying the details should be forwarded to concerned Regional office by the Divisions. The Regions should ensure proper verification and submission of duly consolidated data to the Circle Office immediately on last date of receipt of applications at RO level i.e. 04-06-2026 through e-Mail. Also, soft copy of same may be e-Mailed to this office at e-Mail ID:-adrectt.tl@indiapost.gov.in. The proforma for submission of data will be communicated in due course.

12. Circle Office will undertake evaluation and subsequent declaration of results based on the information relating to the candidates and their roll numbers furnished by the Heads of Region/Division/Unit(s). “In case, if it is found subsequently that any of the selected candidate(s) was not eligible to take the examination under the existing rules/instructions on the subject or for any reasons or in case any mistake is found with regard to evaluation and announcement of results of any candidate for any reason whatsoever his/her name will be deleted from the list of successful candidates, as the case may be. The result will also be subject to any change in the merit list of successful candidate’s due to any unforeseen reason in accordance with the existing rules and instructions on the subject or orders of Hon’ble CAT/High Court, if any.”
13. Applications received directly in this office or received after prescribed closing date as mentioned above or without required documents or not signed by the candidate and most importantly not in prescribed application form along with the proforma for submitting preference will not be entertained under any circumstances whatsoever & will be summarily rejected.

14. This notification may be given wide publicity amongst all GDSs working in Divisions/Units.
15. This notification is also available on the Departmental website i.e. www.indiapost.gov.in.
16. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
    Enclosures: Annexure-I, II & III
    

Copy issued to the following for information and necessary action:

1. The Director (DE), Department of Posts, Postal Directorate, New Delhi-110 001 w.r.t letter No. DE-12/2/2026-DE-DOP dated 06.05.2026.
2. The Postmaster General, Headquarters Region, Hyderabad-500 007.
3. The Postmaster General, Hyderabad Region, Hyderabad-500 001.
4. The GM, CEPT Mysuru for uploading the notification to the official website of Department of Posts i.e. www.indiapost.gov.in.
5. All the Divisions/Units in Telangana Circle (through concerned Regions).
6. Officer In-Charge, P&T Admin Cell, APS Training Centre C/o 56 APO, PIN-900 746 for similar action.
7. The Assistant Director (Staff), O/o Chief Postmaster General, Telangana Circle, Hyderabad-500 001.
8. All the Circle Secretary of Unions/Service Associations.
9. Office copy.

Note: All Particulars shall be filled up in BLOCK letter.