PA/SA Exam Notification 2026 Circle Wise

Applications are invited in the format enclosed (Annexure-l) from the willing and eligible candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria as given in subsequent paras, for appearing in the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for promotion to the cadre of Postal Assistant (Circle Office), Postal Assistant (Post Office) and Sorting Assistant (Railway Mail Service) for the vacancy year 2026 (01.01.2026 to 31.12.2026). The schedule of activities for the examination is as under

2. Vacancies: Details of tentative vacancies for the year 2026 (01.01.2026 to 31.12.2026) are as under.
   (A) Circle-wise vacancy:

**DoP&T vide OM no. 36012/1/2020-Estt. (Res.-II) dated 28.12.2023 has issued a set of instructions regarding reservation in promotion to PwBDs. The Proviso of Section 34 of the RPWD Act, 2016 provides that the reservation in promotion shall be in accordance with such instructions as are issued by the appropriate Government from time to time.
As per the DoPT Office Memorandum No. 36012/1/2020-Estt. (Res-II) dated 17.05.2022, four (4%) of the total number of vacancies in the cadre strength within Group ‘C’, from Group ‘C’ to Group ‘B’ and from Group ‘B’ to the lowest rung of Group ‘A’ shall be reserved for PwBDs. Reservation in promotion shall be applicable in the cadres in which the element of direct recruitment, if any does not exceed 75%.

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) notified vide G.S.R. 470(E) dated 01.08.2024, the following categories of official (s) of the Circle, excluding officials from Postal Account Office or Wing, are eligible to appear in the examination:
   Category (A):
   (1) Officials holding post in Level 3 of the Pay Matrix with three years of regular service in such post or five years of combined regular service in posts in Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 of Pay Matrix.
   (ii) Officials holding post in Level 2 of the Pay Matrix with five years of regular service in such post including the regular service in posts in Level 1 of Pay Matrix.
   (iii) Officials holding post in Level 1 of the Pay Matrix with five years of regular service in such post.

Category (B):
Officials holding post in Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 of the Pay Matrix with total regular service of eight years including service rendered regularly as Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Provided that for officials holding post in Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 of the Pay Matrix, who have rendered regular service as Gramin Dak Sevaks on or before 17.06.2022, the total regular service including the service rendered regularly as Gramin Dak Sevaks shall be five years.

Note 1: Eligibility of service condition shall be as on 01.01.2026.
Note 2: The officials mentioned at Category (B) above will be considered only if sufficient officiis mentioned at Category (A) are not available for filling up the notified vacancy.
Note 3: Eligibility of an official shall be determined with respect to the post held substantively and relevant pay level of the post in Pay Matrix and not with respect to the level in which an official is drawing pay as on the crucial date of eligibility by virtue of financial up-gradation under the Time Bound One Promotion, Biennial Cadre Review or Modified Assured Career Progression etc.
Note 4: “Where juniors who have completed qualifying or eligibility service are eligible for Limited Departmental Competitive Examination or Competitive Examination, their seniors would also be eligible for such examination provided they are not short of the requisite qualifying or eligibility service by more than half of such qualifying or eligibility service or two years, whichever is less, and have successfully completed their probation period for promotion to the next higher grade subject to the condition that both the senior and junior were recruited through same mode of recruitment and were holding same feeder cadre prior to appointment to the present post on regular basis.
This condition shall not be applied with reference to such junior officials who lost their seniority after availing transfer under Rule-38 of the Postal Manual Volume-IV.”

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-I 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 and letter No. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 09.09.2021, letter No. 17-08/2018-SPN-I (pt.) dated 21.11.2022, 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 letter no. 17-08/2018-SPN-I dated 29.05.2024.
   (ii) The Date Entry Skill Test (DEST) will be conducted subsequently as per the instructions on the subject mentioned in Directorate 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 as per instructions issued vide DoP letter no. W-04/8/2022-SPN-I dated 26.10.2023. The proforma for order of preference is enclosed as Annexure III. Allotment of cadre and Division/Unit will be made as per merit-cum-preference basis subject to availability of vacancy.
6. Centres of Examination. The examination will be conducted at all Circle
   Headquarters ie. Ambala Cantt only. The candidates will have to appear from the respective centre of their Circle only.
7. The application of the APS candidates should be sent to the concerned Divisions/Units only.
8. The Guidelines issued vide letter No. 29-6/2019-DD-III dated 10.08.2022 (as modified from time to time) by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) regarding grant of scribe and compensatory time to eligible disabled persons shall be followed in letter and spirit.
9. All instructions issued by Directorate vide letter no. X-7/6/2022-SPN-II dated 17.05.2023 as amended vide letter no. X-7/6/2022-SPN-II dated 22.09.2023 and 04.03.2024 regarding Promotion of Government Servants through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination against whom disciplinary/criminal prosecution are pending will be followed scrupulously.
10. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued vide letter No. A-34012/02/2022-DE dated 11.08.2022 and letter dated 21.09.2023 and 13.01.2025 to be followed in the conduct of the examination at every stage.

11. The Competent Authority reserves the right to cancel this notification or change or modify the schedule, pattern & syllabus of the examination partially or completely at any point of time.
12. The candidates who are willing to apply for the examination should ensure that they fulfill/satisfy all the eligibility criteria/conditions/instructions mentioned above for appeaing in the examination.
13. This notification may be given wide publicity amongst all eligible candidates working in Circle Office/Divisions/Units.
14. This notification is also available www.indiapost.gov.in and Haryana https://circleadmin, haryanapost.gov.in/. the Departmental website i.e. Circle website 1.e. on Postal
15. Hindi Version of the notification will follow.
    This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.

Enclosures: Annexure-I, II & III
Copy forwarded for (information and necessary action} to:-

1. The Postmaster General (Marketing and Business Promotions), Gurgaon-122016
2. All the Senior/Superintendent of Post Offices/RMS/PSD in Haryana Circle
3. The Officer In-charge, P&T Administration Cell, APS Wing, Brigade of the Guards, Regimental Centre, Pin-900746, C/o 56 APO
4. The Office Superintendent, Circle Office, Ambala-133001
5. Staff Clerk, Circle Office, Ambala-133001

I certify that I have verified the particulars of candidate from service record and found correct. The candidature of the applicant is RECOMMENDED as category (A) or Category (B) candidate (Ref as per eligibility criteria at Para-3 of notification) / NOT RECOMMENDED, In case, NOT RECOMMENDED reasons therefore.