The Department of Posts has opened the GDS Online Engagement — Schedule-II (July 2026) cycle, the latest Gramin Dak Sevak recruitment 2026 with 23,757 posts for Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM) and Dak Sevak. Uttar Pradesh gets 1,691 posts under the Hindi language category — the third-largest circle allocation after the North Eastern circles (2,614) and Maharashtra (2,431).

Two things define this cycle. First, there is no written examination at any stage — shortlisting is based entirely on Class 10 marks, computed by the system down to four decimal places. Second, the application process has two separate windows: a One-Time Registration (OTR) that has been live since 31 August 2026, and the actual application form, which opens on 2 September 2026. Missing either window means missing the entire recruitment.

One more thing if you applied in the earlier Schedule-I (January 2026) cycle: your old registration number does not carry over. The Department has made a fresh OTR mandatory for Schedule-II, July-2026. Everything below — dates, fees, eligibility, UP office-wise context, and the step-by-step application process — is verified against the official notification dated 27-08-2026 and the live GDS portal.

1. GDS 2026 Important Dates

The reason the two windows are listed separately is that candidates keep mixing them up. The OTR is a one-time account registration on the GDS portal — without it, the GDS 2026 online form simply will not open. The application itself (post selection, details, fee, submission) happens only between 2 and 21 September. Both windows end at 5:00 PM sharp, and the portal has historically slowed down badly in the final 48 hours. If you can comfortably complete the form before 12 September, do so — you remove every risk of last-minute payment gateway or login failures.

2. BPM, ABPM & Dak Sevak — What Are the Three Posts?

Every GDS 2026 application is for one of three posts inside a postal circle, and the work differs meaningfully between them:

• Branch Postmaster (BPM): Runs a Branch Post Office end to end — money orders, registered mail, savings and pension services, and overall office accountability. It carries the highest TRCA band. A BPM is also expected to arrange his own accommodation in the post village (see the warnings section — this is the detail most applicants overlook).
• Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM): Supports the BPM and handles day-to-day postal, registered and savings operations at branch and sub-branch offices.
• Dak Sevak: Works delivery routes — carrying and distributing mail, newspapers and parcels in the assigned local area. Cycling ability is explicitly expected for this role.

In the form, you select your postal circle, your post category and the language of the post. The daily working period across GDS posts is generally four to five hours, which is what makes GDS popular with candidates juggling family responsibilities, small businesses or other income sources. One practical tip: before choosing a post, open the office-wise vacancy PDF and see which posts (BPM/ABPM/DS) are actually advertised near your home — your choice only matters where a post exists.

3. Circle-wise Vacancy — Where the 23,757 Posts Sit

The circle totals above come from the official vacancy document. What you will not find in this table is the office-wise / division-wise breakup — and that is the table that actually matters for your chances. The official GDS portal carries the detailed vacancy PDF listing each post office, the posts available at it (BPM/ABPM/Dak Sevak) and the category-wise allocation. Download it before you fill the form, find your district and tehsil, and check how many posts sit at the offices you would realistically accept. In rural circles, the same district can have a 3–4x difference in post count between two blocks.

4. UP & Varanasi in Focus

Uttar Pradesh’s 1,691 GDS 2026 posts are all under the Hindi language category — meaning any candidate applying to the UP circle will be competing within this single pool, and the post you choose must be a Hindi-language post. Comparing cycles: the January 2026 (Schedule-I) engagement had a notably larger UP allocation, so competition per post is expected to be sharper this time around, particularly in the urban divisions.

Since there is no exam, your only competitive input is your Class 10 percentage — so knowing where the dividing line usually sits in your division is the single most useful piece of strategy. The ranges below are UR cut-off reference points from the previous cycle (Schedule-I, 2026). The 2026 Schedule-II cut-offs will be different, but the relative hierarchy between divisions will not change much:

The pattern is consistent: the bigger the division, the higher the cut-off. In Varanasi and Lucknow you realistically need 80%+ in Class 10; in smaller divisions like Bahraich or Balrampur, 72–76% has historically been enough. If your Class 10 score sits between two divisions’ ranges, your best move is to target the smaller division in the office-wise selection — GDS merit is computed per post/circle allocation, so choosing a division with fewer advertised posts at your score band is a legitimate, rule-compliant strategy rather than a compromise. (Always stay within the residence conditions the notification specifies for the circle and post you pick.)

5. GDS 2026 Eligibility Criteria & Application Fee

Because selection is on marks alone, the eligibility filter is where you can disqualify yourself — read this section against your documents, not from memory.

• Education: Class 10 (High School) pass with Mathematics and English as subjects from a recognized board. If your Class 10 did not include Mathematics or English, this recruitment is not open to you — a common point of confusion, since many candidates assume plain “10th pass” is enough.
• Age limit: 18 to 40 years, calculated as on 21-09-2026 (the last date of application). Age relaxation for reserved categories applies as per the notification.
• Language: You must know the language of the post you apply for. For UP circle posts, that is Hindi.
• Practical requirements: Basic computer knowledge and the ability to ride a cycle (relevant to delivery duties, especially for Dak Sevak posts).
• Residence conditions: GDS posts are circle- and office-specific. The notification lays out residence conditions for the circle/post you choose (e.g., a selected ABPM/Dak Sevak is expected to reside within the delivery jurisdiction of the assigned post office; a BPM in the post village itself). Verify these before selecting an office you cannot relocate to.
• Application fee: ₹100 for UR, OBC and EWS category male candidates. The fee is fully waived for female candidates and for SC, ST, PwBD and transwomen candidates. Confirm your category selection in the form before paying — the fee waiver is applied on the strength of the category you declare, backed by your certificate at verification.

6. GDS 2026 Salary — The TRCA Breakup

GDS pay is structured as TRCA — Time Related Continuity Allowance — with defined slabs that rise with years of continuous service, plus the prescribed annual increment under GDS Rules. So the entry figure is the bottom of the slab, and a candidate who stays in service moves up over the years. Two honest caveats belong here:

• Working hours: the prescribed daily working period is generally four to five hours. GDS is a partial-hour engagement with the TRCA structure, not a standard 8-hour service post — factor that into your income planning.
• Service status: the notification is explicit that Gramin Dak Sevaks are not regular employees of the Central Government; their service conditions are governed by the GDS Rules. For rural candidates, it remains one of the most stable and respected local government-linked jobs available to a Class 10 pass — but “regular central government job” is a claim you should not carry into this application.

7. Selection Process — No Exam, Marks Decide Everything

The GDS 2026 selection process has three stages, and none of them is a test you prepare for:

1. Merit list (Class 10 marks): After the application window closes, the system generates the merit list purely from Class 10 percentage, computed to four decimal places. A difference of 0.01% between two candidates can decide who makes the list for a given post — which is exactly why your marks must be entered exactly as they appear on your marksheet.
2. Document verification (DV): Shortlisted candidates have their documents checked — Class 10 certificate, date of birth, category certificate (if claimed), and personal details as entered in the form. Discrepancies between the form and the certificate are the #1 cause of rejection at this stage.
3. Medical examination: The final stage. Candidates who clear DV appear for the medical as per the schedule notified.

There is no written exam, no interview, no skill test, no admit card and no answer key — if any website tells you to “download the GDS 2026 admit card” or pay for “exam coaching” for this recruitment, that site is not describing this recruitment at all.

8. How to Apply — Step by Step (OTR First)

Have these ready before you start — the form does not wait:

• Class 10 marksheet & certificate (scanned, clear)
• Date of birth proof (Class 10 / SSC / Aadhaar)
• Category certificate (only if claiming reserved category)
• Govt.-issued photo ID
• Passport-size photo & signature (scanned)
• Active mobile number & email ID
• UPI / net banking / debit card for the ₹100 fee

1. Open the official portal. Go to app.indiapost.gov.in/gdscandidate — this is the only legitimate application link. If you reach a different domain through search ads or SMS, close it.
2. Complete the fresh OTR registration. Enter your personal details, mobile number and email. This is mandatory even if you registered for the January 2026 cycle — old registration numbers are not valid for Schedule-II. Save your login credentials the moment the account is created.
3. Log in and open the GDS 2026 online form (available from 02-09-2026). Select your postal circle (Uttar Pradesh), then your post category (BPM / ABPM / Dak Sevak) and the language (Hindi) — with the office-wise vacancy PDF open in another tab so you are choosing offices that actually have posts.
4. Enter your details slowly. Class 10 marks (to the exact decimal), date of birth, category, address — each against the source document, not from memory. The merit engine reads your marks field verbatim.
5. Pay the fee (₹100, if applicable) and submit. After a successful submission, the portal issues a confirmation — print it and save a screenshot/PDF. It is your proof of application.
6. Do one full re-read of the submitted form on the confirmation page. If you find an error, note it and use the correction window (23–24 September) — do not re-register or create a second account; duplicate registrations create verification trouble later.

9. Mistakes That Cost Candidates the Job

10. What Happens After You Apply

Once the 21 September window closes, the sequence is fixed: the correction window runs for two days (23–24 September), after which the application data is frozen. The GDS 2026 merit list is then generated from Class 10 marks on the official portal — no separate result date has been announced, and it typically follows a few weeks after the windows close. Watch indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement directly; do not rely on third-party “result alerts” that monetize panic. After the merit list, shortlisted candidates go through document verification and the medical examination, and successful candidates are engaged as per the schedule the Department issues for the respective offices. Keep your printed confirmation, category certificate originals, and marksheet safe until the engagement letter stage — not just until the merit list.

11. Frequently Asked Questions — GDS Recruitment 2026