Online Engagement Schedule for Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) – First Phase, January 2025
Department of Post released Job Notification from qualified individuals to occupy the available positions of Postal employees known as Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDSs), which includes Branch Postmasters (BPMs) and Assistant Branch Postmasters (ABPMs), play a crucial role in delivering postal services to rural areas.
Postal workers (ABPM/Dak Sevaks) across various post offices within the Department of Posts.
Information regarding the available positions is provided in Annexure-I. Applicants are required to submit their applications.
You can access this information online through the following URL: https://indiapostgdsonline.gov.in.
2. Enrollment/Online Application/Modification Period:
Aspirants are required to register beforehand in order to submit online .
For the application process, applicants must provide a functioning mobile phone number and an active email address.
For registration, each candidate is only permitted to submit a single online application.
Creating duplicate or multiple registrations or applications is strictly prohibited.
Submitting duplicate or multiple applications will likely result in the cancellation of all applications.
The candidate’s submitted applications do not necessitate the inclusion of any attachments.
Applicants should include the application form with their submission. Nevertheless, they will need to submit an upload of their most current
Image and signature within the platform.
Comprehensive guidelines for registration and completing the online application form are provided.
The necessary forms are detailed in Annexure-II. Applicants are urged to complete their forms with utmost care.
Carefully examine registration and application forms before submitting them for final approval.
If there’s an error; candidates are not required to re-register, since there will be an…
a chance to revise/amend the registration/application form following the designated deadline
A three-day window for edits and corrections will be offered. The schedule of
The registration and amendment/correction process is structured as follows:
Activity Timeline
1. Online Apply and submission
Revision/Correction Period: March 6, 2025 to March 8, 2025
3. EMPLOYMENT TERMS AND A CONCISE JOB DESCRIPTION AND
TENANT/LODGING:
Applicants should be fully aware that GDSs are not ordinary entities.
Personnel working for the Department/Central Government and their respective salaries and benefits.
Benefits and privileges offered to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) fall short of those provided to Central Government employees. Their employment terms are dictated by the Department of Posts, Gramin Dak Sevaks (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020, which are subject to revisions, and are not established under Article 309 of the Indian Constitution. These individuals hold civil positions outside the purview of state civil services. Their primary duty is to serve, predominantly in rural locations, delivering essential services for the Department. According to Rule 3A of the GDS Rules, these individuals must work a minimum of four hours and a maximum of five hours daily. Furthermore, they are not permitted to continue serving as Sevak past the age of 65.
The Branch Postmaster (BPM) role encompasses: a) Managing the daily postal operations of both the Branch Post Office (B.O) and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), adhering to guidelines set by the Department. b) Promoting and marketing the Department’s products and services, and administering various services at the Department’s customer service centers (CSCs). c) Within single-staffed Branch Offices, BPMs are accountable for ensuring the seamless and prompt operation of the office, encompassing mail handling and delivery. d) In Branch Offices with multiple staff, BPMs may receive support from ABPM(s). Nevertheless, BPMs must be prepared to assume the combined responsibilities of ABPM(s) when directed or in situations where ABPM(s) are unavailable. Other duties may be delegated by higher-ranking officials, such as Mail Overseers, Inspectors Post, Assistant Superintendents of Post, Superintendents of Post Offices, or Senior Superintendents of Post Offices.
ii. ASSISTANT BRANCH POSTMASTER (ABPM) An Assistant Branch Postmaster’s responsibilities encompass: a) Handling the sale of stamps and stationery, ensuring mail conveyance and doorstep delivery, and facilitating mail exchange with the account office, among other IPPB deposit, payment, and transaction services. b) Providing support to the BPM in all postal operations as outlined by departmental guidelines periodically updated. c) This includes marketing and promoting the Department’s products and services, and managing operations within the Department’s Customer Service Centres (CSC). d) ABPM may be tasked with performing the duties of a BPM when necessary, such as when a BPM is unavailable, in addition to their regular responsibilities. e) ABPM may also be assigned other duties by superiors, including MO/IPO/ASPO/SPOS/SSPOS, as needed. f) Living Location: ABPMs must live within the service areas overseen by the relevant Post Office (BO). iii. DAK SEVAK Dak Sevaks will be employed in various departmental offices, such as Sub Post Offices, Head Post Offices, and Railway Mail Services. Their responsibilities encompass: a) Selling stamps and stationery, transporting and delivering mail directly to customers, handling IPPB deposits and payments, and completing other tasks delegated by the Postmaster or Sub Postmaster. b) Dak Sevaks might be assigned to the sorting facilities of the Railway Mail Service (RMS). c) At Mail offices, Dak Sevaks will be responsible for the receiving and dispatching of mailbags, as well as the transfer of bags between different locations. d) Dak Sevaks will also provide support to Post Masters/Sub Postmasters in ensuring the efficient operation of Departmental Post Offices, and will engage in marketing, business development, or any other tasks delegated by the Post Master or IPO/ASPO/SPOS/SSPOS/SRM/SSRM. e) Living Arrangements: Dak Sevaks must live within the delivery area overseen by the relevant Post Office (HO/SO).
Compensation for GDSs consists of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA), which increases annually by 3% contingent upon meeting the requirements outlined in the GDS Rules. Additionally, they receive Dearness Allowance, calculated as a percentage of their TRCA, as determined by the Government of India periodically. In addition to their salaries, GDS employees are eligible for various allowances and social security benefits, such as the GDS Gratuity and Service Discharge Benefit Scheme, which functions similarly to the National Pension System for regular employees. Comprehensive information regarding these benefits can be found in the GDS Rules and on the Department’s official website. The initial appointment of GDS personnel is categorized into the following TRCA salary slabs: Sl No Category TRCA Slab 1. BPM Rs.12,000/- to Rs.29,380/- 2. ABPM/Dak Sevak Rs.10,000/- to Rs.24,470/- 5. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (APPLICABLE TO ALL POSITIONS): – 5.1. AGE RESTRICTIONS: i. Minimum Age: 18 years Maximum Age: 40 years (with potential exceptions as outlined in subsection (a) below) ii. Age will be calculated based on the application deadline: – a. UPPER AGE LIMIT EXCEPTIONS: – Category Permissible Age Relaxation 1. Schedule Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) 5 years 2. Other Backward Classes (OBC) 3 years 3. Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) Not Applicable 4. Individuals with Disabilities (PwD) – 10-year tenure 2. Individuals with Disabilities (PwD) and OBC – 13-year tenure 3. Individuals with Disabilities (PwD) and SC/ST – 15-year tenure
To be considered for a GDS position, candidates must meet the following educational requirements as of the notification date: (a) They need a certificate of completion for the Secondary School Examination (10th grade), demonstrating passing grades in both Mathematics and English, awarded by a recognized board of education affiliated with the Government of India, State Governments, or Union Territories within India. (b) Additionally, applicants must have studied the local language at the 10th grade level from a recognized educational institution. Information regarding the Department’s specified local languages for each postal position is provided in Annexure-III. (c) A unique provision exists for GDS recruitment in Arunachal Pradesh. The Arunachal Pradesh Government, through Notification No. SJETA-1601/10/2023 dated 09.02.2024, has designated 23 tribal languages/dialects prevalent in the state as ‘Third Language’. Consequently, the Department has implemented a unique arrangement for recruiting GDS personnel in Arunachal Pradesh, effective for a period of five years starting from March 1, 2024. Applicants seeking GDS positions in offices located within Arunachal Pradesh must possess proficiency in both English or Hindi, studied at least up to the 10th grade, and any officially recognized tribal local language or dialect designated as a third language by the government. Since tribal languages and dialects in Arunachal Pradesh are not included in school curriculums up to the 10th grade, the Department will determine proficiency levels through certificates issued by designated officials, such as Deputy Commissioners or government-authorized representatives. These certificates must be presented by shortlisted candidates during the document verification process. Non-submission of this document will result in the withdrawal of your candidacy.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: – i. Proficiency in computer usage ii. Familiarity with cycling iii. Sufficient financial resources
Applicants requesting reservation benefits designated for SC/ST/OBC/PWBD/EWS categories must verify their eligibility for these benefits as outlined in this notification. Additionally, they must provide a valid certificate, adhering to the specified format, to substantiate their claim. To be eligible for reserved positions or age relaxation, applicants must submit the necessary certificate from the appropriate authority, adhering to the specific format outlined in Annexure-V, during the document verification process. Failure to provide the original certificate will result in the withdrawal of their application. If a shortlisted candidate doesn’t have a caste certificate in the required format, they will be provisionally selected, contingent upon the verification of other documents. They will then need to provide the certificate within 15 days of receiving the provisional engagement offer. If a candidate fails to submit the required certificate within the designated timeframe, their application will be rejected, and the position will be extended to the next eligible candidate from the subsequent lists released by the Department. Details regarding the conditions for provisional engagement offers and the process for publishing shortlisted candidate lists are provided in paragraph (8) below. (c) It is important to note that there will be no exceptions to the upper age limit for EWS applicants. Individuals from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) who are not already included in the reservation system for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) will be granted a 10% reservation for Group D (GDS) positions. (d) Candidates applying for GDS positions under the EWS reservation must possess a current Income Certificate that complies with the Central Government’s guidelines as outlined in the Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum No. 36039/1/2019-Estt (Res) dated 31.01.2019. Individuals applying for reservation under the OBC/EWS category should consult the DoPT/DoP orders outlined in paragraph 6 of the July 12, 2024 notification, the DoPT OM dated July 25, 2003 regarding the crucial date for OBC certificates, and the Staff Selection Commission’s clarification on August 9, 2024 (enclosed) concerning EWS certificates, to determine eligibility in specific cases. To ensure clarity, please note that for OBC candidates, the “creamy layer” exclusion must apply as of the application deadline, regardless of the certificate’s issuance date. [See Order No. 17-08/2017-GDS dated 09.10.2024] (f) Regarding EWS candidates, a financial year certificate will be accepted if it remains valid on the last day of online application submission, regardless of its original issuance date. Although the certificate may be issued after the application deadline, candidates must have a valid certificate on hand during the document verification process in both situations. (See order No. 17-08/2017-GDS dated 09.10.2024) The appointment of GDS personnel will adhere to the Department of Posts’ guidelines on reservations for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PWD categories. Candidates are advised to consult the following guidelines, accessible on the Department’s official website: –
8. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
Candidates will be selected for employment through a system-driven shortlisting process.
ranking list
(ii) A merit list will be compiled using the marks earned or converted from…
Marks awarded in Secondary education, as detailed in sub-sections iii to xiii, are calculated from grades and points.
The cumulative percentage of scores achieved by students in the 10th-grade examinations conducted by recognized educational boards.
with an accuracy of four decimal places.
Page eight out of thirty-one.
(iii) Regarding applicants who possess a mark sheet from their Secondary School Examination at the 10th grade level
includes the designated “marks” for each subject, as well as “marks” and “Grade/Points” designations.
Both individuals’ scores will be determined by considering their respective achieved marks. In
In the event an applicant submits grades or points instead of marks, their application…
You will be held responsible for cancellation. Nevertheless, if specific subjects only have grades assigned,
If grades are noted on the mark sheet, then those grades can be indicated for the corresponding subject(s).
Candidates are not required to transform the same into marks.
If the mark lists include Grades or Points, marks will be calculated by multiplying the Grades or Points by a conversion factor of 9.5, using the maximum Grade or Point value as a reference point of 100. If a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is also presented, marks will be determined by multiplying the CGPA by 9.5. In situations where both individual subject grades and a CGPA are provided, the higher calculated mark will be selected. For clarity, candidates should note that they do not need to convert their grades or points into marks. Instead, they should simply input their grades or points (where applicable) during the online application process. The system will automatically convert these grades or points into marks before the results are released, to determine the merit list. Some boards, such as the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE), issue both percentage scores and grade points on secondary school certificates. For these boards, merit lists will be created using the percentage listed on the marksheet. Consequently, applicants must enter the percentage of marks earned in each subject when completing the application form. If an applicant submits Grade Points instead of Percentages, their application may be rejected. (viii) Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the State Board of School Examinations (SBSE), Tamilnadu, did not assign grades or grade points to students on their Secondary level certificates for the 2020-2021 academic year, only issuing pass certificates to all candidates. Consequently, the system will automatically assign a standardized 66.67% in these situations. During the online application process, candidates must indicate “Pass” for each subject. (ix) In the event of a tie among applicants when creating the merit list, the following priority order will be used to determine the final ranking: –
DOB (Advanced age), Self-identified transgender woman, Self-identified female, Self-identified transgender woman,
Woman identifying as female from SC, trans-woman from OBC, woman from OBC, trans-woman from EWS, woman from EWS.
Trans woman (UR), woman (UR), trans man (ST), man (ST), trans man (SC), SC
Male individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds, including OBC trans-male, OBC male, EWS trans-male, EWS male, UR trans-male, and UR male.
The Department would possess the freedom and exclusive authority to implement
In the event of a tie, supplementary criteria will be used to assess merit. The decision
The Department’s determination shall be conclusive.
Incomplete applications will be denied. If an applicant
Submits incorrect documents/information and extraneous files, their
Applications will not be considered.
(xi) Candidates who make the shortlist will be required to provide a declaration, using the attached format.
concerning liability should any false or inaccurate information be provided, as outlined in Annexure-IX.
data provided in the form.
Applicants are required to provide their name, Date of Birth, their father’s name, and their mother’s name.
Use the name exactly as it appears on your Matriculation Certificate.
Submissions containing photographs or signatures that are unclear or illegible will not be accepted.
The shortlisted candidates for employment will be notified via the GDS Online Portal. Following the announcement of results, these candidates will receive SMS messages on their provided mobile numbers and emails to their registered addresses, informing them of the selection outcome and scheduling details for physical document verification. If an SMS or email sent to the registered mobile or email address is not received due to technical issues or other unforeseen circumstances, the Department will not be held accountable and will not respond to any related communications. Consequently, applicants are urged to frequently check the website or Portal for the most recent updates. Following the shortlisting process, candidates must visit the office of the relevant Divisional/Unit Head, specified in the job notification, for document verification and completion of necessary procedures within 15 days of being shortlisted. Candidates who do not attend within this timeframe will be automatically recorded as ‘Non-turned up’ on the system/portal. Therefore, the system will halt further document checks for these applicants, leading to the automatic cancellation of their candidacy. During the document verification process, candidates will be obligated to present the following original documents (where applicable) along with two sets of self-attested photocopies for submission:
Student records · Identification documentation · Caste verification · Disability certificate · Economically Weaker Sections certificate · Transgender documentation · Proof of date of birth · Medical report from a medical officer of any government hospital, dispensary, or primary health center (required) · A certificate from the relevant authority confirming knowledge of tribal/local languages, required for employment in Arunachal Pradesh. The final decision regarding shortlisted candidates will involve a physical review of their original documents, carried out by the Divisional Head or Unit Head of the respective Division or Unit where the position is available. This document verification process will apply to all candidates chosen for the roles of BPM, ABPM, or Dak Sevak. Upon successful verification, where no discrepancies are identified and the documents align with the originals, a system-generated ‘Offer of provisional engagement’ will be promptly provided. After successful confirmation by the Divisional Head, the selected candidate must complete all necessary pre-employment procedures within 30 days of receiving the provisional engagement offer. These procedures encompass mandatory 3-day basic training and arrangements for accommodation, among other requirements. Not fulfilling these requirements or declining the offer for any reason will result in the immediate cancellation of your candidacy. This cancellation will take effect after the 30-day stipulated period, and the position will be extended to the next eligible candidate. For ABPM/Dak Sevak applicants, pre-engagement formalities must be completed within 30 days of receiving the ‘offer of provisional engagement’ at their designated Engaging Authority. If a shortlisted candidate doesn’t provide a caste certificate in the required format during document verification, they must submit it within 15 days of receiving a provisional engagement offer. Otherwise, their application will be withdrawn. Upon successful completion of initial procedures, and subject to document verification from relevant authorities and background checks conducted by the appropriate Police Authorities, a provisional engagement order will be issued by the hiring entity, permitting the candidate to commence their duties.
Upon receiving confirmation reports from all relevant issuing authorities and antecedent checks, a final engagement order will be issued to formalize the employment of GDS personnel. In summary, the candidacy of individuals selected for any list will be revoked if they: (a) do not appear for document verification with the required authority (such as the Divisional Head or Unit Head) within the specified timeframe. In these cases, the Department will release supplementary lists to replace the disqualified candidates. (b) whose document verification processes are not completed, (c) who do not finish the required onboarding procedures by the deadline, (d) who do not submit a caste certificate in the specified format even after the extended timeframe, (e) who decline to join or resign after joining, or fail to join for any reason within 30 days of receiving a provisional engagement offer. Candidates selected on supplementary lists will need to complete the same document verification and pre-engagement procedures outlined in the previous sections. The engagement process will conclude, and no additional shortlisted candidate lists will be released after June 30, 2025. Nevertheless, the Department reserves the right to alter or extend the timelines for these activities at its discretion, without providing justification, and its decisions in this regard shall be final. 10. IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS: (a) Both the Department and the entities responsible for each position have the discretion to alter, withdraw, or adjust the number of available positions at any point, without providing justification, or to halt the engagement process entirely. (b) The Department is not accountable for any missed emails or SMS messages sent to applicants for any reason, and candidates are consequently urged to frequently check the online engagement portal for the newest information. The Department refrains from contacting applicants or shortlisted candidates via phone. All communication will be conducted exclusively through the designated Engaging Authority. Applicants are urged to keep their personal information, including registration number, mobile number, and email address, confidential and to be wary of unsolicited phone calls. Applicants can monitor the status of their submitted applications on the website using their registration number and mobile number. For any questions, division-specific help desks and phone numbers are accessible on the website. Only inquiries submitted through these designated channels will be acknowledged. Additionally, the Department will only accept applications through the specified online platform, and any other forms of communication regarding applications will be disregarded. Following the application submission deadline, a three-day period will be available for applicants to make modifications or edits to their online applications. This correction period is designed to allow candidates to rectify their names and other information, such as marks or chosen options, with the exception of mobile number and email address. Within this three-day window, any changes to category that necessitate a fee payment will only be accepted if the candidate submits the required fee according to the established process. Any changes made to an existing online application will render it invalid, and eligibility will be determined solely from the information provided in the revised application. Please Note: – Note 1: Candidates previously dismissed, removed, or compulsorily retired from government service or the Gramin Dak Sevak role due to disciplinary action under applicable conduct rules are ineligible to apply for the advertised vacancies. Applicants must provide a declaration confirming this information when submitting their online applications, as outlined in Annexure-IV. Any shortlisted GDS candidate discovered to have withheld information will have their services terminated, in line with existing regulations, and may face legal prosecution under applicable laws. GDS employees, while holding civil posts, are exempt from the regular Union of India Civil Services and operate under the GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020, as stipulated in OM. No. 17-30/2019-GDS dated 14.02.2020. These rules are subject to revisions and can be accessed on the website www.indiapost.gov.in (see Paragraph 3 for details). Additionally, information regarding OM. No.17-31/2016-GDS dated 25.06.2018, which outlines the payment of TRCA and various allowances for all approved GDS categories, is accessible on www.indiapost.gov.in. Upon selection, candidates must provide an assurance to the Engaging Authority, confirming their proficiency in computer skills, cycling, and possession of sufficient financial resources. This assurance should adhere to the specified formats outlined in Annexure VI, VII, and VIII (as referenced in Paragraph 5.2(2)). The Department will confirm the validity of Class X Secondary Level Marksheets, if accessible on Digi locker, by utilizing the API SETU PORTAL managed by the Department of eGovernance within the Ministry of Information and Technology. Consequently, applicants must provide consent, as outlined in Annexure X, permitting the Department to retrieve their marksheet from this Portal for verification during both the application and final selection stages.
To apply, candidates must first register on the GDS online Engagement Portal at https://indiapostgdsonline.gov.in, where they will receive a Registration Number. A valid, active email address and mobile phone number are required for portal registration. All crucial details, such as the shortlisting outcome, provisional employment offers, will be exclusively communicated via the registered mobile number and email address. The Department will refrain from contacting applicants through any other channels. Note that communication via mobile and email is supplementary. Candidates are urged to frequently check the portal for the latest updates. (c) After registering with a specific mobile number and email address, that combination cannot be used for any additional applications. (d) If duplicate registrations are discovered, even if basic information is altered, the candidacy of all involved registrations will be disqualified from the selection process. (e) Applicants who have forgotten their registration number can recover it using the ‘forgot registration’ option. To begin the One-Time Registration process, ensure you have the following items prepared: your mobile number (for OTP verification), your email address (also for OTP verification), your Aadhaar number (if applicable), details regarding the Board and year of completion for your Matriculation (10th) examination, a scanned photo in .jpg or .jpeg format under 50kb, and a scanned signature in .jpg or .jpeg format under 20kb. Applicants for all positions advertised within the chosen division must submit a fee of Rs.100 (Rupees one hundred only). However, this fee is waived for female applicants, as well as applicants from the SC/ST, PwD, and Transwomen categories. Applicants not falling under these exempted categories can utilize the provided online payment link to complete their fee payment via any available online method. Accepted Credit/Debit cards and Net Banking, along with UPI, are acceptable payment methods. Fees associated with Debit/Credit card and Net Banking transactions, as outlined in current regulations, will be applied. Applicants are urged to securely store their Registration number for fee payment. Please remember that paid fees are non-refundable. Therefore, candidates should confirm their eligibility for the specific Division before making any fee payments. Applicants not required to pay a fee can submit their applications online directly. 3. ONLINE APPLICATION: 3.1. CHOOSING A DIVISION AND STATING PREFERENCES: An applicant is limited to applying for one or more vacant GDS positions within a single chosen Division. To proceed with Division selection, applicants must first verify their information using their registration number and a one-time password (OTP) sent to their registered mobile phone. After choosing a Division, a list of suitable positions will appear, filtered by community, age, PwD status, and languages studied. Applicants must rank their preferred positions from this list. Applicants who do not express a preference for a particular position will not be considered for it. However, if shortlisted, only the highest-ranked position will be offered, and the applicant will forfeit their eligibility for all other positions. In cases where an applicant chooses five positions within a Division, ranking them in order of preference (post1, post2, post3, post4, post5, etc.), and is deemed highly qualified for more than one position, the highest-ranked position for which they are deemed most suitable will be awarded. Consequently, their candidacy for the remaining positions will be withdrawn. Applicants must only submit the specified documents in the required formats and sizes when applying online. ## Other Paraphrased Options: * During the online application process, applicants are expected to upload only the designated documents, adhering to the stipulated formats and sizes. * When submitting an online application, applicants should upload only the required documents, ensuring Therefore, applicants are encouraged to have scanned documents in digital format before submitting their online applications: Document Name File Format Allowed File Size 1 Recent Photograph .jpg/.jpeg Maximum 50kb 2 Signature .jpg/.jpeg Maximum 20kb 3.3 APPLICATION FORM CORRECTION WINDOW (a) A three-day period will be available after the application submission deadline to make changes or edits to the submitted form. Within this three-day period, candidates can revise their submitted applications, including any associated fee payments, but any changes to the application category necessitating an additional fee must be accompanied by the required payment according to established procedures. Once modifications are made, the original online application will be rendered invalid, and merit will be determined solely on the basis of the updated application. Prior to submitting their revised application, applicants are required to meticulously verify the accuracy of all information entered in each form field. Once the ‘Edit/Correction’ period concludes, no alterations, corrections, or modifications to the application will be permitted under any circumstances. The Department will not accept any requests for changes, regardless of the method of submission, such as mail, fax, email, or in person. For their own benefit, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their online applications well in advance of the deadline, rather than waiting until the last day. This will help prevent potential issues such as website disconnections, login failures, or difficulties accessing the site due to high traffic volume in the closing days. The Department cannot be held accountable if applicants miss the application deadline due to the previously mentioned reasons or any other unforeseen circumstances outside the Department’s control. Before submitting their online applications, applicants are required to review their entries using the Preview/Print option and verify the accuracy of all information provided in each field of the form.