Postal department releases first GDS merit list; general cut-off hits 100 per cent in many states
The first merit list for the July 2026 Gramin Dak Sevak recruitment is out, with the general category cut-off at 100 per cent in most divisions of several Hindi-speaking states.
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The Department of Posts has released the first merit list for the Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) recruitment of July 2026. The list can be seen on the official website, indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement. Candidates were stirred as soon as it appeared, as the cut-off has once again surprised everyone.
In several Hindi-speaking states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi, the general category cut-off has gone to 100 per cent in most divisions. This means that in these places only candidates who scored 100 per cent in Class 10 have been selected.
The reason is said to be linked to the Covid period. Board examinations could not be held at the time because of the pandemic. In some states such as Punjab and Haryana, students were passed without any examination and everyone was given 100 per cent marks. Gramin Dak Sevak recruitment is based on Class 10 merit, so candidates from these states appear to dominate this recruitment.
There is resentment over this as well. In UP, MP and Bihar, it is being said that because of the Covid-era "general promotion", young people from states such as Haryana, Punjab and Telangana are taking away jobs that belong to the youth of these states. During the Corona period, the Haryana and Punjab governments gave their students 100 per cent marks, and the effect of that is visible in this recruitment.
According to postal officials, candidates from other states face a major problem with the local language. Customers cannot understand their language and they cannot understand the customers'. As a result, they are unable to work there for long and later leave on transfer. The consequence is that posts here fall vacant again. The same has happened in earlier recruitments.
Another factor is that a transfer to the home state is granted after two years. This is why the inclination towards transfers in GDS is growing. Young people from Haryana and Telangana are ready to take up jobs in other states because they have to spend only two years there.
After the first list, lakhs of candidates are now waiting for the second merit list. For candidates who missed a place in the first list by a very small margin, it will be a fresh chance.
