Big Relief for MTS and GDS: Department Relaxes Eligibility for Postman/Mail Guard Exam 2026
Major Relief for MTS and GDS Employees as Department Revises Eligibility for Postman/Mail Guard Examination
In a significant decision aimed at maximizing recruitment opportunities and filling vacant posts, the Department of Posts has announced special measures for the recruitment of Postman and Mail Guard vacancies for the 2026 vacancy year.
Download Postman and Mail Guard Recruitment 2026 in PDF
According to orders issued by the Department of Posts on 11 June 2026, unfilled vacancies of Postman, Mail Guard and MTS from the 2025 vacancy year, except those under judicial consideration, will be carried forward and added to the vacancies of the 2026 recruitment cycle. The move is expected to increase the number of available vacancies and improve promotion and recruitment prospects for eligible candidates across the country.
In another important decision, the Competent Authority has exercised the "Power to Relax" provisions under the Postman and Mail Guard Recruitment Rules, 2018, and approved a one-year relaxation in service eligibility conditions for candidates appearing in the departmental examinations for the 2026 vacancy year.
Under the revised eligibility criteria, Multi Tasking Staff (MTS) employees in Level-1 with two years of regular service as on 1 January 2026 will be eligible to appear in the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) for promotion to the posts of Postman and Mail Guard.
Further, MTS employees having a total of four years of regular service, including service rendered as Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), as on 1 January 2026, will also be eligible to participate in the examination.
The Department has also extended the benefit of relaxation to Gramin Dak Sevaks. GDS employees with four years of regular service as on 1 January 2026 will be eligible to appear in the Competitive Examination meant for recruitment to the posts of Postman and Mail Guard.
The decision is expected to benefit a large number of MTS and GDS employees who were previously short of the prescribed service eligibility. By carrying forward unfilled vacancies and relaxing service conditions, the Department aims to ensure optimum utilization of vacancies while providing enhanced career advancement opportunities to eligible employees.
The latest order is likely to generate positive response among postal employees across the country and contribute towards timely filling of vacant positions in the Postman and Mail Guard cadres, thereby strengthening operational efficiency within the Department of Posts.