GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July 2026: Standard Operating Procedure for Document Verification and Engagement
Department of Posts Issues SOP for GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July 2026
The Department of Posts has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for pre-engagement, joining and post-engagement activities under the GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July 2026. The instructions are aimed at ensuring uniform and transparent verification and engagement of candidates by Divisional/Unit Heads.
Download GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July 2026 in PDF
Document Verification
Shortlisted candidates are required to report to the concerned Divisional/Unit Head within 15 days from the date of shortlisting for physical verification of their documents. Candidates must produce original documents along with two sets of self-attested photocopies. These include the Class X marksheet/certificate, identity and address proof, caste/category or PwBD certificates, EWS/Transgender certificate where applicable, date-of-birth proof and a compulsory medical certificate.
The Verifying Authority will carefully verify the candidate's name, date of birth, parents' names, community/EWS status, PwBD details and other relevant particulars against the original documents. The Class X marksheet will also be checked for the board name, year of passing, subjects and marks. A mismatch affecting merit or eligibility may result in rejection of the candidature.
Provision for Minor Errors
The SOP provides a mechanism for dealing with certain minor errors that do not affect the candidate's merit or eligibility. In appropriate cases, candidates may submit an undertaking and the candidature may be accepted. Examples include minor spelling differences in names or inadvertent errors in date of birth, grades or marks where the error does not adversely affect merit.
All verified documents and applicable undertakings must be scanned and uploaded to the portal. The system provides options such as Accepted, Provisionally Accepted, Accepted with Undertaking and Rejected, depending on the verification outcome.
Joining and Training
After acceptance, selected candidates will undergo three days of basic training covering areas such as IT devices, mail delivery and SB/SC work. After completion of the training, the provisional engagement order can be generated and issued. The joining status must then be updated in the GDS Online portal.
Post-Engagement Verification
After provisional engagement, educational certificates/marksheets will be verified by the concerned Circle through API Setu or the concerned educational board. Other certificates, such as caste/category certificates, will be verified by the Engaging Authority through the respective issuing authorities. Antecedent verification will also be conducted through the concerned police authorities.
The provisional engagement will be regularised through an Order of Regular Engagement (RE-ORDER) after successful verification of relevant documents and receipt of a satisfactory antecedent verification report.
Important Instructions for Circles and Divisions
CEPT will develop an MIS for monitoring the GDS engagement process at Directorate, Circle and Division levels and configure the required provisions in the GDS Online Engagement portal. All Circles have been directed to communicate the SOP to Divisional and Sub-Divisional Heads and ensure strict implementation.
The SOP is applicable to the GDS Online Engagement Schedule-II, July 2026, and provides detailed procedures for document verification, training, provisional engagement, joining, certificate verification and final regularisation of GDS candidates.