India Post GDS 2nd merit list 2026: will it come, and when?

As of 14 October 2026, India Post has not announced a second merit list for the GDS Schedule-II July 2026 recruitment. The first list went up on 12 October for 23,757 vacancies, and the next step belongs to the candidates on it: document verification, due by 27 October. A second list comes only if posts are still vacant after that.

If your name isn’t in the first list, this page tells you what to check, what the 2023 cycle suggests about timing, and what to do in the meantime.

GDS 2026 recruitment at a glance

Detail	Status
Cycle	Gramin Dak Sevak Online Engagement, Schedule-II, July 2026
Posts	GDS, Branch Postmaster (BPM), Assistant Branch Postmaster (ABPM) / Dak Sevak
Vacancies	23,757 across 21 circles
Selection basis	Class 10 marks, no written exam
1st merit list	Released 12 October 2026
Document verification deadline	27 October 2026
2nd merit list	Not announced
Official portal	indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement

Will there be a second merit list?

Possibly, but India Post hasn’t said so. A further list is drawn up when posts remain unfilled after the first round, for example when a shortlisted candidate doesn’t turn up for verification or fails it. Until the department publishes a notice on its portal, treat any date you see on social media or YouTube as a guess.

When could it be released?

There is no official date, so the only guide is how earlier cycles ran. In the 2023 Schedule-II cycle, the first list came on 6 September and the second on 29 September, 23 days later. The third followed on 20 October and the fourth on 16 November.

Counting 23 days from 12 October lands on 4 November. That is a rough comparison, not a forecast. The 2026 cycle has its own vacancy numbers and its own verification timeline, and the 27 October deadline has to pass before India Post knows how many posts are left.

If your name is in the first list

1. Note the Divisional Office written against your name in the circle PDF. Verification happens there.
2. Complete verification on or before 27 October 2026. India Post also informs shortlisted candidates by SMS and email on the registered mobile number and email address, so check both.
3. Carry original documents. Past rounds have asked for the Class 10 marksheet, an ID proof, a proof of date of birth, a medical certificate, and category certificates (caste, EWS or PwD) where they apply. In 2023, candidates also brought two sets of self-attested photocopies. Follow the instructions in your own notice, since requirements can change between rounds.
4. Remember that being shortlisted is not the same as being engaged. Verification has two stages, first by the verifying authority you chose in the application and then by the engaging authority.

If your name is not in the first list

Open the circle PDF for the circle you applied to and search for your registration number rather than your name, since many candidates share names. Then look at the cut-off for your division. It varies by circle, division and category because it depends on how many posts each division has, so a score that missed in one division could have cleared in another.

Merit is calculated from your Class 10 percentage, taken to four decimal places. That means nothing you do now changes your rank in this cycle. What you can do is keep your documents scanned and ready, keep your registered phone number and email active, and check the portal’s shortlisted-candidates section for Schedule-II, July 2026.

How to check the merit list PDF

1. Go to indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement.
2. Open the shortlisted candidates link for Schedule-II, July 2026.
3. Select your circle.
4. Open the PDF and press Ctrl+F.
5. Enter your registration number and save a copy.

Using the waiting time

GDS selection looks only at Class 10 marks, so the wait is a good moment to think about what comes next, whichever way the list goes. Many GDS applicants are 10th pass with plans to study further while working. A Class 12 certificate through an open school such as NIOS opens up undergraduate admission, and from there online BBA and BCA programmes from UGC-approved universities can be done alongside a job.

EduCollege counsellors can walk you through eligibility, fees and universities for online BBA, BCA and later MBA or MCA. They work with partner universities including LPU, Amity, Bennett and IGNOU, and the advice is free.

FAQs

Has the India Post GDS 2nd merit list 2026 been released?
No. India Post has not announced it. The first list was released on 12 October 2026.

When will the GDS 2nd merit list 2026 come out?
There is no official date. In 2023 the second list came 23 days after the first, but 2026 may follow a different pace.

What is the last date for document verification?
27 October 2026, at the Divisional Office mentioned against your name in the merit list.

Is there a written exam for GDS?
No. Selection is based on Class 10 marks.

Where do I download the merit list?
On indiapost.gov.in/gdsonlineengagement, in the shortlisted candidates section for Schedule-II, July 2026.

Does being on the merit list guarantee the job?
No. You still need to pass document verification and meet the eligibility conditions.