Preparatory Exercise for GDS Online Engagement, Schedule-I, January 2025
New Delhi, 16 January 2025 – The Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts (GDS Section), has initiated the preparatory exercise for the GDS Online Engagement, Schedule-I (January 2025). The engagement aims to fill vacancies arising under the Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) recruitment framework. The official notification of vacancies is scheduled for the last week of January 2025.
Key Timelines
To ensure timely and efficient processing, the following timelines have been set for completing preparatory activities:
- Data Entry and Freezing of Vacancies by Divisions: 17 January 2025 – 22 January 2025
- Rechecking Data Entry and Approval by Circles: 23 January 2025 – 24 January 2025
- Issue of Online Notification: 29 January 2025
Guidelines for Vacancy Calculation
Vacancies to Be Included
Arising Vacancies (1 July 2024 – 31 December 2024):
- Due to deaths, resignations, transfers, discharges (voluntary or otherwise), terminations, promotions, or deputations exceeding six months (e.g., to IPPB or APS).
Unfilled Vacancies from Previous Engagements:
- Vacancies from Schedule-II (July 2024) where candidates did not join within the stipulated period.
- Remaining vacancies from Schedule-II (July 2023) and the Special Drive (May 2023) for Manipur (excluding those categorized as "in pipeline").
Pipeline Vacancies:
- Pending Verification Reports: Cases where initial verification was completed, but joining is delayed due to pending verification from specific boards like:
- Uttar Pradesh Board of High School and Intermediate Education
- West Bengal Board of Secondary Education
- Bihar School Examination Board
- Pre-Joining Formalities Underway: Candidates completing pre-joining requirements (e.g., List-6 of Schedule-II, July 2024).
- Fourth List Vacancies: Pending results from Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra Circles.
Vacancies to Be Excluded
- Surplus Posts: Positions declared or proposed as surplus.
- Recent Death Cases: Vacancies caused by the death of a GDS where six months from the date of death have not elapsed by 31 December 2024.
Compliance and Certification
All Circles are required to strictly adhere to the prescribed timelines for completing preparatory exercises. A certificate signed by the DPS (HQ), confirming the completion of these tasks along with Division-wise vacancy details, must be uploaded to the designated portal by 24 January 2025. The finalized notification will be generated based on this data.
Contact Information
This directive underscores the Department’s commitment to transparency and efficiency in the GDS recruitment process.
