GDS MTS & Postman Exam 2026: Union Requests Relaxation in Service Eligibility

A major development has emerged for Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) employees across the country. The Bharatiya Gramin Dak Karmachari Sangh (BGDKS) has officially written to the Department of Posts requesting relaxation in service eligibility for GDS employees to appear in the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) for the posts of MTS and Postman.

The letter dated 12 March 2026 was sent to the Secretary of the Department of Posts highlighting the difficulties faced by thousands of GDS employees who are currently unable to appear in departmental promotion examinations due to strict service eligibility conditions.

Demand to Reduce Service Eligibility for MTS Exam

According to the union, the present rule requires GDS employees to complete three years of regular service to become eligible for the LDCE exam for the post of Multi Tasking Staff (MTS).

The union has requested the Department of Posts to reduce this eligibility requirement from 3 years to 2 years. If implemented, this change will allow more GDS employees to participate in the MTS departmental examination and improve their career advancement opportunities.

Demand to Reduce Eligibility for Postman Exam

Similarly, for the Postman post, the current rules require five years of regular service for GDS employees to appear in the LDCE examination.

The Bharatiya Gramin Dak Karmachari Sangh has requested the government to reduce the eligibility criteria from 5 years to 3 years, stating that GDS employees already contribute significantly to the rural postal network and deserve better promotion opportunities.

Why This Demand is Important for GDS Employees

Gramin Dak Sevaks form the backbone of the rural postal system and work in some of the most remote areas of India. However, many employees face delays in career growth due to lengthy eligibility conditions for departmental exams.

If the proposal is accepted by the Department of Posts, it could:

• Increase promotion opportunities for GDS employees
• Improve morale among rural postal staff
• Provide faster career progression
• Strengthen the rural postal workforce

Union Requests Government Intervention

In its letter, the union has urged the Department of Posts to take favourable action and consider the proposal in the interest of thousands of GDS employees working across the country.

The union also stated that relaxing the eligibility conditions would significantly motivate the GDS workforce and strengthen the morale of employees serving in rural areas.

Will the Rules Change?

As of now, the Department of Posts has not officially announced any changes in the eligibility rules. However, if the request is approved, it may benefit a large number of GDS employees who are waiting for opportunities to appear in the LDCE exam for MTS and Postman posts.

Employees are advised to stay updated with official notifications from India Post regarding any changes in departmental examination rules.