Here’s a detailed and well-structured analysis of GDS (Gramin Dak Sevak) vacancy cut-offs from previous years along with what you should expect for the 2026 cycle, vacancy list-wise and category-wise. This is meant to guide you if you’re preparing for or applied to the India Post GDS 2026 recruitment based on Class-10 marks.
📌 1. What is GDS Selection & Cut-off Based On?
Unlike many govt exams, GDS selection is purely merit-based — there’s no written test. Candidates are shortlisted based on Class-10 marks (10th standard). Each postal circle (state/region) releases a merit list, and candidates above a certain percentage in 10th are selected until vacancies are filled.
📊 2. Previous Years’ GDS Cut-off Trends (2023–2025)
🔹 State/Circle-Wise Cut-offs
Here’s a reliable snapshot of cut-offs from the most recent cycle (reported for the 2023/2024 cycle). This basically shows the minimum percentage required to get into the merit list for Document Verification (DV):
| State / Circle | UR (%) | OBC (%) | EWS (%) | SC (%) | ST (%) | PwD (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 95 | 95 | 93.4 | 93.4 | 93.4 | 91.8 |
| Bihar | 97.6 | 97 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 86.1 |
| Gujarat | 92.8 | 92.2 | 91.8 | 92.6 | 89.2 | 80.4 |
| Rajasthan | 95 | 95 | 92.5 | 93.66 | 93.1 | 87.4 |
| Tamil Nadu | 98 | 97 | 96.2 | 97 | 96 | 89 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 97.3 | 97.8 | 93.1 | 97.3 | 97.4 | 92 |
| … (other states) | … | … | … | … | … | … |
(This data reflects most recent official state cut-offs.)
🔹 Trend Observations
✔ High competition circles (like TN, UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar) consistently show UR cut-offs well above 95%.
✔ Medium competition circles (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka) generally see UR cut-offs around 92–95%.
✔ Low competition/remote circles (like some North Eastern states) might show cut-offs closer to 88–93%.
📌 Categories matter: SC/ST/PwD cut-offs are typically 10–15 percentage points lower than UR in the same circle.
📌 3. 2025 Cut-offs & More Trends
According to recruitment analysis, 2025 cycles showed a slight softening over multiple merit lists as vacancies and lists expanded:
✔ General (UR) cut-offs ranged around 78–90% as lists progressed.
✔ OBC/EWS were usually a few points lower.
✔ In some rural states with fewer applicants, cut-offs dipped to around 70–75% for later lists.
(This shows a trend where cut-offs soften when additional lists are released or vacancies aren’t filled early.)
📈 4. What Does This Trend Show?
From the last few cycles:
📌 Cut-offs have gradually shifted —
- Extremely high initial cut-offs (~95%+) where competition is intense.
- But later lists often reduce cut-offs as positions remain unfilled.
📌 This makes sense: If many high-mark candidates don’t opt for Document Verification or withdraw from preference, lower marks can get selected in later lists.
🔮 5. Expected GDS Cut-offs for the 2026 Vacancy (Category-Wise)
For the GDS 2026 recruitment (28,636+ posts), here’s a realistic expectation based on previous cycles and competitiveness:
📍 High Competition Circles
(UP, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, MP, Gujarat etc.)
| Category | Expected Cut-off (%) |
|---|---|
| General/UR | ~88 – 95% |
| OBC | ~82 – 90% |
| EWS | ~84 – 92% |
| SC | ~75 – 85% |
| ST | ~70 – 80% |
| PwBD | ~60 – 70% |
(Based on trends from 2024 & 2025 cycles)
📍 Moderate / Lower Competition Circles
(like some North East, J&K, Delhi)
| Category | Lower Expected Cut-off (%) |
|---|---|
| General/UR | ~78 – 85% |
| OBC | ~72 – 80% |
| EWS | ~74 – 82% |
| SC | ~65 – 75% |
| ST | ~60 – 70% |
| PwBD | ~50 – 60% |
(These vary a lot on number of applicants & vacancies in each circle.)
📌 6. Vacancy List & Its Impact on Cut-offs
In 2026, vacancy distribution matters:
🔹 High Vacancy Circles:
More seats → May bring cut-offs down slightly if many lower-scoring candidates applied.
🔹 Low Vacancy Circles:
Fewer seats → cut-offs remain high (90%+) due to intense competition.
📌 For example, states like Delhi, Punjab, Haryana & J&K with small job counts often maintain very high cut-offs.
⭐ Key Takeaways for Aspirants
📌 Target Highest Possible 10th Marks: Cut-offs keep rising in competitive circles.
📌 Category Helps: Your category impacts cut-off significantly; SC/ST/PwBD qualifiers generally see lower cut-offs.
📌 Prefer Less Competitive Circles for Lower Cut-offs: If maximizing selection chances is key, apply wisely per circle.
📌 Final Summary
| Aspect | Trend |
|---|---|
| Past Cut-off Range (UR) | ~92 – 98% in competitive circles |
| Later Lists in 2025 | ~78 – 90% range |
| Expected 2026 (High Competition) | UR ~88 – 95% |
| Expected 2026 (Moderate/Low Competition) | UR ~78 – 85% |
| Category Impact | SC/ST/PwD notably lower cut-offs |
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