India Post Syllabus 2026: Route-wise Topics for Postman, Mail Guard, MTS, PA and SA
The India Post syllabus 2026 depends on the post you are aiming for. Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) selection is merit-based on Class 10 marks, so it has no syllabus. Postman, Mail Guard, Multi Tasking Staff (MTS), Postal Assistant (PA) and Sorting Assistant (SA) are filled through departmental exams, and those exams have papers and subject areas.
This page is the hub-level view. It shows which route has a syllabus, the broad areas each written exam covers and how the routes overlap, so you can plan once and reuse your effort.
A note on sources: the Department of Posts names the papers and broad areas in the annexures to each circle notification, but it does not publish one topic-by-topic syllabus for the whole recruitment. The topic lists below are working checklists built from those notifications and the usual question areas. Use them to plan, not as an official list, and match them against the annexure in your own notification.
Table of Contents
Syllabus at a Glance
Post | Selection | Syllabus? |
|---|---|---|
GDS (BPM, ABPM, Dak Sevak) | Merit on Class 10 marks | No syllabus, no exam |
MTS (CE for GDS) | Paper I only | Yes, broad areas in the notification annexure |
Postman and Mail Guard | Papers I to III, then Data Entry Skill Test | Yes, broad areas in the notification annexure |
PA and SA | Paper I, then qualifying Data Entry Skill Test | Yes, broad areas in the notification annexure |
Key Changes to Know
No open-market exam in 2026: the 2026 calendar lists promotion exams (LDCE) and competitive exams limited to GDS. Pages that show a separate "direct recruitment" syllabus may be outdated for this cycle.
Local-language test removed for PA and SA: the Karnataka circle's 2026 LDCE notification states that the local-language test for these posts was removed from 29 May 2024. Postman and Mail Guard notifications for 2026 still include a local-language paper (Paper III).
Data Entry Skill Test: a 15-minute computer-based test appears for Postman, Mail Guard, PA and SA. It is a skill test, not a subject.
Older pages may still show the earlier structure, so follow the official notification.
GDS: No Syllabus
GDS selection has no written exam, no interview and no syllabus. A system-generated merit list is prepared on Class 10 marks and shortlisted candidates go through document verification. The only "preparation" is getting your documents, category certificate and form details right.
Postman, Mail Guard and MTS Syllabus
In the 2026 circle notifications, Postman and Mail Guard candidates sit Papers I and II together, Paper III (local language) and then a Data Entry Skill Test. MTS candidates sit Paper I only. The table gives a working checklist of the areas to cover.
Area | Topics to cover (working checklist) | Start with |
|---|---|---|
Postal knowledge | Structure of the department, types of post offices, mail and parcel services, savings and insurance schemes, delivery duties and basic rules | Department's service descriptions and basic manuals |
General awareness | Indian polity and geography, history, current events, basic science | Class 6 to 10 textbooks, then a monthly current-affairs file |
Basic arithmetic | Percentage, ratio, profit and loss, simple interest, average, time and work, time and distance | Percentage and ratio |
Reasoning | Series, analogies, coding-decoding, simple puzzles | Series and analogies |
Local language (Paper III) | Language of the circle: reading, writing and translation as the notification specifies | Daily reading and short writing practice |
Data Entry Skill Test | Typing data accurately on a computer in English within 15 minutes | Daily typing practice |
The split of marks between these areas differs between sources. Check the annexure in your notification before deciding how much time each area deserves.
Postal Assistant and Sorting Assistant Syllabus
The Karnataka circle's 2026 LDCE notification describes Paper I as an objective paper covering postal rules and manuals, general awareness, basic arithmetic and reasoning. Merit is decided on Paper I, and the Data Entry Skill Test is qualifying only. Because the paper is built from departmental rules, PA and SA candidates should go deeper into postal manuals and procedures than the other routes.
Where to put your effort
Postal rules and manuals: the paper draws on departmental rules, so revise them first and often.
Arithmetic and reasoning: quick to improve with regular timed practice.
General awareness: keep it short and steady, with monthly revision.
Overlap Between Exams
Area | Postman, Mail Guard, MTS | PA and SA | How to plan |
|---|---|---|---|
Postal knowledge | Yes | Yes, deeper rules and manuals | Study once, then add manual detail for PA and SA |
General awareness | Yes | Yes | One shared current-affairs file |
Arithmetic and reasoning | Yes | Yes | Same practice sets work for both |
Local language | Yes (Postman, Mail Guard) | Not in the 2026 LDCE notification seen | Skip for PA and SA unless your notice includes it |
Data entry skill test | Yes | Yes, qualifying | Daily typing practice |
How to Cover the Syllabus
Weeks 1 to 3: read the annexure in your notification, then build postal knowledge and basic arithmetic.
Weeks 4 to 6: add reasoning and general awareness, start a monthly current-affairs file and begin daily typing practice.
Weeks 7 to 9: take topic-wise tests, keep an error log and revise the postal rules.
Final phase: attempt full-length timed papers, review the same day and revise your error log.
The official notifications are on indiapost.gov.in and your circle's website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to practice? Explore India Post mock tests from top educators.
Browse India Post Mock Tests