India Post — with 23 postal circles, 1,55,000+ post offices, and ongoing recruitment across GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS, Skilled Artisan, and Postal Assistant categories — conducts one of the most geographically distributed government recruitment drives in India. Unlike centralised exams like SSC or IBPS, India Post recruitment is circle-wise — meaning each state or region manages its own notifications, vacancies, exam schedules, and application portals independently.
This comprehensive state-by-state postal circle recruitment guide for 2026 tells you exactly which circle to apply in, which official website to monitor, what vacancies to expect, and how to apply — so you never miss a notification in your own state.
Understanding India Post’s 23 Circle Structure
India Post divides the country into 23 postal circles — most corresponding to individual states, with a few covering multiple smaller states or union territories:
| # | Postal Circle | States / UTs Covered | Circle HQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh | Hyderabad |
| 2 | Assam | Assam | Guwahati |
| 3 | Bihar | Bihar | Patna |
| 4 | Chhattisgarh | Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| 5 | Delhi | Delhi (NCT) | New Delhi |
| 6 | Gujarat | Gujarat, Dadra & NH, Diu | Ahmedabad |
| 7 | Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Pradesh | Shimla |
| 8 | Jammu & Kashmir | J&K, Ladakh | Jammu |
| 9 | Jharkhand | Jharkhand | Ranchi |
| 10 | Karnataka | Karnataka | Bengaluru |
| 11 | Kerala | Kerala, Lakshadweep | Thiruvananthapuram |
| 12 | Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal |
| 13 | Maharashtra | Maharashtra, Goa | Mumbai |
| 14 | North East | Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh | Guwahati |
| 15 | Odisha | Odisha | Bhubaneswar |
| 16 | Punjab | Punjab, Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| 17 | Rajasthan | Rajasthan | Jaipur |
| 18 | Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar | Chennai |
| 19 | Telangana | Telangana | Hyderabad |
| 20 | Uttar Pradesh | Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow |
| 21 | Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| 22 | West Bengal | West Bengal, Sikkim | Kolkata |
| 23 | Haryana | Haryana | Ambala |
Circle-Wise Recruitment Overview 2026
1. Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle
Official Portal: appost.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 2,000 – 3,500 (GDS + Postman + MTS) Key Recruitment: GDS (BPM/ABPM/DS), Postman, Mail Guard, MTS Local Language Requirement: Telugu — mandatory for all posts Application Mode: Online via appost.in Special Note: AP circle consistently releases GDS notifications twice annually — monitor May and October 2026 specifically.
2. Assam Postal Circle
Official Portal: assampost.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 1,500 – 2,500 (GDS heavy) Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS, Skilled Artisan Local Language: Assamese / Bengali (depending on division) Special Note: Assam circle has significant vacancies in rural divisions — lower competition than metro circles.
3. Bihar Postal Circle
Official Portal: biharpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 3,000 – 5,000 (one of highest nationally) Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS Local Language: Hindi Special Note: Bihar has one of India’s largest GDS workforces — expect major notifications in May 2026. Female candidates are exempt from application fee.
4. Chhattisgarh Postal Circle
Official Portal: cgpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 800 – 1,500 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS, Artisan Local Language: Hindi (Chhattisgarhi dialect areas accepted) Special Note: Tribal area vacancies (ST quota) are substantial in Chhattisgarh circle — ST candidates have significant advantage.
5. Delhi Postal Circle
Official Portal: delhipost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 500 – 1,200 Key Recruitment: Postman, MTS, Skilled Artisan, Postal Assistant (via SSC) Local Language: Hindi + English Special Note: Delhi circle has fewer GDS vacancies (urban setting) but higher Postman and MTS numbers. Competition is intense — 10th percentage must be above 80% for GDS merit list consideration.
6. Gujarat Postal Circle
Official Portal: gujaratpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 2,000 – 3,500 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS, Artisan Local Language: Gujarati — mandatory Special Note: Gujarat circle includes Dadra & NH and Diu vacancies — these sub-territory vacancies attract significantly fewer applicants than Gujarat mainland divisions.
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Updated Today7. Himachal Pradesh Postal Circle
Official Portal: hppost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 500 – 1,000 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS Local Language: Hindi Special Note: Hilly terrain vacancies (Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba) have very limited applicants — candidates willing to serve in remote areas have near-certain selection prospects.
8. Jammu & Kashmir (including Ladakh) Postal Circle
Official Portal: jkpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 600 – 1,200 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS Local Language: Urdu (J&K), Hindi (Ladakh) Special Note: Post-reorganisation of J&K as UT, postal vacancies have increased — monitor closely for 2026 notifications.
9. Jharkhand Postal Circle
Official Portal: jharkhandpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 1,000 – 2,000 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS, Artisan Local Language: Hindi Special Note: Large tribal population → significant ST quota vacancies. Rural divisions have lower competition than Ranchi and Jamshedpur city divisions.
10. Karnataka Postal Circle
Official Portal: karnatakapost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 2,500 – 4,000 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS, Artisan Local Language: Kannada — mandatory Special Note: Karnataka is one of India’s most digitally active postal circles — IPPB vacancies and tech-related artisan posts are higher here than most circles.
11. Kerala Postal Circle
Official Portal: keralapost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 1,500 – 2,500 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS Local Language: Malayalam — mandatory Special Note: Kerala has the highest PLI (Postal Life Insurance) and small savings mobilisation rates — GDS BPMs here earn some of the highest TRCA + state top-up combinations nationally.
12. Madhya Pradesh Postal Circle
Official Portal: mppost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 3,000 – 5,500 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS, Artisan Local Language: Hindi Special Note: MP is one of India’s largest postal circles by geographical area — vacancies are spread across 52 districts with significant rural competition gaps between divisions.
13. Maharashtra Postal Circle
Official Portal: maharashtrapost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 3,500 – 6,000 (largest circle nationally) Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS, Skilled Artisan, Driver Local Language: Marathi — mandatory (English for Mumbai division) Special Note: Maharashtra is India’s largest postal circle — apply to Vidarbha and Marathwada divisions for significantly lower GDS competition than Mumbai and Pune divisions.
14. North East Postal Circle
Official Portal: nepost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 800 – 1,500 (across 6 states) Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS Local Language: English (common across NE states for postal purposes) Special Note: North East circle covers Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh — competition levels are among the lowest nationally; strong opportunity for local candidates.
15. Odisha Postal Circle
Official Portal: odishapost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 2,000 – 3,500 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS Local Language: Odia — mandatory Special Note: Odisha has significant tribal belt vacancies (ST quota) across Koraput, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal divisions — very low competition for ST candidates.
16. Punjab Postal Circle (including Chandigarh)
Official Portal: punjabpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 1,500 – 2,500 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS, Artisan Local Language: Punjabi — mandatory (Gurmukhi script) Special Note: Punjab circle includes Chandigarh UT — city vacancies here are fewer but pay higher HRA. Rural Punjab GDS competition is intense due to high 10th pass rates.
17. Rajasthan Postal Circle
Official Portal: rajasthanpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 2,500 – 4,500 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS Local Language: Hindi Special Note: Desert region vacancies (Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Churu) have significantly lower applicant density — ideal for candidates willing to serve in remote locations.
18. Tamil Nadu Postal Circle
Official Portal: tnpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 3,000 – 5,000 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS, Artisan Local Language: Tamil — mandatory Special Note: TN circle includes Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry — island vacancies attract very few applicants due to posting location; near-certain selection for eligible candidates applying specifically for island postings.
19. Telangana Postal Circle
Official Portal: telanganapost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 1,500 – 2,500 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS Local Language: Telugu — mandatory Special Note: Telangana was separated from AP circle in 2014 — its GDS vacancies have been growing steadily as rural postal infrastructure expands in newly developed districts.
20. Uttar Pradesh Postal Circle
Official Portal: indiapost.gov.in/utpost Expected Vacancies 2026: 5,000 – 8,000 (highest nationally) Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS, Artisan Local Language: Hindi Special Note: UP is India’s most populous state and has the largest postal circle vacancy count. However, competition is equally high — GDS cutoffs in UP divisions frequently exceed 90% normalised marks. Apply to eastern UP and Bundelkhand divisions for lower competition.
21. Uttarakhand Postal Circle
Official Portal: uttarakhandpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 400 – 800 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS Local Language: Hindi Special Note: Pahadi terrain vacancies (Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi districts) have very few applicants — ideal for hill-region candidates.
22. West Bengal Postal Circle
Official Portal: wbpost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 3,000 – 5,000 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, Mail Guard, MTS, Artisan Local Language: Bengali — mandatory Special Note: WB circle includes Sikkim — Sikkim vacancies have extremely low competition due to small eligible population. Darjeeling division accepts both Bengali and Nepali speakers.
23. Haryana Postal Circle
Official Portal: haryanapost.gov.in Expected Vacancies 2026: 1,000 – 2,000 Key Recruitment: GDS, Postman, MTS Local Language: Hindi Special Note: Haryana has seen significant GDS vacancy growth due to rural connectivity programmes — Mewat and Nuh district vacancies have lower competition than Gurgaon and Faridabad.
How to Apply Circle-Wise: Universal Steps
Step 1: Identify your home state postal circle from the table above. You must apply for the circle where you are a local resident.
Step 2: Bookmark the official circle website — not indiapost.gov.in alone. Circle websites publish notifications faster and with more detail than the central portal.
Step 3: Set up Google Alerts for “[Your State] Post Office recruitment 2026” — receive instant email notification the moment a notification is published.
Step 4: For GDS posts — apply only at indiapostgdsonline.gov.in (centralised GDS portal). For Postman, MTS, Artisan — apply at your circle’s own portal.
Step 5: Prepare documents in advance: Aadhaar, 10th certificate, ITI certificate (if applicable), category certificate, domicile proof, photograph, and signature. Having these ready ensures you can apply within hours of the notification going live.
Step 6: Pay the nominal fee (₹100 for General/OBC; zero for female/SC/ST/PwBD) via online payment.
Top 5 Strategic Tips for Circle-Wise Application
Tip 1 — Apply to your home division, not the nearest city: GDS and Postman vacancies in rural taluka divisions of your circle consistently have lower competition than district headquarter or city divisions.
Tip 2 — Remote area postings = near-certain selection: Island (Andaman, Lakshadweep), desert (Jaisalmer, Barmer), hill (Lahaul-Spiti, Pithoragarh), and tribal forest divisions attract almost no applications. Candidates willing to serve in these locations have exceptional selection prospects.
Tip 3 — Apply early in the window: GDS applications are first-registered — avoid last-day server crashes. Apply within the first 3 days of the notification window opening.
Tip 4 — Know your local language requirement: Every circle enforces local language proficiency. Ensure you can read and write in your circle’s official language — this is verified at document verification and can lead to rejection even if you top the merit list.
Tip 5 — Monitor both circle portal AND indiapostgdsonline.gov.in: GDS notifications appear on the centralised GDS portal. Postman, MTS, and Artisan notifications appear on circle-specific portals. Monitoring both ensures zero missed opportunities.
Final Word
India Post’s 23 circle-wise recruitment structure is simultaneously its greatest operational challenge and the job seeker’s greatest strategic opportunity. While most candidates focus only on their own state, the smartest candidates research cross-division competition patterns, identify low-competition rural and remote divisions, and apply strategically within their eligible circle to maximise selection probability.
In 2026, with 80,000–1,00,000 total India Post vacancies expected across all circles and all post categories — this is the largest government employer actively hiring at the 8th pass, 10th pass, ITI, and graduation levels simultaneously.
Bookmark your circle website today. Set up Google Alerts tonight. Apply on Day 1.
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