GDS Online Engagement Schedule -I Jan 2025 - SOP for pre and post GDS engagement activities

GDS Online Engagement Schedule -I Jan 2025 - Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) for pre and post GDS engagement activities

No.17-02/2025-GDS

Government of India Ministry of Communications 

Department of Posts (GDS Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi- 110 001

Dated: 06.03.2025

To

1. All Chief Postmasters General/Postmasters General

2. General Manager, CEPT Bangalore/CEPT Unit at Hyderabad

Subject, GDS online engagement process Schedule-I, January- 2025 - Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for pre and post engagement activities.

Sir/Madam,

Please find enclosed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) [Annexure-A] for conducting pre-engagement, joining, and post-engagement activities by the Verifying Authority (VA) and Engaging Authority (EA) for the Online GDS Engagement, Schedule-I, January 2025.

2. The SOP for this engagement cycles has been revised slightly from previous Schedules/cycles, with the following key changes:

(i) The option for candidates to verify documents (1st stage Verification) with any Divisional Head across different Circles has been discontinued. Document verification must now be conducted exclusively in the Division where the vacancy is notified, irrespective of the Engaging Authority, for all categories of GDS.

(ii) Divisional Heads will no longer be required to verify educational documents through Digilocker or the official websites of educational boards. Their role will be limited to physically verifying the original documents during the 1st Stage Verification. Once the VA successfully verifies the documents, the candidate's status will be automatically updated, and the joining process will be initiated by the respective EA without waiting for the outcome of the 2nd Stage Verification.

(iii) The verification of Secondary School Examination (SSE) class X certificates (2nd Stage Verification) for candidates who have passed the initial physical verification will be conducted by the Circle Nodal Officer of the Circle where the respective board exists. This verification will be done via API Setu, the board's official website, or manually through the respective education board.

(iv) A separate SOP will be issued for document verification through API Setu, specifically for Circle Nodal Officers (i.e., AD/APMG concerned).

4. CEPT will develop an appropriate MIS for monitoring the engagement process at the Directorate, Circle, and Division levels. CEPT is also requested to configure the provisions outlined in the SOP within the GDS online engagement portal, ensuring readiness before the verification process begins. A compliance report in this regard may be submitted. Additionally, the SOP should be uploaded to the GDS engagement portal for guidance to VAS and EAS.

5. All Circles are requested to communicate this SOP to all Divisional and Sub- Divisional Heads, actively monitor activities related to GDS engagement at the Circle level, and ensure strict adherence and implementation in letter and spirit.

This issued with the approval of the competent authority.

Yours faithfully,

(Ravi Pahwa)/02/2025 Director(GDS)

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