Here’s a detailed overview tailored to the India Post Inspector of Posts (IPO) Exam 2025—covering eligibility, exam pattern, and syllabus:
✅ Eligibility
- Recruitment Modes:
- LDCE (Limited Departmental Comp. Exam): ~66.7% of vacancies
- SSC (Direct Recruitment): ~33.3%
- Age Limit (as per 2024 notification):
- LDCE: up to 45 years
- SSC Direct: up to 30 years
- Service Requirement (for LDCE candidates):
- Minimum 8 years of postal service, including time at pay level 4, 5, or 6
📋 Exam Pattern
- 4 Papers, each 300 marks; total 1200 marks
- Papers I–III: 150 MCQs each (150 marks)
- Paper IV: 125 MCQs (125 marks) + Noting & Drafting (50 marks)
- Time Allotted: 3 hours per paper
- Qualifying Marks:
- General: 40% in each paper (120/300) and 45% aggregate (540/1200)
- SC/ST: 33% in each paper (99/300) and 38% aggregate (456/1200)
📚 Syllabus Overview
📘 Paper I – Postal Acts, Rules & Operations
- Acts:
- Indian Post Office Act 1898
- Government Savings Bank Act 1873
- PMLA 2002 (with amendments)
- Consumer Protection Act 2019
- IT Act 2000
- Postal Rules & Schemes (2018–2019): P.O. Rules 1933, saving schemes (PLI/RPLI, NSS deposits, PPF, Sukanya Samriddhi, PMJJBY/PMSBY/APY, etc.)
- Operational Manuals: Postal Manual Volumes V–VII, mail ops, remittances (eMO/iMO/etc.), postal guides, postal IT/CBS/IPPB, Swachh Bharat initiatives
📘 Paper II – Finance & Service Rules
- Financial Procedures: GFR 2017 (Ch. 2 & 6), CVC & e‑procurement policies, financial powers of heads
- Service Rules: RTI Act 2005, FR/SR, Postal/General Financial Handbooks, welfare allowances, CGEGIS, GPF, medical/pension rules (CCS & NPS), CCS Pension/Commutation Rules, discharge benefits
- Postal Manuals: Volumes II & IV (leave, pension, establishment, appeals, personal matters)
📘 Paper III – Conduct, Legal & Administrative Rules
- Postal Manual Volumes II, III, VIII: appeals, petitions, security deposits, fraudulent stamps, office procedures
- Conduct & Engagement Rules: CCS Conduct Rules 1964, CCA Rules 1965, Temporary Service Rules 1965, GDS Rules 2020
- Legal Framework: APAR guidance, CAT Act 1985, Revenue Recovery Act 1890, Sexual Harassment Act 2013, Prevention of Corruption Act 1988
📘 Paper IV – English, GK, Aptitude & Drafting
- English Language: Grammar, comprehension (25 MCQs)
- Current Affairs: Indian economy, polity, culture, science, sports (50 MCQs)
- Reasoning & Ethics: Mental aptitude, interpersonal skills, ethics (50 MCQs)
- Noting & Drafting: One note (~200 words) + one draft (~200 words) [50 marks]
🧭 Preparation Strategy
- Study latest circulars and annual reports released up to 31 Dec prior to exam year
- Focus on manuals and postal schemes, especially recent amendments
- Regularly practice MCQs and drafting exercises under timed conditions
- Consider structured study plans: reference books (Swamy, Universal) + online/offline coaching/mock tests
📌 Summary Table
| Paper | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| I | Postal Acts, Rules, Postal Manual Vols V–VII, Saving Schemes, IT & Operations |
| II | Financial Rules (GFR), Service/Pension Rules, Postal Manual Vols II & IV |
| III | Conduct/Admin Rules, Postal Manual Vols II/III/VIII, Legal & Disciplinary Acts |
| IV | English, Current Affairs, Reasoning, Ethics, Noting & Drafting |
Let me know if you’d like official PDFs, subject-wise study plans, or sample MCQs/noting & drafting prompts!