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1. Exam Conducting Authority

  • Department of Posts (India Post)
    Ministry of Communications, Government of India

  • The exam is often conducted through the Postal Directorate or Circle Office and sometimes by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) (when recruitment is open to outsiders).

2. Purpose of the Exam

  • The Inspector of Posts (IPO) exam is conducted to recruit supervisory officers in India Post who are responsible for:

    • Managing postal operations in subdivisions

    • Supervising post offices and postal staff

    • Ensuring implementation of postal policies and targets

    • Handling administrative and customer service responsibilities

3. Types of Recruitment

There are two main types of recruitment for IPO:

  1. Departmental (LDCE – Limited Departmental Competitive Examination) –
    For existing postal employees (e.g., Postal Assistants, Sorting Assistants, etc.) seeking promotion.

  2. Direct Recruitment (through SSC CGL Exam) –
    For external candidates applying through the Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam.

4. Post Name and Cadre

  • Post: Inspector of Posts (IPO)

  • Cadre: Group ‘B’ (Non-Gazetted)

  • Department: Department of Posts (DoP)

5. Salary and Pay Scale

  • Pay Level: Level–7 (as per 7th CPC)

  • Pay Scale: ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400 + admissible allowances

  • Gross Salary: Approximately ₹60,000 – ₹70,000 per month (depending on posting location)

6. Job Role and Responsibilities

  • Supervise and inspect post offices under their subdivision

  • Monitor postal delivery, savings bank, and insurance operations

  • Conduct audits and ensure compliance with postal rules

  • Manage staff performance and grievance redressal

  • Report to the Superintendent of Posts (SPM) or Senior Superintendent of Posts (SSPM)

7. Work Locations

  • IPOs are posted across district and subdivision-level offices in both urban and rural areas across India.

  • Regular field inspections and travel are part of the job.

8. Career Growth and Promotion Path

Career progression:

  1. Inspector of Posts (IPO)

  2. Assistant Superintendent of Posts (ASP)

  3. Superintendent of Posts (SP)

  4. Senior Superintendent of Posts (SSP)

  5. Director of Postal Services (DPS)

  6. Postmaster General (PMG)

Promotions depend on performance, seniority, and departmental exams.

9. Exam Conducting Frequency

  • Usually conducted annually or biennially.

  • Departmental exams (LDCE) are announced by each Postal Circle or the Directorate.

  • SSC CGL exam for IPO (Direct entry) is conducted once every year.

10. Selection Process (Overview)

Depending on the mode of recruitment:

  • For LDCE (Departmental Candidates):

    • Written Exam

    • Paper-based or online (objective/descriptive)

    • Paper on Postal Rules, Regulations, and General Knowledge

  • For SSC CGL (Direct Candidates):

    • SSC Tier I (Preliminary)

    • SSC Tier II (Main Exam)

    • Document Verification and Medical Test

11. Training

Selected candidates undergo training at the Postal Training Centre (PTC) — e.g., Mysuru, Vadodara, Guwahati, etc., before being posted to their divisions.