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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5490
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25TH MARCH, 2026
REVISIONS IN TIME RELATED CONTINUITY ALLOWANCE
5490. SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS:
SHRI G LAKSHMINARAYANA:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has undertaken any recent review of the service conditions,
workload and remuneration structure of India Post Gram Dak Sevaks (GDS);
(b) if so, the details and outcome of such review, including any proposed or implemented
revisions in Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA), allowances, social security benefits and
leave entitlements;
(c) the total number of Gram Dak Sevaks currently engaged in the country, State-wise, along
with the number of vacant posts;
(d) whether the Government has received representations regarding regularisation of services,
pensionary benefits or parity with departmental employees and if so, the action taken thereon; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to introduce further welfare measures, including health
insurance, pension coverage or promotional avenues for Gram Dak Sevaks and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) The review of service conditions and workload of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) is a continuous
process. The workload of the GDS is reviewed on a triennial basis. Their remuneration is revised
approximately every ten years based on the recommendations of a committee constituted by the
Department, following the Central Pay Commission for regular employees. The last such review was
undertaken through a committee constituted in November, 2015.
(b) The Committee submitted its report in November, 2016. Based on its recommendations, and
in consultation with the nodal Ministries and Departments, including Ministry of Finance and the
Department of Personnel & Training, the TRCA structure, allowances and social security benefits
were enhanced. Leave entitlements were also revised, including introduction of maternity leave of
180 days for female GDS.
(c) The State-wise number of GDS currently engaged and vacant posts is given at Annexure.
1(d) Representations regarding regularization, pensionary benefits and parity with departmental
employees are received from time to time. However, GDS are governed by rules framed under the
executive powers of the Central Government that are distinct from the rules applicable on regular
Government employees. The Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that GDS are holders of civil posts
outside the regular Civil Service and their service is not counted for pension.
(e) GDS are covered under various welfare measures, including financial assistance from the
Circle Welfare Fund for contingencies such as funeral expenses of GDS, accidents, serious illnesses,
natural calamities, and scholarships for their children, among others. They are not covered under any
pension scheme; however, they are entitled to GDS gratuity, Group Insurance, Severance amount or
benefits under the Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (for those engaged on or after 01.04.2011),
which is akin to the National Pension System applicable to regular employees.
Further, GDS are eligible for absorption to departmental posts such as Multi-Tasking Staff
(MTS), Postman, Mail Guard, Postal Assistant and Sorting Assistants as per Recruitment Rules for
such posts. Proposals for providing health facilities under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme
and the Central Government Health Scheme were not agreed to by the Ministry of Finance and the
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, respectively.
2Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to Part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5490 regarding
the total number of Gramin Dak Sevaks currently engaged in the country, State-wise, along
with the number of vacant posts
Number of No. of
S.No. Name of the State GDS currently Vacant
engaged posts
1 Andhra Pradesh 17,607 1,880
2 Arunachal Pradesh 2,014 1,161
3 Assam 7,707 1,494
4 Bihar 15,585 2,509
5 Chhattisgarh 8,125 1,766
6 Goa 292 125
7 Gujarat 14,321 2,463
8 Haryana 4,087 376
9 Himachal Pradesh 5949 751
10 Jharkhand 7,482 2,304
11 Karnataka 15,127 1,694
12 Kerala 9,835 2,541
13 Madhya Pradesh 16,780 3,684
14 Maharashtra 19,377 4,678
15 Manipur 1,680 436
16 Meghalaya 1,647 689
17 Mizoram 1,131 113
18 Nagaland 962 85
19 Odisha 18,347 1,608
20 Punjab 5,586 1,162
21 Rajasthan 14,650 3,097
22 Sikkim 366 143
23 Tamil Nadu 20,456 4,488
24 Telangana 9,592 1,024
25 Tripura 1,446 282
26 Uttar Pradesh 30,437 7,401
27 Uttarakhand 5,663 993
28 West Bengal 16,436 2,336
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