Parliament Question: Service Conditions and Welfare of Gram Dak Sevaks

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1800 ANSWERED ON 29TH JULY, 2026 SERVICE CONDITIONS AND WELFARE OF GRAM DAK SEVAKS 1800. SHRI G LAKSHMINARAYANA: Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any review of the service conditions, workload, remuneration and welfare benefits of Gram Dak Sevaks (GDS) and if so, the details and outcome thereof; (b) the details of sanctioned strength, persons in position and vacancies of Gram Dak Sevaks as on date, State-wise; (c) the details of revisions made in the Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA), allowances, social security benefits, leave provisions and other welfare measures for Gram Dak Sevaks during the last five years; (d) whether the Government has received any representations from Gram Dak Sevaks regarding regularisation of services, pensionary benefits, parity with departmental employees and other service-related issues and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon; and (e) whether the Government proposes to introduce any additional measures to improve the welfare, career progression and social security coverage of Gram Dak Sevaks? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a) & (c) 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 i.e., Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) and other allowances are 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. 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 service conditions, TRCA structure, allowances, social security benefits were enhanced, Leave entitlements were also revised, including introduction of maternity leave of 180 days for female GDS. During the last five years, welfare measures have also been strengthened through enhanced Circle Welfare Fund contribution, higher financial assistance for purchase of tablets/mobile phones and computers, concessional loans for construction of Branch Post Office accommodation and purchase of two- wheelers/electric vehicles, and increased financial assistance in cases of serious illness, accidents while on duty and other contingencies. 1(b) The State-wise details of sanctioned strength of GDS, persons in position and vacancies of Gramin Dak Sevaks is given at Annexure. (d) Representations regarding regularization, pensionary benefits, parity with departmental employees and other service-related issues 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, therefore, 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. 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. GDS 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. 2Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to Part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no. 1800 regarding the details of sanctioned strength, persons in position and vacancies of Gram Dak Sevaks, as on date (20.07.2026), State-wise Name of the State Sanctioned strength Persons in Position Vacancies Andhra Pradesh 19487 17881 1606 Arunachal Pradesh 3175 2031 1144 Assam 9198 7563 1635 Bihar 18015 15053 2962 Chhattisgarh 9892 8285 1607 Goa 4251 3479 772 Gujarat 16780 15053 1727 Haryana 4463 4126 337 Himachal Pradesh 6700 6135 565 Jharkhand 9786 7425 2361 Karnataka 16820 15291 1529 Kerala 12377 10138 2239 Madhya Pradesh 20459 17374 3085 Maharashtra 20221 17494 2727 Manipur 2116 1725 391 Meghalaya 2336 1562 774 Mizoram 1244 972 272 Nagaland 1047 914 133 Odisha 19955 17651 2304 Punjab 6747 5624 1123 Rajasthan 17747 14826 2921 Sikkim 509 370 139 Tamil Nadu 25007 20730 4277 Telangana 10623 9773 850 Tripura 1728 1485 243 Uttar Pradesh 37844 31007 6837 Uttarakhand 6651 5799 852 West Bengal 21772 17588 4184 ***** 3