**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1901, dated February 11, 2026, concerning the service conditions of rural postal workers (Gramin Dak Sevaks or GDS). It outlines the government's stance on improving GDS conditions, their salary structure, retirement benefits, and clarifies there is no proposal to declare GDS as permanent employees. The response references Annexure-I for specific details on state-wise GDS numbers, salary slabs, and retirement benefits.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **GDS Status and Improvement of Service Conditions:**
* The Department of Posts continuously reviews the service conditions of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS).
* GDS are engaged on a part-time basis (4-5 hours per day).
* GDS are governed by GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020.
* There is no proposal to declare GDS as permanent employees.
* **GDS Numbers, Salary, and Retirement Benefits:**
* Annexure-I provides the state-wise number of rural postal workers (GDS).
* Annexure-I details the salary (Time Related Continuity Allowance - TRCA slabs) and discharge (retirement) benefits applicable to GDS.
* TRCA slabs and discharge benefits are applicable to all GDS across the country.
* Monthly salary (TRCA slabs) for Branch Postmasters and Assistant Branch Postmasters/Dak Sevaks, varying based on hours of work (Five or Four hours), plus Dearness Allowance, are specified.
* Discharge benefits include GDS Gratuity, Severance Amount, Service Discharge Benefit Scheme and GDS Group Insurance Scheme.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Rural Postal Workers (Gramin Dak Sevaks - GDS)**
**Impact:**
* GDS service conditions are being continuously reviewed by the Department of Posts.
* Their status remains part-time, governed by specific rules.
* They are not considered for permanent employee status.
* They are entitled to specific salary slabs (TRCA) based on their roles and hours of work, plus Dearness Allowance.
* They receive discharge (retirement) benefits including GDS Gratuity, Severance Amount, Service Discharge Benefit Scheme and GDS Group Insurance Scheme.
**Action Required:**
* Understand their current status as part-time employees and the rules governing their employment (GDS Rules, 2020).
* Familiarize themselves with the details of their salary slabs (TRCA) and Dearness Allowance.
* Be aware of the discharge benefits applicable to them upon retirement.
Key Entities Referenced
Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS): Rural postal workers in India, whose service conditions are the subject of the parliamentary question.
GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020: The set of rules governing the conduct and engagement of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS).
Department of Posts: The department responsible for reviewing and setting service conditions of Gramin Dak Sevaks.
Ministry of Communications: The ministry overseeing the Department of Posts, responsible for matters related to rural postal workers.
Lok Sabha: Parliament of India, where the question regarding service conditions of rural postal workers was raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1901
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH FEBRUARY, 2026
SERVICE CONDITIONS OF RURAL POSTAL WORKERS
†1901. SHRI AMRA RAM:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to improve the service conditions of the rural postal
workers and declare them as permanent employees and if so, the details and expected timeline thereof
and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) the number of rural postal workers along with the details of monthly salary and retirement
benefits given to them, State-wise; and
(c) whether the said salary and retirement benefits are inadequate and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) The improvement of service conditions of rural postal workers, namely, Gramin Dak Sevaks
(GDS) is a continuous process and from time to time, the Department of Posts keeps reviewing the
same. The GDS are engaged on a part-time basis for four to five hours per day and are governed by
a separate set of rules, called as GDS (Conduct and Engagement) Rules, 2020, framed under the
executive powers of Central Government and not under the Article 309, which is applicable for
appointment and service conditions of permanent employees. Therefore, there is no proposal to
declare GDS as permanent employees.
(b) & (c) The State-wise number of rural postal workers (GDS) and details of their salary (i.e.
Time Related Continuity Allowance slabs) and discharge (retirement) benefits applicable on GDS
are given in Annexure-I. These TRCA slabs and discharge benefits are applicable to all GDS across
the country.
1Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in reply to Part (b) & (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1901 for
11.02.2026 regarding Service Conditions of Rural Postal Workers
(A) State-wise Number of Rural Postal Workers (GDS)
Number of Rural Postal
S. No. Name of the State Workers (GDS) Working in
the State
1 Andhra Pradesh 17610
2 Arunachal Pradesh 1962
3 Assam 7680
4 Bihar 15585
5 Chhattisgarh 8151
6 Goa 284
7 Gujarat 14126
8 Haryana 4462
9 Himachal Pradesh 5738
10 Jharkhand 7164
11 Karnataka 15317
12 Kerala 10014
13 Madhya Pradesh 16879
14 Maharashtra 18468
15 Manipur 1687
16 Meghalaya 1746
17 Mizoram 984
18 Nagaland 979
19 Odisha 18347
20 Punjab 5648
21 Rajasthan 14544
22 Sikkim 366
23 Tamil Nadu 20456
24 Telangana 9676
25 Tripura 1451
26 Uttar Pradesh 29695
27 Uttarakhand 5616
28 West Bengal 16436
(B) Details of Monthly Salary (i.e., Time Related Continuity Allowance Slabs) of Rural Postal
Employees (GDS)
1. Branch Postmaster [Five Hours of Work] - Rs.14,500 - Rs.35,480 plus Dearness Allowance.
2. Branch Postmaster [Four Hours of Work] - Rs.12,000 - Rs.29,380 plus Dearness Allowance.
3. Assistant Branch Postmaster/Dak Sevak [Five Hours of Work] - Rs.12,000 - Rs.29,380 plus
Dearness Allowance.
4. Assistant Branch Postmaster/Dak Sevak [Four Hours of Work] - Rs.10,000 - Rs.24,470 plus
Dearness Allowance.
(C) Discharge (retirement) benefits applicable to GDS includes GDS Gratuity, Severance
Amount, Service Discharge Benefit Scheme and GDS Group Insurance Scheme.
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