Lok Sabha Question No. 3162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Proposal for Gram Dak Sevak  (GDS) Employees
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Sher Singh Ghubaya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3162 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2025

## PROPOSAL FOR GRAM DAK SEVAK (GDS) EMPLOYEES

## 3162.   SHRI SHER SINGH GHUBAYA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to make 3.50 lakh Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) employees of the Indian Postal Department permanent;

(b) if so, the manner and the time line by which the pending cases for the last 25 years are likely to be resolved;

- (c) whether their salaries and related allowances will be paid;
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to increase the level of higher education;
- (e) if so, the manner and the timeline by which it is likely to be achieved; and

(f) the timeline by which the shortage of staff in educational institutions and colleges is likely to be met?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) to (c) Sir,  the  recruitment  and  service  conditions  of  Gramin  Dak  Sevaks  (GDS)  of  the Department of Posts are not governed by Article 309 of the Constitution. At present, there is no proposal to grant them the status of regular employees or to convert their positions into permanent ones.

(d) to (f) The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) announced on 29.07.2020 is the first Education  Policy  of  the  21st  century,  which  aims  to  address  many  growing  developmental imperatives of our country. The Policy proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, including Sustainable Development Goal-4 (SDG-4), while building upon India's traditions and value systems.

NEP 2020  envisages  increasing  the  Gross  Enrolment  Ratio  (GER)  and  access  in  Higher Education including vocational education, to 50% by 2035 and the Government has taken various measures  to  increase  the  GER  in  Higher  Education,  which,  inter-alia,  include  Opening  of  more Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs); introduction and implementation of various Scholarship and Fellowship schemes for providing financial assistance to students; HEIs offering full Open Distance Learning/Online Programmes; Multiple entry and exit options in the Higher Education system; two Academic Programmes simultaneously; anytime, anywhere learning opportunities through

SWAYAM platform; conducting JEE, NEET (UG) and Common University Entrance Test (CUET) Exams  in  13  languages,  ensuring  that  students  from  rural  or  vernacular  backgrounds  are  better supported.

NEP  2020  provides  different  timelines  as  well  as  principles  and  methodology  for  its implementation. Education being in the concurrent list of Constitution, Centre and States are equally responsible  for  providing  quality  education  to  all.  Accordingly,  Ministry  of  Education,  State Governments, education-related Ministries, the regulatory and implementing bodies of school and higher education such as University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, National Council for Teacher Education, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education,  Universities/Colleges/Schools  etc.  have  started  taking initiatives for implementation of NEP 2020.

*****