Lok Sabha Question No. 5490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Revisions in Time Related Continuity Allowance
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri G Lakshminarayana, Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5490 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  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.

(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.

Annexure

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

|   S.No. | Name of the State   | Number of GDS currently engaged   | No. of Vacant 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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