Published by Authority
No. 4] CHANDIGARH, FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2026 (MAGHA 3, 1947 SAKA)
PART I
Punjab Government Notifications and Orders
GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB
DEPARTEMNT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND
PANCHAYATS (RDE- 2 BRANCH)
NOTIFICATION
The 22nd January, 2026
No.20/26/2023-1RDE2/650.-The Governor of Punjab is pleased to merge and restructure the existing cadres of Panchayat Secretaries and Gram Sewaks (Village Development Organizers) into a newly created unified cadre titled "Panchayat Development Secretary (PDS)", as approved by the Council of Ministers in its meeting held on 14.08.2025.
2. In cabinet meeting held on 14.08.2025, the Council of Ministers has approved the constitution of the cadre of Panchayat Development Secretaries as a State Cadre.
3. The detail of the above decision is as under: -
(A) Total number of sanctioned posts of Existing Gram Sewak (VDOs) cadre and Panchayat Secretaries cadre :
(B) Total number of surrendered posts of Existing Gram Sewak (VDOs) cadre and Panchayat Secretaries cadre:
( 215 )216 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ., JANUARY 23, 2026 (MAGHA 3, 1947 SAKA) PART I] (C) Total number of re-designated posts in the newly formed Panchayat Development Secretaries (PDS) cadre:
4. In compliance of the decision of the Council of Ministers and keeping in view the recommendations of the Committee and the applicable rules/instructions, the cadres of Panchayat Secretaries and Gram Sewaks (VDOs) are hereby merged and restructured into the newly created cadre of Panchayat Development Secretary as mentioned in Para 3 (C), with effect from the date of issue of this notification, subject to the following terms and conditions:
a) The existing Panchayat Secretaries, upon submission of a self-declaration, shall be placed at the tail of the existing seniority list of Gram Sewaks (VDOs) and a combined seniority list shall be prepared in accordance with the prevailing seniority guidelines, whose title will also be renamed as per the new nomenclature of the cadre.
b) The existing Panchayat Secretaries who fail to submit the required self-declaration under condition (a) within one month from the date of issue of this notification shall continue to remain in the cadre of Panchayat Secretaries, which has been declared a Dying cadre.
c) Since the Panchayat Secretaries and Gram Sewaks (VDOs) have been performing identical duties, hence the Panchayat Development Secretaries shall henceforth discharge all duties and responsibilities that were previously assigned to Panchayat Secretaries and Gram Sewaks (VDOs) prior to their merger and restructuring. These duties shall be incorporated into the new Service Rules of Panchayat Development Secretary.
d) The Panchayat Development Secretaries shall be eligible for promotion to the next higher post of Social Education and Panchayat Officer (SEPO) in accordance with prescribed promotion guidelines and provision of service rules of the SEPOs, which will also be amended in due course of time.
e) As the existing pay scale of Panchayat Secretaries and Gram Sewaks (VDOs) is identical, the employees shall draw pay as may be notified by the Government from time to time in the newly created cadre. No employee shall be entitled to claim any pay step-up benefit arising from the merger and restructuring. However, the existing pay of the incumbent Panchayat Secretaries and Gram Sewaks (VDO's) shall be protected.
f) The Department of Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab shall notify new Service Rules for the cadre of Panchayat Development Secretaries (PDS), in accordance with the instructions issued by the Department of Personnel from time to time.
g) Employees covered under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) shall continue under NPS.
Those appointed on or after 01.01.2004 but not yet registered under NPS shall be registered immediately. Employees appointed before 01.01.2004 shall continue under the CPF Scheme ofPART I] PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ., JANUARY 23, 2026 (MAGHA 3, 1947 SAKA) 217 the Department and the matter regarding their coverage under the Old Pension Scheme shall be separately decided in consultation with the Department of Finance and the Accountant General, Punjab.
h) Consequent upon the merger and restructuring, the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, the Punjab Panchayati Raj Rules, 2012, the Service Conditions of Panchayat Secretaries Rules, 2013, and the Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Department (Class III) Service Rules, 1988 shall be amended or repealed, as may be required, to incorporate the post of Panchayat Development Secretary (PDS) and to give effect to all consequential changes, in accordance with the decision of the Council of Ministers;
i) The existing budget provision under Major Head 3604 – Compensation and Assignment to Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions (GIA – Salary) shall be surrendered, and an equivalent provision shall be got made under Major Head 2515 – Other Rural Development Programmes (Service Expenditure) in consultation with the Department of Finance;
j) This notification shall come into force with immediate effect, superseding all previous orders issued on this subject.
k) The approval/concurrence of the Department of Finance (Personnel-2 Branch) has been duly obtained vide No. FD-FP-2021-33-2024-3FP2, I/1101557/2025 dated 15.05.2025 and No. FD-FP-2021-33-2024-3FP2, I/1231320/2025 dated 29.10.2025. Further, the approval/ concurrence of the Department of Personnel has also been obtained vide File No. 17/05/ 2023-4PP1(P.P.- 1 Branch). vide No. PERS-PP4/21/2025-1PP4, I/1263357/2025 (P.P.-4 Branch) dated 10.12.2025.
l) This notification is issued in compliance with the approval of the Council of Ministers in its meeting held on 14.08.2025, conveyed by the Cabinet Affairs Branch, Department of General Administration vide No. 1/18/2025-1Cabinet/5133-34 dated 14.08.2025.
Sd/-
AJIT BALAJI JOSHI, IAS S.A.S. NAGAR Administrative Secretary to Government of Punjab,
Department of Rural Development and Panchayats
3616/1-2026/Pb. Govt. Press, S.A.S. Nagar