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Published by Authority

No. 4]

CHANDIGARH, FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2026 (MAGHA 3, 1947 SAKA)

PARTI

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 )

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PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ., JANUARY 23, 2026 (MAGHA 3, 1947 SAKA)

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cadre:

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 of

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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