Punjab Govt merges Panchayat Secretary, Gram Sevak Cadres; New post to be called ‘Panchayat Development Secretary’
Kuljinder Sra
Chandigarh, January 23, 2026:In a major administrative reform aimed at streamlining rural governance, the Punjab Government has merged the cadres of Panchayat Secretaries and Gram Sevaks (Village Development Organisers) and created a new unified cadre titled ‘Panchayat Development Secretary (PDS)’.
According to a notification issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, the decision has been implemented following approval by the Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in its meeting held on August 14, 2025.
New Cadre Structure
With the merger, the Panchayat Development Secretary cadre has been declared a State Cadre. Before the merger, the state had 1,209 posts of Gram Sevaks and 2,242 posts of Panchayat Secretaries, totalling 3,451 posts.
During the restructuring process, 124 posts have been surrendered, and the newly constituted Panchayat Development Secretary cadre will now comprise 3,327 posts.
Seniority and Service Conditions
The government has outlined a clear process for determining seniority in the new cadre. Existing Panchayat Secretaries will be required to submit a self-declaration. After this, the current seniority list of Gram Sevaks will be placed at the end, and a common seniority list will be prepared.
Panchayat Secretaries who fail to submit the self-declaration within one month will continue in the old Panchayat Secretary cadre, which has now been declared a ‘dying cadre’.
Promotion Prospects
Employees in the newly formed PDS cadre will be eligible for promotion to the next higher post of Social Education and Panchayat Officer (SEPO) in accordance with existing service rules.
Pay, Pension and Service Benefits
The government clarified that since the pay scales of both cadres were already identical, no employee will receive any pay step-up benefit as a result of the merger. However, existing salaries will remain protected, and employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) will continue under the same scheme.
Legal Amendments
To give effect to the merger, the Punjab Government will make necessary amendments to the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, along with corresponding service rules.
The notification has been issued by Ajit Balaji Joshi, IAS, Administrative Secretary, Government of Punjab.