Accumulation of paid leave without encashment facilities for GDS – Department of Posts Notification
New Paid Leave Rules for Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS): The Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India, has approved major changes to Rule-7 of the GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules, 2020. These changes allow GDS to accumulate paid leave up to a prescribed limit, although leave encashment remains unavailable. The revised rule becomes effective from 01 January 2026.
Department of Posts Revises Rule-7 – Effective from 1 January 2026
🗂️ Key Provisions Under the Revised Rule-7
- GDS will earn 20 days of paid leave per year — credited as 10 days every half year.
- Leave is credited on:
- 1st January (first half-year)
- 1st July (second half-year)
- Unavailed paid leave may be carried forward up to a maximum of 45 days.
- Leave credit formula for partial engagement months: 1.67 days per completed month.
- Fractions are rounded:
- 0.5 and above → counted as 1 day
- Less than 0.5 → ignored
📌 Paid leave in excess of the 45-day limit will lapse at the end of each half-year
if not utilised.
(Explained through FAQs in Annexure-I)
❗ Important Conditions
- No leave encashment is permitted at any stage — during service or after discharge.
- If a GDS fails to return after exhausting admissible leave, disengagement proceedings may begin.
- A GDS absent beyond the allowed period may be removed unless exceptional circumstances apply.
📘 FAQs
The Office Memorandum includes key clarifications for practical application:
- Excess leave lapsing: Freshly credited 10 days will lapse if total exceeds 45 days and remains unused by half-year end.
- Leave in parts: Paid leave may be availed in multiple installments.
- Encashment: Not allowed under any circumstances.
- Long leave stretch: Allowed subject to approval and sufficient leave balance.
- Combining leave: Paid leave may be combined with maternity leave or LWA (except emergency leave).
- Holidays: Sundays/postal holidays may be prefixed or suffixed with approval.
These FAQs are provided to help Circles and units correctly implement the revised paid leave rules.
🏛️ Official Circulation
The Office Memorandum dated 30 December 2025 has been circulated to all Chief Postmasters General, Postal Directorates, Training Centres, CEPT units, and recognized staff unions.