Jammu Kashmir: Govt Re-designates 21 DPO Posts as Block Development Officers | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved the re-designation of 21 District Panchayat Officer (DPO) posts as Block Development Officers (BDOs) in the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department.

The decision was formalised through Government Order No. 18-JK(RD and PR) of 2026, dated January 14, 2026, issued by Secretary Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Mohammad Aijaz Asad.

Under the order, 19 DPO posts have been re-designated as Block Development Officers (Headquarters) in the offices of the Assistant Commissioners, Panchayat, while two DPO (Publicity) posts have been re-designated as Block Development Officers (Publicity) in the Directorate of Rural Development, Jammu and Kashmir.

The re-designated posts will continue to carry Pay Level-8 (Rs 47,600–Rs 1,51,100) under the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Development (Gazetted) Services Recruitment Rules.

The secretary said the move followed the creation of Assistant Commissioner, Panchayat posts, which reduced the need for DPOs at the district level. He added that the change would help address the shortage of BDOs at the block level by using existing officers.

He said the presence of BDOs in ACP offices would support the implementation and monitoring of rural development programmes, including the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), Revamped Gram Swaraj Yojana and works under PRI, BDC and DDC. The move is aimed at improving coordination and service delivery at the block level.