JAMMU: In a significant administrative reform aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and improving rural service delivery, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has approved the re-designation of 21 posts of District Panchayat Officers (DPOs) as Block Development Officers (BDOs) in the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
The decision has been formalised through Government Order No. 18-JK(RD&PR) of 2026 dated January 14, 2026, issued by the Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad.
As per the order, 19 posts of District Panchayat Officers have been re-designated as Block Development Officers (Headquarters) in the offices of the Assistant Commissioners, Panchayat, while two posts of District Panchayat Officers (Publicity) 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 (₹47,600–₹1,51,100) under the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Development (Gazetted) Services Recruitment Rules.
Explaining the rationale, Secretary RDD, Mohammad Aijaz Asad said that following the creation of the posts of Assistant Commissioners, Panchayat, the district-level role of DPOs had become largely redundant. The re-designation, he said, would enable optimal utilisation of experienced officers while addressing the acute shortage of BDOs at the block level.
He added that the creation of BDO-level posts in ACP offices will help in the effective implementation, monitoring and coordination of flagship rural development programmes, including Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), Revamped Gram Swaraj Yojana, PRI/BDC/DDC works and other panchayat-driven initiatives.
The re-designation is expected to significantly strengthen service delivery and administrative support in the offices of the Assistant Commissioners, Panchayat, bringing decision-making and implementation closer to the people.
