Part II · Trust, Livelihood and Emotional Labour 1.4 GDS and India Post’s Public Reach

Last updated at July 14, 2026 by

NCERT Questions (from the Textbook)
Why Khetaram Took Up This Job

(From "Check Your Understanding") See full Check Your Understanding section

Why Khetaram Took Up This Job
Discuss with your teacher.
  1. Why do you think Khetaram has taken up this challenging job?
  2. How do you think Khetaram would feel about taking up this challenging task every day?
How to answer: For discussion questions, connect personal inference to exact evidence from the text.
View Answer Hide Answer

1. Khetaram has taken up the job because his farming income is not enough. In a good year he gets only one crop of bajra, which cannot feed his family of five. The GDS job gives him assured income and dignity.

2. He would feel physically tired but emotionally purposeful. His words “Main tayyar hoon” show that he accepts the hardship because the work lets him serve people and support his family.

Practice Board Pattern Questions Mapped to Exam Format

Extract from the Text

The text explains that delivery agents like Khetaram were accepted as Gramin Dak Sewaks in 2001. GDS workers form a large part of India Post’s workforce and deliver in places that may be inaccessible except on foot.

Summary in Bullet Points

  • Khetaram’s individual story is connected to the wider GDS system. individual to institution = the article moves from one worker to the national postal network.

    GDS matlab Gramin Dak Sewak. Khetaram ek banda hai lekin uski story poore GDS system ko represent karti hai. Individual se institutional — ek insaan ki kahani ek movement bann jaati hai.

  • GDS workers serve deserts, islands, frozen regions and riverine communities. national range = the work is not local only; it represents India’s geographical diversity.

    Bhai sochte ho sirf Rajasthan mein desert hoti hai? GDS log Ladakh ki barfon mein, Lakshadweep ke dweep mein, northeast ke jungle mein bhi kaam karte hain. Poora Bharat cover hota hai — remotest corners bhi.

  • India Post’s post-independence mandate was to bring the entire population within the mailing ambit. ambit = range; the postal system becomes a democratic public service.

    Angrezi ke zamane mein post office sirf unke kaam ka tha. Aazadi ke baad mandate badla — ab har Indian tak daak pahunchni chahiye. Ambit matlab daayra, reach. Yeh social commitment tha.

Hinglish explanation: Yahan writer Khetaram ko sirf ek individual case nahi rakhta. Uske through poora GDS system explain hota hai. India Post ka aim hai remote population ko bhi mailing ambit mein lana. Matlab communication sirf city privilege nahi hona chahiye.

Fill in the Blank. 1 mark
Since 2001, rural delivery agents like Khetaram were accepted as __________.
How to answer: Use the official name given in the paragraph.
View Answer Hide Answer
The correct answer is Gramin Dak Sewaks .

GDS — Gramin Dak Sewak. 2001 mein formally accept kiya gaya. Full form yaad rakhna — answer mein GDS hi likhna hai.

MCQ. 1 mark
Why does the text mention Ladakh, Lakshadweep and the northeast?
How to answer: Ask what these locations have in common in the paragraph.
View Answer Hide Answer
A. to compare climates only
B. to list tourist destinations
C. to show that GDS work covers difficult and diverse regions
D. to criticise city life
The correct answer is C. to show that GDS work covers difficult and diverse regions .

Yeh teen examples extreme locations hain — barfili pahad, samundar ke beech dweeep, jungle. Yeh mention karna prove karta hai ki GDS ka reach truly poora India hai. "National range" establish karna tha yaar.

Short Answer. 2 marks
How was India Post’s purpose after independence different from the British postal system?
How to answer: Use the contrast between “company dak” and “entire population”.
View Answer Hide Answer
The British postal system was set up mainly to relay company dak between administrative centres. After independence, India Post’s mandate became wider and more democratic: to bring the entire population within the mailing range.

British time mein post office unke governance ke liye tha. Independence ke baad mandate badla: har Indian tak pahuncho. Service shift — elites se masses tak. Yahi fark hai yaar.

Remove Ads
CA Maninder Singh's photo - Co-founder, Teachoo

Made by

CA Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant with 16+ years of practical experience and 20+ years of teaching experience. At Teachoo, he simplifies Accounts, Tax and GST with step-by-step examples so students can apply concepts confidently in exams and real life.

For an uninterrupted learning experience, students can use Teachoo Black to remove ads and focus better.