This relates to issuance of the Post Office Rules, 2024″ (Rules) and “The Post Office Regulations, 2024” (Regulations) under the new Post Office Act, 2023, for the functioning of the post offices. The PO Rules, 2024 and the PO Regulations, 2024 have been issued vide G.S.R. 767 (E) dated 16.12.2024 under Part II Section 3 Sub-section (i) and S.O. 5440 (E) dated 16.12.2024 under Part II Section 3 Sub-section (ii). The new set of Rules and Regulations came into force w.e.f. 16.12.2024. These Rules have been circulated to all the Circles under copy to PAOs/Training Units/Directorate/Divisions etc. vide letter of even number dated 18.12.2024.
- The PO Rules, 2024 are framed to be enabler for the services to be provided by the post offices. The Post Office Regulations, 2024 contains the administrative and operational aspects of products and services offered by the post office across the country. The Mails and Parcel products have been rationalised keeping in view the redundancy of the existing products and optimizing operational efficiency. For this purpose, some of the products/services of similar kinds and features have been subsumed in a single product/service; some of the products/services which do not have relevance and are obsolete, have been done away with, and features including weight, dimensions, conditions of transmission have been modified. The highlights of major changes made in these Rules and Regulations are enclosed as ANNEXURE.
- Also, the PO Regulations, 2024 have several references which enable the making of administrative instructions for the implementation of these Regulations. These instructions have been issued by the Directorate/Divisions concerned and have been implemented w.e.f. 16.12.2024 (the date of implementation of Rules and Regulations).
- The new Postal Act – The Post Office Act, 2023 and its subordinate legislation i.e. the PO Rules, 2024 and the PO Regulations, 2024 along with the major changes being made in contrast to the earlier Act/Rules, may be disseminated to each and every post office i.e. HOs/SOs/BOs for awareness and information.Annexure:
| Category of products/ services | Products/services as per earlier Act/Rules | Products/Services as per new Act/Rules/Regulations | Major Changes |
| Letter Post | Letter | Letter | Weight of the letter has been fixed up to 500 grams |
| Letter Cards | Letter Cards | No major change | |
| Post Cards | Post Cards | Post Card containing printed communications, Competition Post cards, and Meghdooth Post cards have been merged with Post Cards.
Additionally, postcard may be tendered for registration facility by paying the prescribed fee. |
|
| Post Cards containing Printed communications | |||
| Competition Post cards | |||
| Meghdooth Post cards | |||
| Book Packets | Book Post | Book Packets, Book Packets containing printed books, pattern and sample packets have been subsumed in Book Post (new product) | |
| Book Packets containing printed books | |||
| Pattern and sample packets | |||
| Book Packets Containing periodicals | Periodical Post | Book Packets Containing periodicals has been renamed as Periodical Post.However features and other conditions are same. | |
| Business Reply Envelops & Cards | Omitted | Business Reply Envelops & Cards omitted | |
| Blind Literature | Blind Literature | No Change | |
| Registered News Paper | Registered News Paper | As per the definition of newspaper mentioned in the press and registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, the Periodicity of registered newspapers has been changed to at-least once in a week. Accordingly other changes have been made in the features and conditions of registered newspapers.
The Newspaper, periodicity of which is more than a week may be facility Under Periodical Post |
|
| Parcel Post | Parcel (Ordinary) _____________ Business Parcel |
India Post Parcel | Ordinary Parcel and Business Parcel have been subsumed in India Post Parcel (New Product) which is also an accountable item. features including weight and dimensions have been modified.
India Post Parcel may be availed by retail as well as contractual customers. However, rate of postage of retail and contractual customers are different. |
| EMS | Speed Post | Speed Post Document ——————————————- Speed Post parcel |
Speed Post has been split into speed post document and parcel |
| Value added Products | Registration | Registration | |
| Insurance | Insurance | ||
| Value Payable Post(VPP) | Cash On Delivery | Value Payable Post(VPP) have been merged with Cash On Delivery. Cash On Delivery has been extended to retail customers too.
|
|
| Cash On Delivery | Cash On Delivery | ||
| Money Remittance Services | Electronic Money Order | Money Order | Family Allotment Money Order omitted
Electronic Money Order renamed as Money Order Limit of Money Order Raised from Rs.5000 to Rs.10000. However, amount of remittance to a person through retail money order has been restricted to Rs.25,000/-
|
| Family Allotment Money Order | Money Order | ||
| Postal Order | Postal Order | Earlier denominations of RS. 1,2,5,7,10,20,50,100 have been changed to denomination of Rs. 10,20,50,100. | |
| Delivery Options | Post Box | Post Box | No Major Change |
| Post Bag | Post Bag | No Major Change | |
| Logistics | Logistic Post | Logistic Post | No Major Change |
| BD Products | National Bill Mail Service | Omitted | |
| Bill Mail Service | Omitted | ||
| Direct Post | Direct Post | No Major Change | |
| Media Post | Media Post | No Major Change | |
| Greeting Post | Omitted | ||
| ePost | ePost | No Major Change | |
| Business Post | Business Post | No Change | |
| Retail Post | Retail Post | No Change | |
| Rakhi Mail | Omitted | ||
| Free Post Service | Omitted | ||
| Print to Post | Omitted | ||
| Magazine Post | Magazine Post | No Change | |
| Foreign Products/ Services | — | —– | No modifications in foreign products/services
Slight changes in features and conditions of transmission |