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Contents POST OFFICE ACT, 2023 PAGE
1. Short title and commencement
1
2. Definitions
1
3. Services to be provided by Post Office
1
4. Exclusive privilege in respect of postage stamps
2
5. Addresses and postcodes
3
6. Power to give effect to arrangements with other countries
3
7. Recovery of sums due in respect of services provided by Post Office
3
8. Official mark to be evidence of certain facts denoted
4
9. Power to intercept, open or detain any item or deliver item to customs authority
5
10. Exemption from liability
6
11. Delegation of power, other than rulemaking powers to Director General
8
12. Power to make rules
8
13. Power to make regulations
8
14. Laying of rules and regulations in Parliament
8
15. Power to remove difficulties
8
16. Repeal and savings
8
SUBJECT INDEX
9
POST OFFICE RULES, 2024 1. Short title and commencement I-5
11
CONTENTS
I-6 PAGE
2. Definitions
11
3. Services to be provided by Post Office (Domestic/Foreign)
12
4. Director General to authorize certain Services
12
5. Postal Services Board
12
6.
12
7. Exclusive privilege in respect of postage stamps
12
8. Philatelic Advisory Committee
12
9. Modes of payment of postage or other charges
13
10. Modes of payment for other Services
13
11. Addresses and postcodes
13
12. Power to give effect to arrangements with other countries
13
13. Official mark to be denoted
13
14. Sender of Item
14
15. Official mark on items
14
16. Interception, detention and opening of item(s)
14
17. Duty of authorized officers in delivering items
15
18. Interception in addition to and not in derogation of other laws
15
19. Exemption from Liability
15
POST OFFICE REGULATIONS, 2024 CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY 1. Short title and commencement
16
2. Definitions
16 CHAPTER II GENERAL
3. Business hours
18
4.
18
5. Payment of postage and other sums chargeable on items
18
6. Postage on unaccountable items and unpaid items
18
7. Postage and chargeable sums not deemed to be prepaid
19
8. Supply of postage stamps
19
9. Fraudulent usage of stamp
19
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CONTENTS PAGE
10. Illegal manufacture or usage of postage stamps
19
11. Philately
20
12. Philatelic materials
20
13. Issuance of postage stamps
20
14. Issuance of Commemorative Postage Stamp
21
15. Philatelic Advisory Committee
21
16. Manner of affixing postage stamps
21
17. Price of postage stamps and stationery
21
18. Standards for addressing on domestic items
22
19. Mails for defence services personnel
23
20. Exemption in method of addressing of an item in certain cases
23
21. Standards for addressing on international items
23
22. Posting of items
24
23. Receipt for transmission by post
25
24. Ownership of items
25
25. Prohibition of domestic items
25
26. Prohibition of international items
27
27. Application of regulation 25 on international items
27
28. Transmission of precious metals and precious stones
27
29. Items for blind prohibited in certain cases
27
30. Items transmitted in contravention of regulation 27
28
31. Customs control
28
32. Post Office authorised to collect customs duty, etc.
28
33. Items sent in contravention of any law
28
34. Disposal of intercepted items
28
35. Items suspected to contain dangerous substances
29
36. Restriction on disclosure
29
37. Disposal of items opened
29
38. Notice of opening of an item
29
39. No relief from liability
29
40. No right to compensation
30 CHAPTER III
MANNER OF DELIVERY OF ITEMS 41. Accountable items
30
CONTENTS
I-8 PAGE
42. Accountable items to be issued for delivery
30
43. Addressee to sign in receipt
30
44. Letter delivery box of items other than accountable items
30
45. Window delivery
31
46. Post box
31
47. Post bags
31
48. Smart delivery box
32
49. Delivery to public officers
32
50. Special procedure for delivering items to firms, etc.
32
51. Items addressed to deceased persons
32
52. Delivery of damaged item
32
53. Intimation to addressee
32
54. Seeking identification of addressee, if needed
33
55. Redirection of items
33
56. Request to avail certain facilities
33
57. Manner of making request
33
58. Post Office not liable for non-fulfilment of request
33
59. Postage payable on delivery
34
60. Postage-due stamp
34
61. Delivery of items on which customs duty is due
34
62. Refusal of items
34
63. Obligation to pay sum charged
35
64. Detention and disposal of undelivered items at post office of addressee
35
65. Undelivered items to be returned in certain cases
35
66. Standard remarks on undelivered items
35
67. Detention and disposal of undelivered items at Returned Letter Office (RLO)
35
68. Procedure in case of dealing undelivered items
36
69. Period for which intimation regarding change in address remain valid
36
70. Officers or officials authorised to make an official mark
36
71. Recovery of dues in respect of unpaid and insufficiently paid domestic items
37
72. Recovery of dues in respect of unpaid and insufficiently paid international items
37
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CONTENTS PAGE
CHAPTER IV COMPENSATION 73. Compensation in respect of domestic items
37
74. Compensation in respect of insured items
38
75. Complaint in respect of domestic or insured items
38
76. Filing of complaint
38
77. Items treated as lost
38
78. Compensation in case of international items
39
79. Complaint in respect of international items
40
80. No compensation to be paid in certain cases
41
81. Period for settlement of compensation
42
82. Complaint, how to be made
42
83. Liability for compensation in force majeure circumstances
42
84. Suspension or restriction of transmission of items
42
85. Treatment and transmission of items
42
86. Treatment of counterfeit currency
43
CHAPTER V DOMESTIC ITEMS A. LETTER POST ITEMS 87. Letters
43
88. Letters in other than roll form
43
89. Letter cards
44
90. Conditions where infringed
45
91. Postcards
45
92. Book post
46
92A. Gyan Post
48
93. Literature for blind
49
94. Periodical Post
50
95. Registered newspapers
51 PARCEL POST
96. India post parcel
51
97. Logistic post
52
CONTENTS
I-10 PAGE
98. Speed post
52
99. Speed post document
53
100. Speed post parcel
53 OTHER POSTAL PRODUCTS
101. Direct post
53
102. Media post
54
103. e-Post
54
104. e-Payment
54
105. Retail post
54
106. Magazine post
55 CHAPTER VI
INTERNATIONAL ITEMS AND SERVICES 107. International post
55 A. LETTER POST ITEMS
108. Letters (International)
56
109. Aerogramme
56
110. Post card (International)
56
111. Airmail postcard
57 SMALL PACKET
112. Small packet
57
113. Printed papers
57
114. M-Bag (Bulk bag)
58
115. Literature for blind (International)
58
116. International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS)
59
B. PARCEL POST ITEMS 117. International air parcel
59
C. INTERNATIONAL SPEED POST SERVICES (EMS) 118. International speed post
60
D. COMMON REGULATIONS RELATED WITH INTERNATIONAL MAILS 119. Booking
61
120. Electronic Advance Data (EAD)
61
121. Packaging
62
122. Delivery in country or territory of destination
62
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CONTENTS PAGE
E. OTHER FEATURES OF INTERNATIONAL MAIL ITEMS 123. Other features
62
124. Track and trace service
62
125. Inward international mails
62
126. Failure to take delivery
63
127. Failure to take delivery of Post Restante parcel
63
CHAPTER VII UNIVERSAL POSTAL SERVICE 128. Mail services under Universal Postal Service
64
CHAPTER VIII OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE 129. On postal service
64
130.
64
131. Postal ballot or election material
65
CHAPTER IX VALUE ADDED SERVICES A. DOMESTIC ITEMS 132. [Omitted by the Post Office (Fourth Amendment) Regulations 2025, w.e.f. 1-10-2025]
65
133. Insurance of domestic items
65
134. Airmail service
66
135. Cash On Delivery (COD) items
67
136. Proof of delivery
67
136A. One Time Password (OTP) based delivery
67
137. Services relating to pre-mailing activities
67
B. INTERNATIONAL ITEMS 138. Registration of international items
68
139. Insurance of International items
68
140. International items with precious metals
68
141. Redirected or returned international item
68
142. Compensation payable
69
143. Surface airlift and air surcharge
69
144. Advice of delivery
70
CONTENTS
I-12 PAGE
CHAPTER X MONEY REMITTANCE SERVICES A. DOMESTIC 145. Domestic money order
70
146. Period of currency of money order
71
147. Categories of money order
71
148. Booking of money order
71
149.
71
150. Payment of money order
71
151. Redirection of money order
72
152. Exemption from liability of Post Office in respect of money order
72
153. Undelivered Money Order
72
154. Void money order
72
155. Forfeiture of money order amount
73
156. Suspension of service
73
157. Postal order
73
158. Currency period
73
159. Forfeiture
73
160. Repayment of postal order
73
161. Payee’s name essential
74
162. Payment through bank
74
163. Payment of crossed postal order
74
164. Mutilated postal orders
74
165. Electronic postal order
74
B. INTERNATIONAL 166. Foreign money orders
74
167. Advice to remitter of foreign money order
75
168. Remitter to change name or address for payment
75
169. Inward foreign money orders
75
CHAPTER XI BUSINESS SOLUTIONS A. BOOK NOW PAY LATER 170. Book now pay later facility
75
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CONTENTS PAGE
171. Authority authorised to approve
76
B. NATIONAL ACCOUNT FACILITY (NAF) 172. National account facility
76
C. ADVANCE PAYMENT 173. Advance payment facility
76 CHAPTER XII
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH COLLABORATION 174. Post Office network for citizen centric services
77
CHAPTER XIII MISCELLANEOUS A. PINCODE 175. Postal Index Number
77
B. REMOTELY MANAGED FRANKING MACHINE 176. Franking machines
77
177. Issuance of updated version of regulations annually
78
178. Postal operations order
78 CHAPTER XIV
POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE 179. Insurance services
78 CHAPTER XV FINANCIAL SERVICES
180. Administrative instructions for financial services
79
SCHEDULE I : Postage and Fee for Domestic Items
79
SCHEDULE II : Postage and Fee for other Postal Items
83
SCHEDULE III : Postage and Fee for International Items
84
SCHEDULE IV : Value added Services
103
SCHEDULE V : Money Remittance Services
106
Post Office Act, 2023 [ACT NO. 43 OF 2023]* An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to Post Office in India and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— Short title and commencement. 1. (1) This Act may be called the Post Office Act, 2023. (2) It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. Definitions. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) “Director General” means the Director General of Postal Services appointed by the Central Government and includes any officer authorised by the Central Government to perform the duties of the Director General; (b) “item” means an indivisible article which the Post Office accepts for providing a service; (c) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette; (d) “Post Office” means the Department of Posts and includes every house, building, room, place or any other asset used by the Post Office for providing any service; (e) “prescribe” means prescribe by rules made under this Act and the expression “prescribed” shall be construed accordingly; (f) “regulations” means the regulations made under this Act. Services to be provided by Post Office. 3. (1) The Post Office shall provide such services as the Central Government may prescribe.
*Dated 24-12-2023. 1. Notification No. S.O. 2352(E), dated 17-6-2024 : In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Post Office Act, 2023 (43 of 2023), the Central Government hereby appoints the 18th day of June, 2024 as the date on which the said Act, shall come into force.
1
S. 4
POST OFFICE ACT, 2023
2
(2) The Director General may make regulations— (a) in respect of activities necessary to provide services referred to in sub-section (1); and (b) to fix charges for, and the terms and conditions in respect of, services referred to in sub-section (1). (3) Any service provided by the Post Office shall be subject to any other law for the time being in force. COMMENTS SECTION NOTES
3.1 Services to be Provided by the Post Office
The section mandates that the Post Office must provide services as prescribed by the Central Government.
3.2 Director General’s Power to Regulate Activities and Charges for services
Section 3(2) grants power to Director General to make regulations in regard to following: (a) all activities necessary to provide the prescribed services. (b) to determine charges and set terms and conditions related to prescribed services.
3.3 Subjection to other Laws
The section 3(3) clarifies that all services provided by the Post Office must comply with other laws currently in force.
Exclusive privilege in respect of postage stamps. 4. (1) The Post Office shall have the exclusive privilege of issuing postage stamps. (2) The Director General may make regulations relating to the supply and sale of postage stamps and postal stationery. (3) In this section, the expressions— (a) “postage stamp” means any stamp provided by the Central Government, in any form, physical or digital, for denoting sums payable in respect of such service provided by the Post Office, as may be prescribed and includes stamps affixed, printed, embossed, embedded, impressed, or otherwise indicated on an item; (b) “postal stationery” means stationery, issued by the Post Office such as envelopes, letter cards, postcards, bearing imprinted stamps or inscriptions indicating that sum payable in respect of a service provided by the Post Office has been prepaid. COMMENTS SECTION NOTES
4.1 Exclusive Right to Issue Postage Stamps
Section 4(1) grants the Post Office the exclusive right to issue postage stamps, establishing a monopoly over stamp issuance in India.
3
POST OFFICE ACT, 2023
S. 7
CASE LAWS
Monopoly of Postal Services - Constitutional Validity - The case involved a challenge to the constitutional validity of Sections 4 and 58 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, by a private courier company accused of running a parallel postal service. The petitioners argued that these sections, which grant the Central Government exclusive privilege to convey letters, infringed on their rights under Articles 14 and 19(1)(a) and (g) of the Constitution. The Delhi High Court upheld the validity of the sections, ruling that the exclusive privilege granted to the government for conveying letters is a reasonable restriction under Article 19(6), as it serves a commercial and welfare purpose, ensuring accessible communication services across the country. The Court also clarified that the restriction applies only to the conveyance of letters, not to other postal articles, and does not violate Article 14 since the classification is reasonable. The petition was dismissed, affirming that the government’s monopoly on postal services is a valid exercise of state power. — Inland Commercial (TPT) Service, Delhi v. Union of India AIR 1982 Delhi 393.
Addresses and postcodes. 5. (1) The Central Government may prescribe standards for addressing on the items, address identifiers and usage of postcodes. (2) In this section, “postcode” means a series of digits, letters or digital code or a combination of digits, letters or digital code used to identify a geographic area or location, and ease the process of sorting and delivery of items and for other purposes. COMMENTS SECTION NOTES
5.1 Authority to Prescribe Standards
This provision empowers the Central Government to prescribe standards for addressing on the items.
In addition to addressing standards, the Central Government may prescribe guidelines for address identifiers (like unique codes for buildings or areas) and the use of postcodes.
5.2 Definition and Purpose of “Postcode”
A postcode is defined broadly to encompass any combination of digits, letters, or digital codes. This inclusivity allows flexibility in the postcode system, accommodating current numeric codes and potential future formats, including alphanumeric or digital systems.
Postcodes are intended to simplify sorting and direct items accurately to geographic areas, making the delivery process more efficient and reliable.
While primarily for sorting and delivery, postcodes may also serve other purposes, such as demographic analysis or regional identification, aligning with broader postal and administrative functions that require location-based data.
Power to give effect to arrangements with other countries. 6. The Central Government may make rules to give effect to arrangements made with any foreign country or territory for services provided by the Post Office between India and the said foreign country or territory. Recovery of sums due in respect of services provided by Post Office. 7. (1) Every person who avails a service provided by the Post Office shall be liable to pay the charges in respect of such service.
Post Office Act 2023 with Rules – Bare Act with Section Notes AUTHOR : : PUBLISHER DATE OF PUBLICATION : : EDITION ISBN NO : : No. of Pages BINDING TYPE :
Taxmann’s Editorial Board Taxmann December 2025 2026 Edition 9789371267915 124 Paperback
Rs. 165 DESCRIPTION Post Office Act 2023 with Rules [Bare Act with Section Notes] by Taxmann presents the complete and updated text of the Post Office Act, 2023, along with the Post Office Rules, 2024 and Post Office Regulations, 2024. The legislation modernises and consolidates the legal framework governing postal services in India, replacing the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. It covers a broad range of subjects, including postal services and products, addresses and postcodes, exclusive privileges relating to postage stamps, mail transmission, interception and detention of postal articles, liability and exemptions of postal authorities, financial and money remittance services, international postal cooperation, and value-added services aligned with logistics and e-commerce needs. This publication reproduces the bare statutory text of the Act, Rules, and Regulations, supplemented with section-wise notes and comments explaining legislative intent, scope, and practical application. The notes assist readers in understanding the transition from the earlier legal regime and clarify procedural and compliance-related aspects. A detailed Subject Index and well-organised layout ensure quick reference and easy navigation. This book is intended for the following audience: • Legal Professionals & Advocates • Law Students & Academics • Postal Department Officials & Employees • Government & Regulatory Authorities • Businesses & E-commerce Entities • General Public The Present Publication is the 2026 Edition, covering the amended and updated text of the Post Office Act [Act No. 43 of 2023], along with Rules and Regulations, with the following noteworthy features: • [Complete Text of the Act, Rules & Regulations] Consolidated presentation of the Post Office Act 2023, Post Office Rules 2024, and Post Office Regulations 2024 • [Coverage of the New Postal Law Regime] Includes all provisions introduced under the new Act, highlighting updated definitions, institutional structures, and powers of the Central Government and Director General • [Section-wise Notes & Comments] Brief explanatory notes following each section and regulation, outlining scope, implications, and legal significance • [Practical Guidance on Compliance & Procedures] Explains statutory mechanisms relating to postal insurance, money orders, financial services, international mail, compensation, and modern postal operations • [Illustrative Case Notes & Historical References] Select judicial references under earlier postal laws to provide historical context and aid interpretation • [Tables, Schedules & Rates] Statutory tables on postage rates, fees, compensation limits, service charges, and timelines in a user-friendly format • [Detailed Subject Index] Comprehensive index for quick identification of relevant sections, rules, and key concepts
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