Govt clarifies what qualifies as postal document, parcel; new Speed Post tariffs from Aug 1

The government on Monday clarified the distinction between articles that can be sent as documents and those that must be treated as parcels through the postal network.

The Department of Post also notified tariff structures for 24-hour and 48-hour Speed Post services, including separate rates for contractual bulk customers, with effect from August 1.

According to the notification, a document may include letters or other written, printed or drawn communications as well as packages containing complimentary items or articles with no resale value.

Banking, financial services and insurance-related items such as welcome kits, passbooks, cheque books, bank statements, debit and credit cards will fall under the category of letter.

Government-issued documents including PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, voter identity cards, passports and driving licences have also been included in the document category.

The notification allows non-commercial items weighing up to 500 grams, such as Rakhi envelopes, greeting cards and similar packages, to be sent as documents.

However, merchandise or commercial items have been specifically excluded from the category.

It also makes clear that all items other than those specified under the document category will be dealt with under the parcel category.

The regulations also notify fresh tariffs for the newly introduced 24 Speed Post and 48 Speed Post services.

The new 24 Speed Post and 48 Speed Post promise delivery within specified time of 24 hours and 48 hours.

For retail customers, the tariff for 24 Speed Post has been fixed at ₹38 for articles weighing up to 50 grams for local delivery and ₹94 for destinations beyond 200 km.

Charges range from ₹48 to ₹154 for articles weighing 51-250 grams and from ₹56 to ₹186 for those weighing 251-500 grams, depending on distance.

For 48 Speed Post, retail customers will pay ₹61 for articles weighing up to 50 grams irrespective of distance.

The tariff ranges from ₹77 to ₹100 for articles weighing 51-250 grams and from ₹91 to ₹121 for articles weighing 251-500 grams. GST will be levied extra, wherever applicable.

Separate tariffs have also been prescribed for contractual bulk customers.

For 24 Speed Post, rates for articles weighing up to 50 grams range from ₹38 for local deliveries to ₹70 for deliveries to the rest of the country, while articles weighing 51-500 grams will be charged between ₹48 and ₹100, depending on destination.

For 48 Speed Post, contractual bulk customers will pay ₹48, ₹56 and ₹60 respectively for articles weighing up to 50 grams sent within a state, between metro cities and to the rest of the country.

For articles weighing 51-500 grams, the corresponding rates are ₹59, ₹70 and ₹72.