From posting a simple letter to getting a bank card or PAN card delivered, it is now clearer what will stay cheap to send by post and what will cost more. India Post has, for the first time, defined exactly which items count as a 'document'. This category covers letters, printed material and complimentary items that carry no resale value. Such items will attract lower charges, while everything else falls under the parcel category and will be billed at a higher rate.
Alongside this, the department has notified new rates for both retail and bulk customers under its 24 Speed Post and 48 Speed Post services. Under the 24 Speed Post service, an item is delivered within 24 hours, while the 48 Speed Post service delivers within 48 hours.
What Falls Under the Document Category
According to the notification, several products tied to the banking, financial services and insurance space will now be treated as documents. These include welcome kits, letters, passbooks, cheque books, bank-related details, plastic cards, and debit and credit cards. Government papers such as the PAN card, Aadhaar card, voter card, passport and driving licence will also sit in this category. On top of that, non-commercial packets weighing up to 500 grams, like Rakhi envelopes or packets and greeting cards, will be counted as documents too. Everything apart from these items will be sent under the parcel category.
Rates for Retail Customers
There is a bit of relief for retail customers, as their existing rates have not been changed. However, new rates have been fixed for bulk booking within the document category. From August 1, under 24 Speed Post, retail customers will pay between 38 rupees and 186 rupees per packet depending on weight and distance. For packets weighing under 50 grams, the local postage fee will be 38 rupees and 94 rupees for delivery across the country (GST extra). Similarly, the charge is set at 118 to 154 rupees for packets between 51 and 250 grams, and 140 to 186 rupees per packet for the 251 to 500 gram range.
New Fees for Bulk Customers
For bulk customers, the fee for the 24 hour Speed Post service will range from 38 to 100 rupees, while the 48 hour service will cost between 48 and 72 rupees. According to the department, under the 48 Speed Post service retail customers will have to pay 61 to 121 rupees per packet based on weight and distance. One important point is that the 24 Speed Post and 48 Speed Post services are currently available in only six cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. This means customers in other cities will not get the benefit of these faster services for now.
