India Post's New Overseas Rakhi Service Lets Sisters Track Parcels Straight From Their Phones

Ahead of Raksha Bandhan, India Post has rolled out an affordable International Track Packet Service that lets sisters send rakhis to brothers abroad and track the parcel live from their phones.

With Raksha Bandhan approaching, India Post has rolled out a new International Track Packet Service aimed at sisters whose brothers live overseas. The service is designed to undercut the steep rates charged by private courier firms, giving families a cheaper and safer way to send rakhis abroad. It currently covers more than 30 countries, each with its own postage slab for the first 50 grams.

Lower charges for Asian and neighbouring countries
According to Sunil Kumar Meena, Superintendent of Post Offices for the Bhilwara Division, sending a rakhi weighing up to 50 grams to Thailand, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Singapore or the United Arab Emirates will cost just Rs 185. The charge rises slightly to Rs 190 for parcels headed to Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and Vietnam. For neighbouring and nearby nations such as the Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Egypt, Georgia, Kuwait and Oman, the department has kept the base fee for the first 50 grams especially low, making it easier for sisters to reach brothers settled close to India.

Europe and the US get rates cut to a quarter
Sisters with brothers in Europe or North America also stand to gain, with the department pricing the service at roughly a fourth of what it used to cost. A 50-gram rakhi parcel to the United Kingdom will cost Rs 360, while the United States will cost Rs 400 and Canada Rs 360. Germany is priced at Rs 245, France at Rs 335 and the Netherlands at Rs 320. Sending a rakhi to Austria or Belgium will cost Rs 325, and Italy is set at Rs 350.

Separate pricing for Latin America
The postal department has also fixed distinct rates for Latin American destinations. A rakhi sent to Brazil will cost Rs 290, Mexico Rs 220 and Argentina Rs 360 for the initial 50 grams.

Sisters can track the rakhi's journey from their phones
The service's biggest draw is its end-to-end tracking feature. Meena said sisters will be able to check from their mobile phones exactly which country or city their brother's rakhi has reached at any given moment. That real-time visibility should ease the anxiety families feel over whether a parcel sent overseas will arrive safely and on time.

Dedicated international counters coming up at head post offices
To prevent booking delays during the rush around Raksha Bandhan, the department is setting up dedicated international counters at all major post offices. The move is meant to ensure rakhis reach a brother's wrist on time even during the busiest days of the festival season, without sisters having to wait in long queues to book their parcels.

What this means for you
• Across India: Sisters nationwide can now send rakhis abroad through this cheaper India Post service instead of paying steep private courier charges.
• In Bhilwara: Dedicated international counters coming up at the division's main post offices mean local sisters won't have to deal with long queues or booking delays.

Questions & Answers

1. Who launched the International Track Packet Service?
India Post launched this service ahead of Raksha Bandhan to help sisters send rakhis to brothers living abroad.

2. How many countries does the service cover?
The service is currently available for more than 30 countries, each with its own rate.

3. What is the charge for sending a rakhi to Thailand, Bhutan or China?
The base fee for the first 50 grams to these countries is Rs 185, while Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and Vietnam cost Rs 190.

4. What are the rates for the US and the UK?
The base fee is Rs 400 for the United States and Rs 360 for the United Kingdom.

5. What are the rates for Latin American countries?
Brazil costs Rs 290, Mexico Rs 220 and Argentina Rs 360 for the first 50 grams.

6. Can sisters track their rakhi parcel?
Yes, the service offers end-to-end tracking, letting sisters check on their mobile phones which country or city the rakhi has reached.

7. Where can the parcel be booked?
Bookings can be made at the dedicated international counters being set up at all major post offices.

8. Who provided details of this service?
Sunil Kumar Meena, Superintendent of Post Offices for the Bhilwara Division, shared details of the service.

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