The government has announced new regulations under the Post Office Act, marking a transition from traditional postal services to a focus on people-oriented services. This change also opens up new job opportunities through the offerings available at post offices.
This update was shared in an official statement on Thursday, which highlighted that the new regulations are guided by the principle of ‘Dak Seva Jan Seva’. The aim is to simplify the language of the rules while promoting the vision of ‘Minimum Governance, Effective Government’ and ‘Self-reliant India’.
Legislative reforms have been initiated by the Department of Posts, leading to the creation of the ‘Post Office Act, 2023’ in December of last year, which took effect in June. To support this initiative, a new set of subordinate laws, namely the Post Office Rules, 2024, and Post Office Regulations, 2024, have also been developed, as stated in the announcement.
The Government of India has published these Subordinate Laws in the Official Gazette, and they are effective as of December 16, 2024. The Post Office Rules, 2024, are designed to enhance the services provided by post offices, including the creation of new opportunities within the department and job generation through various postal services.
The emphasis will be on ensuring access to people-centric services, even in remote locations, through partnerships with both public and private sectors. The new rules also incorporate elements of digital addresses and payment methods, reflecting the future of postal transactions. Additionally, they acknowledge the government’s efforts regarding postage stamps, including digital stamps, and establish mechanisms for addressing grievances.
These rules do not have penal provisions, the statement said. The Post Office Regulations, 2024 cover the details and operational aspects of the products and services offered by the post office across the country and also include enabling provisions for insurance and financial services offered through the post office network.
