A Brief History of Postal Service in India

History of Post Office

The history of postal service in India dates back to the Mughal Empire, where horses and runners were used to deliver messages to different parts of the empire. However, the first organized postal service in India was established by the East India Company in 1688. Initially, the postal service in India was limited to delivering letters between trading posts, but it gradually expanded to cover other parts of the country. In 1837, India became the first country in the world to issue postage stamps, with the first stamp bearing the profile of Queen Victoria.

In 1854, the Indian Post Office Act was passed, which established a uniform rate of postage across the country. This was a significant step towards the modernization of the postal service in India. The introduction of railways in India in the late 19th century played a crucial role in the expansion of the postal service. The railways provided a faster and more efficient mode of transportation for mail and helped connect different parts of the country.

In 1911, the Indian Postal Service was split into two branches – the Imperial Postal Service for communication with foreign countries and the Indian Postal Service for domestic communication. During the independence movement, the postal service played a significant role in spreading the message of freedom and independence. Many freedom fighters used the postal service to send letters and pamphlets to spread their message. In 1947, India gained independence, and the postal service was nationalized. The Department of Posts was established as a government department responsible for providing postal services in India.

In the post-independence era, the postal service in India underwent significant expansion and modernization. New technologies like telegraphs, telephones, and radios were introduced to improve communication. In 1950, the Indian Post Office Act was passed, which gave the Department of Posts the authority to issue money orders and postal orders. In the 1960s, the postal service in India introduced a new system of postal codes, known as PIN codes. The PIN codes helped to streamline the delivery of mail and made it easier for people to address letters and parcels.

In the 1970s, the postal service in India introduced a new service called Speed Post, which allowed for the delivery of mail and parcels within a specified time frame. The 1980s saw the introduction of computerization in the postal service in India. This helped to streamline the process of sorting and delivering mail and made the postal service more efficient. In the 1990s, the Indian postal service started to face competition from private courier companies. To stay competitive, the Department of Posts introduced new services like e-post and e-money order.

In the early 2000s, the Indian postal service underwent a major modernization drive. The Department of Posts introduced a new technology called the Postal Index Number Information System (PINIS), which allowed for real-time tracking of mail and parcels. In 2010, the Indian postal service launched a new service called the Postal Life Insurance (PLI) scheme. The PLI scheme provides life insurance cover to employees of the postal service and their families.

In 2013, the Indian postal service launched a new service called the e-post office. The e-post office allows customers to access postal services online and pay for them electronically. In 2016, the Department of Posts launched a new mobile app called India Post Mobile Banking. The app allows customers to access postal services on their mobile phones and make payments electronically.

In recent years, the Indian postal service has been working to modernize its infrastructure and improve the quality of its services. The Department of Posts has launched several initiatives to improve the delivery of mail and parcels and make the postal service more efficient. Despite facing competition from private courier companies, the Indian postal service remains an essential part of the country's communication network.