India Post launches 24, 48-hour premium Speed Post services

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday addressed the launch of India Post’s premium ‘24 Speed Post’ service, offering guaranteed next-day delivery, at Rangbhawan Auditorium, Akashvani Bhawan in New Delhi.While speaking on the occassion, the minister praised India Post’s vast reach and legacy, noting that it operates the largest and most extensive postal network in the world. Scindia lauded the rural postal service, saying that in every tehsil and taluka across the country’s 6.5 lakh villages, people place immense trust in it—often more than even family members. Calling it a moment of new beginnings for India Post, Scindia highlighted the rapid spread of smartphones to the remotest corners of the country and the exponential growth of the e-commerce sector, which is currently valued at Rs11 lakh crore and is expected to expand to Rs30 lakh crore by 2030. He expressed confidence that the new services will significantly benefit both common citizens and traders, adding that the postal department is transforming itself to meet modern needs.

E-commerce market will grow from current Rs 11 lakh crore to Rs 30 lakh crore by 2030, says Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

In 11 months of this (fiscal) year, India Post's parcel business has grown 44 pc annually: Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. pic.twitter.com/ennZn48f0c

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 17, 2026

The service, introduced by the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications, aims to enhance the competitiveness of India Post against private courier and logistics players by offering faster, time-bound delivery solutions.The rollout follows amendments notified under the ‘Post Office (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026’, which came into effect from March 17, 2026. The updated framework introduces premium delivery categories, including ‘24 Speed Post’, ‘48 Speed Post’, and ‘24 Speed Post Parcel’.
Under the new system, ‘24 Speed Post’ ensures next-day delivery from the date of booking between select origin and destination cities, while ‘48 Speed Post’ guarantees delivery within two working days. These services currently apply to documents sent under the Speed Post category.In addition, ‘24 Speed Post Parcel’ has been introduced to facilitate next-day parcel delivery. Parcels under this category will generally be transported via air, although surface transport may be used where it offers faster transit times.
The services have initially been launched across major metropolitan cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, with plans to expand coverage to additional cities in a phased manner.According to the notification, the parcel service will follow a weight-based tariff structure for consignments up to 5 kilograms, with charges calculated on volumetric or actual weight, whichever is higher.
The premium services will be available to both retail customers and bulk or corporate clients entering into agreements with the postal department. They will also include value-added features such as proof of delivery, pick-up facilities, insurance, and registration.According to information, an OTP-based delivery system will be offered as a bundled feature for select services, including ‘24 Speed Post Parcel’, at no additional cost. Registration will attract a nominal fee of Rs5 per item, with applicable GST charged separately.The department has also clarified that existing conditions related to weight, size, and permissible contents for Speed Post will apply to these premium offerings. Compensation provisions applicable to current Speed Post services will continue for the new categories.