Letter vs Parcel Rules Explained, New Speed Post Rates Notified

New Delhi: Any written, drawn, printed, or a package containing complimentary items or items having no resale value will fall under the letter category, and the rest of the items will be classified as parcel items, a government notification clarifying postal items said on Monday.

The Department of Post has also notified rates of 24 Speed Post and 48 Speed Post for retail and bulk customers.

According to the notification, banking, financial services and insurance items like welcome kits or letters, passbooks, cheque books, bank statements, plastic cards, debit cards and credit cards will fall under the category of letter.

The letter category will also include government documents such as PAN Cards, Aadhaar cards, Electoral Photo Identity cards, passports, driving licenses and items, up to 500 grams, like Rakhi envelopes or packages, greeting cards or packages, except merchandise or commercial items.

All items other than the items referred to in Note 1 shall be dealt with under parcel category," the notification said.

For retail customers, there is no change in service rates but it has additionally notified rates for bulk booking in the letter category. An item booked under 24 Speed Post will cost in the range of Rs 38 to Rs 186 apiece based on the weight and distance of destination with effect from August 1 for retail customers.

The new 24 Speed Post and 48 Speed Post promise delivery within specified time of 24 hours and 48 hours.

A contractual bulk customer will have to pay Rs 38 to Rs 100 for 24-hour speed post service, and Rs 48 to Rs 72 for 48-hour speed post service.

These services are available only in six cities at present - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Under 24 Speed Post service for retail customers, an item weighing less than 50 grams will cost Rs 38 for local delivery and Rs 94 apiece for delivery across India, excluding GST.

The price slab for letter category for items weighing 51-250 grams is in the range of Rs 118 to Rs 154 apiece and the third slab in the range of 251-500 grams will be Rs 140 to Rs 186 apiece for retail customers.

The 48 speed post service will cost in the range of Rs 61 to Rs 121 apiece based on the weight and shipping destination for retail customers.