- New addressee-specific service, digital upgrades, and bulk discounts sharpen competitive edge against private couriers
- Launched in 1986 as EMS Speed Post, India Post’s premium service was designed to compete with private couriers
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, OCT 1
The Department of Posts has announced a significant revamp of its flagship Speed Post service, effective Wednesday-October 1, 2025. With the launch of OTP-based delivery, addressee-specific services, revised tariffs, and bulk customer discounts, India Post aims to reinforce its competitiveness in a courier market dominated by private players such as Blue Dart, DTDC, and Delhivery.
Commenting on this, Krishna Kumar Yadav, Postmaster General of North Gujarat Region, Ahmedabad, said: “Speed Post is becoming safer, smarter and more citizen-friendly in the era of digitization. With real-time tracking, OTP verification, and fair tariffs, India Post is aligning itself with the best global practices while retaining affordability.”
Key Upgrades
- OTP-Based Delivery: A value-added option for ₹5 per article (plus GST) to ensure secure delivery via one-time password verification.
- Addressee-Specific Service: For ₹5 per article (plus GST), senders can ensure delivery exclusively to the addressee, enhancing trust for sensitive or legal documents.
- Revised Tariffs
- ₹19 for intra-city deliveries (first 50 grams).
- ₹47 for rest-of-India deliveries (first 50 grams).
- ₹93 maximum tariff for up to 500 grams on the longest route.
- Bulk Discounts: Contractual and e-commerce customers with a minimum monthly business of ₹9 lakh are eligible for 10% to 50% discounts, a move clearly targeted at online retail logistics.
Competitive Edge
While private couriers often charge higher for value-added services such as OTP verification and restricted delivery, India Post is introducing them at nominal charges, making the service highly attractive for individuals, SMEs, and e-commerce players seeking secure yet affordable options. The new APT 2.0 cloud-based platform further supports real-time tracking, narrowing the technology gap with private logistics firms.
Building on Legacy
Launched in 1986 as EMS Speed Post, India Post’s premium service was designed to compete with private couriers. With the current revamp, it aims to combine affordability, nationwide reach, and digitized safety features to reassert itself as the preferred logistics partner in an increasingly e-commerce-driven economy.
