Lok Sabha Question No. 35 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Growth of India Post
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.35 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016

## GROWTH OF INDIA POST

35. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the express mail service of India Posts has doubled its revenue during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken to maintain and augment the growth of business of India Posts;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the limit of single/joint deposits scheme in Monthly Income Plan to develop the business growth of India Posts; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b) Department  of  Posts  provides  the  services  of  Speed  Post,  Express Parcel  and  Business  Parcel  for  express  delivery  of  letters  and  parcels.    Revenue performance of Speed Post and Express/Business Parcel during the last three years is given at Annexure 'A'.
- (c) Following  steps  have  been  taken  to  maintain  and  augment  the  growth  of business of Department of Posts:
-  The Parcel booking and handling facilities have been upgraded to cater to the increasing eCommerce market.
-  Parcel handling capacity has been augmented by establishment of 57 integrated Parcel Processing Centres and mechanising the pickup/delivery of parcels.
-  Cash - on - Delivery facility especially for e-commerce companies has been provided as a value addition to the Speed Post and Express/Business Parcel.
-  Online Track and Trace system for Speed Post has been strengthened. In addition to the website of the Department of Posts (www.indiapost.gov.in),  the  status  of  an  article  can  also  be  tracked through an android based mobile application.

-  The facility  of  Short  Messaging  Service  (SMS)  has  been  provided  for giving the delivery status of an article.
-  National  Account  facility  has  been  introduced  under  Speed  Post  and Express/ Business Parcel for contractual customers.
-  Provision  has  been  made  for  packaging,  shrink-wrap  facilities,  secure plastic seals at selected locations.
-  Application  Programme  Interface  (API)  has  been  provided  to  the contractual customers for real time information.
-  Same day/ next day delivery of eCommerce articles in select cities has been started.
-  Railway tickets are being sold through post offices under an agreement signed with the Ministry of Railways. Presently this service is available in 343 post offices across India.
-  Government  of  India  has  introduced  Sovereign  Gold  Bond  scheme (SGB) in the Union Budget 2015-16. During the six tranches issued in last and current financial year, 96215 Sovereign Gold Bond applications for  Rs.81.40  crore  were  collected  through  Post  Offices  across  the country.
-  Department has started distribution of Gangajal sourced from Gangotri and  Rishikesh  through  Post  Offices  as  well  as  online  through  'ePost Office'.
-  Philately stamps are also sold online through 'ePost office'.
-  Department  of  Posts  in  association  with  Ministry  of  Agriculture  has started distribution of high yielding seeds and dissemination of information  on  new  farm  technologies  to  farmers  through  the  village Post Offices in 14 states.
-  Tie ups have been made with Railway Recruitment Boards, CBSE and various universities/institutions etc for collection of their examination fee through Post Offices.
-  Information technology based Core Insurance Solution has been implemented for Postal Life Insurance and Rural Postal life Insurance leading to customer friendly initiatives such as online premium payment, SMS alerts for premium due etc.

(d) & (e) As  of  now,  there  is  no  proposal  under  the  consideration  of  the Government for increasing the limit of deposit for single/joint account under the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme.

Contd…3/-

## Annexure-A

## Information of revenue Generated by Speed Post, Express /Business Parcel  for last three years

|         | Speed Post             | Speed Post                   | Express/Business Parcel   | Express/Business Parcel      |
|---------|------------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------|------------------------------|
| Year    | Revenue (Rs. In crore) | Percentage growth in revenue | Revenue (Rs. In crore)    | Percentage growth in revenue |
| 2013-14 | 1372.21                | 8.78%                        | 77.63                     | -1.57%                       |
| 2014-15 | 1495.21                | 8.96%                        | 112.47                    | 44.88%                       |
| 2015-16 | 1605.25                | 7.04%                        | 149.00                    | 33.32%                       |

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