Lok Sabha Question No. 129 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-07
Subject: Modernisation of Postal Department
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal, Nishikant  Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 129 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## MODERNISATION OF POSTAL DEPARTMENT

- †129.   DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL: DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is working on any action plan to digitise and modernise the working of postal department;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/ proposed for digitisation, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the department has any action plan to ensure fast communication between source and destination;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  increase  the  business  of  the  Department  of  Posts  and Communications along with the details of profit and loss incurred as a result thereof;
- (f) the total investment made in the modernisation project during each of the last three years and the current year in States, including Jharkhand;
- (g) the  total  number  of  Post  Offices  modernised  and  converted  into  Multi-Service  Centres  in  the country under the 'Public Internet Access Programme - National Rural Internet Mission', State/UT-wise along with citizen centric services delivered by them; and
- (h) the total number of Post Offices yet to be modernised and converted into Multi-Service Centres in the country, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

- (a) The  Department  has  implemented  'Information  Technology  (IT)  Modernisation  Project'  for digitisation and modernisation of Postal Department.
- (b) The details of the steps taken for digitization of the Postal Department are as under:
- i. All the 25,099 Departmental Post Offices have been computerized and networked. The Department has also modernized 1,29,854 Branch Post Offices in the rural areas of the country by providing Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) based hand held point of sale  devices  for  providing  postal  and  financial  services.  The  Postal  Circle  wise (including all State and Union Territories (UTs)) number of Post Offices modernised is given in ' Annexure -1".

- ii. A central server based integrated, modular and scalable solution for all the operations of Department of Posts including Banking, Insurance, Mails, Human Resources and Finance  &  Accounts  has  been  provided.  The  Project  also  involved  creation  of Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure like Data Centre (DC), Disaster recovery Centre (DRC) and setting up Wide Area Network (WAN).
- iii. Core Banking Services (CBS) and Core Insurance Services (Postal Life Insurance and Rural Postal Life Insurance) have been provided in all the Post Offices in the country.
- iv. Automated  Teller  Machine  (ATM),  Internet  Banking,  Mobile  Banking,  National Electronic  Fund  Transfer  (NEFT),  Real  Time  Gross  Settlement  (RTGS)  and  ePassbook facilities are provided to customers.
4. (c) & (d) Yes Sir. The details are as below:
- i. All the Post Offices have been networked on a single Wide Area Network (WAN) to ensure fast transmission of information among all Post Offices.
- ii. Department has started sharing Electronic Advance Data (EAD) of international postal articles with other postal administrations to improve security, reduce delay in handling and expedite processing in Customs.
- iii. A  robust  system  for  online  track  and  trace  with  Management  Information  System (MIS) from booking to delivery has been put in place.

(e) In order to increase the business, Department regularly reviews its offerings and takes appropriate action to offer value additions to make them more customer and business centric. Further, new products and services are introduced as per customer's requirements and market needs. In the recent past, Department has also set up dedicated bulk mail/ Parcel Processing centres and established Nodal delivery centres for mechanisation of the Parcel delivery and increase the revenue from Parcel business. Moreover, commercial exports have been enabled through Postal channel by introduction of Postal Bill of Exports by Customs.

The  Department  in  tie  up  with  Government  organizations  is  providing  various  citizen  centric services  viz.  Aadhaar  enrollment  &  updation  facilities,  Post  Office  Passport  Seva  Kendras,  Passenger Reservation facilities, Digital Life certificates etc.

The details of revenue receipt, revenue expenditure and revenue deficit for the last three financial years is given in ' Annexure -2' .

(f) The total investment in the 'Information Technology (IT) Modernisation Project' in the last three years and current year is as under:

| Financial Year               |   Expenditure (Rupees in crore) |
|------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2019-20                      |                          410.69 |
| 2020-21                      |                          814.09 |
| 2021-22                      |                          778.06 |
| 2022-23 (up to October 2022) |                          549.57 |

The project has been implemented centrally pan -India. Hence, State/ Union Territory (UT) - wise expenditure is not applicable.

(g) & (h) 1,54,953 Post Offices including 1,29,854 Rural Branch Post Offices are modernised and enabled for multifunctional delivery of Government Services. 13,352 Aadhaar Enrolment and updation Centres and 429  Passport Seva Kendra are functional in Post Offices. Further, 1,20,196 Post offices are providing Common Service Centre (CSC) Services. The Postal Circle-wise (including all State and UTs) details are given in 'Annexure -3'. 4493 Branch Post Offices are pending for modernisation. The Postal Circle-wise (including all State and UTs) details are given in 'Annexure -4'.

## Annexure -1

## Annexure referred to in reply of Para (b) for Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 129 to be answered on 7 th  December, 2022 regarding 'Modernisation of Postal Department'

Postal Circle wise (including State/UT) list of Modernised Post Offices :

| Sl No   | Name of the Postal Circle (including State/UT)                                                        | Number of Departmental Post Offices Modernised   | Number of Branch Post Offices Modernised   | Total Number of Post Offices Modernised   |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                        | 1,565                                            | 9,029                                      | 10,594                                    |
| 2       | Assam                                                                                                 | 623                                              | 3,391                                      | 4,014                                     |
| 3       | Bihar                                                                                                 | 1,075                                            | 8,007                                      | 9,082                                     |
| 4       | Chhattisgarh                                                                                          | 353                                              | 3,050                                      | 3,403                                     |
| 5       | Delhi                                                                                                 | 382                                              | 64                                         | 446                                       |
| 6       | Gujarat (including UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)                                    | 1,208                                            | 7,635                                      | 8,843                                     |
| 7       | Haryana                                                                                               | 508                                              | 2,187                                      | 2,695                                     |
| 8       | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                      | 471                                              | 2,325                                      | 2,796                                     |
| 9       | Jammu & Kashmir (including UTs of Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh)                                          | 263                                              | 1,415                                      | 1,678                                     |
| 10      | Jharkhand                                                                                             | 467                                              | 2,682                                      | 3,149                                     |
| 11      | Karnataka                                                                                             | 1,698                                            | 7,926                                      | 9,624                                     |
| 12      | Kerala (including UT of Lakshadweep)                                                                  | 1,509                                            | 3,555                                      | 5,064                                     |
| 13      | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                        | 1,015                                            | 7,261                                      | 8,276                                     |
| 14      | Maharashtra (including State of Goa)                                                                  | 2,213                                            | 10,735                                     | 12,948                                    |
| 15      | North East (including States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland) | 343                                              | 2,527                                      | 2,870                                     |
| 16      | Odisha                                                                                                | 1,212                                            | 7,068                                      | 8,280                                     |
| 17      | Punjab (including UT of Chandigarh)                                                                   | 753                                              | 3,099                                      | 3,852                                     |
| 18      | Rajasthan                                                                                             | 1,314                                            | 8,978                                      | 10,292                                    |
| 19      | Tamilnadu (including UT of Puducherry)                                                                | 2,597                                            | 9,265                                      | 11,862                                    |
| 20      | Telangana                                                                                             | 826                                              | 4,970                                      | 5,796                                     |
| 21      | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                         | 2,540                                            | 15,119                                     | 17,659                                    |
| 22      | Uttarakhand                                                                                           | 395                                              | 2,317                                      | 2,712                                     |
| 23      | West Bengal (including State of Sikkim and UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands)                         | 1,769                                            | 7,249                                      | 9,018                                     |
| Total   | Total                                                                                                 | 25,099                                           | 1,29,854                                   | 1,54,953                                  |

## Annexure referred to in reply of Para (e) for Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 129 to be answered on 7 th  December, 2022 regarding 'Modernisation of Postal Department'

Details of Revenue Receipt, Revenue Expenditure and Revenue Deficit for the last three financial years :

| Particulars             | Amount (In Crore Rupees)   | Amount (In Crore Rupees)   | Amount (In Crore Rupees)   |
|-------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Financial Year          | 2021-22                    | 2020-21                    | 2019-20                    |
| Net Revenue Receipt     | 10860.79                   | 10632.31                   | 13558.2                    |
| Net Revenue Expenditure | 29721.43                   | 28327.61                   | 28371.34                   |
| Revenue Deficit         | 18860.64                   | 17695.3                    | 14813.14                   |

## Annexure referred to in reply of Para (g & h) for Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 129 to be answered on 7 th  December, 2022 regarding 'Modernisation of Postal Department'

Postal Circle wise (including State/UT) list of Post Offices providing Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) services, Aadhaar services and Common Service Centre (CSC) Services :

| Sl No   | Name of the Postal Circle (including State/UT)                                                        |   Number of Post Offices providing POPSK Services | Number of Post Offices providing Aadhaar Services   | Number of Post Offices providing CSC Services   |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                        |                                                20 | 578                                                 | 9,362                                           |
| 2       | Assam                                                                                                 |                                                15 | 216                                                 | 1,981                                           |
| 3       | Bihar                                                                                                 |                                                35 | 582                                                 | 3,306                                           |
| 4       | Chhattisgarh                                                                                          |                                                 7 | 161                                                 | 2,781                                           |
| 5       | Delhi                                                                                                 |                                                 5 | 261                                                 | 58                                              |
| 6       | Gujarat (including UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)                                    |                                                25 | 878                                                 | 7,505                                           |
| 7       | Haryana                                                                                               |                                                11 | 289                                                 | 1,590                                           |
| 8       | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                      |                                                 6 | 254                                                 | 2,195                                           |
| 9       | Jammu & Kashmir (including UTs of Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh)                                          |                                                 6 | 87                                                  | 412                                             |
| 10      | Jharkhand                                                                                             |                                                14 | 207                                                 | 1,833                                           |
| 11      | Karnataka                                                                                             |                                                23 | 869                                                 | 8,048                                           |
| 12      | Kerala (including UT of Lakshadweep)                                                                  |                                                 8 | 1,050                                               | 4,631                                           |
| 13      | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                        |                                                18 | 473                                                 | 8,012                                           |
| 14      | Maharashtra (including State of Goa)                                                                  |                                                39 | 1,293                                               | 12,014                                          |
| 15      | North East (including States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland) |                                                 5 | 122                                                 | 1,135                                           |
| 16      | Odisha                                                                                                |                                                20 | 473                                                 | 7,843                                           |
| 17      | Punjab (including UT of Chandigarh)                                                                   |                                                 9 | 503                                                 | 1,276                                           |
| 18      | Rajasthan                                                                                             |                                                24 | 600                                                 | 9,165                                           |
| 19      | Tamilnadu (including UT of Puducherry)                                                                |                                                30 | 1,436                                               | 8,710                                           |
| 20      | Telangana                                                                                             |                                                14 | 266                                                 | 3,571                                           |
| 21      | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                         |                                                48 | 1,424                                               | 15,392                                          |
| 22      | Uttarakhand                                                                                           |                                                 6 | 214                                                 | 1,644                                           |
| 23      | West Bengal (including State of Sikkim and UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands)                         |                                                41 | 1,116                                               | 7,732                                           |
| Total   | Total                                                                                                 |                                               429 | 13,352                                              | 1,20,196                                        |

## Annexure referred to in reply of Para (g & h) for Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 129 to be answered on 7 th  December, 2022 regarding 'Modernisation of Postal Department'

Postal Circle wise (including State/UT) list of Branch Post Offices which are yet to be Modernised :

| Sl No.   | Name of the Postal Circle (including State/UT)                                                        | Number   |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                        | 14       |
| 2        | Assam                                                                                                 | 0        |
| 3        | Bihar                                                                                                 | 225      |
| 4        | Chhattisgarh                                                                                          | 1,009    |
| 5        | Delhi                                                                                                 | 77       |
| 6        | Gujarat (includingUTof Dadra and Nagar Haveli andDaman and Diu)                                       | 4        |
| 7        | Haryana                                                                                               | 8        |
| 8        | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                      | 0        |
| 9        | Jammu &Kashmir (including UTs of Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh)                                           | 23       |
| 10       | Jharkhand                                                                                             | 859      |
| 11       | Karnataka                                                                                             | 0        |
| 12       | Kerala (including UT of Lakshadweep)                                                                  | 1        |
| 13       | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                        | 518      |
| 14       | Maharashtra (including State of Goa)                                                                  | 742      |
| 15       | North East (including States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland) | 67       |
| 16       | Odisha                                                                                                | 212      |
| 17       | Punjab (including UT of Chandigarh)                                                                   | 10       |
| 18       | Rajasthan                                                                                             | 0        |
| 19       | Tamilnadu (including UT of Puducherry)                                                                | 0        |
| 20       | Telangana                                                                                             | 418      |
| 21       | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                         | 229      |
| 22       | Uttarakhand                                                                                           | 13       |
| 23       | West Bengal (including State of Sikkim and UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands)                         | 64       |
| Total    | Total                                                                                                 | 4,493    |

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