New Delhi: In a major transformation of India’s postal landscape, India Post has announced it will discontinue the iconic Registered Post service from September 1, 2025, bringing an end to a trusted communication channel that served the nation for nearly five decades. The move comes as part of a modernization drive aimed at enhancing efficiency through the merger of Registered Post with the faster and tech-enabled Speed Post system.
The decision follows a sharp 25% decline in registered mail volume, dropping from 244.4 million items in 2011–12 to 184.6 million by 2019–20. Officials cite changing customer habits, the rise of private courier services, and the dominance of e-commerce platforms as key factors behind the drop.
Registered Post, once the go-to service for sending legal notices, appointment letters, and official documents, had especially deep roots in rural areas, small businesses, and farming communities, who valued its affordability, reliability, and legal status.
While the shift to Speed Post promises faster delivery, improved tracking, and operational upgrades, it comes with a higher price tag—starting at ₹41 for up to 50 grams, compared to the Registered Post’s ₹25.96 base rate. This could hit small-scale users who relied on low-cost options.
Despite concerns, India Post maintains that the transition is essential to align the country’s postal system with digital-era demands, ensuring faster, smarter, and more secure delivery services in the years ahead.
