Postal services have made remarkable progress during the planning period. The number of post offices in the country has multiplied about four-fold. At the beginning of the First-plan in 1950-51, there were 36,234 post offices. The number has gone up to 1, 54,551 during 2001. On an average, each post office serves about 5,200 persons and covers an area of 22.10 sq. kms.
Mail is carried both by surface and air. Besides, postal system, it has the facility of saving bank. It got the facility of recurring deposit, term deposit and public provident fund. A new scheme called Quick Mail Service (QMS) was introduced in 1973. To modernise the handling of growing volume of mail the Postal Index Number (PIN) was introduced in 1972.
The code has six digits which help identify and locate every departmental delivery office. The Business Development Wing of the Department is striving to create new and better services for enhancing the revenue earning potential of the Department. Some of the new products and services being offered are express
Parcel Service, Corporate Money Order and Hybrid Mail. Speed Post service has been introduced since 1st August, 1986. With the help of it, the articles are delivered within definite time period with money back guarantee against any service defect. This facility in available in 98 countries.