Types of Inland Postal Articles

Inland Mail There are 10 classes of articles Letters Inland Letter Cards (ILC) Post Cards Book Packets Sample and Pattern Packets Book Packets containing Printed Books Book Packets containing Periodicals Registered News Paper Blind Literature Packets Parcels

Classes of Mail First Class Mails Second Class Mails Letters, Letter Cards and Post Cards Free Air transmission wherever possible and advantageous Second Class Mails Other remaining articles No free air transmission Sender has to pay Air surcharge in addition to normal postage, if the article is to be sent by Air Air surcharge Up to 50 grams Rs.2 Additional 50 grams or part Re.1

Features of Postal Articles

Letters Used for communication and sending documents Types Departmental (Embossed Envelope) Private Maximum Weight – 2 Kgs Tariff: First 20 grams Rs.5 Additional 20 grams or part there of Rs.5

Letters Prescribed Size Roll form Minimum Maximum Any single diameter 10 cms 80 cms Length + twice the diameter 17 cms 100 cms Other than Roll form Any single dimension 14 X 9 cm 60 cms Sum of length & breadth and depth combined 90 cms

Letters Letter other than roll form shall be in envelope of the following sizes 140 X 90 mm 7. 176 X 120 mm 152 X 90 mm 8. 229 X 162 mm 176 X 100 mm 9. 250 X 176 mm 230 X 105 mm 10. 324 X 229 mm 220 X 110 mm 11. 353 X 250 mm 162 X 114 mm 12. 458 X 324 mm With tolerance of ± 2 mm

Conditions for posting letters All envelopes must have flap either at the top on back of the longer side or at right or left Envelope sizes minimum 140 x 90 mm and maximum 245 x 165 mm should be made of paper having minimum thickness of 0.15 mm and maximum of 5 mm Envelopes should be continuously closed on all sides. Metal clips or staples should not be used for closing the envelope Envelopes should be made of minimum 70 GSM They must be flexible enough to bend into U shape

Standards of Addressing Address of the addressee shall be written on the front side and sender’s address on the back side of the envelope Minimum 15 mm blank space shall be kept from left , bottom and right side of the envelope Stamps or frank impression on top right corner having gap of minimum 10mm from the address of the recipient Address block of addressee shall have a minimum gap of 40 mm from top Stamps or frank impressions shall be affixed in maximum area of 74mm

Letters

Inland Letter Card (ILC) Used for personal communication Can be used within India No enclosures allowed Private ILC – Superscription ‘Inland Letter Card’ Types – Departmental & Private Weight : Max 5 grams Tariff: Rs. 2.50

Inland Letter Card PRESCRIBED SIZE Dimension Minimum Maximum Unfolded 28.2 X 18.2 cms 30 X 21 cms Flaps Left and right hand side not exceeding 1.5 cms X 10 cms Top side not exceeding 1.5 X 21 cms Folded 15.2 X 9 cms 21 X 10 cms

Inland Letter Card (ILC)

Post Card Transmission within India & Economical No secrecy of contents Types : Departmental & Private Facility of Reply Postcard Competition Postcards used for Media competitions Treated as printed Postcard if the matter is printed or cyclostyling or any other mechanical process. Printed matter includes pictures also

Post Card Tariff: Size : Length X Breadth 14 Cms X 9 Cms Single Post card 0.50 Reply post card Rs.1.00 Printed Post card Rs.6.00 Competition post card Rs.10.00 Meghdoot post card 0.25 Size : Length X Breadth 14 Cms X 9 Cms Privately manufactured Post cards should conform to the size and thickness of embossed post card

Post Card

Meghdoot Post Card

Practice Exercise 2.1.1 (tariff calculation on first class mail and conditions )

Book Packets Following items can be sent as Book Packets Bills Receipts Printed Market Reports Quotations Price lists Premium Notices Prasadams Horoscopes Wedding Invitations etc.,

Book Packets Superscription optional Should not be closed against inspections Economical than letter No personal communication (except in case of invitations where five words of complimentary nature are allowed) Maximum weight : 5 Kgs Tariff : Up to 50 grams Rs.4 Additional 50 gms or Part Rs.3

Book Packet Size Prescribed Minimum Maximum In roll form length 10 cms Total length + 2 diameters 17 cms 100 cms Other than roll form 10 cms X 7 cms 60 cms X 30 cms X 30 cms Book packet when sent in card form whether folded or not, shall be neither thinner nor more flexible than Inland Post Cards

Book Post

Sample and Pattern Packets Should be bonafide trade patterns or sample of merchandise without saleable value or objects of natural history without commercial purpose No personal communication It should be open for inspection, if not contents to be declared Maximum weight : 2 Kgs Tariff : Upto 50 grams Rs.4 Additional 50 grams or part Rs.3

Practice Exercise 2.1.2 (tariff calculation on book and sample packet)

Printed Books Printed books without Advertisements can be sent Periodicals cannot be sent as Printed books Story books & Text books are best examples printed books Maximum weight : 5 Kgs Tariff: Every 100 grams or part Re.1

Periodicals Registered with Registrar of News paper for India, New Delhi (RNI) Superscription as “Periodical registered with RNI-New Delhi under No…….” Price to be printed Free circulation- no concession, it should be accepted under Book Post rate Tariff depends on weight & value of the periodical Maximum weight : 5 Kgs

Tariff : Value of periodical For first 100 gms For additional 100 gms or part thereof Up to Rs.20 Rs.2 Rs.3 Above Rs.20 and up to Rs.50 Rs.4 Rs.5 Above Rs.50 Rs.8 Rs.9

Practice Exercise 2.1.3 (Tariff on periodicals & printed books)

Registered Newspaper News Paper containing wholly or in great part of political or other news or other current topics or articles related to them with or without Advertisement can be registered as RNP ‘In great part’ does not lay down any ratio of the news and articles to advertisement Should have a bona fide list of subscribers Registered with RNI-New Delhi Registered with Divisional Superintend to avail concessional postage Permitted to post in the post office or mail office on specified dates mentioned in the license

Registered News Paper License is valid for3 years after which it has to be renewed (in the month of November) Renewal fee – Rs. 50 Renewal after expiry date Rs.100 Published at an interval of not more than 31 days Daily, Weekly, Fortnightly & Monthly Registered No.to be printed in 10 size font KA/SK/CKM/656/2006-08 CKM/680/2008-10 (w.e.f 5.5.2008) Printer, publisher, Editor and cost should also be printed For posting, the newspapers should be presented at PO counters only and not posted in letter boxes

Registered Newspaper If free circulation- No concession Registered News Paper Bundle To Agents only Bundles to be handed over at the PO counters only Bundles will be delivered at PO counters only Bundles should contain RNP of same date/issue

License to post without prepayment (WPP) Salient features & Conditions Permit by CO/RO For posting more than 500 WPP License Number should be printed on the address slip or wrapper of RNP Security Deposit needed for applying for license Advantages Customer need not have to affix the stamps/Frank on each article It saves lot of time and energy No payment need be made while posting – account adjusted on 16th and 1st of each month

Registered News Paper with WPP

License to post without prepayment (WPP)

Registered Newspaper- Tariff Single copy Up to 50 grams 0.25 Above 50 up to 100 grams 0.50 Each additional 100 grams /part 0.20 Bundle (More than one copy) Up to 100 grams 0.50 Each additional 100 grams 0.20

Practice Exercise 2.1.4[Tariff calculation (Regd newspaper)]

Blind Literature Should contain literature for the blind like Braille script May contain CDs meant for blind No written or printed communication except title and table of contents, key or instructions, a label for return of packet Can be sent from Blind to blind Blind to blind institution & vice versa One blind institution to another blind institution Maximum weight : 7 Kgs Tariff : Free Air Surcharge is applicable if the BLP is to be sent by Air

Blind Literature

Parcels Useful for transmission of goods Not to be posted in letter box To be presented at counter One personal communication can be sent inside the parcel Should not contain prohibited items Should be properly packed Registration compulsory for parcels weighing more than 4 Kgs

Parcels Maximum weight : 20 Kgs Tariff For URP 4 Kgs For BO 10 Kgs Up to 500 grams Rs.19 Additional 500 grams or part Rs.16 Home delivery Charge Rs. 5 For parcel weighing more than 5 Kgs Redirection fee 50% of ordinary postage

Parcels Articles Prohibited from Transmission by Post  Anything injurious. Explosive, dangerous, filthy, noxious or deleterious substance. Any sharp instrument not protected. Any living creature which is either noxious or likely to injure postal articles or postal officer in course of transmission by post. Tickets, proposals etc relating to unauthorized lotteries (does not include lottery organized or authorized by government.) Anything indecent.

Parcels SIZE MINIMUM MAXIMUM Length As per letter 100 cms Length + Girth combined 180 cms

Comparative Chart SL NO Category Max Weight Tariff 1 Post Card Meghdoot Post Card Single Post Card Reply card Printed Post card Rs.0.25 Rs.0.50 Rs.1.00 Rs.6.00 2 Inland Letter Card 5 grms Rs. 2.50 3 Envelope 2 Kgs For every 20 grams or part there of Rs.5 4 Book Packet 5 Kgs First 50 grams – Rs.4 Addl 50 gms and part there of Rs.3 5 Book packet containing Printed Books For every 100 grams or part there of Re.1

Comparative Chart SL NO Category Max Weight Tariff 6 Book Packet containing Periodicals 5 Kgs Value of the Periodical First 100 grams Addl 100 grams or part there of Rs.20 Rs.2 Rs.3 Rs.21-50 Rs.4 Rs.5 Above Rs. 50 Rs.8 Rs.9 7 RNP Single Up to 50 grms 25 ps Up to 100 grms 50 ps Addl 100 gms or part 20 ps Bundle Up to 100 grms 50 Ps Addl 100 gms or part 20 ps 8 Sample Packet Kgs First 50 grms Rs.4 Addl 50 grms or part Rs.3

Comparative Chart SL NO Category Max Weight Tariff 9 Blind Literature Packet 7 Kgs Free 10 Parcel 20 Kgs (URP 4 Kgs & Bos 10 Kgs) Upto 500 grms Above 500 grms or part Rs. 19 Rs.16

First Schedule of PO Rules Power to fix rates of inland postage GOI may, by Gazette Notification, fix the rates of Postage and other sums to be charged in respect of Postal articles, and make rules as to the scale of weights, terms and conditions Provided that the highest rate of postage, when prepaid shall not exceed the rate set forth for each class of postal article in the First Schedule i.e., for Letters, Letter-cards, Postcards, Book, Pattern and Sample Packets, Registered Newspapers, Parcels

Practice Exercise 2.1.5 (tariff on parcels)

Air surcharge Recall the air surcharge rate applicable for second class mails Attempt exercise 2.1.6 & 2.1.7