Government of India repeals Indian Post Office Act 1898

     Raipur, June 18, 2024: Government of India has repealed the Indian Post Office Act 1898 and the new “The Post Office Act 2023” comes into force from today.

     “The Post Office Act, 2023” vide Notification no. S.O. 2352€ dated June 17, 2024, comes into force with effect from June 18, 2024,” Communications Ministry sources said today.

     The Government of India also repealed the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 as the new Act is come into force, the sources said.

     “The Post Office Bill, 2023” was introduced in Rajya Sabha on 10.08.2023 and passed in Rajya Sabha on 04.12.2023. The Bill was then considered and passed by Lok Sabha on 13.12.2023 and 18.12.2023.

     “The Post Office Act, 2023” received the assent of President of India on December 24,  2023 and was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 1, dated December 24, 2023 by Ministry of Law & Justice (Legislative Department) for general information.

     The Act aims to create a simple legislative framework for delivery of citizen centric services, banking services and benefits of Government schemes at the last mile, the Communications Ministry said.

     The Act does away with provisions such as the exclusive privilege of collecting, processing and delivering of letters, to enhance the ease of doing business and ease of living.

     No penal provisions have been prescribed in the Act, it said.

     This provides a framework for prescribing standards for addressing of the items, address identifiers and usage of postcodes.