India Post Kerala Circle has launched a month-long ITPS Awareness Campaign from 01.08.2026 to 31.08.2026, along with a complete product feature training for counter staff.
The campaign circular is PRCL/100-20/2026/IMB-Part(1), issued by the Office of the Chief Postmaster General, Kerala Circle, Thiruvananthapuram.
This post explains the whole thing in simple language — what ITPS is, the rates, the targets, the four phases, and the very important new USA and EU customs rules that every booking office must follow now.
Even if you are not from Kerala Circle, read the customs portion. Those rules apply to every post office in India.
Quick Summary of the Campaign
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Campaign Name | ITPS Awareness Campaign & Product Feature Training |
| Circle | Kerala Circle |
| Circular Number | PRCL/100-20/2026/IMB-Part(1) |
| Campaign Period | 01.08.2026 to 31.08.2026 |
| Number of Phases | 4 |
| Training Mode | Online sessions from WCTC, Circle Office, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Online Training Date | 03.08.2026 |
| Phase-I Compliance Due | 07.08.2026 |
| Final Report Deadline | 02.09.2026 |
| Issued By | Assistant Director (Parcel), O/o CPMG Kerala Circle |
Why This Campaign Was Launched
Three simple reasons given in the circular:
- Limited booking base — only a small number of post offices are actively booking ITPS articles today, so there is big room for growth.
- Onam season demand — international mail demand rises sharply during Onam, which is a natural window to reach NRI-linked households.
- Market penetration — a structured, phase-wise push can widen the customer base among the public and business segments.
Target customer segments: general public with relatives abroad, exporters, MSMEs, handicraft units, and other prospective business customers.
Minimum Targets for August 2026
These are minimum floors, not maximum limits. Units are encouraged to exceed them.
| Level | Minimum ITPS Articles |
|---|---|
| Division | 500 |
| Sub Division | 100 |
| Head Office | 30 |
| Sub Office | 10 |
Marketing Executives (ME): must activate at least two business customers, each booking a minimum of 50 ITPS articles.
The Four Phases
| Phase | Dates | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | 01 – 08 Aug | Capacity Building — training & awareness sessions |
| Phase II | 10 – 14 Aug | Public & Business Outreach — publicity, customer identification |
| Phase III | 17 – 22 Aug | ITPS Maha Login Week — focused booking drive |
| Phase IV | 24 – 31 Aug | Review & Handholding — performance review and support |
Phase III is the peak booking push. Every office and ME is expected to convert the outreach of Phase II into actual bookings during that week.
What is ITPS? (Product Snapshot)
ITPS = International Tracked Packet Service.
- It is the cheapest international product that still gives tracking.
- Best suited for e-commerce shipments and small B2C parcels.
- Delivery scan is available and visible to both sender and addressee.
- Postage is calculated in 50 gm weight slabs.
- Currently available to 135 countries/territories.
- Compensation up to ₹1,000 on loss or missing delivery scan, subject to conditions.
- Item prefix: LP.
Most preferred destinations: Australia, Canada, Japan, UK, USA, France, Russia, UAE.
ITPS vs Other International Products
| Feature | EMS | Air Parcel | Regd. Letter Post | ITPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max weight | 35 kg | 20 kg | 2 kg | 5 kg* |
| Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes (not all countries) | Yes |
| Volume discount | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Free pick-up | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Coverage | 106 countries | 219 destinations | 219 destinations | 135 countries |
| Weight slab | 250 gm | 250 gm | 20 gm | 50 gm |
| Item prefix | E | C | R | LP |
*5 kg applies only to a select list of countries. For all other ITPS destinations the limit is 2 kg.
Weight & Dimension Limits
5 kg limit — select countries: Aruba, Belarus, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE, Uruguay, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
2 kg limit: every other ITPS destination.
Maximum dimensions:
- Length: 60 cm maximum
- Length + Width + Height: 90 cm
ITPS Indicative Rates (₹)
| Country | First 50 gm | Additional 50 gm |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 400 | 35 |
| Canada | 340 | 40 |
| Australia | 395 | 45 |
| France | 335 | 30 |
| Germany | 245 | 25 |
| Russia | 245 | 30 |
| Great Britain | 200 | 25 |
| UAE | 185 | 15 |
| Singapore | 185 | 15 |
| Thailand | 185 | 10 |
Important: these rates are indicative and subject to revision. Always confirm the current rate on the DNK / Self Service Portal before quoting a customer. GST at 18% is extra.
ITPS Discount Structure
Revised by OM 71-14/2022-CF-DOP dated 03.09.2024.
| Monthly Revenue (₹) | Discount (%) | Extra via DNK Portal (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 25,000 | 0 | 2 |
| 25,001 – 1,00,000 | 4 | 2 |
| 1,00,001 – 2,00,000 | 6 | 2 |
| 2,00,001 – 5,00,000 | 9 | 2 |
| 5,00,001 – 20,00,000 | 12 | 2 |
| 20,00,001 – 40,00,000 | 14 | 2 |
| 40,00,001 – 75,00,000 | 16 | 2 |
| 75,00,001 & above | 18 | 2 |
An additional 2% discount applies on ITPS for all DNK-registered customers, on top of the revenue-slab discount. This is a strong selling point — tell every business customer about it.
ITPS Compensation Rules
- Compensation is ₹1,000 or the actual declared value of the lost/damaged contents, whichever is less.
- Payable on loss or damage, or when there is no EMH/EMI delivery scan at destination once 30 days have lapsed from booking (excluding time spent in customs at origin and destination).
- The sender’s declared value is final.
- Exporters can claim only if the article is not delivered within 30 days.
Sanction and payment:
- Sanctioned by the FPO in-charge if headed by a PS Group B officer or above; otherwise by the Head of Division.
- Payment is made by the booking office.
- If the article is later traced and delivered, the sender must refund the compensation paid.
- The booking office takes a signed declaration from the sender before payment and retains it.
When Should You Recommend ITPS? (Break-even Logic)
This is the most practical part of the training.
Why ITPS wins at low weight: even the smallest Speed Post or Air Parcel booking is charged as if it weighs 250 gm. ITPS can charge as little as its 50 gm rate. As weight rises, the smaller slab compounds faster and the gap narrows, then inverts.
Against Speed Post (89 common destinations):
- For 73 destinations, ITPS stays cheaper across its entire bookable range.
- Only 16 destinations have a genuine break-even point within ITPS’s own cap, ranging from 1.15 kg to 4.75 kg.
Against Air Parcel (135 destinations):
- For 90 destinations, ITPS stays cheaper throughout.
- 45 destinations have a genuine break-even, ranging from 650 gm to 4.75 kg.
Practical counter rule: check the destination’s ITPS weight cap first. If the shipment is within that cap, ITPS is very likely the cheaper choice. Only check the reference table for the minority of destinations that have a real break-even.
One caution — this is a tariff-only comparison. Speed Post is generally faster. Weigh cost against the customer’s delivery-time needs.
Booking Right the First Time
Data quality is the single most preventable cause of delay, return or extra customs duty.
Golden rules at the counter:
- Use only harmonized labels for CN22/CN23.
- Avoid handwritten barcodes — this alone prevents many returns.
- Avoid handwritten descriptions on CN22/CN23.
- Affix the CN22 label whole — never tear it apart.
- Label and barcode must be clear, legible and scannable.
- Collect KYC (Aadhaar / Voter ID / Passport) for retail customers booking goods.
Describe contents properly. Generic descriptions delay customs clearance:
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| “Clothes” | “3 cotton T-shirts, men’s, medium” |
| “Gift” | “Handcrafted wooden photo frame” |
| “Electronic item” | “Wireless Bluetooth earphones, model X200” |
| “Samples” | “3 non-returnable textile fabric swatches” |
Retail Booking vs DNK Booking
| Retail (Counter) Booking | DNK (Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra) Booking |
|---|---|
| For walk-in, personal or occasional commercial shipments | One-time registration & KYC on the Self Service / DNK Portal (IEC, GSTIN, AD Code, LUT) |
| KYC collected at every booking of goods; retained 18 months | Self-booking with system-generated label, barcode and invoice |
| Commercial exports need manual PBE (PBE-I/II) filed in duplicate at FPO/SFPO | Electronic PBE (PBE-III/IV) — no FPO visit needed |
| Customer fills CN22/CN23 manually; counter PA checks quality | Faceless customs clearance (LEO), online payments and wallet |
| Best for first-time senders and small, infrequent exporters | Extra 2% discount on ITPS (1% on EMS) on top of slab discount |
Export benefits available through DNK: IGST Refund, Duty Drawback, RoDTEP (transferable e-script valid 24 months) and RoSCTL (for textiles under HS Chapters 61, 62, 63). No CHA is required to file PBE, and exporters must keep records for 5 years.
Licences / NOC Required for Commercial Goods
| Product | Issuing Authority |
|---|---|
| Pharma Product | NOC from Assistant Drug Control (ADC) |
| Food Product | FSSAI |
| Processed Food Product | APEDA |
| Marine Product | MPEDA |
| Gems / Jewellery / Precious stones | Valuation Certificate from Govt.-approved Valuer |
| Old Coins / Stamps | Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) |
| Tobacco | Tobacco Board |
| Chemical / Dyes | Chemical Analysis Report (MSDS) |
| Horticulture / Plant Product | Phytosanitary Certificate (PSC) |
| Spices | Spices Board of India |
USA — Revised Customs Requirements (Very Important)
Reference: OM No. DA-40/2/2025-DA-DOP dated 22.07.2026, applicable to all US-bound bookings from 23.07.2026.
What changed:
- US Customs and Border Protection issued Interim Final Rules on 24.06.2026, codifying the indefinite suspension of the USD 800 de minimis exemption for international mail.
- Effective 24.07.2026, a new Postal Informal Entry Process applies, and all international mail merchandise is now liable to customs duties and mandatory customs entry.
- The old flat-duty method is replaced by a tariff-based assessment using the 10-digit HTSUS classification and declared value.
- Only postal merchandise with an FOB value up to USD 2,500 is accepted under the Postal Informal Entry Process.
- From 27.07.2026, the booking system captures the 10-digit HTSUS Code directly.
Sender’s responsibility: the sender alone is responsible for the description of goods, tariff classification, declared value, country of origin, customs declarations and supporting documents. Any duty, interest, penalty or fine imposed by US Customs due to wrong declaration is recoverable from the sender. Where an aggregator or e-platform presents the shipment, that platform carries the liability for its sellers’ data.
From 22.10.2026, four categories move to Type-13 Informal Entry only: PGA-regulated merchandise, Chapter 98 exemption claims, Chapter 98/99 duty claims, and FTA preference claims.
EU — Suspension, Resumption and PDDP
Reference: OM No. DA-22/2/2026-IR-DOP.
- The EU abolished the EUR 150 customs duty exemption threshold for commercial imports from 01.07.2026, which led to a temporary suspension of postal services to EU countries.
- Documents and bona fide gifts up to EUR 45 remain exempt from duties and taxes.
- Booking to EU countries resumed from 14.07.2026, subject to conditions.
- Still suspended: IOSS commercial shipments to Germany, Denmark, Austria and Sweden, until further orders.
New service — PDDP (Postal Delivery Duty Paid): the sender pays the duty and tax upfront at the counter, DoP remits it to the destination country, and the addressee receives the parcel without paying anything at delivery. This is the postal version of “landed cost” pricing.
DDP vs DAP — who pays what
| DDP (recommended) | DAP |
|---|---|
| Sender bears duty, VAT, handling fees and surcharges | Sender pays postage only |
| Addressee pays nothing at delivery | Addressee pays duty, VAT and handling before delivery |
| All charges settled at origin | Destination post may add extra handling charges |
| Faster clearance | Usually slower, and typically costlier overall |
Wherever both options are available, advise the customer to choose DDP.
EU shipment categories
| Category | Customs Duty | VAT | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOSS Commercial (B2C) | Applicable | Paid via IOSS | DDP (mandatory in DE/AT/DK/SE) |
| Non-IOSS Commercial (B2C) | Applicable | Applicable | DDP or DAP — DDP preferred |
| Personal / Gift ≤ EUR 45 | Exempt | Exempt | DAP only |
| Personal / Gift > EUR 45 | Dutiable | Dutiable | DAP only |
| Documents | Exempt | Exempt | — |
| Commercial Samples | Dutiable | Applicable | DDP or DAP |
Customs duty is EUR 3 per HS Code / Country-of-Origin line item. Import VAT = (CIF value + Customs Duty) × VAT rate, typically 17–27% depending on destination.
Annexure-A — The Form Every Sender Must Sign
Before booking any US or EU commercial/dutiable shipment, the sender signs a Customer Customs Authorization. In it, the sender:
- Declares that contents, value, HS Code and category are true and correct.
- Authorises DoP to convert the declared ITC(HS) Code to the HTSUS code for US filing.
- Accepts full liability for the correctness of that classification and any resulting duty or penalty.
- Acknowledges that customs duty once paid is non-refundable, even on Return to Sender, loss or damage.
- Agrees to pay any additional duty intimated by DoP within 7 days.
- Provides mobile number, email and postal address for duty-related communication.
Never book a US or EU commercial shipment without this signed, unmodified authorization on file. Records are retained for 10 years for contractual customers and aggregators.
Booking Office Checklist — USA & EU
- Accurate customs data: detailed description, HS/HTSUS code, quantity, weight, country of origin, declared value
- Complete addressee details: full postal address, PIN/ZIP, mobile number and email
- CN22/CN23 properly completed with prescribed labels affixed
- Duties, taxes, handling fees and surcharges collected as determined by the system (DDP/PDDP)
- Signed Annexure-A collected and retained
- For commercial exports: Postal Bill of Export and supporting documents verified
Non-compliance can result in penalty, rejection, and even loss of shipments.
Two Current Service Advisories
1. Middle East and other destinations
Reference: DA-19/25/2024-DA-DOP dated 22.07.2026.
- Services have resumed to 39 destinations listed in Annexure-A, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Botswana, Cuba, Ecuador, Mongolia, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Trinidad & Tobago, Uzbekistan and others. Customers may still face delays beyond normal service standards.
- Booking remains suspended to 10 destinations listed in Annexure-B: Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lebanon, Nicaragua and Palestine.
- For articles already booked to Annexure-B countries and still lying in India, the customer may apply in writing for recall. Postage can be refunded, but no other liability is accepted.
2. AYUSH medicines — NOC no longer required
Reference: Ministry of AYUSH Advisory T-11011/8/2021-DCC-Part(3) dated 20.04.2026 and DoP letter DA-19/11/2026-DA-DOP dated 21.07.2026.
- AYUSH medicines licensed under Sections 3(a) and 3(h) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 may be sent abroad for personal use.
- A valid prescription from a registered AYUSH practitioner is enough — do NOT insist on an NOC from the State AYUSH Licensing Authority.
- All other postal, customs, aviation security and destination-country requirements still apply. The exemption covers the NOC only.
This is a genuine customer-friendly change. Many families sending medicines to children abroad were struggling with the NOC requirement.
Roles & Reporting
| Who | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Divisional Heads | Monitor campaign implementation, ensure participation of all offices and MEs |
| Regional Offices | Review Division-wise progress, extend guidance |
| HQ Region Divisions | Furnish consolidated report directly to Circle Office |
| WCTC Trainer | Conduct the 03.08.2026 online training sessions |
Consolidated report deadline: 02.09.2026, to be submitted to Circle Office.
Why This Matters for Departmental Exam Aspirants
International mail products are a regular scoring area in departmental exams. Charges, limits, weight slabs and prefixes are short, factual and repeated year after year.
This topic is directly useful for:
- GDS to MTS Departmental Exam
- GDS to Postman / Mail Guard Exam
- MTS to PA / SA Departmental Exam
- Postman to PA / SA Departmental Exam
- Postal Assistant and Sorting Assistant Exam
Likely question areas: ITPS weight slab (50 gm), maximum weight (2 kg / 5 kg), item prefix (LP), number of destinations (135), compensation limit (₹1,000), and the DNK extra discount (2%).
If you are collecting India Post Study Material, GDS to MTS Previous Year Question Papers, or MTS to PA Question Paper sets, keep one page just for international product comparisons. It pays off every year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the ITPS Awareness Campaign 2026? A month-long campaign in Kerala Circle from 01.08.2026 to 31.08.2026 to increase ITPS bookings and train staff on product features.
Q. What is the full form of ITPS? International Tracked Packet Service.
Q. What is the maximum weight for ITPS? 5 kg for a select list of countries, and 2 kg for all other destinations.
Q. How many countries does ITPS cover? 135 countries and territories.
Q. What is the ITPS compensation limit? Up to ₹1,000, or the declared value of the contents, whichever is less.
Q. What is the ITPS weight slab? 50 gm — postage is calculated for the first 50 gm and each additional 50 gm.
Q. What is the extra DNK discount on ITPS? An additional 2% on top of the monthly revenue slab discount.
Q. Is NOC required for sending AYUSH medicines abroad? No. A valid prescription from a registered AYUSH practitioner is sufficient for personal-use shipments.
Q. What is the campaign reporting deadline? 02.09.2026, to Circle Office.
Final Word
Two things in this circular deserve your full attention.
First, ITPS is genuinely the cheaper product for most destinations within its weight cap — so recommending it is not just target pressure, it actually saves the customer money.
Second, the USA and EU customs rules have changed fundamentally. The old habit of accepting a parcel with “Gift” written on the CN22 will now cause returns, penalties and angry customers. Data quality at booking is no longer optional.
Print the checklist, keep Annexure-A ready at the counter, and the rest becomes routine.
Source: ITPS Awareness Campaign & Product Feature Training deck, Circular No. PRCL/100-20/2026/IMB-Part(1), O/o the Chief Postmaster General, Kerala Circle. Rates and rules are subject to revision — always confirm on the DNK / Self Service Portal and the latest departmental circulars.