Published on: 08 August 2026 | Category: India Post Latest News, India Post Circulars, India Post Current Affairs
Quick Summary (Read This First)
The Department of Posts has issued a fresh order under the New Franchisee Scheme 2.0. From 15 June 2026, franchisees can now pick up parcels directly from the Parcel Hub, and a revised commission structure has been approved.
Here are the basics of the order:
- Order No.: File No. 39-03/2019-D [PO Order 02/2026]
- Issued by: Mail Operations Division, Department of Posts, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi
- Date of Order: 08 June 2026
- Effective From: 15 June 2026
- Signed by: Surekh Reghunathen, Director (Mail Operations)
- Continuation of: OM dated 11.12.2025 (New Franchisee Scheme 2.0, in force from 01.01.2026)
If you are preparing for the GDS to MTS Departmental Exam, GDS to Postman exam, MTS to PA exam or the Postman to PA departmental exam, read this post fully. Circulars like this one regularly appear in the India Post GK and India Post Current Affairs sections of departmental papers.
What Has Actually Changed?
Earlier, franchisees could only collect parcels from the linked delivery office / Nodal Delivery Centre (NDC) / Delivery Centre.
Now, one more option has been added:
- Franchisees can pick parcels for delivery in a specified range of PIN codes directly from the Parcel Hub.
- They no longer have to depend only on the delivery post office.
Why the Department did this:
- To save manpower cost
- To save transportation cost
- To improve delivery time
- To capture a bigger share of e-commerce parcels in metro, Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities
- To provide assured delivery beyond office hours and on Sundays/Holidays
In simple words, last mile delivery is being made stronger.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Franchisee Parcel Delivery
The circular lays down a clear SOP. Here it is, point by point.
1. Daily Pickup
- The franchisee shall pick parcels of the specified PIN code range daily.
- Pickup can be from the Parcel Hub or the linked delivery office / NDC / Delivery Centre.
- Pickup is compulsory irrespective of volume, before the cut-off time fixed by the Department.
- Last mile delivery can be done by any mode, including drones.
2. Same-Day Delivery with Proof
- All articles must be delivered on the day of pickup.
- Delivery must be under proper acquittance — signature or confirmation from the recipient.
- This ensures accountability and proof of delivery.
3. Delivery Time Windows
- The franchisee must offer delivery time windows to customers.
- Customers can choose a slot that suits their schedule.
- This reduces missed deliveries and improves customer satisfaction.
4. Return of Undelivered Articles
- Undelivered articles must be returned to the respective Parcel Hub / linked delivery office / NDC / Delivery Centre with proper remarks, before the cut-off time.
- Where delivery is required beyond post office hours or on Sundays/Holidays, the engaging authority may arrange extended hours for taking returns.
- The supervisor of the delivery branch will verify the genuineness of the remarks before further action.
5. Mobile App and Geo-Tagging
- Franchisees must install the Internal Mobile App (IMA) / Franchisee App on their mobile.
- Delivery information must be uploaded in real time at the doorstep of the addressee.
- The app will capture the geo-tagged location of the address.
- All events from pickup to delivery will be exchanged through API integration.
6. Customer Contact Before Delivery
- The franchisee must call the customer on the contact number mentioned on the address before attempting delivery.
- Delivery must then be arranged in the relevant delivery window as per customer convenience.
7. CoD and Other Amounts
- The franchisee must remit CoD amount, customs duty or any other fee collected from the addressee on the day of delivery.
- If delivery is made after office closing time or cut-off time, remittance can be made the next morning.
- The engaging authority may link the DDOs of the Parcel Hub / linked delivery office / NDC / Delivery Centre with the franchisee.
8. Safety and Security
- The franchisee is fully responsible for the safety and security of the articles and their contents while in custody.
9. Sunday and Holiday Delivery
- The franchisee shall deliver articles on Sundays and holidays in case of exigencies and as per the requirement of the Department.
10. Customer Feedback
- The franchisee must collect feedback and delivery ratings from customers.
- The Department will use this feedback to identify areas of improvement.
11. Training
- Training will be given to the franchisee by the engaging authority.
- Focus areas: best service, careful handling of parcels, and professional interaction with customers.
Revised Commission Structure (Inland Parcels and CoD)
This is the most important table in the circular.
| Weight / Activity | Commission |
|---|---|
| Parcel up to 3 kg (franchisee picks parcels from Delivery Post Office / NDC) | ₹15 per parcel |
| Parcel up to 3 kg (franchisee picks parcels from Parcel Hub directly) | ₹20 per parcel |
| Additional 1 kg or part thereof (up to 100 kg) | ₹5 per parcel |
| CoD collection | ₹10 per CoD parcel |
| Performance incentive | ₹1 per parcel (for achieving ≥ 90% same-day actual delivery of assigned articles) |
| Attempted delivery (verified) | ₹5 per parcel (only one verified attempt) |
Important conditions:
- If the article is delivered the next day due to customer unavailability or any other valid reason, full rates shall be payable.
- No commission will be paid if non-delivery is due to the fault of the franchisee.
- Commission will be paid only on parcels successfully delivered and whose delivery status is updated in the DOP system on the same day.
Simple Example to Understand the Commission
Say a franchisee picks up a 5 kg parcel directly from the Parcel Hub and it is a CoD parcel:
- Base (up to 3 kg from Parcel Hub) = ₹20
- Additional 2 kg (₹5 × 2) = ₹10
- CoD collection = ₹10
- Performance incentive (if ≥90% same-day delivery achieved) = ₹1
Total = ₹41 for that single parcel.
The same parcel picked from the Delivery Post Office / NDC would fetch ₹15 + ₹10 + ₹10 + ₹1 = ₹36.
So the Department is clearly giving ₹5 extra per parcel to encourage direct pickup from the Parcel Hub.
What Remains Unchanged?
- All other detailed guidelines regarding eligibility, criteria for selection and the SOP of the Franchisee under New Franchisee Scheme 2.0, circulated vide OM dated 11.12.2025, remain unchanged.
Why This Circular Matters for Departmental Exam Aspirants
If you are appearing for any India Post Departmental Exam, this order is directly useful.
Exams where this can be asked:
- 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 Promotion Exams
Likely question points to remember:
- Effective date of the order → 15.06.2026
- Order date → 08.06.2026
- Scheme name → New Franchisee Scheme 2.0
- Scheme came into effect from → 01.01.2026
- Commission for parcel up to 3 kg from Parcel Hub → ₹20
- Commission for parcel up to 3 kg from Delivery PO/NDC → ₹15
- CoD collection commission → ₹10
- Performance incentive threshold → ≥ 90% same-day delivery
- Maximum weight slab mentioned → up to 100 kg
- App to be installed → Internal Mobile App (IMA)
- Issuing division → Mail Operations Division
Note this down in your India Post Current Affairs notebook. Questions on recent circulars are common in GDS to MTS previous year question papers and Postman to PA question papers.
How to Prepare for India Post Departmental Exams in 2026
Whether you are targeting GDS to MTS, GDS to Postman, MTS to PA or Postman to PA, the preparation method is broadly the same.
Step-by-step approach:
- Read the syllabus first. Download the GDS to MTS Syllabus PDF or the relevant MTS to PA syllabus and understand the exam pattern before you start.
- Check eligibility. Go through the GDS to MTS eligibility criteria and the selection process carefully so you do not lose a chance.
- Solve previous year papers. GDS to MTS previous year question papers, Postman to PA previous year question papers and MTS to PA question papers show you the real difficulty level.
- Build a question bank. Keep a GDS to MTS question bank and a daily practice set for revision.
- Attempt mock tests. Regular GDS to MTS mock tests and India Post mock tests improve speed and accuracy.
- Follow circulars. Keep tracking India Post circulars, notifications and India Post latest news for the GK portion.
- Join structured classes. GDS to MTS online classes, live classes and recorded classes help if you are managing duty and study together.
Study material you should keep ready:
- GDS to MTS study material and complete course notes
- Postal Manual Volume notes and departmental rules
- India Post GK and current affairs compilation
- Postal Assistant study material for PA/SA level exams
- Latest notification PDF and admit card updates
Circle-Wise Relevance
This order applies to all Heads of Circles, so franchisees and staff across every circle are covered — Delhi Circle, Punjab Circle, Haryana Circle, Rajasthan Circle, Uttar Pradesh Circle, Bihar Circle, Madhya Pradesh Circle, Maharashtra Circle, Gujarat Circle, Tamil Nadu Circle, Karnataka Circle, Kerala Circle, Odisha Circle, Assam Circle and West Bengal Circle.
Aspirants preparing for the GDS to MTS departmental exam in any circle should treat this as standard current affairs material.
Copy Marked To
The circular was marked for information to:
- Sr. PPS to Secretary (Posts)
- Sr./PPS to DG (Postal Services)
- All Members of Postal Services Board
- AS&FA, DoP
- CGM Parcel & CSS Dte / PLI Dte
- Sr. DDG (PAF) — for necessary changes in SAP
- Sr. DDG (Vigilance)
- Director, RAKNPA, Ghaziabad
- All DDGs in the Postal Directorate
- All General Managers in Parcel & CSS Dte / PLI Dte / CEPT
- Directors, All Postal Training Centers
- General Manager, CEPT Mysuru — for technical changes in the Franchisee portal
- Guard File
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. From which date is the new commission structure applicable? The orders come into force with effect from 15 June 2026.
Q2. Can a franchisee now pick parcels directly from the Parcel Hub? Yes. Franchisees can pick parcels for a specified PIN code range directly from the Parcel Hub, in addition to the linked delivery office / NDC / Delivery Centre.
Q3. How much commission is given for a parcel up to 3 kg? ₹15 per parcel if picked from the Delivery Post Office / NDC, and ₹20 per parcel if picked directly from the Parcel Hub.
Q4. Is drone delivery allowed? Yes. The circular states that the franchisee can facilitate last mile delivery by any mode, including drones.
Q5. When is commission not paid? Commission is not paid if non-delivery is due to the fault of the franchisee, or if the delivery status is not updated in the DOP system on the same day.
Q6. Is this useful for the GDS to MTS exam? Yes. Departmental papers frequently include recent India Post circulars in the general awareness section.
Final Word
The New Franchisee Scheme 2.0 update is a clear signal that India Post is serious about competing in the e-commerce delivery market. Direct pickup from the Parcel Hub, geo-tagged real-time updates, delivery time windows and a performance incentive together push the system toward faster, more reliable last mile delivery.
For departmental aspirants, keep this circular in your revision file. For franchisees, recalculate your earnings using the new slabs from 15 June 2026.