India Post is perhaps not the first name you thought of when a parcel needed to arrive tomorrow. But all that is set to change, as per the Ministry of Communications’ latest announcement.
The Department of Posts is set to launch '24 Speed Post' on March 17, 2026, a premium express delivery service that promises next-day guaranteed delivery for urgent and time-sensitive consignments.
The launch will be presided over by Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia and Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, in the presence of senior departmental officers at Rangbhawan Auditorium, Akashwani Bhawan, New Delhi, at 12.30 pm on Tuesday.
Which cities does it cover?
In its first phase, 24 Speed Post will be available across six major metro cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Alongside the new 24-hour service, a 48 Speed Post option will also be introduced, providing assured D+2 delivery timelines, both enabled through dedicated processing windows and priority air transmission.
So, what makes this different from regular Speed Post? The new service is designed to compete directly with private couriers like Blue Dart, DTDC, and Delhivery. According to India Posts, the facility comes loaded with features such as OTP-based secure delivery to ensure the parcel reaches the right hands, end-to-end tracking with SMS alerts, free pickup for bulk bookings, API integration for e-commerce platforms, and centralised billing for business accounts. There is also a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) facility for business customers.
The most distinctive promise, however, is a money-back guarantee in case of delay. This launch is a major part of India Post’s ongoing digital and logistics transformation.
Last week, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekha told the Parliament that the Department of Posts’ parcel revenue grew to ₹802.11 crore (FY 2025-26 till February) over the last three years, from ₹755.47 crore in FY 2023-24.
The growth, however, was supported by partnerships with Amazon, Shiprocket, Decathlon and ONDC, as well as real-time tracking and OTP delivery systems rolled out under the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) 2.0 project.
Now, with 24 Speed Post, India Post is looking to position itself as the nation’s preferred express courier, thanks to its wide network.
