India’s Communications Minister reports parcel growth

India’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad has told local media that India Post’s parcel revenues have increased substantially under the current government. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power in May 2014. The Communications  Minister (whose remit includes the postal sector) was quoted in the Indian media today (31 May) as saying that post offices’ parcel revenue has increased by 80% over this period. The Minister said that the growth was mainly driven by e-commerce.

Prasad also reportedly told the media that all India Post delivery staff in urban cities will be equipped with smartphones by the end of this year, and technology will also be rolled out to rural areas.

In addition, Prasad announced that the Department of Posts is working on a scheme for India Post to offer a delivery service for “Gangajal” (holy water from the Ganges, sourced at Haridwar).