CAREER IN INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE

INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE

The Department of Posts functioning under the brand name 'India Post' is a government operated postal system in India generally referred to as 'the post office'. A career in Indian Postal service may not be as glamorous as other civil service careers like IAS, IPS, IFS etc. But it is a unique government job sector offering job satisfaction and providing opportunity to serve people from all walks of life. Indian postal services (IPoS) is one of the Group 'A' Central Services of India. 

Indian postal service, falling under the department of posts is a part of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology under the Government of India. The apex body of the department known as the Postal Service Board is under the administrative control of the Director General (DG) of Posts, New Delhi. The board consists of a chairman and six members. The six members of the board hold portfolios of Personnel, Operations, Technology, Postal Life Insurance, Human Resource Development (HRD) and Planning functions. The board is assisted by a senior staff officer of the postal directorate who acts as secretary to the board. Deputy directors general, directors and assistant directors general provide the necessary functional support for the Board at their Headquarters located at Dak Bhavan, New Delhi. The joint secretary and financial advisor to the board is a permanent invitee to the board.

For the purpose of administration, India has been divided into 22 postal circles, each circle headed by a Chief Post Master General (PMG). These circles manage the day-to-day functioning of the various Head Post Offices, Sub Post Offices and Branch Post Offices through their Regional and Divisional level arrangements. The chief PMG is over all in-charge of administration and operations of the units under his jurisdiction for all purposes. Each of the 22 circles are divided again into regions, headed by a Regional Post Master General (PMG) of the area. The Chief PMG and regional PMG's are assisted by the directors of postal services, assistant postmasters general and assistant directors. 

The regions are further divided into groups of field units called Divisions (Postal/ RMS Division) which are headed by Group 'A' or Group 'B' officers (i.e. Senior / Superintendent of Post Offices or Mail Offices). The divisions comprise of sub-divisions, head post offices, sub post offices and branch post offices which are the basic operational units of postal services. The post offices and the Mail Business Centers are under the Divisional Superintendents of Posts or Railway Mail Offices respectively. The Divisional head controls the Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices or Inspector of Post Offices, Complaints Inspector, Manager Mail Business Centre, Manager Customer Care Centre etc. The divisional superintendent is overall in-charge of administration and operations in the division and reports to the regional postmaster general/ chief postmaster general.  Just as the divisions report to the regional/ circle office, the circles report to the directorate which is the apex management and policy making body of the department. 

In the circles and regions, there are other functional supporting logistical units like stamp depots, store depots and mail motor service. The R.M.S. (Railway Mail Service) offices and sections are similarly controlled by the senior superintendents or superintendents RMS in each circle. 

The Head Post Offices are major offices which also have account jurisdiction on the smaller post offices. Mukhya Dak Ghars are Sub Post Offices with more powers than a Sub Post Office. Extra Departmental Sub Post Office and Branch Post Office are manned by Gramin Dak Sewaks who are Extra Departmental employees.

Besides the 22 circles, the communication needs of the armed forces are catered by a special circle called the base circle. The base circle is headed by the additional director general of Army Postal Service, holding the rank of a Major general. The officer cadre of Army Postal Services is drawn on deputation from the Indian Postal Service. 75% of the other ranks of the Army Postal Service are drawn from the Department of Posts and the remaining personnel are recruited by the Army. 

Indian Postal Service Officers are recruited through the civil service examination, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Like other civil servants, they are eligible to move on deputation to other ministries and departments of the central government, state government or even on foreign assignment to United Nations bodies.

SOME OF THE SERVICES OFFERED BY POSTAL DEPARTMENTS ARE :

• Mails Services - Delivery of Letters, postcards, Inland letter cards, book packets, value payable post, parcels, Speed Post articles, registered articles etc. 
• Financial Services - Payment of ordinary and instant money order; Post office savings schemes; Postal Life Insurance and Rural Postal Life Insurance etc. 
• Philately - The philatelic activities of India Post includes designing, printing and distribution of special/commemorative postage stamps and other postage stamps/ service postage stamps; Monitoring and promotion of Philately/conduct of philatelic exhibitions within the country, participation in international and world exhibitions; Management of the National Philatelic Museum, Dak Bhavan
• Counter Services - Counter services are provided from post offices (Departmental and Branch Post Offices), Mail Offices or any other outlet designated for the purpose. These include :
  - Sale of postage stamps and postal stationery etc.
  - Booking of registered, insured, Speed Post and other mail articles etc.
  - Booking of money orders, various transactions relating to Post Office Savings and Postal Life Insurance (PLI)/Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) etc.
• ePost Office for anytime anywhere transaction related to instant money order, electronic money order and philately products.

INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE : EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION & RECRUITMENT

HIERARCHY IN INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE FOR THE VARIOUS JOB POSITIONS

• Probationer
•  Senior Superintendent of Post Offices or Railway Mail in large district towns and Divisional Headquarters
•  Assistant Post Master General
•  Director
•  Post Master General of a 'Circle' 
•  Senior Deputy Director Generals who are equivalent to Additional Secretary in a Ministry or member of Post and Telegraph Board (a total 8 in number)
•  Chairman of the Board.

The eligibility criteria varies depending on the posts. Generally the needed educational qualification for the postal service are :

• Pass in 10+2 or 12th Class Examination of recognized University or Board of School Education or Board of Secondary Education (excluding vocational streams).
• Candidates for the posts of Postal Assistants in Post Offices, Sorting Assistants in Railway Mail Service and Postal / Sorting Assistants in Army Postal Service should have the above educational qualifications with English as a compulsory subject.
• The candidates should have knowledge of local languages of the State. i.e., should have studied Telugu (and / or any other local language declared as local language by Andhra Pradesh State Government) as a subject at least upto Matriculation level (SSC)
• Candidates with higher qualifications are also considered. But they have to fulfil the requirements mentioned above.
• Candidates who have passed Vocational or job Oriented Course (JOC) are NOT eligible.
• Desirable qualification :- Typing Knowledge and Computer Knowledge.
• For Postal Assistants of Circle Office and Regional Offices Typing skill in Hindi at the speed of 25 words per minute or in English at the speed of 30 words per minute and Computer Knowledge are essential.

AGE LIMIT : 

Between 18 to 25-27 years as on last date prescribed for receipt of application as shown in the advertisement and in the list containing vacancy position supplied with this prospectus. Upper age limit is relaxable for a) SC/ST by 5 years; b) OBC by 3 years; c) Physically handicapped by 10 years ; and d) Ex-Servicemen by the Length of Military Service plus three years.

RECRUITMENT METHOD

Recruitment in Indian Postal Services are carried out through written examination and interview. Officers post are recruited through the civil service examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) which requires a bachelor's degree.

The selection process is as follows : 

a) The total aggregate marks for selection will be 100; consisting of 40% weightage of percentage of marks secured in 10+2 or 12th Class, 50% weightage of marks secured in aptitude test and 10 marks for computer test (including typing skill on computer)

b) A merit list of the candidates will be prepared on the basis of marks in the aggregate secured by them in 10+2 or 12th Class Examination of recognized University or Board of School Education or Board of Secondary Education (excluding vocational streams). This merit list is on the basis of 40% of the percentage of marks secured by the candidate in 10+2 or 12th Class Examination. For example if a candidate has secured 70% of marks in 10+2 or 12th Class Examination, he would be awarded 40% of 70 i.e., 28 marks for the purpose of preparing merit list.

c) Out of this merit list, candidates equal to 10 times of vacancies (for each community separately as per the vacancies reserved for each community) will be called for to appear for the Aptitude test / written test. The candidates selected will be addressed to appear for the Aptitude Test. 

d) The Aptitude Test will contain 50 objective type questions of 2 marks each and will include questions on English, Mathematics, General Knowledge and Reasoning and Analytical ability. The duration of the test will be 60 minutes. 50% of the marks secured in aptitude test will be given weightage for the final assessment.

e) The computer test consists of data entry knowledge and typing knowledge on computer. The test will consist of one passage in English or Hindi to be typed to test the typing knowledge (The Passage for type test will consist of 450 words in English or 375 words in Hindi to be typed at the minimum speed of 30 w.p.m) and data consisting of figures and letters to test the knowledge of data entry. The test shall be for 30 minutes - 15 minutes for each part i.e., Typing knowledge and data entry and each part shall be given 5 marks each. Marks shall be given at 0 or 5 based on whether the candidate achieves minimum standard or not. There will not be graded marks. The weightage for computer test will be 10 marks.

f) The marks secured in computer test will be added to the marks already secured in the components referred to a) and b) above and final merit list will be prepared. The final selection will be made on the basis of this final merit list.

g) Attendance in Aptitude Test and Computer Test (including typing skill) is mandatory for selection. Those who fail to appear for these tests will not be selected.

REMUNERATION :

The salary structure in postal service, depends on the individual's hierarchy. One can start their career in postal service as a trainer/ probationer officer. Then can move on to junior time scale, senior time scale, junior administrative grade, senior administrative grade, higher administrative grade, principal chief postmaster general, member postal service board and then secretary to government of India (ex-cadre post).

The Departmental officers and employees receive Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance as admissible from time to time + Non-Practising Allowance (wherever admissible) + Transport Allowance + House Rent Allowance (if admissible) + Special Allowance attached to the post (wherever applicable) + Special Disturbed Area Allowance (where admissible).

INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE : POSTS AVAILABLE IN INDIAN POSTAL DEPARTMENTS

Various job positions are existing in the Indian Postal sector. Each state in India has their own recruitment procedure for the selection of candidates. The various posts available in the postal sector in India are : 

•  Postal Assistants, Savings Bank Control- Internal Check Organizations
•  Postal Assistants in Circle Office and Regional Offices
•  Postal Assistant (PA) and Sorting Assistant (SA) (In offices other than foreign Post Organization)
•  Lower Selection Grade Posts
•  Stenographers Grade 'D'
•  Stenographers Grade-II
•  Sr. PS and Private Secretary
•  Junior Hindi Translator and Senior Hindi Translator
•  Hindi Typist
•  Postman-Village Postman and Mail Guard
•  Multi Tasking Staff
•  Indian Postal Service Group 'A' (officer Grade)
•  Senior Artist
•  HSG Grade-I
•  Inspector of Post offices
•  Selection Grade Posts
•  Postal Service Group 'B'
•  Postmaster Cadres

The vacancies in the post office are filled according to the kind of job profile. To obtain a job in post office, the applicants has to meet the eligibility requirements and need to write an exam. The eligibility criteria may differ based on the job profile and also the state laws. There are separate vacancies for each department like for post office clerk, post office carrier, mail clerk etc.

HIERARCHY IN INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE FOR THE VARIOUS JOB POSITIONS

• Probationer
• Senior Superintendent of Post Offices or Railway Mail in large district towns and Divisional Headquarters
• Assistant Post Master General
• Director
• Post Master General of a 'Circle' 
• Senior Deputy Director Generals who are equivalent to Additional Secretary in a Ministry or member of Post and Telegraph Board (a total 8 in number)
• Chairman of the Board.

INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE , GROUP 'A'

Group A service of Indian Postal service consist of the seven grades namely:

(i) Junior Time Scale
(ii) Senior Time Scale
(iii) Junior Administrative Grade
(iv) Selection Grade of Junior Administrative Grade
(v) Senior Administrative Grade 
- Level II
- Grade Level I
(vi) Senior Deputy Director General/ Chief Postmaster General
(vii) Members of the Postal Services Board

RECRUITMENT 

1. The recruitment to the Group A Service, shall be made by the following methods :
   (a) 40% of the permanent vacancies and all temporary vacancies in the Junior Time Scale of the Service shall be filled by promotion and 60% of the permanent vacancies in that scale shall be filled by direct recruitment.
2. (b) Vacancies in all other grades of the service shall be filled by promotion. Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (1), the Government shall determine, in consultation with the commission, the method of recruitment to be employed for the purpose of filling any particular vacancies in the Service and the number of candidates to be recruited by each method.

RECRUITMENT BY COMPETITIVE EXAM

A competitive examination for appointment to the Junior Time Scale of the Service shall be held at such times and places as may be prescribed in a notice issued by the commission for the purpose. Every such notice shall, as far as possible specify the number of vacancies to be filled on the results of the examination. Every examination under this part shall be conducted by the commission in the manner notified by the Government of India in the Department of personnel & Training from time to time.

If the examination held under this part is a combined Examination for the purpose of making appointment to more than one service or post, the following provisions shall apply, namely:-

(a) any person may apply to be admitted as a candidate for appointment to all or any of the services or posts for which he is eligible,
Provided that if he wishes to be considered for appointment to more than one service or post, he shall state in his application form the names of the Services and posts for which he wishes to be considered and the order of his preferences for them and in such cases, only one application form and payment of the fees for examination for one service as specified in rule 14. shall be sufficiently.

(b) the Government of India in the Department of Personnel & Training shall assign successful candidates to each service or post on a consideration of all circumstances including any preference expressed by the candidates in their applications.

A candidate shall apply for admission to the examination before such date, in such manner and in such form as the commission may prescribe : Provided that a candidate in Government service, whether in a permanent or in a temporary capacity or as work charged employee, other than casual or daily rated employee, will be required to submit an undertaking to the effect that he has informed in writing his Head of office or Department regarding his application for the examination.

Nationality: A candidate must be a citizen of Indian or he must belong to such categories of persons as may, from time to time, be notified by the Government.

Age limits: A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 26 years on the first day of August of the year in which the examination is held; Provided that the upper age limit may be relaxed in respect of candidates belonging to the scheduled castes and the scheduled Tribe and such other categories of persons as may, from time to time, be notified in this behalf by the Government of India in the Department of Personnel and Training to the extent and subject to the conditions notified in respect of each category.

Educational Qualifications: A candidate must held a degree a university established or incorporated by or under a control act or a provincial Act or a State Act or other educational institution established by a Central Act or declared to be deemed as University under section 3 of the University Grant Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) or a foreign University approve by the Central Government from time to time, or possesses on equivalent qualification which has been recognized by the Government for the purpose of admission to the examination. Candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications which are recognized by Government as equivalent to professional and technical degree would also be eligible for admission to the examination.

PREPARATION OF LIST OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES : After every examination, the names of candidates shall be arranged by the commission in the order of merit, as disclosed by the aggregate marks finally awarded to each candidate and in that order so many candidates as are found by the commission to be qualified on the basis of the examination shall be recommended for appointment up to the number of unreserved vacancies decided to be filled on the results of the examination. 

RECRUITMENT BY PROMOTION 

(1) JUNIOR TIME SCALE : Appointment to the Junior Time Scale in the service shall be made by selection on merit from amongst officers regularly appointed to the Postal Service Group 'B' with five years of regular services in that grade on the recommendations of a duly constituted Departmental promotion Committee in consultation with the commission.

(2) SENIOR TIME SCALE : Appointment to the Senior Time Scale in the Service shall be made by promotion of officers in the Junior Time Scale with four years regular service in that grade in the order of seniority subject to the rejection of the unfit of the recommendations of a duly constituted Departmental Promotion committee.

(3) JUNIOR ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE :Appointment to the Junior Administrative Grade in the Service shall be made by selection on merit from amongst officers of the Senior Time Scale of the Service with 5 years regular service in the grade on recommendations of a duly constituted Departmental Promotion committee.

(4) SELECTION GRADE OF THE JUNIOR ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE : Appointment to the Selection Grade of the Junior Administrative Grade in the Service shall be made by promotion of officers in the Junior Administrative Grade of the Service who have been stagnating at the maximum of that grade for not less than two years, in the order of seniority subject to rejection of the unfit on the recommendations of a duly constituted departmental Promotion Committee.

(5) SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE 
LEVEL -II: Appointment to the Senior Administrative Grade Level –II in the service shall be made by selection on merit from amongst officers of the Junior Administrative Grade of the service including the Selection Grade who have put in not less than 16 years total regular service in Group ‘A’ of the Service on the recommendations of a duly constituted Departmental promotion committee.
LEVEL -I: Appointment to the Senior Administrative Grade Level-I in the Service shall be made on the basis of selection on merit from amongst officers of the Senior Administrative Grade Level-II of the service with 2 years of regular service in the grade on the recommendations of a duly constituted Departmental Promotion Committee.

(6) SENIOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL / CHIEF POSTMASTER GENERAL:Appointment to the Senior Deputy Director General/ Chief Postmaster General shall be made on the basis of selection on merit from amongst officers of Senor Administrative Grade of the service with three years regular service in the grade. 

(7) MEMBERS OF THE POSTAL SERVICES BOARD : (a) Appointments to all the post of Members of the Postal Services Board except the post of Member (Finance) shall be made by selection on merit from amongst officers holding posts on regular basis in the grade of Senior Deputy Director General/ Chief Postmaster General with 2 years regular service.
The post of Member (Finance) will be filled in accordance with the scheme for staffing Senior Administrative posts at the Centre.

(8) If an officer appointed to any grade in the service is considered for promotion to any higher grade, all persons senior to him in the grade shall also be considered, not with standing that they may not have rendered requisite to number of years of service. 

PROBATION : Every officer on appointed to the service, either by direct recruitment or by promotion to Junior Time Scale shall be on probation for a period of two years. Provided that the controlling officer may extend the period of probation in accordance with the instructions issued by the Government from time to time. On completion of the probation or any extension thereof, officer shall, if, considered fit, be confirmed against the post, if not already confirmed in the entry grade. During the period of probation or any extension thereof, candidates may be recruited by the government to undergo such courses of training and instructions and to pass examination and tests (including examination in Hindi) as the Government may deem fit, as a condition to satisfactory completion of the probation. 

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