New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday said India Post, one of the country’s oldest and most trusted institutions, is reinventing itself with technology and innovation to meet the demands of the 21st century.

Speaking at an event organised by the Department of Posts in New Delhi for the launch of the ‘Dak Mitra’ and ‘Dak Seva’ apps and the inauguration of 14 renovated post offices, Scindia said the day marked not just the launch of new initiatives but an opportunity to blend the rich legacy of India Post with modern technology. The aim, he said, is to make postal services simpler, faster, more accessible and citizen‑centric.

“Today, citizens expect government services not only to be available but available on their mobile phones, at the touch of a finger, in a fast, simple and transparent manner. Our responsibility is not merely to digitise old processes but to redesign the entire experience around the citizen,” the minister said.

The ‘Dak Mitra’ app has been developed to digitally empower postal workers at the last mile. Operational in 1.4 lakh branch post offices since its upgraded version in May 2025, the app has facilitated 2.45 crore domestic Speed Post and parcel bookings and assisted in the delivery of 15.09 crore postal articles. It has also contributed to Rs 1,102 crore in new premiums and a total premium collection of Rs 5,431 crore. Features such as Aadhaar‑based KYC for savings accounts, biometric cash withdrawals and digital e‑KYC are making services more convenient.

The ‘Dak Seva’ app, launched on a pilot basis in June 2025, has already crossed nearly 10 lakh downloads and enabled the booking of 91.34 lakh mail and parcel articles. Available in 23 Indian languages, the app allows citizens to track domestic and international articles, book Speed Post and parcels, use e‑Money Order services, lodge and track complaints, locate nearby post offices, calculate postage, and access information on small savings schemes and PLI/RPLI insurance. Digital payments via UPI, internet banking and cards are also available.

Scindia said digital transformation does not diminish the importance of physical post offices, which remain centres of trust and human connection for millions. As part of a nationwide modernisation drive, 40 post offices across 17 states have been identified for upgradation. Of these, 27 have been completed, and 14 were inaugurated on the occasion, including those in Patliputra (Bihar), Vasant Kunj (Delhi), Sector‑56 Gurugram, Kakurgachi (Kolkata), Vidisha and Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh), Shillong, Kandivali West (Mumbai), and several in Nagpur, Lucknow and Prayagraj.

India Post is also growing stronger financially. Revenue rose from approximately Rs 13,218 crore in FY 2024‑25 to Rs 15,296 crore in FY 2025‑26 — a growth of about 16 per cent. In the first quarter of FY 2026‑27, it recorded its highest‑ever quarterly revenue of Rs 4,008.95 crore, crossing the Rs 4,000‑crore mark for the first time with nearly 22 per cent year‑on‑year growth.

“Old trust, new technology; the same warmth, new speed, this is the new India Post,” Scindia said, adding that the department is being developed as a modern, reliable and technology‑enabled institution in line with the vision of Developed India 2047 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

The event was attended by Minister of State for Communications Chandrashekhar Pemmasani, Secretary (Posts) Subrata Das, Director General (Posts) Jitendra Gupta, public representatives from eight states and a large number of postal employees.

–IANS

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