What happened to Registered Post? India Post’s recent changes

Rules checked on 4 November 2026. This is general information, not legal or customs advice. Confirm anything important with your carrier or the customs authority.

If you’ve looked for “Registered Post” at a post office recently, you may have been offered Speed Post instead. Here’s what changed.

Registered Post and Speed Post now work together

In August 2025, the Department of Posts explained that it had unified the processing of Registered Post and Speed Post. The two used to differ in one important way: Registered Post was delivered to a specific person, while Speed Post was delivered to an address.

That choice now sits inside Speed Post. Since 1 October 2025, you can add “Registration” to a Speed Post item for ₹5 plus GST. The item is then delivered specifically to the named addressee.

What it means when you send something

• For important papers, such as legal notices, ask for Speed Post with Registration, and keep the receipt.
• To check delivery, ask whether OTP-based delivery is available for your item. It was introduced as an optional extra in the same upgrade.
• To track it, use the number on your receipt. Our Speed Post tracking guide explains the format.

The law behind India Post also changed

The Post Office Act, 2023 came into force on 18 June 2024, replacing the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. It ended the Post Office’s exclusive right to collect and deliver letters, and it allows standards to be set for addresses and postcodes. Rules made under the old Act continue where they fit, until they’re replaced.