Introduction of Barcode for Parcels

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Mail Business (Development & Operations) Division

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110001

No.30-49/2012-D                                                           Dated: 06.03.2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: - Introduction of Barcode for Parcels: Specifications regarding.

            The matter regarding restricting of the existing network for parcel operation is currently under examination at this Directorate. It has been decided to provide track and trace feature for the three proposed parcel products, i.e., “Express Parcel”, “Business Express Parcel” and “Business Parcel” as well as for Registered Parcel. It has further been decided to introduce barcode on all categories of parcel articles and bags including ordinary parcels. However, track and trace feature would not be available for ordinary parcels.

2.         A new application software for processing of parcels at Parcel Processing Centres (nomenclature yet to be decided for these mail offices) is being developed by CEPT Mysore. Provisions are also being made for computerized booking and printed barcode stickers shall also be used for posting/ acceptance of parcel in bulk at Centres to be created for this purpose.

3.         The structure of the bar code for parcel articles will be the same as prescribed for Speed Post articles, i.e., Code 39 symbology with 13-character alpha numeric combination as per the UPU standards. The first two alpha characters would be in the range of “CA to CZ” for parcels. For example, a parcel booked in Maharashtra Circle will have a barcode as “CMxxxxxxxxxIN”, where “CM” reflects the bar code series allotted to Maharashtra Circle for parcels, the next 8 digits being in serial order and the 9^th digit being the check digit and “IN” denoting “India”. The bar code series allocated to the Circles for the purpose of prcels is given in the Annexure 1. Same series of barcodes would be used for all categories of parcels. Further, the same series of bar code, as allotted to the Circles, will be used for both domestic and international parcels. Accordingly, this memo supersedes Directorate memo No.28-2/2003-CF dated 9.11.2004 and 13.12.2004 containing barcode series for international parcels. Specifications for barcodes to be used on parcel articles are given in Annexure 2.

4.         All parcel bags would carry a bag label containing a barcode. The barcode series allocated to the Circles for parcel bags is given at Annexure 3. There would be two separate bags label for parcels bags- One for “Express Parcel” bag and the other for rest of the parcel bags. The design and specification for Express Parcel bags and other categories of parcel bags are given Annexure 4 and Annexure 5 respectively.

Shri Kapil Sibal Inaugurates India’s First All Women Post Office

On the occasion of the International Women`s Day today, the Union Minister of Communications & IT Sh. Kapil Sibal inaugurated India`s First All Women Employees Post Office at Shastri Bhawan, here today. This office is a Project Arrow Office and has three counters. Two counters offer Multi Purpose services like booking of Speed Post, Registration, Sale of IPOs, Booking of Money Orders etc. and one counter is for Sale of Stamps. All these counters of this Post Office will now be manned by Women employees only. The working hours of this Post Office will be from 9.30 a.m. till 5.30 p.m. 

There are 1003 women employees at the operative level in Delhi circle and their percentage in the total work force is about 14%. In the administrative cadres the percentage is 22%. In a co-incidence the Junior Engineer [Civil] who is Incharge of maintenance of this Post Office building, the Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices of the Postal Sub Division as well as Senior Superintendent of Post Offices of Delhi Central division who are controlling officers of this Post Office are also women. 

Th Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal being presented the MY STAMP Album at the launch of the India’s first ALL WOMEN post office, in New Delhi on March 08, 2013.

Govt to launch website for e-postal order by March end

NEW DELHI; A website to help Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to pay the fee for filing RTI applications through e-postal order is all set to be launched by this month end. 

The website will have an option for NRIs to pay the fee of Rs 10 via credit or debit cards to the government while exercising their Right to Information, official sources said. 

The Department of Personnel and Training, which act as a nodal agency for the implementation of the RTI Act, has worked out all the modalities along with the Department of Posts for the purpose, they said. The facility, which is likely to be made online by this month end, will also be extended for citizens living across the country, the sources said. 

The DoPT has already floated a tender for an RTI call centre and website project which will help an applicant to file applications online under the transparency law and receive the response. 

CBS Project will fecilitate India Post to initiate full-fledged banking services

NEW DELHI: Union Budget of 2013-14 has come with a major development proposition for India post. Not only postal department big shots, but even small postal service agents are also happy with the announcement of Finance Minister.

"Government has initiated an ambitious IT driven project to modernize the postal network at a cost of Rs. 4,909 crore. Post offices will become part of the core banking solution and offer real time banking services. I propose to provide Rs. 32 crore for the project in 2013-14," said the FM in his budget speech.

Clear enough, the initiative will be a big shot in the arm of Indiapost that already is a major small savings service provider in India. "We are happy with the decision as we have been asking for this since long.

CBS  will empower us to go full fledged in banking services," said Mr. John Samuel, Chief Post Master General of J & K who also plays a vital role in visualizing Indiapost's modernization and new business sector.

Although India post has always traditionally remained as a major agency facilitating small savings especially in rural areas, it was never allowed to initiate full-fledged banking services.

Moreover, manual operation of postal department versus electronic and cyber age core banking solution of all other banks have pushed Indiapost to back bench in providing financial services.

But, "Indiapost has 1.55 lakh establishments in India touching deepest interiors. This is almost double of total 83,000 establishments of all banks put together. With introduction of modernized services, now we will be able to contribute in a big way to GoI's targeted  financial inclusion drive in India," said Mr. Samuel.

Revised Recruitment Rules of Inspectors & Asst Supdts Posts

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