The Indian Postal Service (IPoS) is a Group ‘A’ central civil service that was formed in 1948. The chief function of the service is to effectively manage the postal services in India. There are 22 Postal Circles in the country each of which is headed by a Chief Postmaster General. The circles are again classified into Regions and each region is commanded by a Postmaster General. India has 1.55 lakh post offices.
The IPoS officers are recruited through the UPSC CSE conducted every year. This year the UPSC Prelims will be held on 2nd June 2019. See more details about the UPSC CSE 2019 here.
Training
The Indian Postal Service Officers go through their training in two phases as described below:
Phase 1: Foundation Course at any one of the training academies as identified by the Department of Personnel & Training (LBSNAA/ Mussoorie, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad, National Academy of Direct Taxes, Nagpur, etc.).
Phase 2: Professional training in postal management is imparted at Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy (RAKNPA) located at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Functions
- Managing and monitoring postal services and operations.
- Optimising and expanding the postal network.
- Administering post offices and mail offices.
- Engaging in the upkeep and maintenance of post offices, letter boxes, mail vans, etc.
- Customer relations and public grievance redressal mechanisms.
- Marketing the services and products of India Post.
- The IPoS officers can be sent to work on deputation to other central/state government ministries or departments, in the Deputy Secretary rank or above.
- They can also be sent to work in PSUs as Chief Vigilance Officer.
- They can also be sent overseas on assignments/deputations with United National Development Programme, Universal Postal Union, Asia Pacific Postal Union, etc.
- They can also be sent to work on deputation in the officers’ cadre of the Army Postal Service.
Hierarchy and Pay Scale
|
Grade |
Pay Scale |
|
Junior Time Scale (Senior Superintendent of Post Offices/ Senior Superintendent Railway Mail Service) |
Rs.15,600-39100 + Grade Pay Rs.5400 |
|
Senior Time Scale |
Rs.15,600-39,100 + Grade Pay Rs.6600 |
|
Junior Administrative Grade |
Rs.15,600-39,100 + Grade Pay Rs.7600 |
|
Junior Administrative Grade (including NFSG) |
Rs.37,400-67,000 + Grade Pay Rs.8700 |
|
Senior Administrative Grade |
Rs.37,400-67,000 + Grade Pay Rs.10,000 |
|
Higher Administrative Grade (Postmaster General) |
Rs.67,000-79,000 |
|
Higher Administrative Grade + (Member, Postal Services Board |
Rs.75,500-80,000 |
|
Secretary To Govt. Of India/Chairman (PSB)/ Director General (Posts) |
Rs.80,000 |
Designations held by IPoS officers during field posting:
- Senior Superintendent of Post Offices
- Senior Superintendent Railway Mail Service
- Chief Postmaster
- Assistant Postmaster General
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