With the increasing commercial activity in India, the need for Direct Advertising of their products and services by the business organizations is growing. Direct Mail, which can be defined as ‘printed matter usually carrying a sales message or announcement designed to elicit a response from a carefully selected consumer or business market’ is the most potent medium for Direct Advertising. In the advanced countries, Direct Mail now constitutes a pre dominant portion of mail traffic handled by Postal administrations. Direct mail can be both addressed as well as un-addressed. Direct Post is the un-addressed component of Direct Mail, and would comprise of un-addressed postal articles like letters, cards, brochures, questionnaires, pamphlets, samples, promotional items like CDs/floppies and Cassettes etc., coupons, posters, mailers or any other form of printed communication that is not prohibited by the Indian Post Office Act 1898 or Indian Post Office Rules 1933.
The Direct Post has been introduced by Department of Posts vide its OM no. 39-01/2001-BDD dated 2nd June 2005.
Conditions for availing Direct Post:
Only un-addressed postal articles like letters, cards, brochures, questionnaires, pamphlets, samples, promotional items like CDs/floppies and Cassettes etc., coupons, posters, mailers or any other form of printed communication that is not prohibited by the Indian Post Office Act 1898 or Indian Post Office Rules 1933.
A minimum quantity of 1000 pieces can be accepted under the ‘Direct Post’.
Articles to be accepted have to be such that they do not exceed the length and width of an A3 size paper.
Articles posted as ‘Direct Post’ will bear no address or name on the communication. These will be accepted in bulk in designated offices and will not be posted in a letter box.
In case of articles meant for delivery in other towns, Direct Post articles would be accepted in PIN Code wise bundles.
Contact Us
Prospective users of Direct Post can contact Chief Postmaster Generals of their States for any inquiry in the matter. Alternatively, they can write in at
email: business@indiapost.gov.in for any assistance that they may require.
The price for the Direct Post articles is as follows:
| Per Article for 1st 20 gms |
Per article (for every additional 20 gms or part thereof) |
Local |
Inter City |
Price of 1 Direct Post article | INR 1.50 | INR 2.00 | INR 1.00 For both local and inter-city articles |
Where Direct Post articles are tendered in quantities of over 50,000, a discount to the sender, or commission to the concerned advertising agency, of 5% would be admissible.
