The Department has been in operation for more than 150 years, engaged in mail delivery, deposit acceptance under Small Savings Schemes, providing life insurance cover under Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI), and providing retail services such as bill collection, sale of forms, etc.
Highlights:
♦ The DoP also acts as an agent for India’s Government to provide citizens with other services, such as MGNREGS salary payment and pension payment.
♦ During the COVID-19 lockdown, the department also conducted door-to-door financial services and medicines delivery.
♦ Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA) scheme: The SSA scheme was initiated by the Prime Minister in 2015 and known as the “Girls’ Child Prosperity scheme “. This account aims to provide a bright future for the girl child. It offers a high-interest rate of 7.6% and tax benefits under 80C.
♦ PM Jan Suraksha Schemes: These include various insurance schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeewan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
– APY provides pensions to unorganized workers who are not covered by any social security scheme.
– PMJJBY provides life insurance security to the poor and low-income section of society.
♦ Bima Gram Yojana: Bima Gram Yojana or Sampoorna Bima Gram Yojana provides affordable life insurance services to people living in rural areas of the country through the postal network.
