The Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, addressed Unstarred Question No. 2974 on December 17, 2025, concerning the Department of Posts' focus on financial services.
The Minister stated that the number of post offices in the country has increased in the last five years. The number of post offices as of March 31st for the past five years are:
* March 31, 2021: 1,56,434
* March 31, 2022: 1,59,251
* March 31, 2023: 1,64,972
* March 31, 2024: 1,64,987
* March 31, 2025: 1,64,999
Details of revenue and expenditure (in crores of Rupees) for the past five years are:
* **2020-21:** Total Revenue Expenditure: 29261.46, Total Revenue Receipt: 10632.5, Total Recoveries: 933.87, Revenue Deficit: 17695.09
* **2021-22:** Total Revenue Expenditure: 30924.06, Total Revenue Receipt: 10860.8, Total Recoveries: 1202.63, Revenue Deficit: 18860.63
* **2022-23:** Total Revenue Expenditure: 32595.57, Total Revenue Receipt: 10917.89, Total Recoveries: 1139.24, Revenue Deficit: 20538.44
* **2023-24:** Total Revenue Expenditure: 35645.52, Total Revenue Receipt: 11321.35, Total Recoveries: 1255.88, Revenue Deficit: 23068.29
* **2024-25:** Total Revenue Expenditure: 37528.49, Total Revenue Receipt: 11425.24, Total Recoveries: 1188.04, Revenue Deficit: 24915.21
The Minister stated that postal services haven't been severely affected due to diversion of employees to Non-Postal functions and huge vacancies. Further details of corrective measures were not provided.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: The central ministry overseeing the Department of Posts and its operations.
Department of Posts: The primary entity responsible for postal services and financial services like banking and life insurance, under the Ministry of Communications.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where this question was raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2974
ANSWERED ON 17TH DECEMBER, 2025
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS FOCUSING ON FINANCIAL SERVICES
2974. SHRI T R BAALU:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the number of post offices in the country has decreased drastically
during the last five years as Department of Posts is focusing more on other financial service activities
like Banking, Life Insurance etc.;
(b) if so, the details of new post offices opened/closed during the last five years;
(c) the extent to which the financial viability of postal services have improved on account of
banking and insurance services along with details of revenue, expenditure, profit during the last five
years;
(d) whether postal services have been severely affected due to diversion of employees to Non-
Postal functions and huge vacancies; and
(e) if so, the details of the corrective measures proposed by the Government?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) No, Sir. The number of post offices in the country has in fact increased during the last five
years.
(b) Details of post offices during the last five years:
Year Number of post offices
As on 31.03.2021 1,56,434
As on 31.03.2022 1,59,251
As on 31.03.2023 1,64,972
As on 31.03.2024 1,64,987
As on 31.03.2025 1,64,999
1(c) Details of revenue and expenditure during the last five years including the banking and
insurance services are as below:
(Rs. in crores)
Financial Total Revenue Total Revenue Total Revenue
Year Expenditure Receipt Recoveries Deficit
2020-21 29261.46 10632.5 933.87 17695.09
2021-22 30924.06 10860.8 1202.63 18860.63
2022-23 32595.57 10917.89 1139.24 20538.44
2023-24 35645.52 11321.35 1255.88 23068.29
2024-25 37528.49 11425.24 1188.04 24915.21
(d) No, Sir.
(e) Does not arise in view of point (d) above.
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