Farewell to Registered Post: Commemorating the Merger with Speed Post – A Philatelic Chronicle (2025)

If you use India Post services, you’re likely aware of the merger of Registered Post services with Speed Post, effective from 1st October 2025. Following this merger, the cost of sending a registered item has increased — now priced at ₹28.00 for delivery within the same city and ₹62.00 for delivery to another city, for items weighing up to 50 grams.

As 30th September 2025 marked the last day of the traditional Registered Post service, philatelists across India commemorated this historic moment by posting their final registered letters, preserving a significant milestone in Indian Postal History.

In this blog post, I would like to share my experience with the Registered Post service before and after the merger with Speed Post, through a series of covers mailed on 30th September and 1st October 2025.

A commemorative cover featuring the Gazette Notification declaring Speed Post as the basic mail service, applicable from 01.10.2025. The cover was posted from Puri RMS through Speed Post on 1st October 2025.
A commemorative cover featuring the Gazette Notification declaring Speed Post as the basic mail service, applicable from 01.10.2025. The cover was posted from Puri RMS through Speed Post on 1st October 2025.
A commemorative cover with a Special Cancellation of Maha Ashtami, released at Mumbai GPO on 30th September 2025. The cover was designed by Dr. Aditya Singh to document the last day of the Registered Post service, as part of a group activity by the Philatelic Society of Uttar Pradesh. It also bears the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of Taj Mahal S.O., featuring the Gateway of India, and was posted through Registered Post from Mumbai GPO on the same day.
A commemorative cover with a Special Cancellation of Maha Ashtami, released at Mumbai GPO on 30th September 2025. The cover was designed by Dr. Aditya Singh to document the last day of the Registered Post service, as part of a group activity by the Philatelic Society of Uttar Pradesh. It also bears the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of Taj Mahal S.O., featuring the Gateway of India, and was posted through Registered Post from Mumbai GPO on the same day.
A commemorative cover issued by the Department of Posts, Karnataka Circle, in collaboration with the Postcrossing Welfare Society of India, to commemorate the merger. The cover was posted through Registered Post from Bengaluru GPO with a special pictorial cancellation released on 30th September 2025.
A commemorative cover issued by the Department of Posts, Karnataka Circle, in collaboration with the Postcrossing Welfare Society of India, to commemorate the merger. The cover was posted through Registered Post from Bengaluru GPO with a special pictorial cancellation released on 30th September 2025.
A commemorative cover sent through Registered Post from New Delhi, bearing the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of Rashtrapati Bhawan, dated 30th September 2025.
A commemorative cover sent through Registered Post from New Delhi, bearing the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of Rashtrapati Bhawan, dated 30th September 2025.
A cover sent from a Field Post Office (FPO) through Registered Post on 30th September 2025. FPOs provide postal services to the Armed Forces. (Front)
A cover sent from a Field Post Office (FPO) through Registered Post on 30th September 2025. FPOs provide postal services to the Armed Forces. (Back)
A cover sent from a Field Post Office (FPO) through Registered Post on 30th September 2025. FPOs provide postal services to the Armed Forces.
A commemorative cover posted on 30th September 2025, booked through the Online Self-Booking Portal. Registration numbers starting with ‘RY’ indicate items booked via the self-service system. The cover was posted from Prayagraj H.O., bearing all its Permanent Pictorial Cancellations highlighting the city’s cultural and historical landmarks. (Front)
A commemorative cover posted on 30th September 2025, booked through the Online Self-Booking Portal. Registration numbers starting with ‘RY’ indicate items booked via the self-service system. The cover was posted from Prayagraj H.O., bearing all its Permanent Pictorial Cancellations highlighting the city’s cultural and historical landmarks. (Back)
A commemorative cover posted on 30th September 2025, booked through the Online Self-Booking Portal. Registration numbers starting with ‘RY’ indicate items booked via the self-service system. The cover was posted from Prayagraj H.O., bearing all its Permanent Pictorial Cancellations highlighting the city’s cultural and historical landmarks.
A commemorative cover posted on 30th September 2025 from Raipur, featuring the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of the Philatelic Bureau, Raipur.
A commemorative cover posted on 30th September 2025 from Raipur, featuring the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of the Philatelic Bureau, Raipur.
A commemorative cover posted from Bengaluru GPO through Registered Post. The cover, designed and sold by the Postcrossing Welfare Society of India, was sent with meter franking on 30th September 2025.
A commemorative cover posted from Bengaluru GPO through Registered Post. The cover, designed and sold by the Postcrossing Welfare Society of India, was sent with meter franking on 30th September 2025.
A picture postcard sent via Registered Post from Puri H.O., bearing the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation and thematic postage stamps on Lord Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri. (Front)
A picture postcard sent via Registered Post from Puri H.O., bearing the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation and thematic postage stamps on Lord Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri. (Back)
A picture postcard sent via Registered Post from Puri H.O., bearing the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation and thematic postage stamps on Lord Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri.
A registered letter posted on 1st October 2025 through the Online Self-Booking Portal from Puri H.O.. The total postage paid was ₹28, including prepaid Speed Post charges with registration as an add-on service under the new unified system.
A registered letter posted on 1st October 2025 through the Online Self-Booking Portal from Puri H.O.. The total postage paid was ₹28, including prepaid Speed Post charges with registration as an add-on service under the new unified system.

Closing Notes

As the era of Registered Post quietly transitions into history, these covers stand as tangible reminders of a service that connected millions through trust and tradition. From official correspondences to personal letters, Registered Post was more than just a mail option — it was a symbol of reliability.

The merger with Speed Post marks a new chapter in India Post’s modernization journey, aiming for efficiency and faster delivery. Yet, for collectors, the essence lies in these final impressions, cancellations, and tracking slips that capture the moment of change.

Through this collection, I hope to preserve not just postal artifacts but the story of evolution — where heritage meets progress, and every cancellation tells the tale of a service that served India faithfully for decades.

Though I received many covers over the past month bidding farewell to Registered Post, I have shared only a few here due to time and space constraints. Each cover, however, holds its own significance as living proof of this transition in India Post’s history.

I sincerely thank all my philatelic friends who devoted their time and effort to send these covers. While it’s difficult to name everyone, I would like to express special gratitude to Col. Rohit Sharma, Dr. Aditya Singh (Philatelic Society of Uttar Pradesh), Shri Rahul Ganguli (Prayag Philatelic Society), Col. Akhil Kumar, Shri Harish Chandra Prakash, and Shri PeeVee (Postcrossing Welfare Society of India) — without whose initiatives I couldn’t have added these priceless pieces to my collection.

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