Short Notes on

Type of Post
Office
By Smart Vision Classes
 Type of Post Offices
Clause NO 02 PO Guide Pa rt I

Post Offices are divided into three classes.

(a) Head Post Offices.
(b) Sub- Post Offices including E.D. Sub-Offices, a nd
(c) E.D. Branc h Post Offices.
The first two classes of offices normally transact all types of postal business.
Facilities are generally provided at Branch Post Offices for the main items of postal work like
delivery and dispatch of mails, booking of registered articles and parcels accepting SB
deposits and effecting SB w ithdrawals, and issue and payment of money orders, though in a
restricted manner.
So for as the public is concerned, there is generally no difference in the character of
the service rendered by Sub-Post Offices and Head Post Offices except in regard to a few
P.O. Savings Bank transactions. Certain Post Offices do not undertake all types of postal
business. The restrictions imposed will be found in the list of Post Offices published as Part
III of this Guide.

Note:- The Head Offices in the more important cities are in the charge of gazetted officers
and such Head Offices are referred to as First class Head Office, First Class Head
Postmaster, exercise all the powers of a Superintendent of Pos t Offices in regard to their
own offices.
The Head Post Office and Sub Post Office are in charge of Depart mental official
whereas the Branch Post master offices are in Charge of Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS)
Every Postal Division comprises of one or more than one Head Post Office , Sub
Post Office and Branch Post Offices . The operational network is such that the Branch office
report to a Sub Post Office/ Head Post office and Sub Post Office report to Head Office daily.
Post Offices in the country are categorized as Head, Sub and Branch Post Office.
Branch Post Offices are mostly located in rural areas and are manned by Gramin Dak
Sevaks. The Sub Post Offices are Depart mental Offices located in both rural and urban
areas. Head Post Offices are located in important towns and cities, mostly at district levels.

De finition as of above office as pe r the Volume V

Head Office.- A Head Office is the main office of a group Post Offices consisting of itself
and a number of small offices called sub and branch offices which have been placed under
its Accounts jurisdiction. It is the main office of account for itself and for all the sub and
branch offices within the group, and the monetary transactions of the latter offices are
incorporated in its accounts. The Officer in - charge of a Head Office is designated a Head
Postmaster/Sr Post master /Chief Post master or a Director . The first class Head Office
situated at the Headquarters of the Head of a Circle or, where there are more than one such
Head Off ice, the one attached to the Headquarters, is termed General Post Office.
Sub Office: - A sub-office is Post Office subordinate to and in account with a Head Office
and its monetary transaction are incorporated in the accounts of the latter office. The officer
in-charge of a sub-office is designated a Sub-Postmaster. A sub-office situated in a town or
its suburbs where there is also a Head Office is termed a town sub-office.

Branc h Office :- A Brach Office is a Post Office of lower status than a sub-office. It is in
direct account with a Head or sub-office which is termed its accounts office and its monetary
transactions are incorporated in the accounts of the latter office. The Office in -charge of a
Branch Office is designated as Branch Postmaster. A Branch Office situated in a town or its
suburbs whe re there is also a Head Office is termed as town branch office.
Clause NO 03 PO Guide Pa rt I

3.Night Post Offices-

(i) The working hours of the post offices are generally fixed by the Head of the Circle
according to the timings given in clause 5 of the Post Office Guide. However the Director-
General may extend the working hours of any post office up to 8:30 P.M. and keep them
open on Sundays also. These post offices will be termed ‘night post offices’ and will transact
those transactions which have been authorized by the Director-General in this behalf.
(ii) During the extended hours, these post offices will generally book registered articles
including V.P. articles, issue T.M.Os, and sell I.P.Os. and postage stamps. Deposits into
Savings Bank Account and sale of cash certificates will be available upto 7.00 p.m. on week
days only. Payment of T.M.Os will also be effected upto 6 p.m.
(iii) On Sundays and National Holidays as well as other P.O. holidays the night Post Offices
function and observe restricted working hours. These offices work for one shift only from
10:00 to 17.00 hours. The delivery functions of the offices are entirely suspended as well as
the payment of Money Orders and Saving Banks and post office Certificates are also
suspended on these days.
(iv)Night Post Offices are indicated in the list of Post Offices in Part III of this Guide.

Note :- As per the latest Annual Report 127 Night Post office are functional

Clause NO 04 PO Guide Pa rt I

4. Mobile Post offices – Mobile Post Offices are functioning at Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi,
Madras, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kanpur, Poona, Jaipur and Bhilai
Industrial Township. These Mobile Post Offices are intended to provide the facility of late
posting in the different areas of the cities at different timings according to a fixed schedule
(excluding insured and V.P.). “These offices remain closed on Sundays and Postal Holidays.”
The Mobile Post Offices sell stamps and Postal stationery, grant certificate of posting, book
surface and air mail registered articles of the letter mail (excluding insured and V.P.) and air
parcels besides accepting unregistered articles of the letter mail for dispatch. The mobile
Post Offices at Madras and Nagpur are also permitted to book money orders.
Mobile Post Offices or Post Office on Wheels was also put in place in
several parts of the country to provide basic postal and financial services to customers.
Money withdrawals (both from POSB and AePS), deposits, collecting Postal Life Insurance
premiums, booking/ delivery of mail articles like speed post and registered post were some
of the services which were made available through Post Office on Wheels.
 MCQ on Type of Post Offices
1. Post Offices are divided into how C. (i) (ii) and (iii)
many classes D. None Of the above Ans:- C
a. 1
b. 2 7. In which clause of Post Office Guide 1
c. 3 describe the timing for working hours
d. 5 Ans:- C of Post Office ?
2. Which of the following post office A. clause 4
does not transact all types of postal B. clause 5
business? C. clause 6
A. Head Office D. None Of the above
B. Sub Post Office Ans:- B
C. Branch Post Office 8. Who may extend the working hours of
D. General Post Office Ans:- C post office upto 08:30 p.m. and keep
3. Which of the following facilities them open on Sunday also
provided in branch post office (i) A. Head Of the Division
Delivery and dispatch of Mails(ii) B. Head of the Region
Booking of registered articles and C. Head Of The Circle
Parcels (iii)Accepting of SB deposit D. Director General
and effecting SB Payment (iv) Issue Ans:- D
and payment of a Money orders 9. A main office of group of post offices
A. (i) and (ii) Only consisting of itself and a number of
B. (i) (ii) and (iii) only smaller offices called sub and branch
C. (i) (ii) and (iv) only office which have been placed under
D. (i) (ii) (iii) and (iv) Only its Account jurisdictions is called as
Ans:- D A. Head Post Office
4. Which of the following article cannot B. Sub Post Office
be booked to the address of Army C. General Post Office
Post Office? D. None of the above
A. Speed Post Ans:- A
B. Value Payable Article 10. Night post office may work upto ___?
C. Register Article A. 10:00 PM
D. Parcel Article B. 09:30 PM
Ans:- B C. 08:30 PM
5. The working hours of the post office D. None of the above
are generally fixed by ? Ans:- C
A. Head Of Division 11. Night post office will transact those
B. Head Of the Region transaction which have been
C. Head Of the Circle authorized by
D. Director General A. Head Of Division
Ans:- C B. Head Of the Region
6. The Public business hours of Post C. Head Of The Circle
offices are fixed with regard to i)Local D. Director General Ans:- D
Convenience ii) The arrival timing of 12. Working hours of Night Post office on
the Mail iii) The departure time of the Sunday and Holidays are
mails ? A. 10:00 to 17:00 hours
A. (i) only B. 09:00 to 17:00 hours
B. (ii)and (iii) only C. 08:00 to 17:00 hours
 D. 10:00 to 18:00 Hours D. None Of the above
Ans:- A Ans:- C
18. Post offices observe seventeen
13. Which are the three types of the Post holidays in a year . out of which how
Offices? many holidays are observed
A. Head Office , Sub Post Office, compulsory in all circle
Branch Post Office A. Ten
B. Head Office, MDG Office , Branch B. Eleven
Office C. Twelve
C. HSG Office, Sub Office, Branch D. Fourteen
Office Ans:- D
D. None Of the above 19. Post office are divided into ____class
Ans:- A A. 1
B. 2
14. What is the meaning of Night Post C. 5
Office? D. 3 Ans:- D
A. A Post office which work over night 20. Which clause of PO Guide Part-I
B. A Post office Which work from mention night post office working
06.00pm to 12.00pm hours fixed
C. A Post office which work upto 08.30 A. Clause 3
pm on normal working days and is B. Clause 1
opened on Sundays and Holidays C. Clause 4
D. None Of the above D. Clause 5 Ans:- D
Ans:- C 21. Which clause of PO Guide Part-I
15. Except Night Post offices all post defined the Night Post Office
office are generally closed on? A. Clause 3
A. Sundays B. Clause 4
B. Public Holidays C. Clause 5
C. Both A and B D. None of the Above Ans:- A
D. None Of the above 22. Night post office are work on Sundays
Ans:- C and PO Holidays
16. Hours of Business of a Post Office and A. True
RMS office shows? B. False
A. The details of Bags to be received C. Can’t Say
only D. None of the above Ans:- A
B. The details of Bags to be dispatched 23. Mobile Post Office are defined in the
C. Opening hours of Post offices and clause no of PO Guide Part I
RMS offices A. Clause 3
D. The hours during which business is B. Clause 1
transacted with the public and the C. Clause 4
time at which mails are delivered D. Clause 5 Ans:- C
and 24. Post Office which function from
Ans:- D specially designed the Van moving to
17. Post office In charge of Gramin dak different fixed point is called
Sevak are kept opened for a maximum A. Floating Post Office
period of ? B. Night Post office
A. Seven and half hours C. Mobile Post Office
B. Eight Hours D. Van Post Office
C. Five Hours Ans:- C