India Post Resumes Parcel Service to the US Ahead of Diwali; Value Cap Set at $100
Pune, 11th October 2025: In a major relief for families eager to send traditional ‘Diwali Faral’ to their loved ones in the United States, India Post has restarted its international parcel service to the US with a value cap of $100 per consignment. The government postal service’s rates are nearly 25 percent lower than private courier companies, offering an affordable option ahead of the festive season.
The service had been suspended earlier due to tariff-related issues between India and the United States. With the dispute now partially resolved, India Post has decided to resume operations on a limited scale, officials from the Pune division confirmed. However, postal services to Canada remain on hold due to an ongoing strike among local courier service providers there.
Announcing the development at a press conference held on Friday, October 10, Nitin Yeola, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices (Pune City West Division), said that the decision to resume the service was driven by strong public demand during Diwali.
“India Post offers parcel services to several countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, the UAE, and Germany. This festive season, in just the last 10 to 15 days, we have already dispatched around 500 kg of Diwali Faral abroad. Last year, the total was close to 2,000 kg,” Yeola said.
He added that the US had recently imposed tariffs on goods valued above $100, creating confusion among senders. “There was uncertainty over customs duties and delivery timelines, which led us to temporarily halt the service. But since demand has surged ahead of Diwali and private courier charges are significantly higher, we decided to resume operations with a value limit of $100,” Yeola explained.
According to the postal department, handmade and home-prepared food items such as Chivda and Chakli can be sent without any commercial invoice. However, for store-bought items, a purchase bill must be enclosed to comply with customs requirements.
“India Post’s international parcel rates are approximately 25 percent cheaper than private courier companies,” Yeola said. “We hope citizens will take advantage of this service to send festive packages to their families abroad.”
Commenting on the impact of tariff-related restrictions, Yeola acknowledged that demand had dropped by almost 50 percent compared to previous years. “The United States has one of the largest Indian communities, so any restriction affects us significantly. Now that the service has resumed, we expect to see an uptick in parcels once again,” he said.
Sameer Mahajan, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices (Pune City East Division), said the department is focused on ensuring a smooth customer experience. “Despite the challenges, we are striving to make postal services as convenient as possible. Citizens are responding positively, and we have also started offering in-house packaging assistance to speed up deliveries,” Mahajan said.
On the status of Canada-bound parcels, officials said services are still suspended. “The situation in Canada remains uncertain due to the prolonged strike among local postal operators. We do not foresee an immediate resolution, so resuming services there is not currently possible,” an official added.
Post Office’s ‘Dakghar Niryat Kendra’ Initiative Draws Strong Response
India Post’s ‘Dakghar Niryat Kendra’ (Post Office Export Center) — a project designed to help local entrepreneurs export their goods abroad — is witnessing growing participation in Pune. The initiative aims to support small and medium businesses in accessing international markets.
“So far, around 50 small business owners from Pune have joined the Dakghar Niryat Kendra initiative. The response has been encouraging, and we are working to onboard more entrepreneurs in the coming months,” Yeola said.
