13.Questions on General Knowledge

 Peravai Academy – PA Exam Materials – PO Guide Part II - 5
Com Saju Hiyan, Divisional Secretary, AIPEU Group C, Kanniyakumari Division

Conditions Relating to Various Classes of Letter Post Items

Letters It is prohibited to include another letter, document, or note inside a letter addressed to someone other than the addressee or their family members living with them. Infringing this condition will result in the letter being returned to the sender, with each such document treated as an unpaid letter and charged double the postage at inland rates. For inward foreign articles infringing this, double the postage at international rates will be charged on each individual document and collected from the addressee.

Format and Dimensions:
• Maximum: Sum of length, width, and depth not exceeding 900 mm; greatest dimension not more than 600 mm. In roll form, sum of length and twice the diameter not exceeding 1040 mm; greatest dimension not exceeding 900 mm.

• Minimum: Surface measuring not less than 90 x 140 mm. In roll form, sum of length and twice the diameter not less than 170 mm; greatest dimension not less than 100 mm. Letters are often treated as "Standard Envelopes" for automatic processing. It is recommended that letter dimensions be below 120 mm x 235 mm with a thickness less than 5 mm. Letters in envelopes must be rectangular, with a clear address and service instructions.

Maximum weight: Letters should not exceed 2 kgs.

Penalty for breach Conditions: Articles not conforming to conditions may be returned to the sender, with due charges recovered. The destination country may deliver according to its internal legislation. If the breach relates to exceeding maximum weight, charges based on actual weight may be collected.
Unpaid and Insufficiently paid letters Unpaid and insufficiently paid surface mail letters are forwarded, and the amount to be collected at destination is calculated based on a specific formula involving the rate of a foreign letter in the first weight step in the country of destination and India, plus handling charges. ILC (International Letter Cards) posted to countries other than Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal will be treated as insufficiently paid.

Post Cards Post Office issues Air Mail Postcards for foreign transmission. Inland postcards with additional stamps or privately manufactured postcards can be used, provided they are rectangular and made of similar material to Post Office issued postcards. The word "Postcard" should be on the front (address side). Reply paid postcard service is not available in foreign post, except for Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, where inland rates apply.

Dimensions:
• Maxima: 105 x 148 mm.
• Minima: 90 x 140 mm. Length should be at least equal to the width multiplied by 2  (approx. 1.4).

Privately manufactured postcards should conform to Post Office postcard dimensions where possible.
Other conditions: Postcards should not be folded, cut, or altered, and should be sent unenclosed. The right-hand half of the front is for the address, postage stamps, or franking impressions, while the back and left-hand half of the front are for the sender's communication. Joining or attaching samples of merchandise or similar articles to postcards is forbidden.

Penalty for breach of conditions: Postcards not complying with conditions are treated as letters and postage taxed accordingly.

Unpaid and insufficiently paid post cards: These are forwarded to their destination and taxed like letters.