India Post suspends bookings of all categories postal service to US in absence rule clarity
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New Delhi (PTI): India Post has suspended all categories of mail operations destined to the US in the absence of clarity over new rules issued by the US Customs Department, an official statement said on Sunday.
Earlier, the country's postal department had temporarily suspended postal services for gifts valued above USD 100 due to the new custom rules issued by the US government.
"In continuation of the Public Notice dated August 22, 2025, the Department of Posts has reviewed the suspension of booking of mail to the United States of America. In view of the ongoing inability of carriers to transport US-bound mail and in the absence of defined regulatory mechanisms, it has been decided to completely suspend the booking of all categories of mail, including letters, documents, and gift items valued up to USD 100, destined for the USA," the statement said.
The Department of Posts said that it is closely monitoring the situation and making every effort to restore services at the earliest.
"Customers who have already booked items that could not be dispatched may claim a refund of postage," the statement said.
On August 23, the department had said the postal services from India to the US had been temporarily suspended due to denial of carrying shipments by US-bound air carriers due to the lack of clarity in new norms issued by the US Customs Department.
Under an executive order issued by the US administration on July 30, 2025, goods valued above USD 100 are subject to customs duties in the US with effect from August 29 onwards.
As per the Executive Order, transport carriers delivering shipments through the international postal network, or other "qualified parties" approved by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), are required to collect and remit duties on postal shipments.
While CBP had issued certain guidelines on August 15, several critical processes relating to the designation of "qualified parties" and mechanisms for duty collection and remittance remain undefined.
Consequently, US-bound air carriers expressed their inability to accept postal consignments after August 25 citing lack of operational and technical readiness.
The latest development comes following continued lack of clarification from the US customs department.
Public Notice
— India Post (@IndiaPostOffice) August 31, 2025
Booking of all categories of mail to the United States of America has been suspended until further notice due to carrier unavailability & undefined regulatory mechanisms.
India Post remains committed to serving the nation with trust & reliability.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
