India Post offices don’t always operate uniformly – timings mostly depend on the postal circle, office type, and your location. In India, the post office is currently organised into 23 postal circles, plus one Base Circle for the armed forces.
Separately, a circle covers one state or multiple states and is headed by a Chief Postmaster General. As of March 2025, India has over 164,999 post offices and is divided into GPOs, HPOs, Sub Post Offices, and Branch Offices.
The official rule says the post offices are open from 9:00 AM and closing time is 5:00 PM generally. This mainly applies to Sub Post Offices (local dakghars) and Branch Offices.
Also, it works from Monday to Friday; Saturday counts as a half day in a few states. In reality, the timing differs slightly, and even within the same city.
For example –
- Post Office Sangam Vihar in Delhi works till 3 PM and opens at 9 am in the morning.
- Rural Rajasthan BOs often shut by 4:00 PM.
- Major cities and GPOs usually have the longest hours.
So while the circles follow national rules, ground-level timings depend on local workload and staffing.
Types of post offices in India and their timings –
There are multiple types; the top tier is –
- General Post Office (GPO) – they function in state capitals and major district towns, such as in Kolkata General Post Office. One would say they operate round-the-clock and handle deliveries, yet their counters open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. on weekdays.
- Head Post Office (HPO) – Generally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and it manages all post offices within your district or major town.
- Mukhya Dak Ghar (MDG) – it is a Mid-level office in medium towns, and working time is 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, lunch 1:30 – 2:30 PM.
- Sub Post Office (SO) – This is your city-local office where you receive your posts or deliveries physically, and do banking work.
- Branch Post Office (BO) – it is the smallest unit in the postal network, it is available in your rural community or a small cluster of villages.
- Franchisee Post Office – Their hours typically retail shops, they can operate from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Indian Post Office Timetable
Here’s the typical timetable most of your city or village post offices follow across India on working weekdays:
| Time Slot | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:30 AM | Opening, counters gradually start services |
| 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Full services (banking, booking, speed post, money orders, etc.) |
| 1:30 – 2:30 PM | Lunch break (many branches close counters completely or some rotate employees) |
| 2:30 – 4:00 PM | Services reopen (but some banking counters already shut) |
| 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Limited acceptance (mainly bookings & inquiries) |
| After 5:00 PM | Public counters stop — internal closing work continues |
Working Days each Week
| Day | Working? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Yes | Standard time – 9 to 5 |
| Tuesday | Yes | |
| Wednesday | Yes | |
| Thursday | Yes | |
| Friday | Yes | |
| Saturday | Yes, but working hours are shorter. | |
| Sunday | No | Closed |
What about Saturdays?
- Post offices do open on all Saturdays, unlike banks.
- But many Sub-Post offices and Branch Post Offices work half a day only, usually 9:30 AM – 3:00 or 4:00 PM.
- Bigger GPOs and HPOs may still function full day till 7:00 PM, but with lighter staffing.
- Rural branch offices often shut by early afternoon on Saturdays.
- On 2nd and 4th Saturdays, Local post offices generally remain open and work like regular Saturdays.
How lunch hours work in Post offices
The Lunchtime is usually from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM, as per the GPOs and head offices’ norms.
- In big city offices, some counters remain open in rotation, so you won’t face a total closure.
- In rural and small-town offices, counters often shut completely, and in practice, some don’t reopen fully after lunch.
- For Practical purposes, you can avoid visiting between 1:15 PM and 2:45 PM if you want quick service.
So if you are planning anything on Saturday, go before lunch to be safe.
Which services stop earlier than closing time?
| Service | Typical last acceptance |
|---|---|
| Banking services (like Savings Bank, RD, PPF): | Usually open till 3:30 PM or 4:00 PM. |
| Mail and booking counters (Speed Post, Parcels): | Operate till 3:30–4:00 PM depending on workload. |
| Money Orders / PO Bills | ~4:00 PM |
| Counter inquiries / small services | Till ~4:30–5:00 PM in cities |
If you need banking transactions, treat 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM as the real deadline in many branches.
What time does my local post office open today?
To know the exact timing of your city sub-head office or Branch office, you can use multiple options such as –
Use Google Maps (fastest)
- Simply, Open Google Maps (app or web) on your phone.
- Type your post office name + city or simply the PIN code (example: “Bhiwadi Post Office” or “301019 post office”).
- Click the post office marker. Here you can check the info card, which shows opening hours, phone number, photos, and official website link if available.
- Look for “Hours” or “Closed/Open” and the daily schedule. Google often shows special holiday hours, too.
- You can call before visiting it or confirm any schedule for your meeting related to banking, speed post, delivery, and more.
Other ways:
- You can visit the official site (indiapost.gov.in) – “Locate Post Offices” / Post Office search by PIN or name.
- Use reliable third-party directories (Post Office Finder sites) that list branch details (but always cross-check).
- Look for the notice board outside the post office — many branch timings are only posted physically.
- Ask locals or the counter staff — simplest when you’re nearby.
City-wise Local post office timings (major cities)
Here’s a look at the typical counter timings in India’s biggest cities:
| City | Opening Time | Closing Time | Lunch Break |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi Sub-Post Office | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM | 1 Hour and goes 1:30 to 2:30 PM |
| Mumbai | 9:30 AM | 5:30 PM | |
| Chennai | 9:30 AM | 5:30 PM | |
| Kolkata | 10:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1:00 to 2:00 PM |
| Bengaluru | 9:30 AM | 5:30 PM | |
| Hyderabad | 9:30 AM | 5:30 PM | |
| Pune | 9:30 AM | 5:30 PM | 1:30–2:30 PM |
List of Holidays of India Post 2025
On national holidays, gazetted holidays, and circle-specific local holidays, the branches of India Post remain closed. These off-days apply uniformly to almost all offices, including GPOs, HPOs, Sub Post Offices, and Branch Offices.
However, some services such as ATM access, online booking, and IPPB mobile banking may continue even when physical counters are closed.
For personal work like Speed Post, Money Orders, and Savings Bank transactions, you can plan visits on working weekdays and avoid public holidays.
| Holiday | Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Day | 26 January 2025 | Sunday | National Holiday – Pan-India closure |
| Ramzan Eid | 31 March 2025 | Monday | Religious festival leave |
| Mahavir Jayanti | 10 April 2025 | Thursday | Jain community festival (public holiday) |
| Good Friday | 18 April 2025 | Friday | Christian observance – nationwide holiday |
| Buddha Purnima | 12 May 2025 | Monday | Buddhist festival day |
| Id-Ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | 07 June 2025 | Saturday | Major Muslim festival observance |
| Muharram | 06 July 2025 | Sunday | Religious observance |
| Independence Day | 15 August 2025 | Friday | National Holiday – offices closed |
| Birthday of Prophet Mohammad | 05 September 2025 | Friday | Religious holiday |
| Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | 02 October 2025 | Thursday | National Holiday – also marked as International Day of Non-Violence |
| Dussehra | 02 October 2025 | Thursday | Major Hindu festival (same day as Gandhi Jayanti in 2025) |
| Diwali | 20 October 2025 | Monday | Festival of Lights – nationwide closure |
| Gurpurab | 05 November 2025 | Wednesday | Sikh festival leave |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2025 | Thursday | Christian holiday – the last national holiday of the year |
Additional Details
What is the delivery time of India Post?
Your delivery usually depends on the service you choose – Speed Post 1–3 days (urban), 3–7 days (rural), regular mail 5–10 days; RMS hubs manage long-distance dispatch.
What is the timing of parcel booking in India Post?
The timing for your parcel booking goes from 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM at your area BO or Sub-post office.
Is the post office closed today?
Your local or BO post offices are usually closed on holidays such as Sundays, national holidays, and stops relevant to a particular circle. Please, you can check on Google Maps or inquire at the branch for the present status.
Does India Post deliver after 6 PM?
Not really, they usually deliver between 10:00 AM to last 5:30 PM. Night delivery is for RMS/logistics, not public service.
What is the Timing of India Post Payments Bank?
The branches of IPPB are active between 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, including Saturdays.
This article was written by Nanne Parmar, a fintech expert with a DCA degree and a commerce background, with 6+ years of experience in finance, fintech, and banking. Nanne has worked extensively in AI tools for banking, financial calculators, and fintech products. As the founder of EaseMoney, he focuses on making complex financial concepts simple for Indian users.