Guwahati | India Post has connected 27 branch post offices in Assam through its drone-powered delivery initiative and is exploring logistics services for local industries, the Assam Postal Circle said on Friday.

Chief Postmaster General of Assam Circle Sachin Kishore shared the details at a press conference marking World Post Day, outlining the department’s efforts to modernise postal services and strengthen delivery networks across the state.

Launched at Hajo on August 11, the drone delivery initiative aims to connect 40 post offices in its current phase, covering areas under Hajo, Nagarbera, Mahur and Dhemaji. So far, 27 branch post offices have been connected through the programme.

The department is also expanding its role in commercial logistics. In September, it held consultations with 22 representatives from the fast-moving consumer goods, consumer durables, pharmaceutical and tea sectors to assess their transportation and delivery requirements.

With Assam serving as a gateway to the Northeast, the postal department sees scope to extend logistics support to more businesses and industries across the region.

Beyond mail and parcel delivery, the Assam Circle operates 15 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras and 214 post office Aadhaar centres. These facilities serve an average of 300 citizens daily for passport-related services and around 3,000 for Aadhaar services.

India Post Payments Bank has more than 47 lakh accounts in Assam, with total deposits exceeding Rs 600 crore, according to the department. The circle also has 1.15 lakh active Postal Life Insurance policies and 2.55 lakh active Rural Postal Life Insurance policies.

Under the Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana, 40 students in the state receive annual scholarships of Rs 6,000 each to encourage interest in philately, or stamp collection.

The department also announced the Assam winners of this year’s Universal Postal Union letter-writing competition. Harshita Gayan of Nagaon secured first place and a cash prize of Rs 25,000. Darshita Deka, also from Nagaon, came second and received Rs 10,000, while Aradhya Jonak Saikia of Sivasagar finished third with a prize of Rs 5,000.

India observes National Postal Week from October 9 to 15. The programme marks the role of postal services and highlights their evolving functions, with October 9 observed as World Post Day to commemorate the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874.

As part of this year’s celebrations, the department is organising the “Dhai Akhar” letter-writing competition on the theme “Letter to Mother Earth: My Promise to Protect Nature”. Entries must be submitted by October 31.

The week’s activities will focus on philately on October 12, financial inclusion and customer-centric services on October 13, mail and parcels on October 14, and technology and innovation on October 15.