In a significant step towards accelerating inclusive and sustainable rural growth, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the Department of Posts today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalize convergence for expanding financial services, logistics, and market access in rural areas.
The partnership gives concrete shape to the Union Budget 2025 vision of repositioning India Post as a key driver of rural economic transformation. The MoU was signed on 7th January 2026 in the august presence of Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region.
The occasion was graced Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications; Shri Ram Nath Thakur, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; and Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Shri Kamlesh Paswan, Union Minister of State for Rural Development, virtually attended the event. Senior officers of both Departments were also present on the occasion On this occasion, Shri Shivraj Singh stated that the government is working collectively through a whole-of-government approach and in close coordination towards a shared national objective.
He said that this collective effort reflects the vision and leadership of the Prime Minister, whose guiding principle is integrated governance and inclusive development. He emphasized that this approach ensures development is not limited to infrastructure alone, but extends to livelihood creation, dignity, and self-reliance at the grassroots level.
He further added that, with coordinated efforts across ministries and empowered rural communities, the nation is steadily moving towards the vision of a developed and self-reliant India. In his address, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia stated that India Post Payments Bank is playing a significant role in strengthening last-mile delivery of services.
He said that all associated institutions would be provided with comprehensive training and equipped with electronic tablets, point-of-sale machines, and certification, enabling them to deliver a wide range of services directly to households.
He further added that, through this initiative, services such as Post Office Savings Schemes, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, cash transfer services, and various other financial products would be efficiently delivered directly to citizens’ doorsteps.
The partnership brings together the extensive grassroots institutional network of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and the nationwide reach of India Post, including over 1.5 lakh rural post offices, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), and a large network of Dak Sevaks.
This convergence will enable delivery of integrated financial and logistics services to Self Help Groups (SHGs), women entrepreneurs, rural enterprises, and MSMEs. Under the MoU, Deendayal Antodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Ministry of Rural Development, will promote adoption of savings, deposits, insurance, and pension products of India Post among SHG households.
The Mission will identify and nurture SHG women as Business Correspondents (BC Sakhis), facilitating their training, certification, and deployment. India Post, through IPPB, will provide end-to-end support including onboarding, handholding, technology-enabled monitoring dashboards, and exploration of customised insurance solutions, thereby deepening last-mile financial access in rural areas
The partnership will also unlock new market opportunities for women-led SHG enterprises by integrating them with India Posts logistics ecosystem. The Mission will identify SHG and federation-level enterprises with logistics potential and support capacity building in packaging, documentation, and export readiness.
India Post will extend logistics, packaging, and export facilitation services, including through Dak Niryat Kendras, and explore promotional avenues for SHG products through its extensive postal network. The MoU is expected to significantly enhance financial inclusion, improve market access, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural women and entrepreneurs, contributing to inclusive growth and the vision of Viksit Bharat.