Postal Life Insurance (PLI) has continued to expand and by March 31, 1999, it garnered 23.9 lakh PLI policies with an aggregate assured sum of Rs. 8001 crore. Rural PLI (RPLI) which was introduced in March 1995 also gathered momentum and by March 31, 1999, 6.8 lakh, RPLI policies were assured with an aggregate assured sum of Rs. 2037 crore.

The Department of Posts has given a new thrust to its program of modernization and computerization to heighten customer satisfaction. Thus during 1998-99 the Department installed 1429 Multi Purpose Counter Machines (including SB Local Area Network for Saving Bank operation) and modernized 98 post offices. Today, there are 5007 computer-based machines installed in 1100 post offices in the country aimed at providing efficient services through a single window. During 1999-2000, it is proposed to modernize 60 post offices and install 1000 Multi Purpose Counter Machines in the post offices. The Department has also embarked upon projects of computerization of other segments of postal operations like mail processing, savings bank and materials management. During 1998-99, 6-Transit Mail Offices (TMOs), 22 registration sorting offices and 43 mail offices were computerized.

The Business Development Directorate offers Express Parcel Post, Corporate Money Order and Hybrid Mail. In 1998-99, Speed Post Service carried 196 lakh articles and generated revenue to the tune of Rs. 91 crore. The Business Post, which was introduced in 1996, generated a revenue of Rs. 44 crore.

Other major postal systems

The United States has the world's largest postal system in terms of total mail handled. U.S. post offices handle more than 170 billion pieces of mail a year, about 40 per cent of the total volume handled throughout the world. The system is operated by an independent government agency called the United States Postal Service.

The Canada Post Corporation handles over 8 billion pieces of mail every year, which it delivers to about 11 million addresses in all parts of Canada. Canada Post employs about 61,000 people. It has 29 mechanized mail-processing plants and over 15,000 other outlets that offer postal products and services. More than 60 per cent of the outlets are owned by private businesses. Canada Post was incorporated by the Canadian Parliament in 1981. It had previously operated as a government department.