When were the postal services opened to the public in India

The modern postal system in India underwent significant transformation during the 19th century. While early postal networks under Lord Clive (1766) and Warren Hastings (1774) existed primarily for official and commercial interests of the East India Company, the system was formally opened to the general public in 1837 [t1][t4]. The Post Office Act XVII of 1837 granted the Governor-General the exclusive right to convey letters within the Company's territories, effectively establishing the Indian Post Office on October 1, 1837 [t3][t6]. This act democratized the service, replacing the previous system where the post was used solely for official mail [t1]. Although later reforms under Lord Dalhousie in 1854 introduced adhesive stamps and a uniform rate, the pivotal year for public access remains 1837 [c1][t7].

Sources

1. [1] https://mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/Statistical_year_book_india_chapters/Post%20%26%20Telecommunication-writeup.pdf
2. [2] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 5: The Structure of the Government and the Economic Policies of the British Empire in India, 1757—1857 > British Economic Policies in India, 1757-1857 > p. 101