India Post Guide
HO, PO, BO — what's the difference?
Every listing on this site shows an office type (HO / PO / BO) and a delivery status. Here's what each means, and how they relate.
The office-type hierarchy
Mail flows down this ladder — HO to PO to BO — and accounts flow back up it.
The administrative and financial hub for a postal division. Consolidates accounts for every office beneath it, and typically offers the fullest range of services.
Reports to an HO. The main public-facing counter in most towns — handles bookings, savings transactions, and passes bulk mail up to its HO. Note: this dataset uses the code "PO" for this tier, not "SO".
The smallest unit, almost always rural, usually run by a Gramin Dak Sevak. Handles basic mail and small savings deposits. This is the majority of offices on this site.
Delivery vs. non-delivery
A separate flag from office type — any tier (HO, PO or BO) can be marked Delivery or Non-Delivery.
Delivery office
Has postmen who do door-to-door delivery within its PIN area — the "last mile" office for that PIN.
Non-delivery office
Handles counter transactions only. Mail addressed here is sorted and handed to a nearby delivery office. Can still carry its own PIN.
Quick reference
| Code | Full form | Typical setting |
|---|---|---|
HO | Head Office | District / division hub |
PO | Sub / Departmental Post Office | Town / taluk |
BO | Branch Office | Village / rural cluster |
Common questions
- Is a BO smaller than a PO?
- Yes — Branch Office (BO) is the smallest tier, typically one or two staff, offering basic mail and savings services only.
- Can a Branch Office be a delivery office?
- Yes. Office type (HO/PO/BO) and delivery status are independent fields — most rural BOs are in fact the delivery office for their PIN.
- Why do two offices under the same PIN have different types?
- A PIN groups offices by geographic sorting area, not by tier — a delivery and a non-delivery office can share a PIN if they're administratively linked to the same sorting point.