Refund of Postage for International Mail Articles: Complete Guide with 30 MCQs and Answers
The Department of Posts issued fresh guidelines on the refund of postage charges for International Mail Articles vide OM No. DA-26/3/2020-DA dated 16.07.2026, applicable to all shipments booked on or after 01.04.2025. This topic carries real weight in departmental examinations such as LDCE for PA/SA, Inspector of Posts (IPO), and PS Group B, where questions on refund percentages, recall rules, and sanctioning authority appear frequently. This post breaks down every provision in simple terms and gives you 30 exam-ready multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations.
Refund of Postage for International Mail Articles — 30 MCQs with Answers
Master the Department of Posts’ postage refund guidelines for LDCE, IPO and PA/SA examinations.
The Department of Posts has issued fresh guidelines on the refund of postage charges for International Mail Articles vide Office Memorandum dated 16.07.2026, applicable to all shipments booked on or after 01.04.2025. Refund percentages, recall rules, CN22/CN23 handling and the sanctioning authority are recurring favourites in departmental exams. Attempt the interactive quiz below — each question gives instant feedback with an explanation — or scroll down for the full printable question bank.
Reference: OM No. DA-26/3/2020-DA · read with Post Office Regulations, 2024Interactive Quiz
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Full Question Bank with Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of postage is refunded on recall by the sender?
Only 70% of the postage paid is refunded on recall. No recall fee is charged; the remaining 30% is retained as operational and handling charges.
When is 100% of postage refunded for international mail?
Full postage is refunded during suspension of services (natural disasters, war, airline disruption, regulatory restrictions) and where a destination return is traced to counter-staff error or a DoP system/technical fault.
What happens if the sender does not respond to a Customs query?
If the sender does not respond for more than 3 months, the article is returned without any refund, recorded as “No response from sender on customs observations.”
Who is the competent authority to sanction a postage refund?
The Head of Postal/RMS Division or Head of the FPO having jurisdiction over the booking office is the Competent Authority for the refund and waiver of return postage charges.
From which date are these guidelines effective?
They apply to all International Parcel, EMS, ITPS and Registered Letter shipments booked on or after 01.04.2025.
Postage Refund Rules for International Mail — MCQ & Notes
1. The guidelines for refund of postage in respect of International Mail Articles are issued in pursuance of which provisions?
A) Clause 119(2) and 119A(5), Chapter IV, Post Office Regulations, 2024
B) Section 7 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898
C) Rule 66 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules
D) Clause 45, Chapter II, Post Office Rules, 2011
Answer: A
2. These guidelines apply to shipments whose date of booking is:
A) On or after 01.04.2024
B) On or after 01.04.2025
C) On or after 16.07.2026
D) On or after 01.01.2025
Answer: B
3. The guidelines apply to which categories of articles?
A) Only EMS and Registered Letters
B) Only International Parcels
C) International Parcel, EMS, ITPS and Registered Letter articles
D) All domestic and international Speed Post articles
Answer: C
4. When a sender recalls an accountable International Mail Article, what percentage of postage is refunded?
A) 50%
B) 70%
C) 100%
D) No refund
Answer: B
5. What recall fee is charged when a sender recalls an article before Customs assessment?
A) 10% of postage
B) A flat administrative fee
C) No recall fee
D) 50% of postage
Answer: C
6. How must a sender make a recall request?
A) Verbally at any post office
B) By a written request at the booking Post Office
C) Through the destination post office
D) By email to the Directorate
Answer: B
7. If the article has already been presented to Customs, who requests termination of export and return?
A) The sender directly
B) The destination postal administration
C) The concerned FPO/SFPO
D) The DA Section
Answer: C
8. In cases of suspension of services (natural disaster, war, etc.), what percentage of postage is refunded?
A) 50%
B) 70%
C) 100%
D) Nil
Answer: C
9. Which of the following is NOT listed as a ‘suspension of services’ scenario?
A) Natural disasters, war, civil unrest
B) Suspension of airline/transit services due to weather
C) Addressee refusing to accept the article
D) Policy or regulatory restrictions at origin/transit/destination
Answer: C
10. Suspension of transit services by a transit country due to conflict, embargo, or suspension of transit agreements attracts:
A) 50% refund
B) 100% refund with return postage waived
C) No refund
D) 70% refund
Answer: B
11. If articles are returned by Indian Customs/Security after X-ray screening (non-airworthiness, prohibited contents, incomplete documentation), the refund is:
A) 100% of postage
B) 70% of postage
C) 50% of postage
D) No refund
Answer: C
12. If the sender does not respond to a Customs query for more than how long, the article is returned without any refund?
A) 1 month
B) 2 months
C) 3 months
D) 6 months
Answer: C
13. When an article is returned for no sender response, the reason recorded is:
A) ‘Addressee not found’
B) ‘No response from sender on customs observations’
C) ‘Prohibited goods detected’
D) ‘Recall by sender’
Answer: B
14. Cases of loss or damage of an article in transit are settled as per:
A) The 70% recall rule
B) Separate compensation provisions (OM CF-71/29 and its SOP)
C) Full postage refund automatically
D) UPU refund tables
Answer: B
15. An article is returned by the destination country because the SENDER furnished an incorrect HS Code and ZIP code. The refund is:
A) 100% of postage
B) 50% of postage
C) No refund of postage
D) 70% of postage
Answer: C
16. An article is returned due to incorrect ITMATT details traced to erroneous data entry by the Counter staff. What happens?
A) No refund; sender bears cost
B) 100% refunded to customer; recovery made from counter staff and supervisor
C) 50% refunded; no recovery
D) 70% refunded; recovery from supervisor only
Answer: B
17. If a destination return is traced to technical limitations or faults in DoP systems (not staff error), then:
A) 50% is refunded and recovery is made from staff
B) Full postage is refunded, return charges waived, and NO recovery from counter PA or Supervisor
C) No refund is admissible
D) Only GST is refunded
Answer: B
18. An oversize/overweight article was accepted because Counter staff failed to measure/weigh it, though the system showed correct limits. The customer gets:
A) 100% postage refunded
B) 50% postage refunded, recovered from counter staff and supervisor
C) No refund
D) 70% postage refunded
Answer: B
19. If an oversize/overweight article was accepted due to systemic or technical faults during booking, then:
A) Full postage refunded, return charges waived, no recovery from staff
B) 50% refunded with recovery from staff
C) No refund
D) Only 70% refunded
Answer: A
20. Where a CN22/CN23 form is found missing at the FPO/OE stage, the concerned FPO/OE may retrieve particulars from:
A) The sender’s booking receipt
B) The Customs Data System (CDS) and affix a printed copy
C) The destination administration
D) The APT 1.0 archive
Answer: B
21. When an article is returned by the destination country due to a MISSING CN22/CN23 form, who conducts the inquiry?
A) The DA Section
B) The Counter Supervisor
C) The Head of Postal/RMS Division of the booking office
D) CEPT
Answer: C
22. Who is primarily responsible for generating the CN22/CN23 form through the APT system?
A) The supervisor
B) The Counter staff, on the basis of particulars furnished by the customer
C) The FPO
D) The customer directly
Answer: B
23. Where the destination postal administration confirms the return was due to deficiencies at THEIR end, the sender may:
A) Only claim a 50% refund
B) Have the article re-dispatched (if desired), or opt for return with full refund and return postage waived
C) Receive no refund
D) Only recall the article for a fee
Answer: B
24. Which of the following is a case where NO refund of postage is admissible?
A) Suspension of airline services
B) Article returned due to addressee refusal or addressee having moved
C) Return due to DoP system fault
D) Recall before Customs assessment
Answer: B
25. No refund is admissible when articles are returned after import termination due to:
A) Airline strike
B) Prohibited/restricted goods or incomplete documentation
C) A natural disaster
D) Erroneous counter-staff entry
Answer: B
26. How is GST paid by the sender treated on a refund?
A) It is never refunded
B) It is refunded proportionately along with the admissible refund of postage
C) It is refunded fully in every case
D) Only 50% of GST is refunded
Answer: B
27. Where a refund is allowed with deduction, the deduction represents:
A) A penalty on the sender
B) Operational and handling charges incurred by the Department
C) GST payable to Customs
D) A recall fee
Answer: B
28. On articles found fit for refund of postage, any incentive, commission or discount shall be:
A) Admissible if contractual
B) Admissible for EMS only
C) Not admissible (contractual or non-contractual)
D) Refunded along with GST
Answer: C
29. Who is the Competent Authority for sanctioning the refund of postage and waiver of return postage charges?
A) The Counter Supervisor
B) The Head of Postal/RMS Division or Head of the FPO having jurisdiction over the booking office
C) The Director, RAKNPA
D) The DA Section, Directorate
Answer: B
30. Recovery from foreign postal administrations, wherever applicable, is pursued by:
A) The booking Post Office alone
B) The mapped FPO/OE in coordination with DA and DAA Sections, per UPU regulations
C) The Head of Circle directly
D) The customer
Answer: B
Q: What percentage of postage is refunded when a sender recalls an international article?
Only 70% of the postage paid is refunded on recall by the sender. No recall fee is charged, but the remaining 30% is retained as operational and handling charges.
Q: When is 100% of postage refunded for international mail?
Full (100%) postage is refunded in cases of suspension of services (natural disasters, war, airline disruption, regulatory restrictions) and where a destination return is traced to counter-staff error or a DoP system/technical fault.
Q: What happens if a sender does not respond to a Customs query?
If the sender does not respond for more than 3 months, the article is returned without any refund of postage, recorded as “No response from sender on customs observations.”
Q: Who is the competent authority to sanction a postage refund?
The Head of Postal/RMS Division or Head of the FPO having jurisdiction over the booking office is the Competent Authority for sanctioning the refund and waiver of return postage charges.
Q: From which date are these refund guidelines effective?
The guidelines apply to all International Parcel, EMS, ITPS, and Registered Letter shipments booked on or after 01.04.2025.