Why in the news?

  • Dubai is hosting Universal Postal Union’s 28th Universal Postal Congress.

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

  • What is it?: It is a specialised agency of the United Nations that coordinates global postal policies and provides a framework for a uniform international postal system.
  • Establishment: Established in 1874, under the Treaty of Bern, with its headquarter at Bern, Switzerland.
  • Membership: 192 member countries, including India.
  • Objectives:
    • To ensure free flow of international mail across borders.
    • To establish uniform postal rates and procedures.
    • To promote cooperation and modernization in the global postal sector.
    • To serve as a forum for postal policy, regulation, and standardisation.
  • Key Functions:
    • Sets international postal rules and standards.
    • Facilitates postal payment services and electronic data exchange.
    • Promotes financial inclusion through postal networks.
    • Helps developing countries modernize postal infrastructure.
  • Importance for India:
    • India is a founding member of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU), a regional arm of UPU.
    • Indian Postal Service uses UPU framework for international money transfers and e-commerce logistics.
    • Important for India’s cross-border trade facilitation and diaspora remittances.
  • Challenges:
    • Digital communication leading to reduction in letter mail.
    • Financial sustainability of national posts.