Why in the News?
At the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai (2025), the Union Minister for Communications has unveiled the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)- UPU Integration Project.
About Universal Postal Union (UPU):
- Overview: A UN specialized agency and the primary forum for international postal cooperation.
- Establishment: Created by the Treaty of Bern (1874). It is the second oldest international organization (after CCNR, 1815).
- Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland.
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Membership:
- 192 member countries (as of 2025).
- Any UN member state can join automatically.
- Non-UN states may join with two-thirds approval from members.
- India is a member since 1876.
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Structure:
- Congress: Supreme authority meets every 4 years.
- Council of Administration (CA): Supervises activities between Congress sessions; studies regulatory and administrative issues.
- Postal Operations Council (POC): Technical/operational body of 48 elected members.
- International Bureau: Secretariat providing logistical and technical support.
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Functions:
- Coordinates postal policies across nations.
- Sets rules for international mail exchanges.
- Makes recommendations to boost global mail, parcel, and financial services.
- Acts as advisory, mediator, and technical support agency for postal systems.
Significance of the UPI–UPU Integration:
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For India:
- Strengthens India’s global leadership in digital payments innovation.
- Positions India as a hub for low-cost remittance solutions.
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For Global Postal System:
- Adds digital financial services to the traditional postal network, enhancing its relevance in the digital era.
- Strengthens India–UPU cooperation and demonstrates India’s ability to combine fintech innovation with global multilateral platforms.
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For Migrants:
- Enables fast, affordable, and secure cross-border remittances through post offices.
- Reduces dependence on high-cost traditional remittance channels.
| [UPSC 2004] Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below.
List I (Agency) (A) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (B) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (C) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (D) Universal Postal Union (DPU) List II (Headquarters) 1. Nairobi 2. Vienna 3. Berne 4. New York Options: (a) 2 3 4 1 (b) 4 1 2 3 (c) 2 1 4 3 (d) 4 3 2 1* |
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