Universal Postal Union (UPU)

31-May-2023: Cabinet approves establishment of a Regional Office of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in New Delhi, India by entering into an Agreement with UPU

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved to establish a Regional Office of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in New Delhi, India to undertake UPU’s development cooperation and technical assistance activities in the region by entering into an agreement with UPU.

The approval enables India to play active role at multilateral organizations in postal sector with emphasis on South-South and Triangular cooperation. India will provide a Field Project Expert, staff and office set up for UPU’s regional office. Projects on capacity building and trainings, improving efficiency and quality of postal services, enhancement of Postal technology, e-commerce and trade promotion etc. will be prepared and implemented for the region by this office in coordination with UPU.

The initiative would help expanding India’s diplomatic footprint and strengthen relations with other countries, especially in Asia-Pacific region and will enhance India’s presence at the global postal forums.

2022

10-Aug-2022: Cabinet approves ratification of the eleventh Additional protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the ratification of amendments to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) as contained in the Eleventh Additional Protocol to the Constitution signed during the 27th Congress of the Universal Postal Union held at Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) from 9-27 August, 2021.

The approval enables the Department of Posts, Government of India to have the “Instrument of Ratification” signed by the Hon’ble President of India and have the same deposited with the Director General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.

This would fulfil the obligations arising from Article 25 and 30 of the UPU Constitution which provides for ratification of the amendments to the Constitution adopted by a Congress as soon as possible by the member countries.

In brief, the amendments to the Constitution of UPU adopted by the 27th UPU Congress ensure further legal clarity and stability to the Acts of the Union, bring terminological consistencies, resolve many long-standing discrepancies in the text and accommodate provisions for ‘acceptance or approval’ of the Acts in consistency with Vienna Conventions on Law of Treaties, 1969.

2019

24-Dec-2019: Cabinet approves ratification of the Tenth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) signed at 2nd Extraordinary Congress of the UPU

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave its approval to the ratification of the Tenth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) adopted by 2nd Extraordinary Congress of the Union held at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 3rd to 7th September, 2018.

The approval enables the Postal Administration of India to have the Instrument of Ratification signed by the Hon’ble President of India and have the same deposited with the Director General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union through diplomatic channels along with approval of other Acts of the Union.

Ratification by the Government of India of the Tenth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the UPU adopted by 2nd Extraordinary Congress held at Addis Ababa from 3rd to 7th September, 2018 would fulfil the obligations arising from Article 25 of the Constitution of the UPU and its commitment as expected of a member country of the Union. It will also enable the Department of Posts to bring out any administrative orders to implement the provisions of the UPU Convention in India.

29-Oct-2019: Pakistan Suspends Exchange of Postal Mails

In a unilateral decision, Pakistan has stopped exchange of postal mails with India since August 27. Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said Pakistan’s decision was taken “without any prior notice” and “in direct contravention of international norms.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). It coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. It frames rules for international mail exchange, and fixes rates for international postal services. It regulates 6.40 lakh postal outlets worldwide.

The UPU has 192 member-countries and it's headquartered at Bern, Switzerland. It was established by the Treaty of Bern. India joined the UPU on July 1, 1876 and Pakistan on November 10, 1947.

The UPU has four units: the Congress, the Council of Administration (CA), the Postal Operations Council (POC) and the International Bureau (IB).

Under UPU rules, when a country decides to suspend exchange with a country, it must notify the operator of the other country (in India’s case, India Post) and, if possible, the duration for which services are being stopped. The UPU’s International Bureau too has to be notified.