India Re-Elected to Universal Postal Union’s Key Councils at Dubai Congress

India secures re-election to the UPU’s Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council, highlighting its leadership in digital postal reforms, UPI remittances, and e-commerce growth.

India has been re-elected to the Council of Administration (CA) and the Postal Operations Council (POC) of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) during the 28th Universal Postal Congress held in Dubai. The re-election highlights India’s leadership in postal reform, digital transformation, and global cooperation.

What is the Universal Postal Union?

Founded in 1874 and headquartered in Berne, Switzerland, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is the world’s second oldest international organization. With 192 member countries, it is a specialized agency of the United Nations that serves as the primary forum for cooperation among postal sector stakeholders.

The UPU:

• Sets rules for international mail exchanges.

• Provides advisory, mediating, and technical assistance.

• Promotes innovation in mail, parcel, and financial services.

• Works to ensure a truly universal and modern postal network.

Membership

• Any UN member country can join the UPU.

• A non-UN member country may also join with approval from two-thirds of UPU members.

The Four Pillars of UPU

1. Congress

• Status: Supreme authority of the UPU.

• Meetings: Convenes once every four years.

• Role: Sets the overall direction, adopts strategies, approves international postal rules, and elects the members of the CA and POC.

2. Council of Administration (CA)

• Composition: 41 member countries.

• Meetings: Annually at UPU headquarters in Berne.

• Functions:

  • Ensures continuity of UPU’s work between Congresses.

  • Supervises activities and oversees administrative, legal, and regulatory issues.

  • Has the authority to approve proposals by the POC for new regulations or procedures until the next Congress.

3. Postal Operations Council (POC)

• Composition: 48 member countries, elected during Congress.

• Role: The “technical and operational mind” of the UPU.

• Functions: Drives the modernization of postal services worldwide, focusing on efficiency, innovation, and service quality.

4. International Bureau

• Role: Acts as the secretariat of the UPU.

• Functions:

  • Provides logistical, administrative, and technical support to UPU’s bodies.

  • Facilitates communication and coordination among member countries.

  • Ensures smooth implementation of UPU’s global postal programs.

India’s Historic Role in the UPU

India has been a UPU member since 1876, consistently strengthening the global postal network. In recent years, India has:

• Introduced DigiPIN (digital addressing system).

• Enabled UPI-powered cross-border remittances.

• Supported e-commerce exports through Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras.

• Promoted capacity building and South-South cooperation under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, training postal officials from Asia, Africa, and beyond.

• Contributed to UPU’s financial sustainability through regular membership contributions and voluntary funding.

India’s Re-Election at the Dubai Congress

At the 28th Congress in Dubai, India secured re-election to both the Council of Administration (CA) and the Postal Operations Council (POC).

• Significance: This reflects the confidence of the international community in India Post’s leadership, reforms, and digital innovation.

• Commitment: India has also expressed its intent to assume a leadership role within the CA during the forthcoming cycle.

With its renewed mandate, India will:

• Continue driving digital transformation of the postal sector.

• Strengthen inclusive global cooperation.

• Play a proactive role in shaping the future of international postal services.

This re-election ensures that India remains at the forefront of global postal modernization, promoting innovation, inclusivity, and development.