Universal Postal Union (UPU)

Universal Postal Union

Universal Postal Congress Latest News

The 28th Universal Postal Congress, the supreme decision-making body of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) , opened recently.

About Universal Postal Congress

  • It is a United Nations specialized agency and the postal sector’s primary forum for international cooperation.
  • It was established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874. It is the second oldest international organization worldwide.
  • Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland.

Functions of Universal Postal Congress

  • It coordinates postal policies among member nations in addition to the worldwide postal system. 
  • It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel and financial services volumes and improve the quality of service for customers.

Governance Structure

  • The Congress: It is the supreme authority of the UPU and meets every four years.
  • The Council of Administration: It ensures the continuity of the UPU’s work between Congresses, supervises its activities and studies regulatory, administrative, legislative and legal issues.
  • The Postal Operations Council: It is the technical and operational mind of the UPU and consists of 48 member countries elected during Congress.
  • The International Bureau: Fulfilling a secretariat function, the International Bureau provides logistical and technical support to the UPU’s bodies.

Member Countries of Universal Postal Congress

  • Any member country of the United Nations may become a member of the UPU.
  • Any non-member country of the United Nations may become a UPU member, provided that its request is approved by at least two-thirds of the member countries of the UPU.
  • Member countries: At present it consists of 192 member countries.


Source: News on Air

Universal Postal Congress FAQs

Q1: Where the Universal Postal Congress 2025 is held?

Ans: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Q2: When did India become a member of the Universal Postal Union?

Ans: July 1, 1876

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