Universal Postal Union

Why in news?

• Recently, the Union Cabinet 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 2021.

About Universal Postal Union:

• The UPU was established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874.
• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system.
• It is the second oldest international organization worldwide.
• The union 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
• It also oversees the Telematics and Express Mail Service (EMS) cooperatives.

Members:

• 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.
• India joined the UPU in 1876.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Universal Postal Union’:

1. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN)

2. It coordinates postal policies among member nations

3. The union sets the rules for international mail exchanges

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer