The United Nations (UN)’s World Post Day(WPD) is annually observed across the globe on 9th October to commemorate the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union(UPU) in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland.
- The theme of 2024 WPD which marks the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of UPU, is “150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations”.
Significance:
i.The day aims to create awareness about the importance of the postal sector in the everyday lives of people and businesses.
ii.The day also highlights its contribution to the social and economic development of countries.
Background:
i.In 1969, the UPU Congress held in Tokyo(Japan) adopted the resolution and recommended the observance of UPU Day on 9th October of every year to mark the anniversary of the establishment of UPU.
ii.In 1984, the UPU congress held in Hamburg(Germany) renamed the observance of UPU Day as WPD..
About UPU:
i.The UPU is the 2nd oldest international organization in the world after the International Telecommunication Union(ITU).
ii.It coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system.
iii.It became a specialized agency of the UN on 1st July 1948.
Importance of Postal system:
i.Around 28% of the global adult population (over 1.5 billion people) access basic financial services (payments, money transfers, and savings) through postal networks.
ii.The global parcels market has grown from just under 450 billion USD in 2018 to over 500 billion USD in 2020.
International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People
i.The competition, organised since 1971, invites children aged 9 to 15 to write “a letter to future generations about the world they hope to inherit.”.
ii.2024 marks the 53rd edition of the competition organised by UPU in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
iii.The participants of the 2024 competition were encouraged to reflect on the future of the world under the theme: “At 150 years old, the UPU has served people around the world for more than eight generations. The world has changed enormously since then. Write a letter to future generations about the world you hope they inherit.”
UN Released UPU Stamp:
i.The UN Postal Administration(UNPA) issued three stamps designed and illustrated by Sergio Baradat to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of UPU.
ii.The stamps were printed by Joh. Enschede of the Netherlands by hexachrome.
iii.Each stamp measures 51 millimetres(mm) by 36mm, and each pane of nine is 177mm by 163mm.
Additional info:
i.The UN is the only organization in the world which is neither a country nor a territory that is permitted to issue postage stamps
ii.It is also the only postal authority to issue stamps in three different currencies, namely U.S. Dollars, Swiss Francs and Euro.
iii.The 1st UN stamps were issued in USD denominations on 24th October, 1951(the UN Day)
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Unveils commemorative stamp to mark 25 years’ of Mundra Port
On 9th October 2024 (World Post Day), Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, unveiled a commemorative postage stamp titled ’25 Years of Progress – Mundra Port’ to mark the completion of 25 years of Mundra Port’s development during an event held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. India Post has also introduced a special cover and stamp cancellation procedure.
- The stamp depicts the journey of Mundra from an ordinary jetty to a vital global shipping hub.
- This commemorative stamp was released by India Post in collaboration with Adani Ports and SEZ Limited(APSEZ).
- A replica of the stamp sheet will be permanently displayed at the National Philatelic Museum in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Mundra:
i.Mundra is a significant port located on the northern coast of the Gulf of Kutch. It was established as a captive jetty in 1994.
ii.The port has been developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone Limited (MPSEZ),India’s first private port, have been operational since 2001.
About the Universal Postal Union(UPU):
Director General(DG)– Masahiko Metoki
Headquartered– Bern, Switzerland
Established– 1874
Member countries– 192
