World Post Day: Post Office is Essential for the Global Economy

‘World Post Day’ is celebrated every year on 9 October. World Post Day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations agency Universal Postal Union (UPU).

Background of World Post Day:

• The Universal Postal Union was established on 9 October 1874 in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
• The announcement of celebrating World Post Day was made in the year 1969 during the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan. Since this announcement, World Post Day has been celebrated every year on 9 October.

Theme of World Post Day:

• Every year a main theme for World Post Day is announced by the United Nations. In this sequence, UPU has declared the theme of World Postal Day 2023 as ‘Together for trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected future’.

Post Office for the Global Economy:

• The main theme of World Post Day 2023 highlights the role of post offices in meeting the goals of the digital economy.
• According to the official information shared by the United Nations, all countries and their postal services should come forward to develop a digital single postal area globally.
• According to the United Nations, post offices play an important role in uniting all people, promoting inclusion and fostering communities.
• More than 50 lakh postal employees across the world are engaged in delivering people's messages, gifts, medicines, money and other personal and essential items.

Country's first postage stamp:

• The first stamps were issued on 21 November 1947. Jai Hind and India were written on it. The first postage stamp of independent India was worth three and a half annas i.e. 14 paisa.
• This stamp was used only for sending mail within the country. There is a picture of the Indian flag and Jai Hind written on it.
• Mahatma Gandhi was the first Indian person in whose name a postage stamp was issued.
• Whereas Sachin Tendulkar is the first living person in whose name a postage stamp was issued.

History of Indian Post:

• The postal system was started in India in the year 1766 i.e. 257 years ago.
• In the year 1774, Warren Hastings established the first post office in Kolkata.
• For the first time in India, postage stamps were started on letters in the year 1852.
• On October 1, 1854, a postage stamp bearing the portrait of Queen Victoria was issued in India. On this day the Postal Department was established as a department in India.
• 89.87% of post offices in India are in rural areas.
• On 20 August 1991, the largest postage stamp in India was issued on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Important facts related to World Post Day:

• Universal Postal Union: an agency of the United Nations
• Universal Postal Union Established: 9 October 1874
• Headquarters of the Universal Postal Union: Bern, Switzerland
• The current head of the Universal Postal Union: Masahiko Metoki
• Universal Postal Union under the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations