Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia is set to represent India at the prestigious 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai on September 8. This major event brings together leaders from around the world to shape the future of global postal services, and Scindia’s participation highlights India’s growing role in international cooperation.
The Universal Postal Congress happens every four years and serves as the top decision-making body for the Universal Postal Union (UPU). As a key United Nations agency founded way back in 1874, the UPU is the world’s second-oldest intergovernmental organization. Based in Bern, Switzerland, it coordinates international mail exchanges and boosts collaboration in postal, parcel, and financial services across 192 member countries. India, with its Department of Posts as a long-time active member, plays a big part in standardizing postal rules and modernizing services worldwide.
At this Dubai gathering, countries will discuss the UPU’s new Strategy and Business Plan for 2026-2029. Key focuses include digital transformation, building resilience, and updating postal services to keep up with the fast-changing global economy. Scindia will also hold several bilateral meetings with other nations to strengthen ties and push forward India’s interests in postal and logistics sectors on the world stage.
Back home, India’s postal system has evolved into the world’s largest doorstep banking network, making financial services accessible right at people’s doorsteps. The humble postman now acts as a key player in promoting financial inclusion across the country. Just this week, Scindia praised how India Post and the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) have turned one of the oldest postal networks into a groundbreaking doorstep banking system.
With a massive network of 160,000 post offices, the Department of Posts is on a remarkable growth path. IPPB has led the charge by digitizing all rural accounts and turning post offices into full-fledged financial hubs. Through smart tech integration, new partnerships, and diverse services, IPPB shows how traditional institutions can adapt and thrive in today’s digital world.
Launched eight years ago, IPPB aimed to bring every Indian—regardless of location, gender, or background—into the formal economy. Today, it drives economic empowerment by connecting rural India to the digital economy, proving its power as a national game-changer.
