World Post Day 2023: History, Date and Theme

Introduction

World Post Day is celebrated each year on October 9th to commemorate the creation of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874. It’s a day to recognize the crucial role that post offices play in connecting communities, and in 2023, the theme is “Together for Trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected future.” Every year the Indian or National Postal Day also celebrated on October 10. It was Lord Dalhousie who established India Post for the first time in 1854.

World Postal Day History

The world postal day history of postal services dates back centuries, with the first organized postal service said to have been established during the time of Augustus Caesar in Rome. Remarkably, the oldest functioning post office is in Sanquhar, Scotland, operating since 1712 AD.

UPU and World Post Day

World Post Day was officially declared by the UPU Congress in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969. The UPU is an international organization that promotes and coordinates postal services worldwide. It currently has 151 member countries, all of which participate in this annual celebration.

World Post Day 2023 Significance

World Post Day serves to raise awareness about the vital role of postal services in people’s daily lives and their significant contribution to global social and economic development. Postal operators offer basic financial services to approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide, including payments, money transfers, and savings.

Celebrating World Post Day

Countries around the world celebrate World Post Day in various ways. Post offices often use this occasion to introduce or promote new postal products and services. Many nations host special exhibitions to highlight the importance of postal services in everyday life and their impact on social and economic development. Additionally, some postal services use this day to recognize and reward their employees for their outstanding service.

World Post Day 2023,Theme: “Together for Trust”

The theme for World Post Day 2023, “Together for Trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected future,” underscores the importance of governments and postal services working together to develop a digital single postal territory. This digital infrastructure complements the extensive physical postal network that has been built over centuries. It also encourages collaboration with the UPU to ensure that people everywhere can access the digital economy through their local post office.

In conclusion, World Post Day is a day to celebrate the rich history and vital role of postal services in our interconnected world. It reminds us of the invaluable contributions made by postal workers and services to global development, and it encourages collaboration to create a safer and more connected future.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• Universal Postal Union Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland;
• Universal Postal Union Founded: 9 October 1874;
• Universal Postal Union Founder: Heinrich von Stephan;
• Universal Postal Union Head: Director-General; Masahiko Metoki;
• Universal Postal Union Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council.

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