PIB Summary- 20th July, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Universal Postal Union

Why in News?
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has announced plans to evaluate the integration of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) with cross-border remittances using the global postal network.

Benefits of Integrating UPI with UPU

• Secure and Real-time Remittances: UPI provides a secure and convenient platform for cross-border remittances, offering a real-time payment experience for users.
• Leveraging Global Postal Network: By integrating UPI with the extensive reach and infrastructure of the global postal network, the reach of UPI-enabled remittances can be expanded significantly.
• Accessibility in Remote Areas: This integration can offer a reliable and accessible remittance solution for individuals, especially in remote areas where traditional banking services may be limited.
• Promoting Inclusive Postal Services: This initiative aligns with UPU’s goal of promoting efficient and inclusive postal services globally, ensuring that more people have access to affordable financial services.

About Universal Postal Union (UPU)

• The UPU was established in 1874 through the Treaty of Bern. It is a United Nations specialized agency and the primary forum for international cooperation in the postal sector.
• The organization is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, and consists of four bodies: Congress, the Council of Administration (CA), the Postal Operations Council (POC), and the International Bureau (IB).

Membership

• Any member country of the United Nations can become a member of the UPU. Non-member countries can join if approved by at least two-thirds of the member countries.
• Currently, the UPU has 192 member countries, and India joined in 1876.

Role and Functions

• The UPU coordinates postal policies among member nations and the global postal system.
• It sets rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel, and financial services volumes.
• The UPU aims to improve the quality of service for customers and promote efficiency in international postal operations.
• It also oversees the Telematics and Express Mail Service (EMS) cooperatives.

Mangal Pandey

Why in News?
Prime Minister has paid tributes to freedom fighter, Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary.

About Mangal Pandey

• He was born on July 19, 1827, in a town near Faizabad, what is now eastern Uttar Pradesh state in northern India, although some give his birthplace as a small village near Lalitpur (in present-day southwestern Uttar Pradesh).
• He was from a high-caste Brahman landowning family that professed strong Hindu beliefs.
• He joined the army of the British East India Company in 1849 and he was made a soldier (sepoy) in the 6th Company of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, which included a large number of Brahmans.

Rebellion against East India Company

• He revolted against the East India Company for introducing cartridges that were greased with animal fat as it hurt the religious sentiments of the soldiers.
• Eventually, this movement of rebels reached other parts of India and which led to a mass revolt against the government.
• The movement of protest and rebellion came to be known as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, also known as the First War of Independence.
• On March 29, 1857, Pandey and his fellow sepoys rose up in rebellion against the British officers and even attempted to shoot them. As a result of this, he was executed on April 7, 1857, in Barrackpore.
• On May 6th, the entire  34th Bengal Native Infantry was disbanded ‘with disgrace’. This was carried out because an investigation ‘revealed’ that the soldiers had not restrained a mutinying soldier.