Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launched the UPI-UPU Integration Project at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai. The initiative aims to transform international remittances, positioning India as a leader in affordable and accessible digital finance solutions worldwide.
The project is being jointly executed by the Department of Posts (DoP), NPCI International Payments Ltd, and the Universal Postal Union (UPU). Together, they seek to build an efficient cross-border payments system using India’s homegrown digital infrastructure and global postal reach.
UPI-UPU Integration connects India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Interconnection Platform (UPU-IP). The UPU, a United Nations specialised agency, coordinates postal services across 192 countries. This integration allows international remittances to be processed quickly and cheaply, combining UPI’s speed with UPU’s extensive global postal network for worldwide accessibility.
International money transfers usually face high charges, delays, and restricted reach. The UPI-UPU project offers a new system designed to lower costs, accelerate transactions, and expand accessibility for millions of families relying on overseas remittances to support their daily lives.
Scindia described the launch as more than just a technology project, calling it a “social compact.” He said combining UPI’s reliability with postal networks ensures safer, faster, and cheaper remittances, reinforcing public infrastructure’s role in serving citizens globally.
India also committed $10 million to strengthen the postal sector worldwide, with special focus on digital payments and e-commerce. Regional workshops and dialogues will also be organised to ensure equal participation and capacity-building across different global regions.
India signed Letters of Intent (Lols) with postal partners in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America, Scindia said. These collaborations focus on enhancing trade, digital finance, and e-commerce, showcasing India’s efforts to formalise global partnerships in postal and payments innovation.
Scindia highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India and Viksit Bharat vision, Aadhaar, Jan Dhan, and India Post Payments Bank enabled over 560 million new accounts, mostly for women. India Post also delivered more than 900 million parcels last year.
Scindia stressed that Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including UPI, Aadhaar, Jan Dhan Yojana, and DigiLocker, has powered growth and accessibility. He also confirmed India’s candidature for the Universal Postal Union’s Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council, strengthening its global leadership.
