75 Years of The United Nations

The postage stamp is but a miniature sheet reflecting the shared values and the special relationship between India and the United Nations. To commemorate this enduring partnership, the Department of Posts is delighted to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations on 23rd October, 2020.

Philatelic Collaborations with the United Nations

India’s association with the United Nations has been marked by several notable philatelic issues over the decades. Earlier commemorative stamps were released by India on:

• 24th October, 1954 – United Nations Day
• 24th October, 1985 – 40th Anniversary of the United Nations
• 26th June, 1995 – 50 Years of the United Nations

In recent years, collaboration between India Post and the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has further strengthened this bond. UNPA released a set of stamps featuring endangered migratory species from Gandhinagar, India, on 17th February, 2020. A Definitive stamp commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was released on 2nd October, 2019, followed by a stamp on Diwali, the festival of lights, on 19th October, 2018. Additionally, India Post and UNPA jointly issued the HeForShe postage stamp on 8th March, 2016, promoting gender equality.

India’s Commitment to Multilateralism

India and the United Nations share an abiding commitment to multilateralism and dialogue as the most effective means of achieving common goals and addressing global challenges. As an active member of the United Nations, India has made significant contributions towards the implementation of the UN Charter, particularly in areas such as peace building and peacekeeping, sustainable development, poverty eradication, environment and climate change, disarmament, human rights, health and pandemics, migration, cybersecurity, space, artificial intelligence, and United Nations reforms.

Landmark Moments in India–UN Relations

Some of the key milestones in India’s relationship with the United Nations include:

• 1945 – India signed the United Nations Charter
• 1948 – Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by India
• 1950 – India elected for the first time to the UN Security Council
• 1973 – India signed the Biological Weapons Convention
• 1980 – India signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
• 1993 – India signed the Chemical Weapons Convention
• 2000 – India signed the Millennium Declaration
• 2007 – 2nd October declared the International Day of Non-Violence
• 2014 – 21st June declared the International Day of Yoga
• 2015 – India adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• 2015 – India signed the Paris Agreement on global warming

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Global Solidarity

The ancient Indian maxim “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the whole world is a family has often resonated in the halls of the United Nations. During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, India upheld this principle by supplying essential medicines to more than 150 countries. As the largest vaccine-producing nation in the world, India reaffirmed its commitment at the 75th UN General Assembly in September 2020 to assist humanity in overcoming the crisis.

Looking Ahead: Reform and Responsibility

An anniversary is both a moment of reflection and a time to look forward. Representing 18% of the world’s population, nurturing hundreds of languages, cultures, ideologies and traditions, and emerging as a leading global economy, India remains a strong advocate of meaningful reforms in the United Nations, ensuring that the institution remains relevant and effective in a rapidly changing world.