The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) came into being on 29 July 1957. Its headquarters is located in the Austrian capital of Vienna. The membership has grown from 57 Member-States in 1957 to a present total of I 10, of which 79 are developing countries. Although autonomous, IAEA is a  member of the United Nations System and sends reports of its work to the General Assembly and other United Nations Organ. Its Secretariat, which is headed by a Director General, consists of about 1500 international civil servants  recruited  from over 60 Member-States.

The main objective of IAEA, as defined in its Statute, is to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world and to ensure that the assistance provided by it is not used to further any military purpose.

The executive organ of the Agency is the Board of Governors comprising representatives of 34 Member-States, 12 of whom are designated by the Board and 22 elected by the General Conference. Since the inception of the Agency, India has been a member of the Board of Governors as one of the nine countries most advanced in the technology of atomic energy. India's active participation in the Agency's activities reflects the recognition of its important role in promoting peaceful utilisation of atomic energy.

The General Conference of IAEA with participation of all the 110 Member-States is convened in regular annual sessions for a general debate on its policies and programmes. The General Conference considers the budget and annual report of the Agency, approves applications for membership, elects new members to the Board of Governors in replacement of those whose terms have expired. The IAEA General Conference has been held away from IAEA headquarters in Vienna only on rare occasions.  The holding  of the General Conference in India represents the fourth occasion on which it has been held outside Vienna.

lndian Posts & Telegraphs Department feels honoured to issue a special stamp to commemorate the 23rd General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency being held in New Delhi.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India