Issued by India

Issued on Nov 14, 2019

Issued for : India Post is happy to issue this set of two stamps on Child Rights to celebrate Children’s Day, 2019 and to mark the 30^th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) as well as 70 years of the presence of UNICEF in India.

Credits :
Stamp/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1500 Paise (2)

Stamps Printed : 500000 each

Miniature sheets printed : 110000

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• This year, the Department of Posts and UNICEF joined hands to hold a Stamp Design Contest on Child Rights. This contest served the twin objectives of raising awareness on the subjects of Child Rights as well as Philately among children. The genesis of this collaboration came on one hand from the fact that every year India Post celebrates Children’s Day through the release of Commemorative Postage Stamps and on the other hand from the fact that the year 2019 marks the 30^th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) and 70 years of UNICEF’s presence of India. The Stamp Design Contest was held from 7 August to 30 September, 2019 and the prize-winning entries have been adapted as stamps to celebrate Children’s Day.
• Millions of children the world over, are abandoned. They do not get a chance to step into a school. They are left to fend for themselves on the streets. They suffer from many forms of abuse. They do not have access to even primary health care. They are subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment every day. They are children – innocent, young and beautiful – who are deprived of their rights.
• The League of Nations adopted the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1924) which enunciated the child’s right to receive the requirements for normal development, the right of the hungry child to be fed, the right of the sick child to receive health care, the right of the backward child to be reclaimed, the right of orphans to shelter and the right to protection from exploitation.
• The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) in Article 25(2) recognized the need of motherhood and childhood to “special protection and assistance” and the right of all children to “social protection”. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959), which enunciated the key principles for the protection of children’s rights.
• Thirty years ago, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on childhood. It’s become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history and has helped transform children’s lives around the world. The Convention defines Child Rights as the minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be afforded to every citizen below the age of 18 regardless of race, national origin, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, wealth, birth status, disability or other characteristics. The Convention classifies the fundamental rights that should be afforded to children into four broad categories:
  • Right to Survival: Right to be born, minimum standards of food, shelter and clothing, right to live with dignity and access to health care, to safe drinking water, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment and information to help them stay healthy. Children have the right to an adequate standard of living, education and services and to play and recreation.
  • Right to Protection: Right to be protected from all sorts of violence, neglect, physical and sexual abuse and dangerous drugs. This includes the right to safe places for children to play; constructive child rearing behavior and acknowledgement of the evolving capacities of children.
  • Right to Participation: Right to freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, freedom of association, information and participation in any decision making that involves him/her directly or indirectly. Children have the right to participate in communities and have programs and services for themselves. This includes children’s involvement in libraries and community programs, youth voice activities etc.
  • Right to Development: Right to education, to learn, relax and play and all forms of overall development – emotional, mental and physical. In the modern context, this includes skill development and equipping every child to prepare for a sustainable future.
• As part of the Contest, children of classes I to XII were invited to draw/paint/sketch their ideas on the theme of “Child Rights”. Eight prizes were announced i.e. First Prize of Rs. 50000, Second Prize of Rs. 25000, Third Prize of Rs. 10000 and five Consolation Prizes of Rs. 5000 each. Based on the selected entries, philatelic items viz. Stamps, Miniature Sheet, First Day Cover, Brochure are designed and are being released on the occasion of Children’s Day 2019. The first three winners are Ms. Nidhi Rahul Mhatre, Ms. Vibhushi Agarwal and Ms. Deepali Midha. Five consolation winners are Master Rupam Mahanty, Ms. Vaidehi Vikas Shirsath, Ms. Arya Thapa, Master Sarvesh Suresh Joshi and Ms. Kratika Chittoriya.
• Text : Sh. Pallab Bose

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 14, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps on Communal Harmony.

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1500 Paise (2)

Stamps Printed : 5.0 Lakh each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 1.10 Lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Department of Posts has been conducting stamp design competitions/photography competitions on various themes since 2015 on the occasion of Independence Day, Children’s Day and Republic Day at national level. Based on the entries received from participants, stamps are designed and released. Selected participants are given cash rewards. This time, a nationwide stamp design competition on the theme “Communal Harmony” was conducted on the occasion of Children’s Day, 2018. The theme was chosen to mark the 150^th Birth Anniversary celebrations of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, for whom Communal Harmony was a matter very close to his heart. The competition elicited tremendous response and the Department is thankful to those parents and school authorities who encouraged their children to participate in this competition. Based on the selected entries, Stamps, Miniature Sheet, First Day Cover and Brochure have been designed.
• India is a land of diverse cultures and religions; it is a heterogeneous space where we see a variety of traditions prevailing together. Each religious group/sect has its own set of beliefs alongwith individual festivals, yet we flourish as a democratic nation and celebrate the idea of ‘Communal Harmony’. The word ‘Communal’ derives the identity from ‘Community’, therefore to understand the term ‘Communal Harmony’ we need to relate it to a sense of mutual respect existing amongst communities or religious sects. In other words, despite diversity of beliefs and customs, religious communities must not undermine each other’s traditions.
• Each community thrives upon its vast network of folk songs, customary beliefs and a rich variety of traditions, which are specific to that particular community. Each community may differ in its culture, customs, traditions, food, everyday practices and sometimes language, yet our identity as a nation comes into being as all communities collectively embrace brotherhood. Even though each citizen carries a different identity given by its community, all individuals are tied together through one common thread of patriotism; which is to say that their national identity has a wider impact than identity derived by them from their community. The essence of ‘Communal Harmony’ lies in the idea that all communities despite socio-cultural differences maintain unity in diversity. The Constitution gives equal respect to all communities/religious groups. All citizens enjoy the same Fundamental Rights regardless of their community/individual identities.
• The cultural heritage of India is widely known for its dynamic versatility of communities and religious beliefs but at the same time, it is since time immemorial that we all believe in the idea of ‘united we stand and divided we fall’. It is a noteworthy fact that in order to take this tradition forward it is our moral responsibility to inculcate these values into our youth and reiterate the notion of brotherhood. The idea of ‘Communal Harmony’ is also upheld in school textbooks to sensitize the children and to ensure that they understand its essence in their tender age.
• Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation was a part of numerous freedom struggles throughout his life. He was an epitome of honesty and non-violence and a staunch believer of harmony amongst all communities. His vision was one of a nation where there is no space for malice, hatred or violence of any kind; in fact, he truly believed that any nation can prosper only when its citizens join hands together and become strong supporters of one another.
• According to Gandhian philosophy, Communal Harmony means “an unbreakable heart unity, the first thing essential for achieving such unity is for every Indian whatever his religion may be to feel his identity with everyone of the millions of the inhabitants of Hindustan”. Gandhiji’s vision on Communal Harmony is alive even today and his thoughts take our nation towards path-breaking success. Our Nation is built on the very fulcrum of communal harmony that tends to bind different identities together despite absolute disparities.
• Keeping this into consideration, Philately Division, Department of Posts organised a Painting Competition. Entries from participants were invited in categories according to their classes and the winners will be awarded exciting cash prizes. Based on the selected entries, philatelic items viz. Miniature Sheet, Stamps, First Day Cover, Brochure are designed and are being released on the occasion of Children’s Day 2018. The first three winners in the category of students studying upto class VI are Biprajit Malik, Agartala, Soumabha Barik, 24 Parganas, West Bengal, Viha Amit Shah, Mumbai. Five consolation winners are Shivani V. S., Kerala, Aritra Karar, Howrah, West Bengal, Kunwar Kshatrashal, Allahabad, UP, Bhumika Mishra, Kolkata, West Bengal and Debarati Das, Tripura. The first three winners in category of students studying in classes VII to XII are Fidal T, Kannur, Kerala, Sudhir Kumar, Kapurthala, Punjab, Mannat Anand, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Five consolation prize winners are Sourojit Panja, Howrah, West Bengal, Tuhir Sri A.R., Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Masirah Reyaz Alam, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Samiksha, Durg, Chhattisgarh and Arpita Das, Goa.
• Text : Ms. Anika Singh.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jan 26, 2018

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a set of two Commemorative Postage Stamps, a miniature sheet, an FDC, a brochure and five maxim cards on Potter’s Wheel on the selected entries.

Design : On the theme “Potter’s Wheel”, entries from each corner of the country were received. All the entries were carefully examined and thereafter eight entries received from Mr. Abin Bhanu, Mr. Gokul Raghavan, Ms. Sonal Kewalramani, Mr. Vysakh. K. S., Mr. M. Vaibhav Shenoy, Mr. Sanskar Verma, Mr. Abhishek P and Mr. Sumit Namdev Mandre have been selected as prize winning entries. Based on the selected entries, two stamps, a miniature sheet, a first day cover and a brochure have been designed. Five entries received from Ms. Bharati Manjari Naik, Mr. Jayasooryan S, Ms. Kumud Krishnakumar Kedia, Mr. Bandana Kumar and Ms. Malavika Sunil have also been selected and on their designs five maxim cards are also being released.

Credits :
Stamp/Miniature Sheet/Maxim Cards/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta, based on the selected entries.

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1500 & 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 5.0 lakh each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 1.10 lakh each

Maxim Cards Printed : 1000 each

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Every year on the occasion of Republic Day, Independence Day and Children’s Day, Department of Posts has been conducting stamp design competition at All India Level since 2015. The selected entries are awarded with the cash prizes and these entries are used in design of stamp and other philatelic items. This time Department has conducted a stamp design competition on the theme of “Potter’s Wheel”. With support of 23 Circle offices across the country, Department has got wide response for this competition.
• Pottery, the art of making pots out of burnt clay, is an ancient art. Pieces of pottery are inevitable parts of archaeological digs all over the world. The oldest evidence of pottery dates back to 10,000 BC in Japan. The concept of clay made vessel sprung up when the society shifted from nomadic to agrarian. The society was in need for stable but heavier containers leading to the art of pottery.
• Much early ceramic ware was hand-built using a simple coiling technique in which clay was rolled into long threads that were then pinched and beaten together to form the body of a vessel. In the coiling method of construction, all the energy required to form the main part of a piece is supplied indirectly by the hands of the potter. Early ceramics built by coiling were often placed on mats or large leaves to allow them to be worked more conveniently. The evidence of this lies in mat or leaf impressions left in the clay of the base of the pot. This arrangement allowed the potter to rotate the vessel during construction, rather than walk around it to add coils of clay. The earliest forms of the potter’s wheel (called tourneys or slow wheels) were probably developed as an extension to this procedure. Tournettes, in use around 4500 BC in the Near East, were turned slowly by hand or by foot while cooling a pot. Only a small range of vessels were fashioned on the tournette, suggesting that it was used by a limited number of potters. The introduction of the slow wheel increased the efficiency of hand-powered pottery production.
• In the mid to late 3^rd millennium BC the fast wheel was developed, which operated on the flywheel principle. It utilised energy stored in the rotating mass of the heavy stone wheel itself to speed the process. This wheel was wound up and charged with energy by kicking, or pushing it around with a stick, providing a centrifugal force. The fast wheel enabled a new process of pottery-making to develop, called throwing, in which a lump of clay was placed centrally on the wheel and then squeezed, lifted and shaped as the wheel turned. The process tends to leave rings on the inside of the pot and can be used to create thinner-walled pieces and a wider variety of shapes, including stemmed vessels, so wheel-thrown pottery can be distinguished from handmade. Potters could now produce many more pots per hour, a first step towards industrialization.
• Text : Philately Division, Department of Posts.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 27, 2017

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue a set of eighteen Commemorative Postage Stamps on Mahabharat.

Credits :
Stamp/Miniature Sheet/Sheetlet/FDC/Brochure : Designed by Smt. Bharti Mirchandani based on inputs received from Sh. Lakshmikanta Dash (Department of Posts), Ms. Meena Mani, and Smt. Santok Ba.
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Sheetlet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 10000 Paise, 5000 Paise, 2500 Paise (4), 1500 Paise (12)

Miniature Sheet Printed : 5.0 lakh each

Sheetlets Printed : 5.0 lakh

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The Mahabharat is a world of its own, vast, immortal, rich, deep, essential, thoughtful, philosophic, pure, intriguing, engaging and magnanimous. There isn’t any emotion that is left untouched or unspoken, as each character in this colourful yet tragic epic poem is a kind of its own. Each relationship is vividly expressed, yet exists on a complex note. JF Woods elucidates referring to Mahabharat, “what is not here, is nowhere else”.
• The greatest epic of India, Mahabharat, compiled by Vyasa between 300 BCE and 300 CE, is considered to be of the Puranic Period. The Bhagvad Gita is narrated during the Bhisma Parva, just before the epiphanic moment of beginning of the great war.
• If we look at the history of culmination of this sacred text, it is a conglomeration of ideas beginning from the earliest phase of Indian civilization. It includes the Vedic philosophy, the post Vedic, the Upanishadic thoughts, upto the Puranic narratives.
• All these developments formulating the essence of Indian philosophy constitute the Gita. It entails Lord Krishna’s revelation of his divine nature to Arjuna. As a result Arjuna is able to decide upon a course of action that was any way rendered inevitable by the complex sequence of events. Lord Krishna counsels Arjuna on the mandates of Dharma and the necessity of action, finally relieving him off his emotional dilemma.
• According to Nick Sutton in the essay, ‘What is Dharma? Ethical tensions within Mahabharat’, “the Mahabharat dramatises this tension between moral and ritual ethics and perhaps it is through the discourse of the Gita that the epic is able to explore further on these grounds.”
• This blend of Gita and Mahabharat is evocative of the interconnectedness within the universal cosmology, as both the divine and the human world tend to co-interact. Herein there is violence in both domains, emotional turbulence in the form of conspiracy of Duryodhana and Shakuni, deceit, hatred and victimization of the righteous Pandavas.
• The position of Draupadi within the epic is a complex one, on one hand, she suffered relentlessly, while on the other hand, she was a woman with a mind of her own, assertive and unflinching. Mahabharat operates on the concept of power, state and kingdomhood which is intricately tied to matters of inheritance and lineage. As the inevitability of fate determines events, in this duel between Karna and Arjuna, Ghatotkach falls prey to Karna’s attack from the infallible weapon blessed to him by Indra, thereby, sacrificing his life for Arjuna. Son of Bheema and Hidimbi, he was of a bold built, exemplifying a ghatam (a clay pot).
• The Lakshagriha episode is a result of Duryodhana’s wrath and hatred for the Pandavas. He conspires an evil trap in the form of House Of Lacquer to burn his enemies to death, but is himself befooled as Pandavas manage to escape through a secret tunnel, due to Vidura’s prior symbolic warning to Yudhishtira.
• Next if we explore the role of cosmology within Mahabharat, the best would be to refer to Bhisma and Shikhandi. Their encounter with each other in two different cycles of birth and rebirth is determined and based on the motif of revenge and fate. Having known that Bhisma’s ethical principles would prevent him from confronting a woman at the battlefield, Arjuna used Shikhandi as a shield to defeat the mighty Bhisma.
• Interestingly, Mahabharat apart from being a Mahakavya narrating the great war, it is also a bildungsroman which is a “narrative tracing the development of a protagonist’s character from childhood to maturity through varied experiences” as we see in the epic, the life and times of the Pandavas and Kauravas since their childhood to their growth as skillful warriors.
• War entails no peace, instead punctures a human being’s consciousness to the extent that its destruction of life and property haunts him throughout. The epic as it is marked by its multilayered characteristics unfolds its events within the paradigm of human fate and destiny, its magnanimity in the course of time has anchored it to eternity. As to this day we see adaptations of Mahabharat in different regional languages, it is interpreted and reinterpreted, not only in India but has bestowed its glory all over the world. The charm of this epic has cast its spell across time and space, as different part of the country adopted and adapted the narrative, wholly or focusing on parts, to suite their own cultural identities. Almost every State has some relics dedicated to an episode from the great epic. The spiritual vastness of this story, eventually is a reflection of spread of civilization and the related conflicts, manifest today in different architectural, sculptural, folk art and other forms of artistic expressions.
• Mahabharat is an epic that has permeated life and culture far beyond the Indian subcontinent. In India, facets of the epic appear in song, dance, film, literature, painting, sculpture, and everyday conversations. These stamps depict but a few strands of the art forms which continue to influence and mould life, learning, and politics. Department of Posts pays homage to this immense living tradition by offering a selection of works which depict the Mahabharat from different parts of India.
• The set of stamps being brought out by the Department of Posts is an attempt and portray this rich variety of expressions of different events and episodes of the story. Department of Posts issues one sheetlet with 18 stamps and two miniature sheets which are described in forthcoming paragraphs.
• As we count the stamps as they are arranged in the sheetlet and proceed from top to bottom, counting from left to right in each row, the cosmic form of the creator in traditional Rajasthani pichwai style is depicted in the large top stamp #1 in sheetlet. Raja Ravi Verma brought his distinct style to the royal depiction of the five Pandav brothers with Draupadi in stamp #4. Draupadi appears as a leather shadow puppet from Andhra–Karnataka region which is depicted in stamp #5. Stamp #9 is an illustration of the Pandavas with Draupadi during their years in exile from patachitra folk scroll painting from Bihar–Bengal region. In stamp #10 and #13, Miniature paintings done in the Mughal style to illustrate their translations into Persian have been depicted. Stamp #10 is the illustration from Bhagvat Puranam, wherein Kauravas confer at Hastinapur as Bhishm, Dhritrashtra and Vidur try to avert the war. Stamp #13 is the illustration from Razmnama, depicting Bhishma on a bed of arrows, awaiting for auspicious time to leave his mortal coil. Hindu and Jain manuscripts were illustrated in watercolour styles of northern India in stamp #16 & #17. Stamp #16 is the illustration from 1540 Bhagvat Puranam manuscript, depicting a vital battle during the great war, when Karna used up his most powerful weapon to subjugate Ghatotkachh which is depicted in stamp #17.
• The sculptors chiseled stone at Halebidu, depicted in stamp #7 showing Arjun at the svayamvar; stamp #12, depicts the chakravyuha that killed Arjun’s son in the great battle; stamp #14 is the battle scene showing Arjun, the skilful archer and Arjun’s penance to earn divine weapons, from Mahaballipuram in stamp #8. Kalamkari artists of Andhra Pradesh use fabric to paint scenes from the epics which is depicted in stamp #18.
• Many of the pictures used in the stamps (stamps #2, #3, #6, #11, #15) and in the accompanying philatelic material including the background and borders for the sheet of 18 stamps, are adapted from the huge body of work done by an ‘illiterate’ folk artist from the heart of central India who dedicated her life to illustration this epic. Santok Ba painted a scroll of 1200 meters depicting episodes from just the adi parva part of the epic. This work has been preserved at the IGNCA, Delhi, and Department of Posts is grateful for the opportunity to present some of her work to the world. Santok Ba’s family supported and supplemented her efforts and they deserve credit too, as do all the unnamed anonymous traditional artists who have kept the stories alive.
• Text : Based on the material received from writer Ms. Anika Singh and available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 14, 2017

Credits :
Stamp/Miniature Sheet/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma, based on the Selected entries

Type : Miniature Sheets, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 1500 Paise (2)

Stamps Printed : 0.5 million each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 0.11 million each

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Every year on the occasion of Republic Day, Independence Day and Children’s Day Department has been conducting stamp design competition at national level since 2015. The selected entries are awarded with the cash prizes and their entries are used in stamps and other philatelic items. This time Department has conducted stamp design competition on theme “Nest”. With support of 23 Circle offices across the country Department has got wide response of this competition. Department is also thankful to those school authorities who have encouraged their students for participating in this competition.
• Nest is a structure built by certain animals to hold eggs, offspring, and, occasionally, the animal itself. Birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. This may be composed of organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves, or may be a simple depression in the ground, or a hole in a rock, tree, or building. Human-made materials, such as string, plastic, cloth, or paper, may also be used. Nests can be found in all types of habitat.
• Nest building is driven by a biological urge known as the nesting instinct in birds and mammals. Generally each species has a distinctive style of nest. Nest building is considered a key adaptive advantage among birds, and they exhibit the most variation in their nests ranging from simple holes in the ground to elaborate communal nests hosting hundreds of individuals. Nests of prairie dogs and several social insects can host millions of individuals. Normally, nest building happens in the breeding reason among birds and other animals. Nests therefore represent the thriving of life forms and are vital for ecological sustenance.
• Small children always live under the parental care at their house, under school authorities during their school time and during the leisure time they are under the lookout of grand parents/ maternal parents/ other senior relative members. The word Nest is also closely associated with small children and that’s why the topic is chosen for inviting entries from children. Through their imagination the small children may illustrate nest in their paintings/drawings in a better way. The theme was selected with an objective that there is a need to enhance awareness of our natural surroundings, and any damage to the ecosystems threatens an entire life cycle of the associated fauna. Based on the selected entries depicting birds’ nests, two stamps, two miniature sheets, 10 maxim cards, a first day cover and a brochure are being released. The designs on the stamps, Miniature Sheets, Maxim Cards, First Day Covers & Brochure are based on the entries submitted by Mr. Somesh Kumar, Mr. Baibhab Saha, Mr. Syed Abid Husain, Ms. Kritica Thakur, Mr. Vikash Prasad, Mr. Tiyasha Saha, Ms. K. Bhoomika, Ms. Sanmista Paul, Ms. Sreeja Das Gupta, Mr. Anurag Sutradhar, Mr. Nilaya, Ms. Urmimala Swain, Ms. Srinidhi Shet U., Mr. Raj Gourab Debnath, Mr. Janvinson, Mr. Dikshant Kumar.
• Text : Based on the information available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jan 25, 2017

Issued for : Every generation is required to be conscious of their responsibility towards nature. To bring the awareness in the students, Department of Posts chose Nature: India as a topic for Stamp Design Competition organised across the country for the Republic Day 2017. The participants were to send original entries on the theme “Nature: India”. Based on selected entries Stamps, Miniature Sheet, Maxim Cards, First Day Cover and Brochure are based on the entries submitted by Mr. Krishna Debnath, Mr. S. Keerthivassan, Mrs. Tripti Dutta, Ms. Pooja, Mr. Souvik Datta, Ms. Souramita Bhaumik, Mr. Suyash Goyal, Ms. Debasmita Chakraborty, Mr. Akshat Pamawat, Ms. Mehr Vig, Ms. Yamini K, Mr. Divyansh Sharma, Ms. Aparajita Biswas, Ms. Jetshree Sharma and Ms. V. Aishwaria.

Credits :
Stamp / Miniature Sheet / FDC / Brochure / Cancellation Cachet : Ms. Nenu Gupta, based on selected paintings submitted by participants.

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise (6)

Stamps Printed : 301590 each

Miniature Sheet Printed : 0.1 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The “Nature” is a storehouse of joy, peace and pleasure. Nature is like a Philosopher’s stone that has the potential to transform its surroundings with its presence itself. Nature can provide a new lease of life to a fatigued mind or a weary body. The kind of comfort and consolation that can be felt in the lap of nature is described by the poets, bands and wandering minstrels. The flowing rivulets, the sounding cataracts, the whispering winds, the joyful flowers and the lofty mountains are only some of the manifestations of that divine beauty.
• The Bliss of being touched by any aspect of the vast Nature can be seen in the world’s greatest poetic and philosophical expressions. There can be no better mediation that being in touch with the Nature. It has a healing touch of its own. The lovers of Nature immerse themselves in listening to the melodious songs of larks, watching the clouds moving majestically across the sky, and manage to witness the joyful dance of peacock on a rainy day. They can spend hours looking at the starry heavens and absorb the beauty of a rainbow in the sky. They do not forget to see the sublime in the ephemeral.
• Where Nature is a source of joy, it is also a great teacher. The fruitful trees teach us to be humble; the mountains teach us to be strong and firm; the flowers teach us to smile and blossom even when we are surrounded by the thorns of life. The wildlife in Nature teach us harmony and balance in life. It reveals the oneness of life.
• Nature is permeated with the same soul that dwells in men. There is a kinship between man and nature. But our relationship with nature is also of imbalance and overuse. Nearly every step in human history has unfortunately been accompanied with a leap in environmental degradation. Apart from achieving stability for ourselves and our kin, we also have an obligation to maintain the environment, as we depend on the resources and services it provides. Our cognitive ability and understanding of nature obliges us to maintain the integrity of the environment. In order for the Earth to retain its balance, it is important that we do not overstep our bounds as a species. This requires a universal effort to revaluate our relationship with nature and make adjustments as needed. It is important to recognise a rippling of consequences that are being faced because of Man’s intervention with the nature.
• Text : Based on the material available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Oct 2, 2016

Issued for : As a part of Swachh Bharat Mission, Department of Posts organised a nation-wide competition inviting entries for designing the commemorative postage stamp, miniature sheet, First Day Cover and Brochure, on the theme “Swachh Bharat”.

Design : The designs on the stamp & miniature sheet are based on three best entries submitted by Ms. Binita Biswajeeta, Ms. Sanjula S. and Ms. Arushi Aggarwal.

Credits :
Stamp / Miniature Sheet / FDC : Smt. Alka Sharma, based on selected paintings submitted by participant.
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : Miniature Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 & 2500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 308250 each

Souvenir Sheet Printed : 0.1 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) emanates from the vision of the Government articulated in the address of The President of India in his address to the Joint Session of Parliament on 9^th June 2014: “We must not tolerate the indignity of homes without toilets and public spaces littered with garbage. For ensuring hygiene, waste management and sanitation across the nation, a “Swachh Bharat Mission” will be launched. This will be our tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150^th birth anniversary to be celebrated in the year 2019” SBM is being implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development (M/o UD) and by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (M/o DWS) for urban and rural areas respectively.
  
• “A clean India would be the best tribute India could pay to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150 birth anniversary in 2019”, said Shri Narendra Modi as he launched the Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajpath in New Delhi. On 2^nd October 2014, Swachh Bharat Mission was launched throughout length and breadth of the country as a national movement.
  
• By inviting people to participate in the drive, the Swachhta Abhiyan has turned into a National Movement. A sense of responsibility has been evoked among the people through the Clean India Movement. With citizens now becoming active participants in cleanliness activities across the nation, the dream of a ‘Clean India‘ once seen by Mahatma Gandhi has begun to take shape.
  
• People from different sections of the society have come forward and joined this mass movement of cleanliness. Millions of people across the country have been, day after day, joining the cleanliness initiatives of the government departments, NGOs and local community centres to make India clean. Organising frequent cleanliness campaigns to spreading awareness about hygiene through plays and music is also being carried out across the nation.
  
• The ‘#MyCleanIndia‘ was also launched simultaneously as a part of the Swachh Bharat drive to highlight the cleanliness work carried out by citizens across the nation.
  
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has become a ‘Jan Andolan‘ receiving tremendous support from the people. Citizens have turned out in large numbers and pledged for a neat and cleaner India. Taking the broom to sweep the streets, cleaning up the garbage, focussing on sanitation and maintaining a hygienic environment have become a practice after the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. People have started to take part and are helping spread the message of ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness‘.
  
• Swachh Bharat Mission in urban areas is focussed on building individual toilets, community toilets and solid waste management. In rural areas, the emphasis is on behavioral change intervention including interpersonal communication, strengthening implementation and delivery mechanisms down to the Gram Panchayat level, and giving States flexibility to design delivery mechanisms that take into account local cultures, practices, sensibilities and demands.
  
• Text : Based on the material available on internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Aug 15, 2016

Issued for : The Department of Posts organized a nation-wide competition inviting entries for designing the commemorative postage stamp, souvenir sheet, First Day Cover and Brochure, on the theme Tourism in India.

Design : The designs on the stamp & Souvenir Sheet are based on three best entries submitted by Mr. Tiju. G. J., Mr. M. Vaibhav Shenoy and Ms. Ashita Sharma.

Credits :
Stamp / Souvenir Sheet / Sheetlet / FDC : Ms. Alka Sharma, based on selected paintings submitted by participants
Cancellation cachet : Ms. Alka Sharma

Type : Souvenir Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500 Paise

Souvenir Sheet printed : 0.3 million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• India is fast emerging as a preferred tourism destination in the World. The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015 ranks India 52^nd out of 141 countries overall. The country also scores high on natural and cultural resources where it is ranked 12^th. Tourism in India is economically important and is growing rapidly. In a developing country like ours, tourism has become one of the major sectors of the economy, contributing to a large proportion of the National Income and generating huge employment opportunities. It has become the fastest growing service industry in the country with an immense potential for further expansion and diversification.
• India offers a different aspect of her personality – exotic, extravagant, elegant, eclectic – to each traveler to the country. India is a country known for its lavish treatment to all its visitors, no matter where they come from. Its visitor-friendly traditions, varied life styles, diverse cultural heritage along with its colourful fairs and festivals, have held an abiding attraction for the tourists from not only within the country but from all over the World. The other attractions of this amazing country include beautiful beaches, forests and wild life and landscapes for eco-tourism; snow, river and mountain peaks for adventure tourism; technological parks and science museums for science tourism; centres of pilgrimage for spiritual tourism; and heritage trains and hotels for heritage tourism. Yoga, Ayurveda and natural health resorts and hill stations have also been attracting tourists for decades.
• Indian handicrafts particularly, jewelry, carpets, leather goods, ivory and brass work, wood work, textiles are in great demand by foreign tourists who love to spend on such items.
• Tourism sector is one of the largest employment generators in India. It plays an important role in employment generation and economic growth of our country and is accepted as the potent engine for inclusive social economic progress at universal level through its forward and backward linkages and ability to create employment. The main objective of the tourism policy in India now is to position tourism as a major engine of economic growth, and harness its direct and multiplier effect on employment and poverty eradication in a sustainable manner by active participation of all segments of the society. Apart from Marketing and promotion, the focus of tourism development plans is also on integrated development of tourism infrastructure and facilities through effective partnership with various stakeholders.
• Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency to formulate national policies and programmes for the development and promotion of tourism in India. In the process, the Ministry consults and collaborates with other stakeholders in the sector including various Central Ministries / agencies, the State Governments / Union Territory Administrations and the representatives of the private sector.
• Every region of India has something unique and delightful to offer to a tourist or visitor. Rajasthan is one of the preferred destinations, along with Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu which attracts both domestic as well as foreign visitors.
• The popular concept of Heritage Hotels was introduced to convert the old palaces, havelies, forts and residences built prior to 1950, into accommodation units that reproduce the ambience of lifestyles of the bygone era. These are extremely popular among tourists.
• In Himachal Pradesh, the rural people are involved in creating the required facilities in rural areas for tourism purpose. The North-East has a wide array of places in the form of its pristine natural beauty, forests and wildlife, rivers and mountains, and a unique multi-ethnic cultural heritage to offer to the tourists. The region is endowed with diverse tourist attractions and each state has its own distinct features.
• Tourism can be categorized under many activity related sub categories. Prominent among those are given below and concerted efforts are being made to promote these new forms of tourism in India:
  • Rural Tourism, which is essentially an activity which takes place in the countryside, is also very popular among tourists. It is multifaceted and may entail farm/agricultural tourism, cultural tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, and eco tourism. As against conventional tourism, rural tourism has certain typical characteristics, like it is experience-oriented, the locations are less populated, it is predominantly in natural environments and it is based on the preservation of culture, heritage and traditions.
  • Ecotourism (also known as ecological tourism) is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It purports to educate the traveler, provide funds for the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. Ecotourism is held as important by those who participate in it so that future generations may experience aspects of the environment relatively untouched by human intervention.
  • Ocean and river Cruises are one of the most dynamic and the fastest growing components of the leisure industry worldwide. India with its vast and beautiful coastline, virgin forests and undisturbed idyllic islands, rich historical and cultural heritage, is becoming a fabulous tourist destination for cruise tourists.
  • Adventure tourism involves exploration or travel to remote, exotic areas. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity in India. There is a thrust in the area of Medical Tourism, Wellness Tourism and Yoga, Ayurveda Tourism as well as other forms of Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH). Services typically sought by travellers include elective procedures as well as complex specialized surgeries. However, virtually every type of healthcare, including psychiatry, alternative treatments, and convalescent care is available in India.
  • Wellness Tourism is about travelling for the primary purpose of achieving, promoting or maintaining maximum health and a sense of well-being. It is about being proactive in discovering new ways to promote a healthier, stress free life.
  • Sports tourism in India is also fast gaining interest. India has several golf courses of international standards. Further, golf events held in India also attract domestic and international tourists.
• Text : Based on the material available on the internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Jan 25, 2016

Issued for : The Department of Posts organized a nation-wide competition inviting entries for designing the commemorative souvenir sheet, First Day Cover and Brochure on the theme “Vibrant India”. Based on selected entries a souvenir sheet, First Day Cover and Brochure, on the theme, are being released. Approximately 1000 entries were received from all over the country.

Design : The designs on the Souvenir Sheet, First Day Cover & Brochure are based on the entries submitted by Ms. U Mangala Nayak, Ms. Nisha Verma, Ms. Srishti Jain, Ms. Rashmi Singh Rathaur, Ms. Annu, Ms. Charvi Khurana, Ms. Prerna, Ms. Binita Bishwajeeta, Ms. Nivedha Selvaraj and Ms. Shalini Shashikant Hudpane.

Credits :
Souvenir Sheet / FDC / Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta, based on selected paintings submitted by participants.

Type : Souvenir Sheet, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 2500 Paise

Souvenir Sheet Printed : 0.3 Million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a varied and rich cultural heritage. It has achieved all-round socio-economic progress during the last 67 years of its Independence. Lying entirely in the northern hemisphere, the mainland extends between latitudes 8° 4’ and 37° 6’ north, longitudes 68° 7’ and 97° 25’ east and measures about 3,214 km from north to south between the extreme latitudes and about 2,933 km from east to west between the extreme longitudes. It has a land frontier of about 15,200 km. The total length of the coastline of the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands and Andaman & Nicobar Islands is 7,516.6 km.
  
• The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The Country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south. The mainland comprises of four regions, namely the great mountain zone, plains of the Ganga and the Indus, the desert region, and the southern peninsula. Natural resources such as lakes, rivers, forests, wildlife, etc. have a pivotal role in Indian lifestyle and the growing population of the country has been increasing pressure on environment. The primary concern of the government is to implement policies and programmes for conservation of the ecosystem, natural resources, welfare of animals and prevention of pollution etc. and numerous initiatives have been taken by the government and various organizations for conservation and protection of flora and fauna, forest and wildlife, and for control of pollution.
  
• Culture plays an important role in the development of any nation. It represents a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices. Culture and creativity manifest themselves in almost all economic, social and other activities. A country as diverse as India is symbolized by the plurality of its culture. India has one of the world’s largest collections of songs, music, dance, theatre, folk traditions, performing arts, rites and rituals, paintings and writings that are known, as the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ (ICH) of humanity. In order to preserve and promote these elements, the government has been implementing a number of schemes and programmes aimed at providing financial support to individuals, groups and cultural organizations engaged in performing, visual and literary arts etc.
  
• The essence of Human Resource Development is education, which plays a significant and remedial role in balancing the socio-economic framework of the country. Rising to this challenge, the country has been taking huge and far reaching initiatives in the field of elementary, secondary, higher secondary, higher technical and adult education. There has been a growing emphasis on vocational trainings in the country with a view to development of not just an educated, but a skilled workforce.
  
• Agriculture, with its allied sectors, is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider in India, more so in the vast rural area. It also contributes a significant figure to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is recognized that sustainable agriculture, in terms of food security, rural employment, and environmentally sustainable technologies such as soil conservation, sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity protection, are essential for holistic rural development, and numerous initiatives have been taken in the country in this regard. Indian agriculture and allied activities have witnessed a green revolution, a white revolution, a yellow revolution and a blue revolution.
  
• Infrastructure is a major sector that propels overall development of the Indian economy. The government is involved in initiating policies that would ensure time-bound creation of world class infrastructure in the country. These initiatives focuses on power, bridges, dams, roads and urban infrastructure development. Power and Energy are recognized as two essential inputs for economic development and improving the quality of life in India. Development of both conventional and non-conventional forms of energy for meeting the growing energy needs of society at a reasonable cost is a challenge. Special initiatives have been taken and are being taken by the Union and state governments in this regard and for promoting the use of non-conventional/alternate/new and renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind and bio-energy, etc.
  
• Science and Technology have always been an integral part of Indian culture. Natural philosophy, as it was termed in ancient times, was pursued vigorously at institutions of higher learning. The Indian Renaissance, which coincided with our struggle for Independence, witnessed great strides made by Indian scientists. This innate ability to perform creatively in science came to be backed with an institutional setup and strong state support after the country’s independence in 1947. The Government of India has worked towards establishing a modern Science and Technology infrastructure in the country. Scientific education and scientific research & development has been on a steady rise as a result of all these initiatives.
  
• Text : Based on material available on the internet.

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 14, 2015

Designs : The Department of Posts organized a nation­wide stamp design Competition on the theme “A Day in the Rains” to design the stamps to be released on the occasion of Children’s Day this year. A set of two stamps and a Miniature sheet were designed for release on this occasion. 38,200 entries were received from all over the country, by the scheduled date for sending in of these entries. The designs on the stamps and Miniature sheet are based on the Prize-winning entries submitted by Yamini K, Kimaya Gupta & Rohit Gupta. The design on the First Day Cover is based on the painting submitted by V. Hemachandran and the painting submitted by Binita Biswajeeta is used as the design on the Brochure brought out on the occasion.

Credits :
Stamp/Miniature Sheet/FDC : Sankha Samanta, based on the paintings by participants.
Cancellation Cachet : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 2500 & 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million each

Miniature Sheet : 0.2 Million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About : 

• Children’s Day also known as Bal Diwas, is celebrated every year in India on 14^th of November and is a day to engage in fun and frolic. But it is not just that. This day is celebrated to increase the awareness of people towards the rights, care and education of children and to remind us all to renew our commitment towards the welfare of the children.
  
• India‘s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was born on November 14. Apart from being known for his skills as a statesman, Nehru was also immensely fond of children. He believed that children were the future of a Nation and they needed utmost care. Fondly referred to as Chacha Nehru by children, he emphasized the importance of giving love and affection to children, whom he saw as the bright future of India.
  
• Children constitute principle assets of a country. Children’s Development is as important as the development of material resources and the best way to develop national human resources is to take care of children. India has the largest child population in the world and the development and welfare of children is of prime importance to the country. Continuous efforts are on to ensure that the highest priority to the basic needs and rights of all children is accorded. A lot needs to be done for the health, nutrition and education of children, particularly for the girl child.
  
• The occasion is celebrated throughout India with immense fun, fervour and enthusiasm. Students are encouraged to participate in various activities, such as singing, dancing, story-telling, elocutions, painting, art and crafts, cultural events, sports events for children, and so on. It gives all the children of India the occasion to enjoy the freedom of childhood. Many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) also organize programs for the poor and deprived children. These days, a number of special programs are aired on the television and radio for kids. It is a Day to take some time out and focus our attention on Children who are the future of this nation.
  
• Text : Based on the material available on the internet.

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