In all 330 commemorative postage stamps on freedom fighters
and 430 on eminent personalities have been issued between August, 1948 and
April, 2012.
The commemorative postage stamps issued by the Department of
Posts are determined based on the following rules:-
1. Commemorative postage stamps will be issued on subjects
that have a national or international stature or have made
national/international contribution or impact or reflect national/international
areas of concern.
2. The Annual Issue Programme shall reflect regional,
cultural and ethnic balance.
3. Stamps on a particular subject shall issue only once,
except thematic such as wild life, environment, transport, flora fauna etc. or
regular issues like Children’s Day, Season Greetings and sets on heritage,
nature, culture, art, architecture etc.
4. Stamps shall be issued only on the apex institutions, not
on branches of any institution or organization.
5. There shall be not over 50 issues (maximum 100 stamps) of
commemorative stamps per annum.
6. Stamps on personalities shall not exceed 10% of the
Annual Issue Programme.
7. The Union Minister incharge of the Ministry of
Communications & IT may approve 5% of the Annual Issue Programme.
8. The date of issue shall be fixed by the Philately
Division keeping in view the significant dates relating to the subject and the
availability of slots in the printing schedule.
9. Dates of issue once fixed shall not be changed. A
proponent may hold a presentation function on any day on or after the date of
issue.
10. Proposals may be sent by any citizen of India.
11. Proposals should be sent at least two years in advance
for consideration by the Philatelic Advisory Committee (PAC) and approval by
the competent authority.
12. Proposals must be submitted in the format available on indiapost.gov.in.
13. Proposals will be considered and recommended/not
recommended by the PAC. They will not be carried forward for the next PAC
meeting.
14. Proponents shall follow the protocol for release
functions.
15. The Department of Posts will decide the subject matters,
prohibited subjects renewal of philatelic products, procedure for
proposal consideration and issue/release of a stamp, period of sale of
commemorative/special stamps and for definitive stamps and postal stationery.
It will also determine issue policy, withdrawal policy and archival policy.
16. The denominations of postage stamps shall be in
consonance with domestic and international postal tariffs.
17. The personalities on whom commemorative stamp may
be issued should be of national or international importance. The occasion to be
commemorated must be the birth centenary or 10th /25th /50th /100th death
anniversary. No stamp will be issued sooner than ten years after an
individual’s death. A commemorative stamp shall be issued in honour of the head
of State on his/her first death anniversary.
18. A stamp on an institution, building, monument etc. may
be issued on its centenary/125th anniversary/ 150thanniversary
etc. The building, institution to be so honoured must be Heritage site of
national/international importance or site recognized by ASI of
national/international importance. Building of regional importance may be
commemorated with issue of special cover with special cancellation.
19. At least 25% of the stamps issued in a year will be on
popular themes like flora, fauna, culture, heritage etc.
20. Proponents for the stamps relating to
institutions/events/large organisations are required to make a mandatory
purchase of a minimum number of 1 lakh stamps and the requisite philatelic
ancillaries.
This information was given by the Minister of State for
Communications & Information Technology Shri Sachin Pilot in a written
reply in the Lok Sabha on 16.05.2012.
Source:-PIB