Context:
Recently, the department of Posts released a set of commemorative postage stamps to celebrate the Paris Olympics.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Commemorative Stamps
- Commemorative stamps celebrate major events, notable individuals, natural wonders, and other significant themes. These stamps are special issues available in limited quantities at designated Philatelic Bureaux and through the Philatelic Deposit Account Scheme.
Guidelines for Issuance
- Submission Process: Any citizen of India can propose the issuance of a commemorative stamp.
- Criteria for Issuance:
- Stamps are issued to commemorate milestones like the 100th, 125th, or 150th anniversaries of prominent institutions or organizations recognized nationally or internationally.
- Individuals commemorated must be of significant historical or cultural importance, and no stamps are issued for living persons.
- Commemorative stamps for individuals are issued at least ten years posthumously, typically marking significant death anniversaries such as the 10th, 25th, 50th, or 100th.
- Exceptions may be made for figures in the arts, culture, and music sectors.
- Architectural stamps are issued for buildings or monuments on significant anniversaries if they are designated heritage sites of national or international significance.
Administrative Details
- Issuing Authority: These stamps are released by the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications, ensuring they are both a tribute and a collector’s item, enriching India’s philatelic legacy.
