144. PA Exam Materials – PO Guide part I -10
Smt P.Kiruthika Paramasivam
Smt P.Kiruthika Paramasivam
Philately
• Philately is the study and collection of stamps, postal stationery, postmarks, and other philatelic materials.
• Philatelic Materials are issued, sold, and activities thereon are conducted as per administrative instructions. These materials include:
o Philatelic stamps
o First day covers, brochures or information sheets, special covers, maxim cards, annual packs, postal stationeries, and various philatelic publications and ancillaries
o Artworks, proofs, progressive sheets, printed sheets, and printing plates of philatelic stamps
o Postmarks, slogan dies, and other artifacts used in connection with the production of philatelic stamps
Issuance of Postage Stamps
• Postage stamps are issued in the following types:
o Definitive Stamps: For everyday postage needs, reprinted as necessary.
o Commemorative Stamps: Issued once to honor events, institutions, themes, and personages in limited numbers and sold for a limited period, as specified by administrative instructions. They are collectible and usable for postage.
o Special Stamps: Thematic stamps featuring flora, fauna, art, or architecture.
o Joint Issue Stamps: Issued on mutually agreed terms and conditions with other countries.
o My Stamps: Customizable stamps based on user-provided elements.
• Philatelic stamps and materials like Customised My Stamp, Customised Special Cover, Collector's Pack, Thematic Pack, Yearly Pack, List of India Postage Stamp, Definitive issue, First Day Cover, Special Cover, First Flight Cover, Pictorial Cancellation, Stamp Booklet, Brochure, Picture Postcard, Maxim Card, Calendar, and Philatelic Ancillaries are sold through various Post Office offices/counters.
• Individuals can purchase Commemorative Postage Stamps (CPS) and philately-related material from Philatelic Bureaux, Philatelic Counters, Authorized Offices, and online for their collection.
• Individuals, Philatelic Clubs, and Philatelic Societies can also obtain desired CPS and philatelic material regularly by opening a Philatelic Deposit Account at a Philatelic Bureau.
• Besides collection, CPS can also be used for prepayment of postage.
• Denominations of postage stamps and other philatelic material align with domestic and international postal tariffs and are sold at denoted or specified values on a case-by-case basis.
• There is no provision for returning or selling CPS to the Post Office.
• The Head of Circle is the competent authority for approving the issue of Special Cover, Pictorial Cancellation, Picture Postcard, and Philatelic Ancillaries.
• All other Philatelic material is issued according to Directorate-level approval.
• Proposals for special covers that affect India's diplomatic relations with other countries are approved at the Directorate level in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Proposals related to Defense are consulted with the APS Directorate and approved at the Directorate level.
• The content of philatelic items should be secular and devoid of nuances that may cause embarrassment to the Government.
• Any citizen can propose a commemorative stamp in accordance with administrative guidelines.
• Proposals are examined based on guidelines, and approved stamps are purchased in set quantities unless exceptions apply.
• Stamp values must align with domestic and international postal rates.
• Stamps will not feature living individuals.
• The Central Government approves all stamp designs and denominations.
• Philatelic items (e.g., stamps, brochures, first-day covers) are sold at their denoted or specified values by the Post Office.
• Proposals for commemorative postage stamps must be submitted in the prescribed format at least one year in advance for consideration by the Philatelic Advisory Committee (PAC)/Sub Committee of the PAC and approval by the competent authority.
• Proposals are considered and recommended/not recommended by the PAC/Sub Committee.
• Rejected proposals may be carried forward to the next PAC/Sub Committee meeting with the approval of the Minister of Communications (MOC).
• No more than 50 issues (maximum 100 stamps) of Commemorative Postage Stamps are issued per annum, with exceptions requiring MOC approval.
• Stamps on personalities should not exceed 20% of the Annual Issue Program.
• The annual stamp issue program is announced in the last week of December preceding the calendar year of issue.
• The Annual Issue Program reflects regional, cultural, ethnic, and gender balance.
• Any change to the Annual Issue Program requires MOC approval.
• Any formal stamp release function should have an appropriate Department of Posts representative.
• The postage stamp, which is a legally valid receipt for postage paid, can be released by the Minister for Communications or Minister of State for Communications.
• Commemorative Postage Stamps (CPS) are issued on subjects/themes/institutions/personalities/events with national or international stature, contribution, impact, or areas of concern.
• The theme should be visually appealing to philatelic collectors.
• Stamps on a particular subject are issued only once, except for thematic subjects (wildlife, environment, transport, flora, fauna) or regular issues (Children's Day, Philately Day, Seasons Greetings).
• Stamps are issued only on apex institutions/organizations on their 50th, 75th, 100th, 125th, or 150th anniversary, not on their branches.
• Stamps on buildings or monuments may be issued on their 50th, 75th, centenary, 125th, or 150th anniversary, provided they are Heritage sites of national/international importance or recognized by ASI.
• Buildings of regional importance may be commemorated with a special cover and cancellation.
• Stamp design is decided by the Department of Posts.
• Religious symbols, prefixes, or suffixes with names of personalities will not be incorporated into the design.
• Once approved, the stamp design will not be changed.
• The Department of Posts (DOP) decides subject matters, prohibited subjects, proposal consideration procedures, issue/release of stamps, and sale periods for commemorative/special and definitive stamps and postal stationery.
• It also determines issue, withdrawal, and archival policies.
• Proponents for stamps related to institutions/events/large organizations or those requesting stamps on personalities must make a mandatory purchase of at least 1 lakh stamps.
• For global institutions with headquarters outside India, a mandatory purchase of stamps and philatelic ancillaries worth 25 Lakh is required.
• Proposals for Joint Stamp Issues with other countries are considered only if received through the Ministry of External Affairs.
• There is no mandatory purchase condition for joint issues; only a mutually agreed quantity of stamps will be exchanged.
• Customized My Stamp is a personalized sheet of postage stamps where corporate houses, organizations, and institutions can get customized sheets printed from India Post.
• Organizations can opt for printing their logo, images of their organization/institute, or photographs of their employees alongside the customized themed stamps.
• One My Stamp sheet contains 12 stamps with a face value of Rs. 5/- each, and the cost of one sheet is Rs. 300/-.
• For 5000 sheets, the total payable amount is Rs. 15,00,000/-, and organizations must place the demand two months in advance.
• India Post will print 500 customized My Stamp sheets for sale.
• Proposals are examined based on guidelines, and approved stamps are purchased in set quantities unless exceptions apply.
• Stamp values must align with domestic and international postal rates.
• Stamps will not feature living individuals.
• The Central Government approves all stamp designs and denominations.
• Philatelic items (e.g., stamps, brochures, first-day covers) are sold at their denoted or specified values by the Post Office.
• Proposals for commemorative postage stamps must be submitted in the prescribed format at least one year in advance for consideration by the Philatelic Advisory Committee (PAC)/Sub Committee of the PAC and approval by the competent authority.
• Proposals are considered and recommended/not recommended by the PAC/Sub Committee.
• Rejected proposals may be carried forward to the next PAC/Sub Committee meeting with the approval of the Minister of Communications (MOC).
• No more than 50 issues (maximum 100 stamps) of Commemorative Postage Stamps are issued per annum, with exceptions requiring MOC approval.
• Stamps on personalities should not exceed 20% of the Annual Issue Program.
• The annual stamp issue program is announced in the last week of December preceding the calendar year of issue.
• The Annual Issue Program reflects regional, cultural, ethnic, and gender balance.
• Any change to the Annual Issue Program requires MOC approval.
• Any formal stamp release function should have an appropriate Department of Posts representative.
• The postage stamp, which is a legally valid receipt for postage paid, can be released by the Minister for Communications or Minister of State for Communications.
• Commemorative Postage Stamps (CPS) are issued on subjects/themes/institutions/personalities/events with national or international stature, contribution, impact, or areas of concern.
• The theme should be visually appealing to philatelic collectors.
• Stamps on a particular subject are issued only once, except for thematic subjects (wildlife, environment, transport, flora, fauna) or regular issues (Children's Day, Philately Day, Seasons Greetings).
• Stamps are issued only on apex institutions/organizations on their 50th, 75th, 100th, 125th, or 150th anniversary, not on their branches.
• Stamps on buildings or monuments may be issued on their 50th, 75th, centenary, 125th, or 150th anniversary, provided they are Heritage sites of national/international importance or recognized by ASI.
• Buildings of regional importance may be commemorated with a special cover and cancellation.
• Stamp design is decided by the Department of Posts.
• Religious symbols, prefixes, or suffixes with names of personalities will not be incorporated into the design.
• Once approved, the stamp design will not be changed.
• The Department of Posts (DOP) decides subject matters, prohibited subjects, proposal consideration procedures, issue/release of stamps, and sale periods for commemorative/special and definitive stamps and postal stationery.
• It also determines issue, withdrawal, and archival policies.
• Proponents for stamps related to institutions/events/large organizations or those requesting stamps on personalities must make a mandatory purchase of at least 1 lakh stamps.
• For global institutions with headquarters outside India, a mandatory purchase of stamps and philatelic ancillaries worth 25 Lakh is required.
• Proposals for Joint Stamp Issues with other countries are considered only if received through the Ministry of External Affairs.
• There is no mandatory purchase condition for joint issues; only a mutually agreed quantity of stamps will be exchanged.
• Customized My Stamp is a personalized sheet of postage stamps where corporate houses, organizations, and institutions can get customized sheets printed from India Post.
• Organizations can opt for printing their logo, images of their organization/institute, or photographs of their employees alongside the customized themed stamps.
• One My Stamp sheet contains 12 stamps with a face value of Rs. 5/- each, and the cost of one sheet is Rs. 300/-.
• For 5000 sheets, the total payable amount is Rs. 15,00,000/-, and organizations must place the demand two months in advance.
• India Post will print 500 customized My Stamp sheets for sale.
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