2025 - India Security Press, Nashik | Commemorative Coin

A commemorative coin of ₹100 will be issued to mark the 100 years of India Security Press (ISP), Nashik. The gazette notification is awaited from the Ministry of Finance.

The India Security Press (ISP), Nashik, is one of India’s oldest and most significant security printing institutions, playing a vital role in the nation’s administrative, financial, and identity-related documentation. Established in 1925 by the British Government, the Press was created to reduce dependence on foreign sources for printing secure documents and to strengthen India’s capacity to produce high-security materials at home. Over time, it evolved from being the principal facility for printing Indian currency notes to a diversified, technologically advanced unit known for its precision, reliability, and sophisticated anti-counterfeiting measures.

Located in Nashik Road, Maharashtra, ISP operates under the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), a Government of India enterprise formed in 2006 after corporatization of the country’s minting and printing infrastructure. With modernization initiatives and international security standards, ISP today stands as a benchmark for secure document production in the country.

Although ISP originally printed Indian currency notes for decades, the responsibility eventually shifted to dedicated RBI presses in Dewas and Mysuru. Nevertheless, ISP continued to enhance its specialization in producing other high-security documents. The Press today is responsible for printing the majority of Indian passports—standard, diplomatic, and official variants—each embedded with features such as watermarks, UV patterns, micro-text, intaglio impressions, and biometric-compatible design elements. ISP also holds a central place in India’s postal system, producing postage stamps, inland letters, envelopes, and a vast array of commemorative and definitive stamp series that are treasured by collectors across the world.

Beyond passports and stamps, ISP plays a crucial role in legal and administrative functions by printing non-judicial stamp papers, revenue stamps, treasury certificates, court fee labels, indent forms, cheques for government departments, and a wide range of secure stationery used by state and central authorities. It also prints identity-related documents such as Aadhaar letter sheets and vehicle registration materials, ensuring uniformity and security across various government platforms.

The Press employs advanced technologies such as offset, intaglio, screen printing, letterpress, and holographic embedding. Its production uses specialized security inks—including fluorescent, magnetic, reactive, and thermochromic variants—along with watermarked paper, guilloché patterns, micro-printing, and optically variable devices. ISP’s stringent quality control laboratories ensure that every document maintains high durability, clarity, and resistance to forgery.

In recent years, ISP Nashik has embraced energy-efficient systems, digital workflows, and improved infrastructure to meet growing demands. It continues to align its processes with global standards, especially with the increasing requirements of e-passport components and machine-readable features. With a legacy of nearly a century, ISP remains not just a production facility but an institution that symbolizes trust and authenticity in India’s official documentation system.

For philatelists, document collectors, and students of modern Indian monetary history, the Indian Security Press holds immense significance. Many rare stamps, early currency notes, and historical government documents trace their origins to Nashik, and ISP’s work continues to reflect India’s cultural, political, and developmental journey. Through consistent innovation and adherence to high security protocols, the Indian Security Press, Nashik, continues to serve as a cornerstone of India’s secure printing landscape and a silent guardian of the nation’s identity and administrative integrity.