What Security Printing Actually Is
Security printing is a branch of the printing industry that specialises in the production of items where authenticity must be verifiable and counterfeiting must be economically or technically prohibitive. It is a spectrum, from the absolutely controlled (Indian currency notes, produced only by government presses under RBI authorisation) to the relatively controlled (pharmaceutical holograms, produced by licensed private converters) to the commercially available (tamper-evident labels, which any qualified printer can produce).
The core principle behind every security printing application is layered authentication, combining multiple security features, each difficult to reproduce individually, in a way that makes replication of the complete combination practically impossible. A currency note may combine 15–20 distinct security features. Even if a counterfeiter can replicate 12 of them, the remaining 3–4 are sufficient to identify the forgery.
This article covers security printing from an educational perspective, how processes work, which organisations are authorised, and what security features exist. The information is drawn from public sources including the Reserve Bank of India, SPMCIL, India Post, and published academic and industry literature. This article does not provide instructions for replicating any security feature.
The three levels of security printing in India
| Level | Examples | Who can produce |
|---|---|---|
| Government-exclusive | Currency notes, passports, postage stamps, judicial stamps, postal orders | Government security presses only (BRBNMPL, SPMCIL, ISP Nashik). No private sector access. |
| Licensed private sector | Cheque books, share certificates, degree certificates, lottery tickets, scratch cards, tax stamps | RBI-approved cheque printers, state lottery authorised printers, licensed security printers |
| Commercial security | Holograms, tamper-evident labels, pharmaceutical serialisation, brand protection labels | Any qualified converter meeting the specification, but with technical barriers that limit producers to specialist firms |
Currency and Banknote Printing
Indian currency notes (officially "banknotes") are produced exclusively by two entities under authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India:
- Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RBI, operating presses at Mysore (Karnataka) and Salboni (West Bengal)
- Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), a Government of India enterprise, operating note printing presses at Nashik (Maharashtra) and Dewas (Madhya Pradesh)
The paper for Indian banknotes is produced at Security Paper Mill, Hoshangabad (now Narmadapuram), Madhya Pradesh, also under SPMCIL.
Banknote printing processes · the technical stack
A modern Indian banknote is printed using multiple sequential printing processes, each adding different layers. The full production sequence for a Mahatma Gandhi Series (new series post-2016) note:
Physical security features in Indian banknotes
Beyond printing processes, Indian banknotes incorporate security features built into the paper itself:
| Feature | How it works | Detection method |
|---|---|---|
| Watermark | Thickness variations in the paper created during manufacture by a shaped roller, the Mahatma Gandhi portrait watermark and the denomination numeral in the watermark window | Hold to light, watermark visible as tonal variation |
| Security thread | A narrow strip (2–4mm wide) of plastic or metal embedded through the paper during manufacture. On higher denominations, the thread is windowed, it alternates between being visible at the surface and embedded below | Hold to light, thread appears as continuous dark line. Windowed thread visible as segmented dashes at surface. |
| Fluorescent fibres | Randomly distributed short fluorescent fibres mixed into the paper pulp during manufacture | Visible under UV light as random coloured threads |
| Micro lettering | Text too small to read without magnification, typically "RBI" or the denomination, printed in fine intaglio or offset within design elements | Magnifying glass, photocopied notes show blurred smudge instead of readable text |
| Colour-shifting element | OVI numeral that shifts colour when tilted | Visible to naked eye, tilt the note and watch the numeral change colour |
| Latent image | Guilloche line work that reveals a denomination numeral when tilted at a low angle | Tilt the note, image appears in the light stripe area |
The ₹2000 note was introduced in November 2016 as part of demonetisation, when ₹500 and ₹1000 notes were withdrawn. The ₹2000 note incorporated the most advanced security features used in Indian currency at that time, including a Mahatma Gandhi New Series design with windowed security thread. In May 2023, the RBI announced the withdrawal of ₹2000 notes from circulation (the notes remain legal tender but are being returned to the banking system). This is a routine currency lifecycle management decision, high-denomination notes are typically withdrawn and replaced periodically as security technologies advance. As of 2024–2025, ₹2000 notes are substantially out of active circulation.
Passports and Identity Documents
Indian passports are produced by India Security Press (ISP), Nashik, one of SPMCIL's six production units. ISP Nashik has been producing Indian passports since 1980. The press also produces travel documents, visas, and other secure government documents.
How a modern Indian passport is secured
The current Indian passport (Mahatma Gandhi series) uses a combination of document design security, substrate security, and digital security (the e-Passport chip):
Polycarbonate data page: The biographical data page (page 2) of modern Indian e-Passports is a single piece of polycarbonate, not a paper page. The holder's photograph and personal details are laser-engraved into the polycarbonate. Laser engraving vaporises material from within the card rather than applying ink to the surface, the data cannot be peeled, bleached, or altered without destroying the document. The polycarbonate page is essentially impossible to alter without visible evidence of tampering.
Security paper for interior pages: Visa and endorsement pages use security paper with watermarks, UV-fluorescent fibres, and security threads.
Laser perforation: The document number is laser-perforated through multiple pages, tiny holes that form the numeral, which cannot be replicated by printing.
e-Passport chip (RFID): The Indian e-Passport (introduced progressively from 2021) contains an RFID chip embedded in the back cover carrying a digital version of the biographical data, a digital photograph, and a digital signature. The chip is read by border control electronic passport readers. The digital signature means the chip data cannot be altered without detection.
Other identity documents · Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN
India's identity document ecosystem extends well beyond passports:
- Aadhaar cards are produced and managed by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India). Physical Aadhaar cards use a PVC substrate with microtext, hologram lamination, and QR code containing encrypted biometric data.
- Voter ID cards (EPIC) are produced by the Election Commission of India through empanelled printers. Cards include holograms, microtext, and a unique serial structure.
- PAN cards are issued by NSDL/UTIITSL on behalf of the Income Tax Department. Cards use a polycarbonate or PVC substrate with holographic overlay.
- Driving licences in India are now standardised as smart card format (as per MoRTH directive), PVC chip card with hologram overlay, issued by RTOs.
Postage Stamps
Indian postage stamps are produced at India Security Press (ISP), Nashik, for the Department of Posts (India Post) under the Ministry of Communications. ISP Nashik has been the sole producer of Indian postage stamps since 1925.
Postage stamp printing processes
Stamps use multiple printing processes depending on the design and denomination:
| Process | Used for | Characteristic output |
|---|---|---|
| Intaglio (recess printing) | High-value definitive stamps and commemoratives | Tactile raised ink, very fine detail reproduction, classic philatelic feel |
| Offset lithography | Most commemorative and special issue stamps | Excellent colour reproduction, suitable for photographic images |
| Gravure | High-volume definitive stamps | Fine screen, consistent colour, high speed |
| Combination (offset + intaglio) | Premium commemoratives and high-value stamps | Combines colour quality of offset with tactile security of intaglio |
Stamp security features
Modern Indian stamps include UV-fluorescent phosphor bands or overall UV coating (for automated postal sorting machine detection), security paper with watermarks or fluorescent fibres, microtext, and perforation patterns. Self-adhesive stamps (increasingly common) use security-cut backing paper that cannot be removed and reapplied without visible damage.
India Security Press, Nashik was established in 1925 and has produced billions of Indian postage stamps, all Indian passports, judicial/non-judicial stamps, postal orders, savings certificates, and other secure government documents. It is one of the largest security printing facilities in Asia. ISP Nashik is not open for commercial enquiries, it serves the Government of India exclusively. The press is a SPMCIL facility, contact information for government liaison is through SPMCIL's head office in New Delhi.
Cheque Printing · MICR and CTS
Bank cheques in India use a specific technical standard combining security printing features with machine-readable encoding. Understanding cheque printing requires understanding two key standards: MICR and CTS.
MICR · Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) is the technology that allows cheque processing machines to read the bank code, account number, and cheque serial number printed at the bottom of every cheque. MICR characters are printed using ink containing iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) particles. When the cheque passes through a MICR reader, the magnetic flux from the iron oxide particles is detected and converted to the encoded information.
The MICR line on an Indian cheque (the bottom strip with the distinctive font) contains three fields:
- Cheque number, 6-digit serial number (pre-printed by the cheque printer)
- MICR code, 9-digit code identifying the bank and branch (pre-printed)
- Account number, personalized to the account holder (printed by the bank's data centre)
MICR characters use the CMC-7 or E-13B font standard. RBI mandates E-13B for Indian cheques. The MICR font must be printed with MICR-compliant ink to exact dimensional tolerances, ink spread outside the tolerance range causes read errors.
CTS · Cheque Truncation System
CTS (Cheque Truncation System) is the RBI's standard for cheque security and processing, fully implemented across India since 2013. CTS cheques must include a set of mandatory security features and must comply with CTS-2010 standard specifications:
Who can print CTS cheques in India
CTS cheque printing is not open to all commercial printers. Banks must use RBI-approved cheque printing vendors who have demonstrated compliance with CTS-2010 specifications and have implemented the required security controls in their printing facilities. The list of RBI-approved cheque printers is maintained by the RBI and available to banks through the banking system.
India's cheque volumes have declined significantly with the growth of NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, and UPI digital payment systems. Daily UPI transaction volumes in India now vastly exceed cheque volumes. However, cheques remain mandatory for certain transaction types, large-value property transactions, certain government payments, and situations requiring a physical instrument. Cheque printing volumes in India remain substantial in absolute terms, even if declining as a share of total payment transactions.
Scratch Cards · Lottery Tickets and Telecom Recharge
Scratch cards are a significant category of security printing in India, both state government lottery tickets (Kerala, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and others have active state lotteries) and mobile telecom recharge vouchers (though the latter have largely been replaced by digital recharge).
How scratch card printing works
A scratch card is a multi-layer security printed product. The production sequence:
- Base card printing: The card design, barcode, serial number, and instructions are printed on a paper or PVC substrate using standard offset or digital printing. Security features (UV fluorescence, microtext, hologram) may be incorporated at this stage.
- Security ink layer: A latex or reactive ink is applied over the "hidden" information area (the prize panel or PIN). This layer is opaque and bonds to the substrate.
- Scratch-off coating: A second layer, typically a silver-coloured latex compound, is applied over the security ink layer. This is the layer the user scratches off. It is formulated to scratch cleanly without smearing, while adhering firmly enough that it cannot be removed by other means (heat, solvents) without damaging the underlying information.
The hidden information (lottery numbers, PIN, prize amount) is typically printed with a UV-curable or heat-set ink that is non-water-based, ensuring the latex overprint does not dissolve or migrate into the printed information layer during production.
State lottery security requirements
Indian state lottery tickets are produced by lottery department-approved printers who must meet government security specifications. Each ticket has a unique serial number, and the ticket production quantities are audited against the prize structure. Lottery ticket printing is a competitive tender process, several private security printers hold state lottery printing contracts. Each state may have different specifications, but all require some combination of serial numbering, UV security features, and scratch-off panel.
Holograms and Security Labels
Holograms are the most widely used commercial security feature, present on thousands of Indian products as brand protection, authentication, and tamper evidence. Understanding what a hologram is and why it is difficult to counterfeit requires understanding the physics.
How a hologram works
A hologram is a photographic recording of a light field, specifically, the interference pattern produced when a laser beam splits into two paths (the reference beam and the object beam) and recombines after the object beam has reflected off the subject. This interference pattern is recorded on a photosensitive material. When the recorded material is later illuminated (by white light or laser), it reconstructs the original light field, producing the three-dimensional or colour-shifting visual effect.
The key property that makes holograms difficult to counterfeit: producing the original holographic master requires laser equipment, a clean room environment, and highly skilled operators. The master hologram is then used to produce a shim (a metal embossing die) that can stamp the holographic microstructure into a hot-stamp foil or label substrate. Replicating this process is technically demanding and capital-intensive.
Types of holograms used in India
| Type | Visual effect | Applications in India |
|---|---|---|
| 2D/3D hologram | Multiple image layers at different apparent depths, common security hologram | Tax stamps, stickers on branded FMCG, pharma packaging |
| Dot matrix hologram | Grid of micro dot images, each reflecting different angles, creates complex colour and movement effects | Premium brand authentication, product seals |
| E-beam (electron beam) hologram | Computer-generated ultra-fine microstructures, highest security level | Currency foils (security threads in Indian banknotes), high-security documents |
| Colour-shift (flip-flop) | Two distinctly different images visible when tilted | Bottle seals, premium product authentication |
| Void hologram | Hologram that destroys itself (reveals "VOID") when removed from the substrate | Tamper-evident seals on electronic products, warranty seals |
Tamper-evident labels · India's growing market
Beyond traditional holograms, tamper-evident labels are a large commercial market in India. The main types:
- Void labels: Leave behind a "VOID" or pattern message on the surface when removed, making tampering immediately visible
- Destructible vinyl: A label material that tears into tiny fragments if removal is attempted, used on vehicle engine seals, warranty stickers
- Holographic security seals: Combine hologram with void destruction on removal
- Tamper-evident shrink bands: Neck bands on bottles and containers that tear visibly when opened for the first time
India has a significant domestic hologram manufacturing industry. Companies such as Holostik India (Noida), Alphaflex (Mumbai), and Zodiac Holographics produce holograms and security labels for Indian brands, government applications, and export. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Authentication Solution Providers' Association (ASPA) represent the industry. Tax stamps incorporating holograms are used on tobacco products, alcohol, and petroleum products, mandated by the government as part of revenue protection. Several state governments have implemented holographic tax stamps for specific product categories.
Pharmaceutical Serialisation and Track & Trace
Pharmaceutical serialisation, the assignment of a unique identifier to each individual drug pack, is the most rapidly growing security printing application in India, driven by both domestic regulatory requirements and export market mandates.
Why pharmaceutical serialisation matters
Counterfeit medicines are a significant public health problem globally, the WHO estimates 10% of medicines in low and middle-income countries may be falsified or substandard. Serialisation addresses this by giving each individual pack a unique identity that can be verified through the supply chain. A pack with a serial number that does not match the database is immediately identifiable as potentially counterfeit or diverted.
India's DAVA scheme
India's Drug Authentication and Verification Application (DAVA) is a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare initiative for the serialisation of pharmaceutical products. Implementation has been phased, starting with export-focused manufacturers and high-value products, progressively extending to the broader domestic market. Under DAVA, pharmaceutical manufacturers must:
- Assign a unique serialisation code to each pack (primary packaging)
- Print a 2D Data Matrix barcode on each pack encoding the serial number, batch number, expiry date, and product code
- Aggregate pack information through the supply chain (cases, pallets)
- Upload serialisation data to a central repository accessible for verification
Export market requirements · EU FMD, US DSCSA
Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers exporting to regulated markets face even more stringent serialisation requirements:
- EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD): Requires a 2D Data Matrix on every pack with a unique serial number, and tamper-evident sealing of all prescription medicine packs
- US Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA): Requires serialisation for all prescription drugs sold in the US, with full interoperability of track-and-trace data across the supply chain
- Other markets: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, Brazil each have their own serialisation requirements, Indian exporters often manage multiple parallel serialisation schemes for different destination markets
The technical implementation · printing the 2D Data Matrix
Printing serialisation codes on pharmaceutical packaging requires specific technical capabilities:
- Variable data printing system: A digital print head (typically inkjet) integrated into the packaging line that prints a unique code on each pack in real time
- Vision inspection system: A camera system that verifies each printed code immediately after printing, checks that the code is readable, that the human-readable text is present, and that no two consecutive packs have the same code
- Serialisation software: A system that generates unique codes, manages the serialisation database, and produces the aggregation data (how many packs went into each case, how many cases on each pallet)
- Laser coding or thermal inkjet: The primary technologies for printing 2D Data Matrix codes on pharmaceutical packaging at line speeds of 100–600 packs per minute
India supplies approximately 20% of global generic medicines by volume and is one of the largest vaccine producers in the world. This makes India's pharmaceutical serialisation compliance critically important, a regulatory failure in serialisation could block Indian pharma exports to the US, EU, or other regulated markets. The Indian pharmaceutical industry has invested heavily in serialisation infrastructure since 2016, driven by the EU FMD deadline and US DSCSA implementation. Packaging printing companies serving the pharma sector in Hyderabad (India's pharma capital), Mumbai, and Ahmedabad have all upgraded to variable data printing and vision inspection capabilities to meet these requirements.
India's Authorised Security Printers
Government security presses · SPMCIL facilities
Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) operates six production units:
| Facility | Location | Primary products |
|---|---|---|
| India Security Press (ISP) Govt only | Nashik, Maharashtra | Passports, postage stamps, cheque books (for banks), non-judicial stamps, savings certificates, postal orders |
| Bank Note Press (BNP) Govt only | Dewas, Madhya Pradesh | Currency notes (alongside BRBNMPL) |
| Security Paper Mill (SPM) Govt only | Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram), Madhya Pradesh | Banknote paper, passport paper, security papers for government use |
| Currency Note Press (CNP) Govt only | Nashik, Maharashtra | Currency notes |
| India Government Mint (4 locations) | Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Noida | Coins, medals (not printing, included for completeness) |
BRBNMPL (Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt Ltd), RBI's wholly-owned subsidiary with presses at Mysore (Karnataka) and Salboni (West Bengal). Produces currency notes exclusively for the RBI.
Private security printing companies in India
India has a growing private security printing sector serving commercial brand protection, pharmaceutical serialisation, and licensed government document printing:
| Company Private | Specialisation |
|---|---|
| Holostik India (Noida, UP) | Holograms, tax stamps, brand protection labels, void labels, one of India's largest hologram producers |
| Authentix India | Authentication technologies, brand protection, government authentication programmes |
| ITW Security Division | Security labels, void seals, tamper-evident packaging |
| Zodiac Holographics | Holographic products, OVD (Optically Variable Devices), security foils |
| Megaprint | Security labels, pharmaceutical serialisation printing |
| CMS Print (RBI-approved) | Cheque book printing, demand drafts, financial instruments, RBI-approved cheque printer |
Barcode Guide, 2D Data Matrix for pharmaceutical serialisation · Synthetic & NCR Papers, security paper types · Labels, security label substrates and applications · Finishing, holographic foil and lamination