Currency Mint HQ declared a “prohibited place” after 11 years

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has declared the headquarters of the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) in Delhi as a “prohibited place” under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 . The notification, issued on February 18, strengthens security around the government’s currency and security document operations.

The SPMCIL is the government body responsible for producing India’s currency notes, coins, stamps, passports, visas, cheques, bonds, commemorative medallions, and security papers, as well as refining precious metals like gold and silver. Formed in 2006 , it took over nine production units from the Department of Economic Affairs, including four central government mints, two currency note presses, two security printing presses, and one security paper mill . The Ministry of Finance exercises oversight through SPMCIL’s board of directors.

The prohibited place , located at Tower-G, World Trade Centre, Nauroji Nagar, Delhi , will now have enhanced security measures. Under the Official Secrets Act, unauthorised entry, photography, sketching, or collecting information about such a place can attract strict penalties.

Previously, the SPMCIL HQ was not officially a prohibited place , meaning there were no specific legal restrictions under the Official Secrets Act. While internal security measures were always in place, visitors, contractors, or employees could enter following standard protocols, and collecting information about the premises was not a statutory offence . With this new order, the HQ is now legally off-limits to unauthorised persons , bringing it under the same strict protection as other sensitive government establishments.

While this step ensures stronger protection for a facility crucial to India’s financial and strategic security , critics point out that it comes 11 years after SPMCIL’s formation , raising questions about the delay. Observers also noted that the current government, now in its third term, has finally formalised these protections despite repeatedly highlighting national security as a priority.