90th General Assembly of INTERPOL, New Delhi

90th General Assembly of INTERPOL INTERPOL (The International Criminal Police Organization) is the world’s largest international police organization and an inter-governmental organization with 195 member countries. Headquartered in Lyon, France, INTERPOL was founded in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC); the name INTERPOL served as the agency’s telegraphic address in 1946, and was chosen as its common name in 1956. Globally, the increasing frequency of crimes with transnational linkages requires closer coordination among law enforcement agencies. There is a daily inflow and outflow of communications between National Central Bureaux of member countries which ranges from a compassionate request to locate and notify the next-of-kin of deceased; request to search for a missing person; criminal history requests; requests from law enforcement agencies for informal assistance in cases of fraud, commercial crime, trafficking in narcotics drugs, and criminal code offences. Member countries of INTERPOL promote the widest possible assistance between all criminal police authorities in the prevention and suppression of ordinary law crimes. Its role is to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place. Its high-tech infrastructure of technical and operational support helps meet the growing challenges of fighting crime in the 21st century. INTERPOL works to ensure that police around the world have access to the tools and services necessary to do their jobs effectively. INTERPOL provides targeted training, expert investigative support, relevant data and secure communication channels. It also provides its member countries with instant, direct access to a wide range of criminal databases, containing millions of records on fingerprints, DNA, stolen motor vehicles, firearms, stolen and lost travel documents and more. The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, comprising of representatives from each of 195 member countries. It meets once a year. Each member country may be represented by one or several delegates who are typically Ministers, Chiefs of Police, Heads of INTERPOL NCBx and senior ministry officials. Its purpose is to ensure that INTERPOL’s activities correspond to the needs of member countries. The General Assembly reviews and approves the programme of activities and financial policy for the coming year. In addition, the General Assembly elects the members of the Executive Committee, the governing body which provides guidance and direction in between sessions of the Assembly. The General Assembly takes decisions in the form of Resolutions. Each member country has one vote. The decision-making process is either by a simple or two-thirds majority, depending on the subject matter. India is one of the oldest members of Interpol, having joined the organization in 1949. The Central Bureau of Investigation is designated as the National Central Bureau of India for INTERPOL. The Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation is the ex-officio Head of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau-New Delhi India is an active member and has earlier hosted an Inter- Regional Meeting of Heads of Drug Services in 1988, the first Interpol Conference on Methaqualone in 1992, the 13th Asian Regional Conference in 1994, the 66th General Assembly Session of ICPO-Interpol in 1997 and the Sixth Global Focal Point Conference on Asset Recovery in 2015. India hosted the 90th General Assembly of INTERPOL from 18th -21st October, 2022 at Pragati Maidan Venue, New Delhi, culminating with celebrations for 75th year of India’s independence. The INTERPOL Flag was handed over to India on 25 th November, 2021 during 89th INTERPOL General Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey. To mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Interpol in Vienna, the annual General Assembly of the organization will take place in Vienna in 2023 Department of Posts is pleased to issue the Commemorative Postage Stamp on 90th General Assembly of INTERPOL in New Delhi and appreciates its role in international policing.

Technical Data

Date of Issue October 18, 2022
Denomination Rs. 5
Quantity 305,100
Perforation comb 14
Printer Security Printing Press, Hyderabad
Printing Process Wet Offset
Watermark No Watermark
Colors Multicolor
Credit (Designed By) Ms. Nenu Gupta Sh. Bharati Mirchandani
Catalog Codes

Yvert et Tellier IN 3501

Stanley Gibbons IN 3826

Michel IN 3825

Themes Conferences | Police

INTERPOL Commemorative Postage Stamp – Celebrating the 90th General Assembly in India

India Post released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the 90th General Assembly of INTERPOL, held in New Delhi from 18–21 October 2022. This philatelic issue not only celebrates India’s proud role in international policing but also commemorates the centennial journey of the world’s largest police cooperation organization.

About INTERPOL

The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is the world’s largest international police body, with 195 member countries. Founded in 1923 in Vienna as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC), it later adopted “INTERPOL” as its common name in 1956, derived from its telegraphic address.

Headquartered in Lyon, France, INTERPOL serves as a vital platform for global police cooperation. In an era where transnational crimes are on the rise—ranging from cybercrime and financial fraud to human trafficking and narcotics smuggling—INTERPOL enables law enforcement agencies worldwide to share intelligence, provide assistance, and coordinate action.

Through its secure communication networks, advanced databases, and high-tech support, INTERPOL helps police across the world access critical information, such as:

  • Fingerprints and DNA records
  • Stolen and lost travel documents
  • Stolen motor vehicles and firearms
  • Criminal history data

It also offers training, investigative expertise, and operational support to member countries.

Structure and Governance

The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body. Comprising delegates from each member nation, including ministers, police chiefs, and senior officials, it meets annually to review policies, set programs, and elect the Executive Committee. Each member country has one vote, and decisions are taken by either a simple or two-thirds majority.

India’s Role in INTERPOL

India has been a proud member of INTERPOL since 1949, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) serving as the National Central Bureau (NCB) in New Delhi. The Director of the CBI is the ex-officio head of the Indian NCB.

India has actively contributed to INTERPOL over the decades, hosting key conferences such as:

  • Inter-Regional Meeting of Heads of Drug Services (1988)
  • Interpol Conference on Methaqualone (1992)
  • 13th Asian Regional Conference (1994)
  • 66th General Assembly Session (1997)
  • 6th Global Focal Point Conference on Asset Recovery (2015)

In 2022, India proudly hosted the 90th General Assembly of INTERPOL at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, coinciding with the celebrations of 75 years of India’s independence. The INTERPOL flag was formally handed over to India in November 2021 during the 89th General Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey.

The following year, in 2023, INTERPOL’s General Assembly returned to Vienna, Austria, where the organization was originally founded, to mark its 100th anniversary.

The Philatelic Tribute

To commemorate this historic event, the Department of Posts issued a commemorative postage stamp on the 90th INTERPOL General Assembly. This release stands as a lasting reminder of India’s leadership in global policing, as well as the spirit of international cooperation that INTERPOL represents.

For collectors, this stamp holds a special place in Interpol philately and highlights India’s contribution to fostering peace, security, and justice on the world stage.

First Day Cover