Sunday, June 2, 2013

The indelible ink: Voter Ink

The voter ink, a critical factor in ensuring fair elections in India, is manufactured by Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited located in Mysore, Karnataka. It is the only company in India authorized to manufacture the indelible ink. The ink making process, based on a chemical formula devised by National Physics Laboratory of India, is a guarded secret.

The company formely known as the Mysore Lac Paints Limited ,was set up by the then Maharaja of Mysore, Nalvadi Krishanaraja Wodeyar, in 1937. Afer Independence , the company became a public sector firm.


A 5 ml vial can be used for about 300 voters. The mark of the ink stays on the finger for nearly 20 days. The ink is also exported to countries like Thailand, Singapore, Nigeria, Malaysia and South Africa.

“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish proverb