Govt Clears Rs 1,800 Cr Upgrade for Banknote, Passport Paper Supply

• Government approves Rs 1,800 crore proposal for a new cylindrical mould watermark banknote (CWBN) line.
• The upgrade aims to boost high-security paper supply for currency notes, passports, and non-judicial stamp papers.
• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared the proposal, replacing two old lines at Security Paper Mill (SPM), Narmadapuram.
• New CWBN line will have an annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes, doubling SPM's total output to 12,000 tonnes.
• Decision addresses rising demand from passport issuance, stamp papers, and banknote replacement, ensuring self-sufficiency.

Why It Matters: Major government investment to secure India's supply of critical high-security paper for decades.