Context: The election commission of India recently placed an order with Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd. to produce indelible ink for the Karnataka assembly election. Every single election in India has a link with Mysuru, the city of palaces in Karnataka, as Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd.
About Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd.
- It is the only company authorised to produce the indelible ink used in general elections in the country.
- It was established by Maharaja of Mysore, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar in 1937 with the name of, Mysore Lac & Paint Works Ltd. which manufactured lac used for the manufacture of sealing waxes, and paints.
- The unit was converted into a public limited company in 1947,
- In 1962, it was selected to manufacture the indelible ink, which was first used in the country’s third general election.
- From then till now, the company has supplied the ink for every Lok Sabha, Assembly and local body election across India.
- It has also exported the ink to more than 30 countries.
- The Election Commission of India places orders during polls.
- The ink is made of chemicals (the primary chemical is silver nitrate) formulated in a laboratory and the entire process of its mixing, bottling, sealing, packing and transportation is carried out in a well-secured area.
- Each vial containing 10 ml of ink would suffice for the fingers of 700 voters.
