This stamp was issued in May 1965 to celebrate the centenary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The ITU is the UN’s specialised agency for digital technologies (ICTs). In an agreement on 15th November 1947, the UN recognised the ITU as the specialised agency for telecommunications. The agreement formally entered into force on 1st January 1949.

The ITU has, since its inception, facilitated international standards and coordination on radio spectrums, satellite orbits and promoted improved telecommunication infrastructure in developing countries. As the oldest agency of the UN, ITU aims to connect the world to advance digital technologies, develop international standards and bridge the digital divide for sustainable development.

India has been a member of the ITU since 1869 and has contributed actively to the organisation as a member of the ITU Council and through various technical committees. The ITU Area Office for South Asia and the Innovation Centre, Delhi was established in March 2023.