"Security is a game for boys, under the leadership of boys, in which elder brothers can give their younger brothers healthy environment and encourage them to healthy activities such as will help them to develop Citizenship." The above statement of Badeu Powell, the founder of the movement suns up the ideals and objectives of scouting.

Scouting which has now become so popular and widespread started in 1907 when Baden Powell ran his first experimental camp with a group of boys at Brown Sea Island off the south coast of England. The movement spread to various parts of the world and had a phenomenal success within a short time.

In India, isolated groups came to be started around 1910. There was, however, no organisation to knit them together. The three major associations: The Boy Scouts Association in India, The Hindusthan Scouts Association and the Girl Guides Association, which were doing good work in various parts of the country, were united under one organisation in 1950-51. The name of the amalgamated association is The Bharat Scouts & Guides. Through the national organisation is unified for boys and girls, the Scout Section is affiliated to the Boy Scouts World Bureau and the Guide Section to the World association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts.

The movement is divided into three major branches according to caste, creed and religion. The Cub/Bulbul for boys/girls of 7 to 11 years; the Scouts/Guides for boys/girls of 11 to 17 years and the Rovers/Rangers for boys/girls of 17 to 23 years. There are also six special branches of the movement viz. Handicapped Scouts/Guides, Deep Sea Scouts, Sea Scouts, Air Scouts, Senior Scouts and Former Scout Guides. The movement imparts training and offers practice in carrying out its Ten Laws: The Law of Honour, Loyalty, Usefulness, Friendship, Courtesy, Kindness, Thrift and Cleanliness both in body and mind. The boy or girl has to live up to the following pledge:- "To do my duty to God and my Country To help other people at all times To obey the Scout/ Guide Law".

The Posts & Telegraphs Department feels pleasure in bringing out a special postage stamp on the 27th December, 1967 on the occasion of the 5th All India Jamboree which coincides with the Diamond Jubilee of the Scouts movement.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India