The Commonwealth started as an informal organisation of the countries with large number of settlers from Britain i.e. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In 1926, Balfour Formula gave the first definition of the status and mutual relationship of the member countries. It stated that, "they are autonomous communities within the British Empire equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in aspect of their domestic or external affairs through united by a common allegiance to the Crown and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations". This position was given legal formulation in the Statute of Westminster in 1931.

India became independent in 1947 and when it decided to join the Commonwealth, the nature of the Commonwealth link changed. It was apparent that the definition in the Balfour Formula of common allegiance to the Crown could not apply to the republic of India. India's joining the Commonwealth was agreed upon by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers in 1949 on the basis of India's "acceptance of the King as the symbol of the free association of the independent member nations and as such Head of the Commonwealth".

The term British from the British Commonwealth was also dropped. The Commonwealth has no constitution. However, a declaration of Commonwealth principles was made on the 27th January, 1971 after the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government at Singapore. The first paragraph is worth quoting in order to establish the voluntary nature of the Commonwealth Association. "The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states each responsible for its own policies of consultation and cooperation in the common interest of their people and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace".

Today, there are 47 members in the Commonwealth. The Heads of the Government at their meeting in Melbourne in October, 1981, agreed in principle to the proposal is a special Commonwealth Stamp issue every five years in order to foster wider awareness of the Commonwealth and as a contribution towards the financial stability of the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation. The first issue commemorating Commonwealth Day is, therefore, taking place on 14th March, 1983.

The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a set of two stamps on the occasion.

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