Definitive Stamps are meant for day-to-day use as a token of payment of postage on mail articles. These incorporate less complicated design inputs, entailing minimum expenditure in their manufacture, and are printed in large quantities over longer periods.

The three sets of definitive stamps issued in 1949, 1955 and 1957 outlined an official view of India as a cultural, economic and territorial nation. After India's independence, the medium of postage stamps was initially used to highlight the country's rich historic and cultural heritage mostly Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Sikh and Jain temples, sculptures, monuments and fortresses through Archeological Stamps (1949). Subsequently in 2nd Series of Definitive Stamps (1955), achievements in science and technology as well as its socio-economic Development by depicting themes like the Five Year Plans, Steel Plants, Dams etc are shown. In the 3rd series of Definitive Stamps (1957), India's territorial boundaries are shown through Map Series. 'The Map of India Series' carries the same image of the map of India in various shades with an attractive arabesque pattern down the left-hand-side. The map highlights the main river systems and mountain ranges and does not include internal boundaries.

In subsequent Series of Definitive Stamps, India's rich cultural and natural heritage and various Development Projects came to be showcased along with great builders of nation.