₹100 crore spent on modernising government presses, says Kerala CM

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the State government has spent ₹100 crore to modernise government presses by adopting advanced technologies, ushering in transformative changes in the printing sector.

He was inaugurating the Kasaragod District Form Store under the Kerala Printing department through an online function on Sunday (February 22, 2026).

“Steps to modernise all government presses would be completed within this year. The government’s policy is not to shut down presses but to strengthen them,” the Chief Minister said, pointing out that Kerala has successfully taken over and efficiently run several public sector institutions put up for sale by the Centre.

During the event, he also inaugurated CTP (Computer-to-Plate) machines at the Government Central Press, Thiruvananthapuram, and the Government Press, Mannanthala.

The function, held at the collectorate mini conference hall, was presided over by Minister for Forest and Wildlife A.K. Saseendran. He said the new form store was proof that Kasaragod district was moving forward in development. Traditional printing processes that once took days could now be completed within 30 minutes using modern technology, he added.

N.A. Nellikkunnu, MLA, attended as the chief guest. Copies of the Kerala Service Rules and service books were handed over to collectorate employees, and applications for gazette notification were also received during the function. Senior officials, local body representatives, trade union members, and leaders of service organisations were present.

The Kasaragod facility is the 13th form store in the State. The form store handles procedures related to gazette notification for changes in name, signature, religion and caste. It also distributes forms, registers and departmental examination materials to government offices.

Services that were earlier available only at the Kannur form store will now be accessible in Kasaragod, reducing the need for long-distance travel. The new store will function on the second floor of the C and D Block at the collectorate.

Meanwhile, the Minister also laid the foundation stone for the new district office building and online examination centre of the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) in Kasaragod. He said Kerala was a national model in conducting transparent and efficient recruitment, adding that no other State ensured such transparency in PSC operations.

M. R. Baiju, chairman, PSC, presided over the function. Rajmohan Unnithan, MP, district panchayat president Sabu Abraham, and other elected representatives and officials attended the ceremony.