Question Paper, OMR and Exam Form Printing — Confidential Work with Sheet Reconciliation
Examination printing is a security process with a press attached. This page sets out the controls, the packing, the reconciliation and what we require from an institution before accepting the job.
In short
Confidential exam printing starts at a MOQ of 2,000 sets. A 4-page A4 question paper on 70 GSM in sealed tamper-evident packs runs ₹3.40–₹6.00 per set at 5,000, and an OMR answer sheet on 120 GSM with drop-out ink ₹2.80–₹5.20. Every sheet is counted in and counted out.
Reviewed 20 September 2026 · protocols reviewed annually; rates re-checked with the paper tables each August
Examination printing rates
Per set or per sheet as indicated. Sealed packing, serial numbering and reconciliation documentation are inside these figures, not added afterwards.
| Item | 2,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 50,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question paper, 4 pages A470 GSM, sealed in tamper-evident packs of 25 | ₹4.50 – 8 | ₹3.40 – 6 | ₹2.80 – 5 | ₹2.10 – 3.80 |
| Question booklet, 8 pagesStapled, serial numbered, sealed packs | ₹9 – 16 | ₹7 – 12 | ₹5.80 – 10 | ₹4.40 – 7.60 |
| Question booklet, 16 pagesSaddle-stitched, serial numbered, sealed packs | ₹16 – 28 | ₹12.50 – 21 | ₹10.50 – 18 | ₹8 – 13.50 |
| OMR answer sheet120 GSM maplitho, drop-out ink, both sides | ₹3.80 – 7 | ₹2.80 – 5.20 | ₹2.20 – 4.20 | ₹1.60 – 3.10 |
| Hall ticket / exam form100 GSM, variable numbering | ₹2.60 – 4.80 | ₹1.90 – 3.50 | ₹1.50 – 2.80 | ₹1.10 – 2.10 |
| Answer booklet, 16 pages60 GSM maplitho, centre-pinned, serial numbered | ₹9.50 – 17 | ₹7.50 – 13 | ₹6.20 – 11 | ₹4.80 – 8.50 |
The controls, stated plainly
On the press floor
- A controlled room with restricted access for the duration of the run, and a named person accountable for it
- Paper counted in, good copies counted out, waste and make-ready sheets counted and reconciled to the difference
- Supervised destruction of all waste, spoilage and make-ready sheets, with a destruction certificate
- Plates destroyed after the run and logged; no standing plates held for exam work under any circumstances
- No proofs, PDFs or files retained after delivery; artwork deleted from prepress and the deletion confirmed in writing
- Client representative permitted on the floor for the whole run if the institution wants one, and many should
Packing and dispatch
- Sealed tamper-evident packs in the count you specify — usually 25 or 50 sets per pack
- Serial numbering on every set where the examination requires it, with the range recorded per pack
- Outer cartons sealed with numbered security tape and marked with centre code and count
- Dispatch against a named recipient with an acknowledgement returned, not left with a gate
- Delivery scheduled to arrive on a date you nominate rather than as early as transport allows
- A reconciliation statement supplied with the consignment: sheets in, sets out, waste destroyed
What OMR printing actually requires
An OMR sheet is a printing job with a measurement tolerance, which makes it unlike almost everything else on this site. The scanner reads mark positions against timing marks printed on the edge of the sheet, so the register between the front and the back, and the dimensional stability of the paper, both matter to a degree that no brochure ever demands. A sheet that has stretched slightly because it was printed on humid stock and stacked warm will read misaligned.
Three specifications follow from that. The paper must be a stable 100–120 GSM maplitho, not a coated stock and not a lightweight sheet. The registration marks must be printed in a black the scanner reads, while the instruction and bubble outlines are usually printed in a drop-out colour the scanner ignores — which means the artwork has to separate those two layers properly, and the drop-out colour has to be the one your specific scanner drops out. And the trim has to be accurate, because the scanner measures from the sheet edge.
The practical consequence is that OMR work should always be tested before the full run. Print a few hundred sheets, run them through the actual scanner that will be used, confirm the read, and only then release the balance. Every institution that has had an OMR problem has had it because that step was skipped, and it costs a day.
What we require before accepting confidential work
A written order from the institution on its own letterhead, naming the responsible officer; the security protocol the institution requires, in writing, so that we are working to your standard rather than assuming one; the delivery recipient and date; and agreement that a representative may be present on the floor. We also decline confidential work during the last fortnight before a peak-season deadline elsewhere in the plant, because a controlled room that is competing for attention is not a controlled room. If we cannot run it properly, we will say so rather than take it.
Questions we answer daily
What is the minimum order for question paper printing?
Two thousand sets. Below that, the security setup — controlled room, reconciliation, supervised waste destruction, sealed packing — costs more than the printing, and an institution is better served by a controlled in-house digital run. We will say so rather than quote a figure that is mostly overhead.
How much does OMR sheet printing cost?
An OMR answer sheet on 120 GSM maplitho with drop-out ink printed both sides runs ₹3.80–₹7.00 at 2,000 sheets, ₹2.80–₹5.20 at 5,000 and ₹1.60–₹3.10 at 50,000. Sealed packing and reconciliation documentation are included in those figures rather than added later.
How do you keep question papers confidential?
A controlled room with restricted access and a named accountable person, sheets counted in and out with waste reconciled to the difference, supervised destruction of all spoilage with a certificate, plates destroyed and logged after the run, files deleted with written confirmation, and sealed tamper-evident packing with serial ranges recorded per pack.
Can our representative be present during printing?
Yes, for the whole run, and for a public examination we would encourage it. Tell us in advance so the run is scheduled during hours your representative can attend, and so the controlled room is set up for an observer rather than being opened for one mid-run.
Why does OMR printing need special paper?
The scanner reads mark positions against timing marks and measures from the sheet edge, so paper that stretches or a trim that varies will read misaligned. A stable 100–120 GSM maplitho is required, not a coated stock and not a lightweight sheet. Always run a few hundred sheets through your actual scanner before releasing the balance.
What is drop-out ink?
A colour the scanner is set to ignore, used for bubble outlines and instructions so that only the candidate's mark is read. Which colour drops out depends on the scanner, so the artwork must separate the read layer from the drop-out layer properly and the drop-out colour must be the one your machine ignores. Confirm it before plating.
Do you keep the files after delivery?
No. Artwork is deleted from prepress after delivery and the deletion is confirmed in writing, plates are destroyed and logged, and no proofs or PDFs are retained. There are no standing plates for exam work under any circumstances, which means a reprint is a fresh job with a fresh security process, as it should be.
How are papers packed and delivered?
Sealed tamper-evident packs of 25 or 50 sets, in outer cartons sealed with numbered security tape and marked with centre code and count, delivered against a named recipient with an acknowledgement returned. Delivery is scheduled to arrive on a date you nominate, with a reconciliation statement supplied alongside the consignment.
Related pages
- Brochure & catalogue printing The commercial print hub
- Book printing in Sivakasi Competitive-exam and coaching material
- School notebook tender supply The other institutional printing contract
- Paper & GSM guide Maplitho grades and dimensional stability
- Printing cost in India 2026 Rates for every product, with the method
- Get a quote Send the specification and your security protocol
Send the spec. Get a per-piece band.
Product, quantity, size and GSM. A person who has stood at the press replies within 1 working day — WhatsApp or email, in Tamil, English or Hindi.