Facts about Indian Currency

  1. The official currency of India is the Indian rupee (INR).
  2. The rupee is denoted by the symbol “₹” and is divided into 100 smaller units called paise.
  3. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is responsible for issuing currency notes and coins in India.
  4. The first rupee coin was introduced in 1540 by Sher Shah Suri, a medieval Indian ruler.
  5. The first paper currency notes were issued by the RBI in 1861, during the British colonial period.
  6. The current series of banknotes in circulation in India is the Mahatma Gandhi New Series, which was introduced in 2016.
  7. The Mahatma Gandhi New Series banknotes have features to aid the visually impaired, including raised printing, tactile identification marks, and large numerals.
  8. India has one of the highest numbers of denominations in the world, with banknotes ranging from ₹1 to ₹2,000.
  9. The word “rupee” comes from the Sanskrit word “rūpyakam,” which means “a silver coin.”
  10. The design and color of each denomination of Indian currency are unique to make it easier to distinguish between them.
  11. The Indian rupee is one of the oldest currencies in the world, with a history dating back to the 6th century BCE when silver coins called “rupyarupa” were used in the Mahajanapada era.
  12. India has one of the largest currency systems in the world, with over 30 billion banknotes and coins in circulation.
  13. The Reserve Bank of India has a museum in Mumbai that houses a collection of rare and historic coins and currency notes from India and around the world.
  14. The RBI prints currency notes in 4 printing presses located in Nashik, Dewas, Mysore, and Salboni.
  15. The ₹10 note is made of plastic polymer, which makes it more durable and long-lasting than paper currency.
  16. The Indian rupee is not only used in India but also in Bhutan and Nepal, where it is accepted as legal tender.
  17. The ₹2000 note is the highest denomination banknote in circulation in India, which was introduced after demonetization in 2016.
  18. Indian currency notes feature a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, who was an important leader of India’s freedom struggle and is widely revered as the father of the nation.
  19. The RBI has introduced new security features in the currency notes, such as the latent image, see-through register, and intaglio printing, to make them more difficult to counterfeit.
  20. The design of Indian currency notes features several symbols of India’s rich cultural heritage, such as the Red Fort, the Konark Sun Temple, and the Sanchi Stupa, among others.