Indian Currency: Will Mahatma Gandhi be wiped off from the banknotes?
Every country has its currency; in all the undivided Indian currency denominations ranging from 5 to 500 rupees feature the Grandfather of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi’s face. This has also been said with respect to forgeries. On social media, discussions have recently gained ground that Gandhiji’s image would be removed from Indian notes. The Reserve Bank of India put the record straight.
Official Statement by RBI
The problems that brought about the rounds of the rumour on social media have been said to the effect that there is no proposal pending on the part of the government to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s image from Indian notes. Some posts thus claimed that the images of Rabindranath Tagore and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on new notes will be issued, but RBI has denied the existence of these claims. Therefore, at present, there is no proposal for removing Gandhiji’s picture from the notes.
What Occurred to Spread Rumours?
This confusion escalated with a media report that Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), under the Ministry of Finance, undertook to send watermark samples of three great men—Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Kalam, and Rabindranath Tagore—to IIT Delhi professor Dilip Saha, and purportedly asked him to select a set. This selection was assumed to be forwarded to the government via the RBI.
Even if such a technical/research process were underway, this does not mean that Gandhiji’s image would be removed from the notes. Design and security audits are conducted periodically.
Why is there no image on the digital rupee?
The digital currency (e₹) introduced by RBI will not have any image. The reason for this is simple: electronic currency is not paper currency. Hence, any scope for putting any personal image or any physical design does not arise.
History: When did Gandhiji’s visage appear on the notes?
For a pretty long time after independence, Indian currency notes exhibited the Ashoka Pillar or statues of other things. Special notes carrying Gandhiji’s face at the Sevagram Ashram were issued for the first time in 1969 in commemoration of the 100th year of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Then, in 1987, his image came back again with the new ₹500 note.
Over time, the ‘Mahatma Gandhi Series’ and then the ‘New Mahatma Gandhi (MGN) Series’ were put forth, but updated security features and designs maintained Gandhiji’s image.
Conclusion
While there will continue to be different news items circulating on social media at different points in time, the RBI has said quite clearly—without holding—that Mahatma Gandhi’s image is not going to be removed from Indian currency notes, nor will it issue new notes bearing any other great personality.
Hence, there is no reason to panic or be confused. Until the RBI or the government fulfills this, the image will be there on banknotes and continue to signify our combined heritage, freedom movement, and India’s democratic journey.
