Know all about history of demonetisation of Indian currency

History of India’s Demonetizes Currency:

The Indian rupee (INR) is the official currency of the Republic of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 paise (singular paisa), though as of 2011 only 50 paise coins are tender. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the India. The Reserve Bank manages currency in India and derives its role in currency management on the basis of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The rupee is named after the silver coin, rupiya, first issued by Sultan Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century and later continued by the Mughal Empire.

In 2010, a new symbol ‘, was officially adopted. It was derived from the combination of the Devanagari consonant “र” (ra) and the Latin capital letter “R” without its vertical bar (similar to the R rotunda). The parallel lines at the top (with white space between them) are said to make an allusion to the tricolour Indian flag,[6] and also depict an equality sign that symbolizes the nation’s desire to reduce economic disparity. The first series of coins with the new rupee symbol started in circulation on 8 July 2011.

In a major step to check undeclared black money, the Government of India on the 8 November 2016 announced demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs1000 banknotes with effect from the same day’s midnight, making these notes invalid. Apart from combating black money, the stated purpose is also to check fake currency (used to finance terrorism) and corruption. A new redesigned series of Rs500 banknote, in addition to a new denomination of Rs 2000 banknote is in circulation since 10 November 2016.The new redesigned series is also expected to be introduced to the banknote denominations of Rs1000, Rs100 and Rs50 in the coming months.

History and background

• The sudden move to demonetize Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes is not new. Rs 1,000 and higher denomination notes were first demonetized in January 1946 and again in 1978.
• The highest denomination note ever printed by the Reserve Bank of India was the Rs 10,000 note in 1938 and again in 1954. But these notes were demonetized in January 1946 and again in January 1978, according to RBI data.

• Rs 1,000 and Rs 10,000 bank notes were in circulation prior to January 1946. Higher denomination banknotes of Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 were reintroduced in 1954 and all of them were demonetized in January 1978.

• The Rs 1,000 note made a comeback in November 2000. Rs 500 note came into circulation in October 1987.
• The move was then justified as attempt to contain the volume of banknotes in circulation due to inflation.

• However, this is the first time that Rs 2,000 currency note is being introduced.
• While announcing currently circulated Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as invalid from midnight 8 Nov, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said new Rs 500 note and a Rs. 2,000 denomination banknote will be introduced from November 10.
• Bank notes in Ashoka Pillar watermark series in Rs 10 denomination were issued between 1967 and 1992, Rs 20 in 1972 and 1975, Rs 50 in 1975 and 1981 and Rs 100 between 1967-1979.
• The banknotes issued during this period contained the symbols representing science and technology, progress and orientation to Indian art forms.
• In the year 1980, the legend Satyameva Jayate — ‘truth alone shall prevail’ — was incorporated under the national emblem for the first time.
• In October 1987, Rs 500 banknote was introduced with the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and Ashoka Pillar watermark. Mahatma Gandhi (MG) series banknotes – 1996 were issued in the denominations of Rs 5, (introduced in November 2001), Rs 10 (June 1996), Rs 20 (August 2001), Rs 50 (March 1997), Rs 100 (June 1996), Rs 500 (October 1997) and Rs 1,000 (November 2000).
• The Mahatma Gandhi Series – 2005 bank notes were issued in the denomination of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and contained some additional/new security features as compared to the 1996 MG series.
• The Rs 50 and Rs 100 banknotes were issued in August 2005, followed by Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations in October 2005 and Rs 10 and Rs 20 in April 2006 and August 2006, respectively.

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