The story of Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait on Indian banknotes

Subject: Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

The origins of Gandhi’s image on Indian currency:

The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on Indian banknotes is not a caricature but a cut-out from a 1946 photograph with British politician Lord Frederick William Pethick-Lawrence.
The photo was chosen for Gandhi’s suitable smiling expression.
The photographer and the person who selected the photo remain unidentified.
The Reserve Bank of India’s Department of Currency Management is responsible for designing rupee notes, with approval required from the central bank and the Union government.
Gandhi’s image first appeared on Indian currency in 1969 for his 100th birth anniversary, and a series of Rs 500 notes featuring him was introduced in 1987.

What was the banknotes for independent India

After India gained independence in 1947, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initially continued issuing notes featuring King George VI.
However, the government introduced a new design for the 1-rupee note in 1949, replacing King George with the Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath in the watermark window.
In 1950, the first Republic of India banknotes were issued in denominations of Rs 2, 5, 10, and 100, all featuring the Lion Capital watermark.
Over the years, higher denomination notes featured motifs representing different aspects of India’s culture and development.
In the 1990s, the RBI replaced the older currency notes due to concerns about counterfeiting using modern reprographic techniques. Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait was chosen for its national significance.
The ‘Mahatma Gandhi Series’ was launched in 1996 with improved security features.
In 2016, the ‘Mahatma Gandhi New Series’ of banknotes was introduced, featuring Gandhi’s portrait and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan logo on the back, along with enhanced security features.

What are the latest demand to include others on banknotes:

Various suggestions have been made to feature different personalities on Indian currency notes besides Mahatma Gandhi. These suggestions include Lord Ganesha and goddess Lakshmi, Rabindranath Tagore, and APJ Abdul Kalam.
However, the RBI, backed by the Finance Minister and former RBI governor, has upheld Gandhi’s representation of India’s ethos on the currency notes, considering other options potentially controversial.