RBI banknotes since 1935 exhibited in Ahmedabad

Beneath each specimen note,there are details including those mentioning the incidents leading up to the changes in their design.

The first change in the design took place in 1944 when fake notes were reportedly circulated to weaken the economy. At this time,a security mark was introduced and a floating boat picture was printed on the backside of the note.

An RBI official said: “The main aim of this exhibition is to create public awareness about the notes and their evolution in the last 75 years. The time to time changes in the design of notes,including the last one in the year 2005,has been done to avoid forgery,” he added.

Rare notes,like those of Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 denomination have been put up in the exhibition. An official from Mumbai added: “These notes are demonitised,meaning we can print them,but cannot circulate them in the market unless the Union Ministry of Finance decides so.”

The exhibition is being held across India. After Jaipur and Ahmedabad,its next destination will be Nagpur.

An official said: “This exhibition is being held across India. There is a permanent exhibition at Mumbai,but such a thing is new to many other cities. The response has been good. Today is the first day here and the number of people who have come here is encouraging.”