The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that it will soon issue new Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes.
These notes will feature the signature of the new governor, Sanjay Malhotra, and will have a design similar to the existing Mahatma Gandhi (New) series.
All previously issued Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes will remain legal tender and will not be withdrawn from circulation.
Leadership Transition at RBI
Sanjay Malhotra assumed the position of RBI Governor in December 2024, succeeding Shaktikanta Das. Das had earlier received an extension during his tenure.
Malhotra, a 1990 batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, has been appointed for a term of three years.
New Rs 50 Notes and Enhanced Security Features
In addition to the Rs 100 and Rs 200 notes, RBI has also announced the release of new Rs 50 notes.
These notes will also bear the signature of Governor Sanjay Malhotra and will feature Mahatma Gandhi’s image from the new series.
The new Rs 50 notes will include advanced security features to make them harder to counterfeit, helping to curb the circulation of fake currency in the country.
Reason for Changing the Notes
RBI is enhancing the security features of currency notes to combat counterfeiting. This process began with the upgraded Rs 500 notes
and is now extending to smaller denominations like Rs 50, Rs 100, and Rs 200.
The inclusion of updated security elements, along with the signature of the new governor, is aimed at ensuring better protection against counterfeit currency.
The Mahatma Gandhi (New) series design is particularly difficult to replicate, adding an extra layer of security.
