document.writeln("

RBI currency index to include Renminbi and Hong Kong dollar
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is making changes in the real effective exchange rate (REER), a trade-weighted index of five currencies adjusted for inflation rates in each country relative to that in India.

The changed index will include two new currencies from Asia — the Renminbi and the Hong Kong dollar.

Speaking at a seminar on Asian Integration at Singapore recently the RBI governor, Y.V. Reddy said that the review reflects an increasing recognition of the Indian economy's rapidly growing integration with Asia.

"The new index is likely to include the US, Eurozone, the UK, Japan, China and Hong Kong," he said without detailing the timeframe for these changes.

At present, the RBI's five-country index covers the country's major trading partners — the US, the UK, Japan, Germany and France.
Back to News Review index page  

New security features on Rs.100 banknotes
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India will soon issue Rs100 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi series with enhanced security features.

The new series 2005 banknotes bearing the signature of the RBI Governor YV Reddy, will be of the same size with no change in the colour/design/images of the banknotes both at the obverse (front) and the reverse (back), the central bank said in a release.

On the front side the security features will consist of security thread, see-through register, electrolyte watermark, omron anti-photocopying feature, intaglio print.

The new series 2005 banknotes in Rs100 denomination will have machine-readable windowed demetalised clear text magnetic 2mm wide security thread with inscriptions 'Bharat' in Hindi and 'RBI' with exclusive colour shift.

The colour of the thread shall shift from green to blue when viewed from different angles. It will fluoresce in yellow on the reverse and the text will fluoresce on the obverse under ultraviolet light and the thread will be visible as a continuous line from behind when held up against light.

The floral design printed both on the front (hollow) and back (filled up) of the Rs100 banknotes in the middle of the vertical band next to the watermark window will have the denominational numeral 100. While half of the numeral is printed on the obverse (front) and half on the reverse (back). Both the printed portions have an accurate back-to-back registration so that the numeral appears as one when viewed against light.

The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, the Reserve Bank seal, guarantee and promise clause, Ashoka Pillar emblem on the left, RBI governor's signature, and identification mark for the visually impaired are printed in intaglio, i.e., in raised prints (felt by touch) and have been made more prominent by raising the depth.

The RBI also said all banknotes in the denomination of Rs100 issued by the Reserve Bank in the past will continue to be legal tender.
Back to News Review index page