{"id":3751,"date":"2023-03-03T10:34:12","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T10:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1finance.co.in\/magazine\/?post_type=blog&p=3751"},"modified":"2025-09-12T13:50:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T08:20:39","slug":"the-back-of-your-bank-notes","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/1finance.co.in\/1f-dashboard\/blog\/the-back-of-your-bank-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Back of Your Bank Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you think of an Indian currency note, what image comes to mind? Possibly a portrait of Gandhi, but if you look closer, you\u2019ll notice that each denomination of currency notes currently in circulation bears scenes that depict Indian symbols of heritage, science or culture. While some of these rupee notes came into being decades ago \u2014 like the <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>1, <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>2, and <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>5 notes that were issued in the 1980s \u2014\u00a0others were introduced in 2016, after the country\u2019s monetary reforms came into being. We dug out the stories behind the visuals on the back of these bank notes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b91 Note: The Sagar Samrat Oil Rig<\/h2>\n

This old <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>1 note has an image of the Sagar Samrat oil rig. A symbol of India\u2019s prowess in oil production, the Sagar Samrat oil rig is a former jack-up drilling rig that drilled Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s\u00a0first offshore oil well, off the coast of Mumbai, in 1974, and then went on to drill around 125 wells in the country. It now continues to contribute to India\u2019s quest for energy self-sufficiency as a Mobile Offshore Production Unit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b92 Note: India\u2019s First Satellite<\/h2>\n

The <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>2 note features India\u2019s first satellite, Aryabhata, which was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation and launched in 1975 by a Soviet rocket. The satellite suffered a power failure only days after its launch, but remains an iconic reminder of India\u2019s first foray into space exploration.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b95 Note: Green Revolution<\/h2>\n

The <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>5 note pays tribute to India\u2019s agrarian economy. It shows a farmer on a tractor, ploughing a field \u2014 a reference to the farm mechanisation that took place during the Green Revolution of the 1960s. While the <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>5 note (as well as the <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>2 note) is no longer printed, they are still considered legal tender \u2014 as are the <\/span>\u20b91 notes, which are issued from time to time<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b910 Note: Konark, Odisha<\/h2>\n

The <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>10 note from the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, i.e. the most recent series of banknotes issued by the RBI after the monetary reforms in November 2016, carries an image of a stone wheel from the Sun Temple at Konark, Odisha. The 13th-century stone temple is meant to represent the chariot of Surya \u2014 the Sun God. It is drawn by seven horses and moves on 24 carved wheels.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b920 Note: Ellora Caves, Maharashtra<\/h2>\n

These notes from the same series as the <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>10 note depict the Ellora Caves in Maharashtra. The cave complex contains colossal stone-carved Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monasteries and temples \u2014 the earliest of which date back to the 5th century CE.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b950 Note: Hampi, Karnataka<\/h2>\n

The newest <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>50 notes have an image of one of Hampi\u2019s most sought-after attractions: The stone chariot at the Vittala Temple. The ancient town of Hampi in Karnataka, with its stone temples and structures, was once an immensely wealthy city and the capital of the Vijayanagara empire that existed from the 14th to 16th century CE.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b9100 Note: Rani ki Vav, Gujarat<\/h2>\n

This note features Rani ki Vav, an ancient stepwell \u2014\u00a0located in Patan, Gujarat \u2014\u00a0which was built in the 11th century CE to resemble an inverted temple. The stepwell, with its ornate carvings and intricate details, is a reminder of India\u2019s deep-rooted architectural and craft heritage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b9200 Note: Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh<\/h2>\n

The note features the Sanchi Stupa, a massive, hemispherical Buddhist monument located in Madhya Pradesh. The stupa was built by Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, following his conquest of Kalinga and his adoption of Buddhism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b9500 Note: Red Fort, Delhi<\/h2>\n

The <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>500 note depicts the Red Fort in Old Delhi. The fort was commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan when he decided to shift the empire\u2019s capital from Agra to Delhi, and completed in 1648. The Red Fort continues to be a symbol of the national capital and the seat of power.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u20b92,000 Note: India\u2019s Mars Orbiter Mission<\/h2>\n

This rupee note is similar in theme to the <\/span>\u20b9<\/span>2 note in that it has an image of India\u2019s first foray into interplanetary space exploration and its only Mars Orbiter Mission, known as Mangalyaan. Mangalyaan was launched in 2013 and was put into Mars\u2019 orbit the next year \u2014 following a 300-day journey \u2014 where it remained for around eight years, even though it was initially designed for a six-month life span.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your financial plan should reflect your financial personality, not just generic advice. Talk to our Qualified Financial Advisor<\/a> to create a strategy tailored to your needs and future goals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you think of an Indian currency note, what image comes to mind? Possibly a portrait of Gandhi, but if you look closer, you\u2019ll notice that each denomination of currency notes currently in circulation bears scenes that depict Indian symbols of heritage, science or culture. While some of these rupee notes came into being decades […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2097,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_updated_date":""},"blog-category":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Back of Your Bank Notes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Uncover the stories behind the images on Indian currency. 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