The Symbol for Indian Rupee

The symbol for Indian Rupee

          The symbol has been created to recognise the increasing economic linkages between India and the world. The symbol reflects and captures Indian ethos and culture. It distinguishes the Indian currency from those countries whose currencies are also designated as rupee or rupiah, such as Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

          The symbol was chosen from a public competition announced in March 5, 2009 and after several rounds of selection of those symbols the cabinet finalised 5 symbols. The selection was based on the decision of a jury headed by Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Usha Thorat. The Symbol which finally chosen on 15 July 2010, was the creation of IIT post-graduate D Udaya Kumar.

          This symbol is a blend of ‘Ra’ in Devanagri script and ‘R’ in Roman. Two parallel lines crossing this ‘Ra’ or ‘R’ denote the symbol “is equal to” one Indian rupee. It also denotes the stability of the economy. The parallel lines at the top make allusion to the tricolour Indian flag and also depict equality sign which symbolises the Nation’s desire to reduce economic disparity.

Refer the given composition to answer the following questions:

1. What has been created to recognise the increasing economic linkages between India and the world?

(A) National symbol                        (B) Symbol of peace

(C) Currency symbol                       (D) None of these

2. When was the public competition for Indian currency making announced?

(A) March 5, 2009                          (B) 15 July 2010

(C) March 5, 2011                           (D) 15 July 2009

3. Which of these countries also have rupee as their currency?

(A) America         (B) China              (C) Sri Lanka        (D) Japan

4. How many symbols were finalised by the cabinet?

(A) Four               (B) Five                (C) Two                (D) Three

5. Who was the head of the Jury to select the Indian currency symbol?

(A) Governor of RBI                         (B) Deputy General of RBI

(C) Governor General of RBI          (D) Deputy Governor of RBI

6. Who was the Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India to head the Jury?

(A) Usha Thorat                               (B) D Udaya Kumar

(C) Rahul Gandhi                             (D) C. Rangrajan

7. When was the symbol finally chosen?

(A) March 5, 2009                          (B) July 15, 2010

(C) March 5, 2011                           (D) July 15, 2009

8. Whose symbol was chosen as the symbol of Indian currency?

(A) C. Rangrajan                             (B) Usha Thorat

(C) D Udaya Kumar                       (D) Sonia Gandhi

9. This symbol is equal to _______.

(A) Re.1              (B) Rs.2              (C) Rs.5               (D) Rs.10

10. The parallel lines at the top make allusion to the __________.

(A) reduction of economic disparity

(B) tricolour Indian flag

(C) equality

(D) none of these

Answer keys
(1) (C); (2) (A); (3) (C); (4) (B); (5) (D); (6) (A); (7) (B); (8) (C); (9) (A); (10) (B)