Polymer Notes

THE debate on polymer, or plastic, banknotes is not new to India. Yet, with the Reserve Bank of India once again examining the possibility, an old question has acquired fresh relevance in the larger discourse on currency management. The issue is not merely whether banknotes should be made of paper or plastic.

CRYPTOCURRENCY is a broad term for digital or virtual money that uses cryptography (advanced encryption) to secure transactions. Unlike traditional currencies such as the Indian rupee, cryptocurrencies are typically decentralized, meaning they are not controlled by governments or central banks. They operate on a technology called blockchain, which records all transactions on a public ledger shared across a network of computers.