View source for Indian rupee sign

{{Short description|Indian rupee sign}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox currency sign|mark=₹
|unicode={{unichar|20B9|Indian Rupee Sign|html=}}
|currency = [[Indian Rupee]]
|see also={{unichar|20A8|Rupee sign|nlink= |html= }}<br />([[Sri Lankan rupee|Sri Lanka]], [[Pakistani rupee|Pakistan]] and [[Nepalese rupee|Nepal]])}}

The '''Indian rupee sign''' ('''₹''') is the [[currency symbol]] for the [[Indian rupee]], the official [[currency]] of [[India]]. Designed by [[Udaya Kumar (designer)|Udaya Kumar]], it was presented to the public by the [[Government of India]] on 15 July 2010,<ref name="Final symbol 1">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/biz/india-business/Cabinet-approves-new-rupee-symbol/articleshow/6171234.cms|title =Cabinet approves new rupee symbol|date =15 July 2010|access-date =15 July 2010|work =The Times of India}}</ref> following its selection through an open<ref name="Rupees symbol competition">{{cite news |url=https://www.crowdspring.com/blog/crowdsourcing-government-rupee/|title =Crowdsourcing contest for rupee symbol}}</ref><ref name="Indian rupees symbol competition">{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7925248.stm|title=Indian contest for rupee symbol|publisher=BBC}}</ref> competition among Indian residents.  Before its adoption, the most commonly used symbols for the rupee were '''Rs''', '''Re''' or, in texts in Indian languages, an appropriate abbreviation in the language used.

The design is based on the [[Devanagari script|Devanagari letter]] "र" ([[Devanagari script#Consonants|ra]]) with a double horizontal line at the top. It also resembles the [[Latin alphabet|Latin]] capital letter "R", especially [[R rotunda]] (Ꝛ).

The Unicode character for the Indian rupee sign is {{unichar|20B9|Indian Rupee Sign}}. Other countries that use a rupee, such as [[Sri Lankan rupee|Sri Lanka]], [[Pakistani rupee|Pakistan]] and [[Nepalese rupee|Nepal]], still use the generic {{unichar|20A8|Rupee Sign}} character.

== Origin ==
On 5 March 2009, the Indian government announced a contest to create a sign for the Indian rupee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_eco_affairs/currency_coinage/Comp_Design.pdf |title=Archived copy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531034323/http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_eco_affairs/currency_coinage/Comp_Design.pdf |archive-date=31 May 2013  }} COMPETITION FOR DESIGN</ref><ref name="HT symbol">{{cite news|url =http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=c8097698-a806-4cc2-8c67-668d594057dc&Headline=India+seeks+global+symbol+for+rupee
|title =India seeks global symbol for rupee
|date =6 March 2009
|access-date =7 March 2009
|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> During the [[2010 Union budget of India|2010 Union Budget]], then Union Finance Minister [[Pranab Mukherjee]] said that the proposed sign should reflect and capture the Indian ethos and culture.<ref name="PTI symbol 1">{{cite news
|url =http://sify.com/finance/budget-symbol-for-indian-rupee-news-budget-kc0pkgacdbj.html
|title =Cabinet defers decision on rupee symbol
|date =24 June 2010
|access-date =10 July 2010
|publisher =Sify Finance
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100718101402/http://sify.com/finance/budget-symbol-for-indian-rupee-news-budget-kc0pkgacdbj.html
|archive-date =18 July 2010
|url-status =dead
}}</ref> From around 3,331 responses received, five symbols were shortlisted.<ref name="shortlist symbol">{{cite web
|url =http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_eco_affairs/infrastructure_div/message_symbol_final.asp
|title =List of Five Entries which have been selected for Final
|access-date =15 July 2010
|publisher =Ministry of Finance, Govt of India
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100711053911/http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_eco_affairs/infrastructure_div/message_symbol_final.asp
|archive-date =11 July 2010
|url-status =dead}}</ref> These were the entries from Nondita Correa-Mehrotra, Hitesh Padmashali, Shibin KK, Shahrukh J. Irani, and D. Udaya Kumar<ref>{{cite news
|url =http://business.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/jul/16/slide-show-1-rupee-symbol-design-what-the-other-finalists-say.htm
|title =Rupee: Which of the 5 final designs do you like?
|date =16 June 2010
|access-date =26 July 2010
|publisher =Rediff Business}}</ref><ref name="shortlist symbol"/> and one of them was due to be selected at the [[Union Cabinet|Union Council of Ministers of India]] meeting held on 24 June 2010.<ref name="MC symbol">{{cite news|url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/rupee-to-getsymbol-today_466059.html
|title =Rupee to get a symbol today!
|date =26 February 2010
|access-date =10 July 2010
|publisher=Money Control.com}}</ref> However, the decision was deferred at the request of the Finance Minister,<ref name="PTI symbol 2">{{cite news|url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/740593_Cabinet-defers-decision-on-rupee-symbol
|title =Cabinet defers decision on rupee symbol
|date =24 June 2010
|access-date =10 July 2010
|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> and the final decision was made when they met again on 15 July 2010,<ref name="Final symbol 2">{{cite news
|url =http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/biz/india-business/Cabinet-approves-new-rupee-symbol/articleshow/6171234.cms
|title =Cabinet approves new rupee symbol
|date =15 July 2010
|access-date =15 July 2010
|work =The Times of India}}</ref> when they chose the symbol created by [[Udaya Kumar (designer)|Udaya Kumar]], Associate Professor [[IIT Guwahati]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iitg.ernet.in/design/Faculty.html|title=Department of design/ faculty|website=Iitg.ernet.in}}</ref>

== Design ==
The new sign is a combination of the [[Devanagari]] letter "[[र]]" ("ra") and the [[Latin alphabet|Latin]] capital letter "[[R]]" without its vertical bar (similar to the [[r rotunda]] "Ꝛ"). The parallel lines at the top (with white space between them) are said to make an allusion to the tricolour [[Flag of India|Indian flag]].<ref name="Theworldreporter.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.theworldreporter.com/2010/07/indian-rupee-joins-elite-currency-club.html |title=Indian Rupee Joins Elite Currency Club  |website=Theworldreporter.com |date=17 July 2010 }}</ref> and also depict an equality sign that symbolises the nation's desire to reduce economic disparity.<ref name="iitb.ac.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.idc.iitb.ac.in/events/Indian_Rupee_Symbol.pdf|title=Currency Symbol for Indian Rupee|website=Idc.iitb.ac.in|access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref>

The final selected symbol was designed by [[Udaya Kumar (designer)|D. Udaya Kumar]], a [[Bachelor of Architecture]] and [[visual design]] student at the Industrial Design Centre, [[IIT Bombay]]. The thoughts and philosophy behind the design are explained in this presentation.<ref name="iitb.ac.in"/>

== Approval ==
Ministry of Finance and Department of Economic Affairs of the Government of India had finally approved the sign. The approval was given by Sushil Kumar, Under Secretary of the Government of India in 2010.<ref>{{cite book|title = Approval of Indian Rupee symbol|last = approval by Ministry of finance|url = http://finmin.nic.in/reports/SIR.pdf|access-date = 1 August 2015}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
The Indian rupee sign selection process was challenged in the [[Delhi High Court]],<ref name="HT-CourtCase">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rs-selection-process-challenged-in-High-Cout/Article1-630123.aspx|title='Rs' selection process challenged in High {{sic|nolink=y|Cout|expected=Court}}|last=Nair|first=Harish V|date=23 November 2010|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=25 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124020037/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rs-selection-process-challenged-in-High-Cout/Article1-630123.aspx|archive-date=24 November 2010}}</ref> by petitioner Rakesh Kumar, who was a participant in the competition, described the process as "full of discrepancies" and "flawed", and named the Finance Ministry and the chairman of Indian Rupee Symbol Selection Committee as respondents.<ref name="HT-CourtCase" /> On 26 November 2010, the Delhi High Court single bench dismissed the writ petition, stating there was no justifiable ground for the stated allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.scribd.com/doc/44442322/Rupee-Symbol-Delhi-High-Court |title =W.P.(C) No. 7915 of 2010 & CMs 20440-41/2010 |access-date =28 February 2011 |via =Scribd}}</ref>

However, later The Hon'ble High Court of Delhi, on 30 January 2013, in W.P. (c) 2449/2012 titled ''Rakesh Kumar Singh Vs. Union of India'' (PIL) filed through lawyer Kamal Kumar Pandey, listed before the Division bench of Hon'ble Chief Justice and V. K. Jain J., taking cognizance of and in view of the irregularities and arbitrariness involved in Public Competitions<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824121834/http://www.archive.tehelkahindi.com/indinoo/national/1726.html|title=Tehelka Hindi - चिह्न पर प्रश्नचिह्न|date=24 August 2014|website=web.archive.org}}</ref> for designing Symbols/Logos or designing Logos by other methods of important national bodies/institutions, in their historic judgment<ref>http://delhihighcourt.nic.in/dhcqrydisp_o.asp?pn=19132&yr=2013</ref> directed all the ministries of the Government of India to formulate/prepare guidelines to ensure transparency, wider participation of public and also that such guidelines should be of uniform nature and in uniformity with each others.

On 11 April 2013, Finance Ministry formed the guidelines<ref>http://www.finmin.nic.in/guideline_public_comp_symbols.pdf</ref> for conducting public competitions for design of symbol/logo.

== Usage ==
[[File:Indian two rupees coin with symbol (2011).jpg|thumb|New two-rupee coin with the Rupee sign.]]
Upon the symbol's adoption in July 2010, the Indian government said it would try to adopt the sign within six months in the country and globally within 18 to 24 months.<ref name="Final symbol 2" />

Major banks have also started printing cheques with the new Indian rupee sign, where the traditional ₨ sign was used. The Indian Postal Department also started printing postage stamps with this new Indian rupee sign, when it issued the Commonwealth Games commemorative stamps on 3 October 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiapost.gov.in/netscape/Stamps2010.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=19 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427123033/http://www.indiapost.gov.in/Netscape/Stamps2010.html |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In his budget speech on 28 February 2011, the finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, announced that the sign will be incorporated in future coin issues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=360686&catid=40 |title=Archived copy |access-date=19 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609190607/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=360686&catid=40 |archive-date=9 June 2012  }} Coins with new Rupee symbol soon</ref> Coins of denomination of {{INR}}1, {{INR}}2, {{INR}}5 and {{INR}}10 with the new rupee symbol have been put into circulation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Issue of new series of Coins|url=http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewCurrencyPressRelease.aspx?Id=24773|publisher=RBI|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=This numismatist lays hands on coins with Rupee symbol|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-29/vadodara/29940658_1_coins-nandan-parikh-new-symbol|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107053256/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-29/vadodara/29940658_1_coins-nandan-parikh-new-symbol|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 November 2011|access-date=4 November 2011|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=29 August 2011}}</ref> As of January 2012, the new Indian rupee sign has been incorporated in the currency notes in the denominations of {{INR}}10, {{INR}}100, {{INR}}500 and  {{INR}}1000<ref>{{cite web|title=Issue of ₹10 Banknotes with incorporation of Rupee symbol|url=http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewCurrencyPressRelease.aspx?Id=25121|publisher=RBI|access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Issue of ₹ 500 Banknotes with incorporation of Rupee symbol|url=http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewCurrencyPressRelease.aspx?Id=25448|publisher=RBI|access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Issue of ₹ 1000 Banknotes with incorporation of Rupee symbol|url=http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewCurrencyPressRelease.aspx?Id=25448|publisher=RBI|access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Issue of ₹ 100 Banknotes with incorporation of Rupee symbol|url=http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewCurrencyPressRelease.aspx?Id=25462|publisher=RBI|access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref> and as of 12 April 2012 this was extended to denominations of {{INR}}20 and {{INR}}50.<ref>{{cite news|title=RBI to issue Rs 20 and Rs 50 notes with the new rupee symbol|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-04-12/news/31331166_1_rupee-symbol-unique-symbol-devanagri-ra|access-date=30 April 2012|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=12 April 2012}}</ref>

== Unicode ==
[[File:Indian Rupee symbol.svg|thumb|upright 0.4|Indian rupee symbol in graphic form]]
On 10 August 2010, the [[Unicode Technical Committee]] accepted the proposed code position {{unichar|20B9|Indian Rupee sign|html= }}.<ref name="Unicode proposal">{{cite web|url=http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n3862.pdf|title=Proposal to encode the INDIAN RUPEE SIGN in the UCS|author=Michael Everson|author-link=Michael Everson|date=19 July 2010|access-date=30 July 2010}}</ref> The character has been encoded in the Unicode 6.0, and named distinctly from the existing character {{unichar|20A8|Rupee sign|html=}}, which will continue to be available as the [[generic rupee sign]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U20A0.pdf|title=Unicode Currency Chart|website=Unicode.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/2010/08/26223436/U20B9Rupee-gets-Unicode-ide.html?atype=tp|title=U+20B9: Rupee gets Unicode identity|website=Livemint.com}}</ref>

[[Ubuntu]] became the first [[operating system]] to support the Indian rupee symbol by default in 2010. Since [[Ubuntu version history#1010|its 10.10 version]] it has supported the symbol out-of-the-box,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.kde.org/node/4331|title=The Ubuntu Font, now with added Rupee - blogs.kde.org|website=Blogs.kde.org}}</ref> as it was added to the [[Ubuntu (typeface)|Ubuntu font family]] by a contributor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://font.ubuntu.com/rupee/|title=Ubuntu font|last=Canonical|website=Font.ubuntu.com}}</ref> Since then, it has been included in various [[Linux|GNU/Linux]] distributions. On systems running Ubuntu, most other [[Linux distribution]]s and [[Chrome OS]], the symbol may be typed using {{keypress|Ctrl|Shift|u}}{{nbsp}}{{keypress|2|0|B|9|Space|chain=}} (or simply {{keypress|AltGr|4}} if the 'English (India)' language setting is used).

On 18 May 2011, [[Microsoft]] released an update KB2496898 to [[Windows Vista]], [[Windows Server 2008]], [[Windows 7]] and [[Windows Server 2008 R2]] operating systems to include support for this new Indian rupee symbol.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2496898 |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326000710/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2496898 |archive-date=26 March 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> With the Windows update, it is now possible to use [[alt code]] text entry to obtain the Indian Rupee symbol:   {{key press|Alt}}+{{key press|8}}{{key press|3}}{{key press|7}}{{key press|7}}. On systems running [[Windows 8]] or later, the symbol can be typed using the English (India) keyboard layout with the key combination {{key press|AltGr}}+{{key press|4}}.

[[Apple Inc.]] has added support for the rupee symbol with [[iOS 7]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Agrawal |first1=Rajat |title=iOS 7 brings India specific English keyboard |url=http://www.bgr.in/news/ios-7-brings-india-specific-english-keyboard/ |website=BGR India |date=27 June 2013}}</ref> [[Mac OS X Lion]] (10.7) also includes the new Indian rupee symbol and can be found in the Character Viewer. As of [[Mac OS X Mountain Lion]] (10.8), users using the [[Devanagari]] keyboard can enter the new Indian rupee symbol by typing {{key press|Option}}-{{key press|4}} (a combination that yields the [[Cent (currency)|cent]] symbol on a US keyboard layout).

[[Sailfish OS]] also provides the symbol in its default keyboard.

== Symbol for Paisa ==
[[File:Indian Paisa symbol.svg|thumb|upright 0.5|Proposed symbol for Paisa]]
A symbol for the [[Indian paisa|paisa]] was also designed using the same concept as the symbol for rupee.<ref name="iitb.ac.in" /> However, since paisa coins are no longer minted and, as of 2019 most denominations of the paisa have been demonetised, they are not in circulation. As the RBI had already stopped minting any paisa coins before this proposal, the proposed symbol never appeared on any coins. It does not have a codepoint in Unicode.

==See also==
* [[Currency symbol]]
* [[Rupee#Symbol|Rupee Symbol]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Rupee sign|Indian rupee sign}}
* [http://www.idc.iitb.ac.in/events/Indian_Rupee_Symbol.pdf Udaya Kumar's design proposal for the Indian rupee sign]
* [http://knowindia.gov.in/national-identity-elements/currency-symbol.php Official announcement of the sign]
* [http://drupal.org/project/webrupee WebRupee ₹ Drupal Project]
* [http://rupyainr.com/ rupyaINR, guidance for use of the Indian Rupee Symbol on the web]

{{Indian currency}}
{{Currency symbols}}
{{Rupee}}

[[Category:Currency symbols]]
[[Category:Symbols introduced in 2012]]