The news market is currently abuzz with concerns about the introduction of plastic banknotes. Meanwhile, the big news is that  the government has approved field trials of polymer banknotes in denominations of 10 and 20 rupees. 100 crore polymer, or plastic, notes of each denomination will be issued. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman provided this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

How will these special polymer notes be made?
While paper notes are printed using cotton and special paper, plastic notes are made from a special synthetic material. The polymer the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is using is technically called biaxially oriented polypropylene (BIPP). It is a strong, transparent plastic sheet approximately 90 microns thick. The note's attractive design, serial number, and advanced security features are printed on this sheet.

Safe and long-lasting for up to 30 years: Regular ₹10 and ₹20 paper notes can easily fade or tear within 1-2 years due to hand-to-hand contact, folding in pockets, or sweat. In contrast, polymer notes are extremely robust and can remain completely safe for approximately 30 years.

PC- Dainik Bhaskar