India Reopens Polymer Banknote Debate After More Than a Decade
According to sources, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revived discussions about introducing polymer banknotes and is considering a pilot project for public circulation. The proposal was reportedly discussed at a recently held RBI board meeting. However, the RBI has not publicly announced such a programme, and no reference to polymer banknotes appears in its Annual Report for FY2025-26, released on 29 May 2026, covering the year ending 31 March 2026.
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Qatar Central Bank has issued new 5 and 10 riyal banknotes of the 5th Series with a modified design that includes Western numerals on the bottom left corner of the front of the notes, instead of the Arabic number.
A Case Study in Making AI Work for You
At the Global Currency Forum (GCF), Jura presented their work on creating a next generation banknote design software extended with some AI functions. The presentation included a detailed review of the performance of different AI models set the task of producing an engraved portrait.
A Structural Solution to the Counterfeiting Cycle
Make no mistake; modern-day counterfeiting is as much a threat to banknote security as it’s ever been. The ubiquity and availability of digital technology and now the rise of AI in our daily lives make it easier than ever for counterfeiters ply their trade.
The Reality of Cash Discussed at the Global Currency Forum
Nearly 440 people gathered at a resort hotel in Antalya, Türkiye, at the end of April for the Global Currency Forum (GCF), organised by the International Currency Association (ICA).
AI-Empowered Smart Banknote Printing at CBPM
China Banknote Printing & Minting Corporation’s (CBPM) development approach to banknote production is being driven by intelligent transformation and digital empowerment, both of which are being harnessed to strengthen technical innovation and propel growth.
De La Rue Advances Innovation with OPTILIGHT™
OPTILIGHT™ is De La Rue’s next-generation optical security platform for banknotes. It combines nano-science, advanced optical engineering, and proprietary algorithms to deliver intuitive visual effects for public authentication.
nanoDOVID®: Shaping Light into Security
IQ Structures (IQS) has launched nanoDOVID®, describing it as a breakthrough in optical security technology that offers a fundamentally new approach to protecting banknotes and identity documents.
Anima Colour — Inspired by Gemstones
Oberthur Fiduciaire unveiled two major additions to its Anima™ micro-optics platform – Anima™ Sign and Anima™ Colour – at the recent Global Currency Forum. Both innovations highlighted advances in machine readability and colour versatility, two increasingly important elements in next-generation banknote security, in addition to the integration of all the effects already available in Anima™.
Royal Dutch Kusters Engineering – Where Banknote Destruction Meets Sustainability
One of the main most visual environmental impacts of banknotes is not in their production but their destruction – with incineration and landfill still being all-too-frequent methods of removal. In last month’s Currency News™, we reported on the results of the 2025 Banknote Recycling Study, the latest biennial survey from Royal Dutch Kusters Engineering (Kusters), which explored how central banks are handling the disposal of unfit notes in particular, and progress made (or not) since the previous survey of 2023.
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