RBI refuses to share details on clean India mission logo on new currency notes

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)has refused to share details of a decision to put the logo ofPrime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project 'clean India mission' on the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes, citing security concerns among other reasons.

Replying to an RTI query, the central bank also did notgive a copy of the guidelines on printing of advertisement including promotion of central government-run initiatives on the notes.

"The information on form, material, design and security features of bank notes, other than available in public domain,is exempt from disclosure in terms of Section 8 (1) (a) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005," the RBI said inresponse to the RTI application filed by a PTI correspondent.

The Section bars "information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India,the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests ofthe state, relation with foreign State or lead to incitementof an offence".

The central bank was asked to give a copy of the order,communication, letter or note sheet in which a decision regarding printing of Swachh Bharat or clean India mission'sv logo (spectacle frame) and message of 'Ek Kadam Swachhata Ki Aur' (a step towards cleanliness) on Rs 500 and Rs 2,000currency notes was taken.

To a question on providing the copy of guidelines or anyother norms that prescribe standard operating procedures forprinting of advertisement including the promotion on thecurrency notes, the RBI did not give a direct reply. "Indian bank notes contain design elements such as guilloche, flora pattern, motifs and security features," the central bank said.

The RTI query was filed with the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) that deals with the policy formulation inrespect of currency, coins and security documents, and planning, coordination issues related to printing and minting currencies and coins under the Finance Ministry.

The DEA had forwarded the application to the RBI for theresponse. As per Section 25 of the RBI Act, 1934, the design, form and material of bank notes shall be such as may be approved bythe central government after consideration of there commendations made by central board of the Reserve Bank ofIndia.

Modi had on October 2, 2014 launched the clean India mission to make the country open defecation free anderadication of manual scavenging among other cleanliness related goals.