Rupee | Definition, Currency, Denominations, & Facts | Britannica MoneyHousehold FinanceInvestingTradingRetirementCompaniesBiographiesFinance & the EconomyRead MoreTable Of ContentsrupeecurrencyPrintCiteShareLinksWritten and fact-checked byThe Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThe Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.Read MoreTable Of ContentsOpen full sized imageBanknotes of all denominations of the Indian rupee, such as this one-hundred-rupee banknote, have the portrait of Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi.Courtesy of Ron WiseNews • • June 13, 2025, 10:07 AM ET(Reuters)The rupee is the monetary unit of Muslim from the 16th century and the modern monetary unit of India and . The modern unit is divided into 100 paisa in India and Pakistan. The name derives from the Sanskrit rupya (“wrought silver”). The rupee is also the name of the monetary unit used in Mauritius, Nepal, and Seychelles.Open full sized imageOne-hundred-rupee banknote from India (reverse).Courtesy of Ron WiseIn the late 16th century the rulers of the of central and northern India established the silver rupee, which was divided into 16 annas. In 1671 the British minted coins copied from local types, using the rupee as the basic unit of account. The value of the rupee varied from region to region, however, depending on the minter, and not until 1835 was the rupee made uniform by law.After independence in 1947, India retained the rupee and decimalized it in 1955. Pakistan began creating its independent in 1948 and adopted the in 1961. Ceylon (now ) in 1872 adopted a decimal system based on the Indian rupee; it adopted an autonomous monetary system in 1929 and an independent system in 1949.The has the sole authority to issue banknotes and coins in that country. The symbol ₹ represents the Indian rupee. Introduced in 2010, it is a combination of the Latin letter R and the letter र (ra), symbolizing India’s cultural heritage and economic strength.All banknotes feature images of (1869–1948) on the obverse and are issued in denominations of ₹5 to ₹500. Notes in ₹1,000 denominations were withdrawn during India’s 2016 demonetization drive, and ₹2,000 notes have since been withdrawn. Coins are available in denominations of 50 paise and ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, and ₹10. The 25 paise (a quarter of a rupee) was demonetized in 2011, while the 50 paise coin remains in circulation but is rarely used.The State Bank of Pakistan exclusively issues banknotes and coins in Pakistan. Banknotes range from 10 to 5,000 rupees. The obverse of each note contains a picture of , the founder of Pakistan. Coins circulate in values of 1, 2, and 5 rupees, though higher-value commemorative coins are also legal tender.This article was most recently revised and updated by .About Us© 2025 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., The Indian rupee (symbol: ₹; code: INR) is the official currency of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 paise (Hindi plural; singular: paisa). The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India. The Reserve Bank derives this role from powers vested to it by the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934., This currency rates table lets you compare an amount in Indian Rupee to all other currencies..