RBI proposes mobile app to help visually impaired to identify currency notes

The Reserve Bank of India proposes to come out with a mobile application to aid visually impaired persons in identifying Indian currency notes.

At present, banknotes in the denominations of Rs 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 2,000 are in circulation, besides Re 1 notes issued by the Government of India.

Intaglio printing based identification marks for helping the visually challenged in identification of denomination of banknotes are present in notes of Rs 100 and above.

The RBI has solicited bids from technology firms for developing the mobile application.

"The application should be able to identify denomination of legal tender banknotes of Mahatma Gandhi Series and Mahatma Gandhi (New) series by capturing the image of the notes placed in front of mobile camera or scrolled across it," said the request for proposal issued by the central bank.

Also, the mobile application should be searchable via voice option in all app stores, it said.

"The mobile application should be able to identify ..