The Government of India 1 Rupee note occupies an odd constitutional niche: unlike all other Indian paper currency, it is issued by the Ministry of Finance rather than the Reserve Bank of India, and is technically a government promissory instrument rather than a banknote. This distinction has been maintained without interruption since 1917. The signature on the note belongs to the Finance Secretary, not a central bank governor.
The P#78A series ran across more than a decade, with multiple Finance Secretaries signing across the run — a detail that creates distinct sub-varieties worth distinguishing when cataloging.
The Government of India 1 Rupee note occupies an odd constitutional niche: unlike all other Indian paper currency, it is issued by the Ministry of Finance rather than the Reserve Bank of India, and is technically a government promissory instrument rather than a banknote. This distinction has been maintained without interruption since 1917. The signature on the note belongs to the Finance Secretary, not a central bank governor.
The P#78A series ran across more than a decade, with multiple Finance Secretaries signing across the run — a detail that creates distinct sub-varieties worth distinguishing when cataloging.