The dollar, the Euro, the Yen--all have currency symbols that are easy to recognize. Now the Indian currency--the rupee--is getting a facelift with its own very distinct new symbol. The Indian government approved a new symbol for the Indian rupee on Thursday. This new symbol is an amalgam of a local script and the roman letter 'R,' two parallel lines running at the top. It's meant to represent a blend of Indian culture and modernity. [Ambika Soni, Minister for Information and Broadcasting]: "...This symbol will be used by all individual entities within and outside India after its incorporation in Unicode standard." The symbol was selected from 3,000 designs sent in from across the country. [Ambika Soni, Minister for Information and Broadcasting]: "The symbol will standardize the expression for the Indian rupee in different languages both within and outside the country. It would better distinguish the Indian currency from those countries whose currencies are also designated as either rupees or rupiyah." The Indian rupee will now join the league of countries to have a distinct currency of their own like the US dollar ($), British Pound sterling (£), Euro (€) and Japanese yen (¥). The new symbol will appear on currency coins and bills, and will also soon be featured on computer keyboards and software. It's expected to be adopted across the country within six months, and between 18 and 24 months globally.
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