The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday clarified that currency notes that come with the Star (*) symbol are identical to any other legal banknote.

The press release comes following discussions on some social media platforms on the validity of banknotes with a Star (*) symbol present on the number panel.

“It is informed that the Star (*) symbol is inserted in the number panel of a banknote that is used as replacement for defectively printed banknotes in a packet of 100 pieces of serially numbered banknotes. A banknote with a Star (*) symbol is identical to any other legal banknote, except that in the number panel a Star (*) is added between the prefix and the serial number. The Star (*) symbol is an identifier that it is a replaced/ reprinted banknote.”

Fresh banknotes issued by the RBI till August 2006 was serially numbered. Each of these banknotes bears a distinctive serial number along with a prefix consisting of numerals and letter/s. The banknotes are issued in packets containing 100 pieces, as reported by The Hindu.

The report further stated that RBI adopted the “STAR series” numbering system for replacement of defectively printed banknote in a packet of 100 pieces of serially numbered banknotes.

(With inputs from The Hindu.)