The RBI has finally chosen a vendor to develop a mobile phone application that will help visually impaired individuals identify banknote denominations. According to official reports, users wouldn’t need an internet connection to use the application. Once the note’s image is captured correctly, an audio notification will be automatically generated to prompt the note’s denominational value. In case there’s a hindrance in the image-capture process, the user will be notified to try once again through another audio message.

Out of the 16 vendors who proposed their designs, top-five were selected. The RBI finally chose Daffodil Software Pvt Ltd to implement this plan. India is home to almost 80 lakh visually impaired people. The RBI had decided to evaluate the feasibility of this application in June 2018. Visually-challenged individuals can use cash for transactions only if they can identify the denomination correctly. Banknotes of denominations Rs. 100 and above contain intaglio printing based elements for easy identification. The proposed mobile application will be able to identify notes of Mahatma Gandhi Series and Mahatma Gandhi (New) series. Users will have to place the note in front of their mobile camera so that the application captures the image. The RBI had invited technology-based companies to place their bids for developing this application. Rs 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 2,000 notes are being circulated currently, along with the Re 1 notes that are issued by the Government of India.

Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons