Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, Disinvestment Secretary Neeraj Kumar Gupta, Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, and other senior officers of the Ministry of Finance were also present on the occasion.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday inaugurated an exhibition on 'coin and currency of India' which displays the history of evolution of coinage in the country.
The exhibition, at the North Block which houses finance and home ministries, depicts how money has changed in appearance and substance and has evolved from barter to coins to the present day bank notes and e-money.
"The exhibition depicts the many names of money, some of which have gone into oblivion and some are in use even today. The exhibition presents a brief history of the Great Hall (where the exhibition is being organised) as well," a Finance Ministry statement said.
It is for the first time that such an exhibition has been organised in the historic hall which is otherwise used as a common passage to cross from one side of North Block to other, it added. Speaking on the occasion, Jaitley said this exhibition would help in knowing the history of evolution of currency in the country.
He hoped this Great Hall will also be used for multiple purpose in future as well which in turn would help in restoring its old grandeur. Finance Secretary Ratan Watal said that this initiative is part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a Swachh Bharat, as this initiative would also help in keeping our office environment clean.
He said that one of our targets for cleanliness has been this Great Hall of North Block whose top stone was laid on 30th September, 1927.
"This area (the hall) had become no man's land between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance... We have taken it upon as a mission to not only keep this place clean but also restore the memories of its legacy," Watal said.
He said Indian coinage has played a crucial role in documenting political and economic changes over time. Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, Disinvestment Secretary Neeraj Kumar Gupta, Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, and other senior officers of the Ministry of Finance were also present on the occasion.
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