The RBI Museum, Kolkata

The Reserve Bank of India Museum, located in Kolkata, will immerse us in a one-of-a-kind experience that explains the money, its role in the economy and our role in it, in a fun and interactive way.

RBI Museum

The RBI Museum is the heritage and knowledge centre created by the Reserve Bank of India. The RBI Museum brings knowledge, history, innovation and fun. It takes through a journey of demystifying the world of money, gold, the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Financial System, which can be understood with the help of interactive tools, valuable documents, photographs and artefacts.

Explore how money has evolved over the centuries, how and why gold still holds an important place in our society and also about the genesis of RBI. The Museum also features a 7-feet ‘Yap’ Stone, an interactive exhibit on gold mining, a 12-feet high sculpture and much more. Engage in a hands-on journey through exhibits that are brought to life through interactive displays, games, sculptures and videos.

Story of Money

Starting from the early days when the barter system was the norm to today’s age of digital money, the Story of Money tells how the concept of money as we know it today has evolved. Different commodities such as Yap stone, whale’s tooth, cigarettes and salt used as money can be seen. Some fun things used as money – bullets, boat-shaped money, money in the shape of a tiger’s tongue can also be seen.

Story of Gold

Gold has remained a favourite investment avenue for countries as well as individuals. Why? Experience the journey of gold from ‘Mine to Mine’ in the Story of Gold. How did gold help India in times of its balance of payments crisis in 1991? India’s journey from pledging gold to raise money to becoming a lender to the IMF … and Gold Bonds that mobilised idle domestic gold to Sovereign Gold Bonds that were introduced to wean people away from investing large amounts in gold … the Story of Gold tells all this. Try lifting the gold bar weighing 12.5 kg and weigh yourself in gold!

Genesis of RBI

When and how was the Reserve Bank of India set up in 1934? Whether the animal at the centre of the Reserve Bank’s logo is a lion or a tiger or some other animal? What is the story of the Humble Pie? Read these stories in the story of Genesis of RBI. Also, get a bird’s eye view of the eventful eight decades of the Reserve Bank and see some tools that the Reserve Bank used for its functions.

Quiz

Did you know that the Reserve Bank commenced its operation in 1935 from Kolkata and that the building where The RBI Museum is housed today was its first Central Office? Answer this and such other simple questions after going through the three segments on the ground floor.

Plan a Visit

The RBI Museum is accessible to all. Visitors can just walk-in and if in a group, pre-booking can be done. Visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding national holidays (26^th January, 15^th August and 2^nd October). There is no charge for admission. Photos are permitted but video recordings are not allowed. Visitors can collect a certificate of visit to The RBI Museum at the PDO Press that actually printed the Government of India bonds.

Source: Reserve Bank of India Portal