The new symbol for the Indian rupee was officially adopted by the Government of India in 2010. It was designed by which Indian designer or typographer?

Introduction / Context:
The adoption of a unique currency symbol is an important event in the economic identity of any country. In 2010, India introduced a new symbol for the rupee that combined elements of the Devanagari script and the Latin letter R. This question tests whether the learner knows the name of the Indian designer who created this symbol, which now appears on banknotes, keyboards, and digital platforms.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the new Indian rupee symbol adopted around 2010.
• The symbol was chosen through a design competition.
• The options list names of economists and one designer.
• Only one person among the options is actually credited with designing the symbol.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is factual recall of a contemporary economic and design development. The symbol blends the Devanagari letter Ra and the Latin letter R with two horizontal lines representing the tricolour and equality. The design was created by D. Udaya Kumar, then an academic in design. Recognising that the other names in the options are senior economists and central bank officials helps eliminate them and focus on the correct designer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the rupee symbol was selected after a nationwide design competition.Step 2: Remember that the winning entry came from D. Udaya Kumar.Step 3: Note that Y. V. Reddy, C. Rangarajan, and Raghuram Rajan are associated with the Reserve Bank of India and monetary policy, not graphic design.Step 4: Santosh Kumar is not identified in standard references as the rupee symbol designer.Step 5: Conclude that D. Udaya Kumar is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
One simple check is to recall news articles and official releases from 2010 announcing the new symbol. They clearly attribute the design to D. Udaya Kumar. In contrast, the other options are famous primarily for their roles as economists, central bank governors, or policy makers. This mismatch confirms that only D. Udaya Kumar fits the description.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: Santosh Kumar is not credited with this symbol in official announcements.Option B: Y. V. Reddy is a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, not the symbol designer.Option D: C. Rangarajan is an economist and former RBI Governor associated with monetary policy, not graphic design.Option E: Raghuram Rajan, another former RBI Governor, is known for macroeconomic work, not the rupee symbol design.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes assume that currency related developments must always involve central bank heads, which leads to selecting an RBI Governor instead of the actual designer. Another pitfall is not paying attention to the difference between policy roles and creative design roles. For such questions, always identify whether the task described is technical, artistic, or administrative.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is D. Udaya Kumar.