2 Rupees

The proliferation of signature and plate letter combinations on this single denomination is unusual even by RBI standards — P#79 encompasses at least fifteen distinct collectible varieties spanning over two decades and eight governors. The transition from I. G. Patel issues without watermark to those with watermark, and the later addition of text below the Ashoka Column, reflect successive security and printing upgrades rather than new note designs. Patel served as RBI Governor from 1977 to 1982, which brackets those early varieties fairly tightly.

The "without plate letter / Malhotra with text" variant alongside the "Plate letter A / Malhotra with text" variety suggests a mid-run plate introduction during R. N. Malhotra's tenure — a transitional printing detail that makes his governorship the most variant-rich of the series.