The effigy of George VI in the notes just prior to indepenndence was replaced by the emblem of the Nation - the Ashokan lion pillar - capital of Sarnath. New notes were issued in 1951, with a completely new design for 100 Rupees, showing elephants. The first issue contained denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 100 Rupees. Later on, in 1953, it was realised that the national language Hindi was not accorded a proper place on the new notes. Consequently, notes with denominations written prominently in Hindi were issued. The Hindi so introduced was grammatically incorrect, and the mistake was correct in the next two years. In 1956 high denomination notes of 1000, 5000 and 10000 Rupees were issued. The 1000 Rupee note had the picture of Rajarajeshwara Temple at Tanjore, while the Gateway of India at Bombay featured on the 5000 Rupee note.

In 1964, new notes of a smaller size were issued. The size of high denominational notes, however, was not changed. These notes had the following depiction:
              2 Rupees           Royal Bengal Tiger
              5 Rupees           Indian Blackbuck
              10 Rupees         A sailing boat (dhow)
              100 Rupees       Hirakund Dam on river Mahanadi, Orissa.

In 1969, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi was celebrated. New notes of a commemorative design showing Gandhi reading a prayer book on back were issued. In 1972, notes of a new denomination of 20 Rupees were introduced. Similarly in 1974, notes of 50 Rupees denomination were issued.

In 1977, the high denominational notes were demonetised. During the 1980s, an entirely new series for all denominations was issued. The new designs show various panels such as:
              1 Rupee           Off-shore oil platform at Bombay High
              2 Rupees          Indian Satellite "Aryabhatta"
              5 Rupees          Tractor tilling the fields
              10 Rupees        Panel showing peacock, the Indian National Bird
              20 Rupees        Sculpture of wheel at Konark Sun Temple
              50 Rupees        The Indian Parliament House, New Delhi
              100 Rupees      Agrarian scene

In 1987, notes of 500 Rupee denomination were issued for the first time, after nearly 75 years. These notes show the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on the face, with the sculpture "Gandhi leads the nation" on the back. The same effigy in obverse was utilised once more in 1996, when new notes of 10, 50 and 100 Rupees were issued. These notes bear the representations of animals, Parliament House and Himalayas on the reverse, respectively. Mention must also be made of a different design of 10 Rupees employed during 1988-1995, which bears the Shalimar Gardens in Srinagar, Kashmir.