The February 16 issue of India Today Magazine has come up with a very interesting cover story. Titled, “Fake Currency: The New Threat”, the cover story has dealt with a very sensitive issue which is as gruesome as a terrorist attack on the Indian soil. The cover story has presented a comprehensive view of the current Indian economy which is flooded with fake Indian currency notes and how every common Indian is affected by it. It has also unfolded the role of Pakistan in corroding India’s monetary system through fake currency injections, which is no less than an economic terrorism.

What is impressive about this cover story is its comparative analysis of the number of seizures in 2006 and 2007 across all Indian states. The figures presented, which clearly indicate a stupendous rise in the in the circulation of fake currency notes, can compel anyone to have sleepless nights. Even the major Indian nationalized banks are not left untouched. The cover story is extremely well-structured in the sense that it also features separate sections for how to identify fake notes, the Indian agencies looking into the problem of fake currency, new security features introduced by the Reserve Bank of India to fight counterfeit notes, and even a quote section that features the opinions of some of the eminent personalities regarding the problem of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN). Till date, no other magazine issue has dealt with this problem in so much of depth.

If you want to read more about the growing circulation of FICN in the Indian economy and its repercussions, you can read the “From the Editor-in-chief” section of the magazine which presents a true picture of this problem and what India should do to curb it.

The February issue of the India Today Magazine is also a must read for many other interesting stories. For instance, the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka in the ongoing battle between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Army is well covered in one of its stories, titled “In the Line of Fire”. Another equally interesting story of this magazine issue is “Do it or be damned”. It presents a survey report on the likability of the present day politicians in the eyes of the young generation. It also captures the degree of political activeness amongst the youth of all major Indian cities. If you are a movie buff, the issue also brings the review of the recently released movie, Dev D. The issue also presents stories on sports, industry, science and technology, and so on.