Making a case for bar-coded currency notes

Does it make economic sense to switch to bar-coded currency? One multi-disciplinary research group certainly thinks so. The group’s study has made out a case for bar coding of currency to address a host of issues, ranging from fake notes to black money and financial crimes. Though this is not the first research group to have mooted the idea, the group’s suggestion coincides with the Reserve Bank of India’s pilot launch of plastic (polymer) ₹10 notes which have higher durability in select cities some time ago.