As reported by the Reserve Bank of India, this has been an important communication about the new ₹500 denominations that have raised concerns about the considerable increase in counterfeit money. With the number of cases on the rise, many have started getting fearful of how to differentiate between the original notes and the fake ones.
In this regard, the RBI has provided a set of updated guidelines for detection to enable citizens to identify easy and authentic ₹500 notes.
RBI’s Warning Against Fake Currency: Why it Matters
According to the reports, banks have discovered fake notes totaling ₹5.45 crore in the last few months. In addition, 96% of the counterfeit currency has been found by officials in banks. Such alarming trends have forced the RBI to take strict actions and also educate the public concerning how to identify that a ₹500 currency note is fake.
How to Verify an Authentic ₹500 Note – Main Security Features
Ensure you are handling a real ₹500 note with the following critical security features:
- See-Through Register: Hold the note against light, and you’ll notice a clear ₹500 denomination printed on the strip.
- Mahatma Gandhi Portrait: Blurry or faded prints indicate a fake note. A sharp, finely detailed image of Gandhiji appears in the center.
- Devanagari Inscription: Look for the “₹500” denomination written in Devanagari script beside the English numeral.
- Governor’s Signature & RBI Emblem The new design presents these elements slightly more to the right compared with earlier notes.
- Watermark & Security Thread: Tilt the note, and you shall see Gandhiji’s clear watermark and the silver security thread, which turns green when viewed from different angles.