RBI /2014-15/87

DCM (FNVD) G- 2 / 16.01.05 / 2014-15 July 1, 2014

The Chairman / Managing Director,
Commercial Banks , Cooperative Banks, RRBs ,
Private Banks, Foreign Banks and
Director of Treasuries of all States

Dear Sir / Madam,


Master Circular Detection and Impounding of Counterfeit Notes

Please refer to the Master Circular DCM (FNVD) No.G-5/16.01.05/ 2013-14 dated July
1, 2013 consolidating the instructions issued till June 30, 2013 relating to Detection and
Impounding of Counterfeit Notes. The Master Circular has since been updated by
incorporating the instructions issued till date and has been placed on the RBI
website www.rbi.org.in.
The Master Circular is a compilation of the instructions contained in the circulars issued
by RBI on the above subject which are operational as on the date of this Circular.
Yours faithfully,

(M.K. Mall)
General Manager (Officer-in-Charge)
Encl: Master Circular

, , , , . . , .1379, -400 001()
:-+91 22 2266 1644; :- +91 22 2266 2442; - :- [email protected]
Department of Currency Management, Central Office, 4
th
Floor, Sir P.M. Road, P.B. No.1379, Mumbai-400 001 ( India)
Phone :- +91 22 2260 3000, 2260 4000 Fax:- +91 22 2266 2442 E mail : [email protected]
,
Master Circular Detection and Impounding of Counterfeit Notes 2014-15

CONTENTS
Para
No
Particulars
1 Authority to Impound Counterfeit Notes
2 Detection of counterfeit notes
3 Impounding of Counterfeit notes
4 Issue of Receipt to tenderer
5 Detection of counterfeit notes Reporting to Police and other bodies
6 Examination of Banknotes Before Issuing over Counters, Feeding ATMs
and Remitting to Issue Offices of RBI
7 Designating Nodal Bank Officer
8 Establishment of Forged Notes Vigilance Cell at Head Office of Bank
9 Provision of Ultra-Violet Lamp and Other Infrastructure
10 Reporting of Data - (I) Bank Branches (II) FNVC of Bank (III) Cooperative
Banks & RRBs
11 Compensation for detection of counterfeit notes
12 Preservation of Counterfeit Notes Received from Police Authorities
13 Detection of Counterfeit Notes - Training of Staff
Annex I
Annex II
Annex III
Annex IV
Annex V
Annex VI
Annex VII










RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF CURRENCY MANAGEMENT
MASTER CIRCULAR 2014-15
Detection and Impounding of Counterfeit Notes
Para 1 Authority to Impound Counterfeit Notes
The Counterfeit Notes can be impounded by-
(i) All branches of Public Sector Banks.
(ii) All branches of Private Sector Banks and Foreign Banks.
(iii) All branches of Co-operative Banks & Regional Rural Banks.
(iv) All Treasuries and Sub-Treasuries.
(v) Issue Offices of Reserve Bank of India.
Para 2 Detection of counterfeit notes
i. Detection of counterfeit notes should be at the back office / currency chest only.
Banknotes when tendered over the counters may be checked for arithmetical accuracy
and other deficiencies like whether there are mutilated notes, and appropriate credit
passed on to the account or value in exchange given.
ii. Thereafter the notes should be passed over to the back office / currency chest, as the
case may be, for detailed verification and authentication through machines
iii. The banknotes categorized as suspect during machine processing should be subjected
to manual verification for checking their authenticity.
iv. In no case, the counterfeit notes should be returned to the tenderer or destroyed
by the bank branches / treasuries. Failure of the banks to impound counterfeit notes
detected at their end will be construed as willful involvement of the bank concerned, in
circulating counterfeit notes and penalty will be imposed for violation of Directive No.
3158/09.39.00 (Policy)/2009-10 dated November 19, 2009 issued by the Reserve Bank.
Para 3 Impounding of counterfeit notes
The notes identified as counterfeit should be kept separately with proper impounding stamp as
per the format (Annex I). Details of each impounded note should be recorded under
authentication in a separate register.


Para 4 Issue of Receipt to Tenderer
For such notes, there will not be any requirement to issue acknowledgement to the tenderer.
Notice to this effect should be displayed prominently at the offices / branches for the information
of the public.
Para 5 Detection of Counterfeit Notes - Reporting to Police and other bodies
A counterfeit note detected in the cash received by the bank /Treasury, shall be impounded, in
the manner detailed in Para 2 above.
Thereafter, the following procedure should be followed while reporting incidence of detection of
counterfeit note to the Police:
For cases of detection of counterfeit notes upto 4 pieces, in a single transaction, a consolidated
report (Annex II) should be sent by the Nodal Bank Officer to the police authorities or the Nodal
Police Station, along with the suspect counterfeit notes, at the end of the month.
For cases of detection of counterfeit notes of 5 or more pieces, in a single transaction, the
counterfeit notes should be forwarded by the Nodal Bank Officer to the local police authorities or
the Nodal Police Station for investigation by filing FIR (Annex III).
A copy of the monthly consolidated report / FIR shall be sent to the Forged Note Vigilance Cell
constituted at the Head Office of the bank (only in the case of banks), and in the case of the
treasury, it should be sent to the Issue Office of the Reserve Bank concerned.
Acknowledgement of the police authorities concerned has to be obtained for note/s forwarded to
them both as consolidated monthly statement and FIR. If the counterfeit notes are sent to the
police by insured post, acknowledgement of receipt thereof by the police should be invariably
obtained and kept on record. A proper follow-up of receipt of acknowledgement from the police
authorities is necessary. In case, any difficulty is faced by the Offices / Branches due to
reluctance of the police to receive monthly consolidate statement / file FIRs, the matter may be
sorted out in consultation with the Nodal Officer of the police authority designated to coordinate
matters relating to investigation of counterfeit banknotes cases. The list of Nodal Police Station
may be obtained from the respective Regional Office of Reserve Bank.
Banks should also monitor the patterns / trends of such detection and suspicious trends /
patterns should be brought to the notice of RBI /Police authorities immediately.
The progress made by banks in detection and reporting of counterfeit notes to Police, RBI, etc.
and problems thereof, should be discussed regularly in the meetings of various State Level
Committees viz. State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC), Standing Committee on Currency
Management (SCCM), State Level Security Committee (SLSC), etc.
The data on detection of counterfeit Indian notes at bank branches & treasuries should be
included in the monthly Returns forwarded to the Reserve Bank Issue Offices as indicated in
para 9 below.
The definition of 'counterfeiting' in the Indian Penal Code covers currency notes issued by a
foreign government authority as well. In case of suspected foreign currency note received for
opinion from the police and government agencies, etc., they should be advised to forward the
case to the Interpol Wing of the CBI, New Delhi after prior consultation with them.
Para 6 Examination of the Banknotes before Issuing over Counters, Feeding ATMs and
Remitting to Issue Offices of the Reserve Bank
The banks should re-align their cash management in such a manner so as to ensure that cash
receipts in the denominations of ` 100 and above are not put into re-circulation without the
notes being machine processed for authenticity. The said instructions shall be applicable to all
bank branches, irrespective of the volume of daily cash receipt. Any non-compliance will be
construed as violation of the Directive No. 3158/09.39.00 (Policy)/2009-10 dated November 19,
2009 issued by the Reserve Bank.
In order to obviate complaints regarding receipt of counterfeit notes through ATMs, and to curb
circulation of counterfeits, it is imperative to put in place adequate safeguards/checks before
loading ATMs with notes. Dispensation of counterfeit notes through the ATMs would be
construed as an attempt to circulate the counterfeit notes by the bank concerned.
Detection of counterfeits in chest remittances is also liable to be construed as willful involvement
of the chest branches concerned in circulating Counterfeit Notes and may attract special
investigation by police authorities, and other action like suspending the operation of the chest
concerned.
Reserve Bank may consider the option of levying higher penal interest/penalties for the amount
of forged notes detected in the chest remittances by RBI or during inspection.
Para 7 Designating Nodal Bank Officer
Each bank should designate Nodal Bank Officer, district-wise and notify the same to the
concerned Regional Office of RBI and Police Authorities. All cases of reporting of counterfeit
note detection as indicated in Para 5 should be through the Nodal Bank Officer. The Nodal Bank
Officer will also serve as the contact point for all counterfeit note detection related activities.
Para 8 Establishment of Forged Notes Vigilance Cell at Head Office of Bank
Each bank shall establish at its Head Office, a Forged Note Vigilance Cell to undertake the
following functions:
i. Dissemination of instructions issued by the Reserve Bank on counterfeit notes to banks
branches. Monitoring the implementation of these instructions. Compilation of data on
detection of counterfeit notes, and its submission to Reserve Bank and FIU-IND as per
extant instructions. Follow-up of cases of counterfeit notes, with police authorities /
designated nodal officer.
ii. Sharing of the information thus compiled with banks CVO and report to him / her al l
cases of acceptance / issue of counterfeit notes over the counters.
iii. Conducting periodic surprise checks at currency chests where shortages/ defective
/counterfeit notes etc. are detected.
iv. Ensuring operation of Note Sorting Machines of appropriate capacity at all the currency
chests / back offices and closely monitoring the detection of Counterfeit Notes and
maintaining the record of the same. Ensuring that only properly sorted and machine
examined banknotes are fed into the ATMs / issued over the counters and to put in place
adequate safeguards, including surprise checks, both during the processing and in
transit of notes.
Forged Note Vigilance Cell shall submit status report on a quarterly basis covering the aforesaid
aspects to the Chief General Manager, Department of Currency Management, Reserve Bank of
India, Central Office, Amar Building, Fourth Floor, Sir P. M. Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001, and to
the Issue office of the Regional office of Reserve Bank under whose jurisdiction the FNV Cell is
functioning, within a fortnight from the conclusion of the quarter under report. The said report
should be sent by mail. No hard copy need be sent.
In order to update the record of the addresses of the Forged Note Vigilance Cells, the bank shall
furnish by e-mail, in the prescribed proforma (Annex IV), the address etc. particulars to the
Reserve Bank every year, as on 1st July.
Para 9 Provision of Ultra-Violet Lamp and Other Infrastructure
With a view to facilitating the detection of counterfeit notes, all bank branches / identified back
offices should be equipped with ultra-violet lamps / other appropriate banknote sorting /
detection machines. In addition, all currency chest branches should be equipped with
verification, processing and sorting machines and should be used to their optimum capacity.
Such machines should conform to the guidelines on 'Note Authentication and Fitness Sorting
Parameters' prescribed by the Reserve Bank in May 2010.
The banks shall maintain a daily record of the notes processed through the Note Sorting
machines, including the number of counterfeits detected.
The banks should also consider providing at least one counting machine (with dual display
facility) for public use at the counter.
Para 10 Reporting of Data to RBI
I By Banks
Data on counterfeit notes detected by all the branches of the bank shall be reported in the
prescribed format, on a monthly Basis A statement (Annex V) - showing the details of
counterfeit notes detected in the bank branches during the month shall be compiled and
forwarded to the Issue Office of Reserve Bank concerned so as to reach them by 7th of the next
month.
Bank branches need not report the data to NCRB.
Under Rule 3 of Prevention of Money Laundering Rules, 2005, Principal Officers of banks are
also required to report information on cash transactions where forged notes have been used as
genuine note to The Director, FIU-IND, Financial Intelligence Unit- India, 6th Floor, Hotel
Samrat, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021, within seven working days.
A nil report may be sent in case no counterfeit has been detected during the month.
II By Forged Note Vigilance Cell of Bank
Forged Note Vigilance Cell set up at the Head Office of the bank (other than Cooperative and
Regional Rural Banks) shall submit a monthly Return reflecting data on banknotes processed
(` 100 and above), counterfeit notes detected by the bank, on an all-India basis in a prescribed
proforma described at Para 11 ,
A "nil" report may be sent in case no counterfeit has been detected during the month.
III By Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks
Data on Counterfeit Notes detected by branches of Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural
Banks should be furnished on monthly basis to the respective Issue Office of Reserve Bank
(Annex V).
Data on an all-India basis should be compiled at the Head Office of the bank on a monthly basis
in the prescribed proforma described at Para 11.
Para 11 Compensation
i. The banks will be compensated by RBI to the extent of 25 % of the notional value of the
counterfeit notes of ` 100 denomination and above, detected and reported to RBI and
Police authorities.
ii. Claims for compensation should be made through the Forged Note Vigilance Cell of the
banks in the prescribed format (Annex VI) on a monthly basis through email within
fifteen days of the succeeding month.
iii. Reimbursement will be done by RBI, Department of Currency Management, to begin
with, on a quarterly basis.
iv. A review of the above system will be conducted after one year.
Para 12 Preservation of Counterfeit Notes Received from Police Authorities
All Counterfeit Notes received back from the police authorities/courts may be carefully
preserved in the safe custody of the bank and a record thereof be maintained by the branch
concerned. Forged Note Vigilance Cell of the bank shall also maintain a branch-wise
consolidated record of such Counterfeit Notes.
These Counterfeit Notes at branches should be subjected to verification on a half-yearly basis
(on 31st March and 30th September) by the Officer-in- Charge of the bank office concerned.
They should be preserved for a period of three years from the date of receipt from the police
authorities.
They may thereafter be sent to the concerned Issue Office of Reserve Bank of India with full
details.
Counterfeit notes, which are the subject matter of litigation in the court of law should be
preserved with the branch concerned for three years after conclusion of the court case.
Para 13 Detection of Counterfeit Notes - Training of Staff
It is necessary to ensure that the cash handling staff in banks and treasuries / sub-treasuries is
fully conversant with the security features of a banknote.
With a view to educating the branch staff on detection of counterfeit notes, the design and
security features of all the banknotes shown in Annex VII have been supplied to all the banks /
treasuries with instructions to display them prominently at the branches for information of the
public. Posters of the 2005-06 series of banknotes have also been supplied to bank branches
for display at the branches. Posters of the 2005-06 series are also available for download in
http://www.paisaboltahai.rbi.org.in.
The Controlling Offices / Training Centers should also organise / conduct training programmes
on the security features of banknotes for members of staff to enable detection of counterfeit
notes at the point of receipt itself. The banks should ensure that all bank personnel handling
cash are trained on features of genuine Indian bank notes within a period of 2 years. The
Reserve Bank will also provide faculty support and training materials.





Annex I
(Paragraph 3)
Each banknote, which, on examination of various security features / parameters, is determined
as a counterfeit one, shall be branded with a stamp "COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE". For this
purpose, a stamp with a uniform size of 5 cm x 5 cm with the following inscription may be used.

COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE IMPOUNDED
BANK / TREASURY/ SUB-TREASURY
BRANCH / CURRENCY CHEST
SIGNATURE
DATE


























Annex II
(Paragraph 5)
Consolidated Monthly Reporting for the month of ________
1. Name of the Bank / District:
2. Name and Address of the Nodal Officer:
3. Detail of counterfeit notes:

Date of
detection
Name of branch /
currency chest
Denominations /
pieces / serial
numbers
Security features
breached



4. The counterfeit notes are enclosed.
5. Kindly acknowledge receipt.


(Authorised signatory)
Encl:




Annex- III
(Paragraph 5)
Name of the Bank:
District:
Name and Address of the Nodal Bank Officer:
Ref. No. Date:

The Sr. Inspector of Police
___________Police Station,

Dear Sir,
Detection of counterfeit note/s Request for investigation
We enclose the following counterfeit notes detected in our office on ________. The details of
the counterfeit notes are furnished below.
2. As the printing and/or circulation of forged Indian Currency Notes is an offence under
Sections 489A to 489E of the Indian Penal Code, we request you to lodge FIR and conduct the
necessary investigation. In case it is decided to file criminal proceedings in the court of law, you
may first arrange to send the notes to any of the Note Printing Presses, Forensic Science
Laboratories etc. in terms of the provisions of Section 292(1) and 292(3) of the Code of Criminal
Procedure) for examination. The expert opinion furnished may be produced in the court as
evidence under Section 292 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The forged notes may please be
returned to us after the completion of the investigation and/or proceedings in the court of law
along with the detailed report of the investigation/decision of the court.
Denominations
/Number of
pieces

Serial Number

Notional Value Name and
Address of the
branch /
currency chest
where detection
took place
Banks Entry No

3. The counterfeit notes are enclosed.
4. Please acknowledge receipt.
Yours faithfully,

Authorized Signatory
Encl:

Annex IV
(Paragraph 8)
FORMAT FOR FURNISHING ADDRESS ETC. PARTICULARS OF FORGED NOTE

VIGILANCE CELL (FNVC) TO RBI



(TO BE FURNISHED BY E-MAIL ON 1ST JULY EVERY
YEAR)

REF: MASTER CIRCULAR DATED JULY1, 2012 ISSUED BY RBI

NAME OF THE
BANK
ADDRESS OF
FNVC(WITH PIN
CODE)
NAME AND
DESIGNATION OF
OFFICER-IN-
CHARGE
TELEPHONE
NO (WITH
CODE).
FAX NO.
(WITH
CODE)
E-mail
Address
of the
FNVC




We note to intimate immediately the changes, if any, in the particulars furnished
above



Name of Authorised Official:

Designation:

Date:



NB:: The completed format should be transmitted by e-mail, in MS-Exel on the
following address-

email




Annex V
(Paragraph 10)
Name of the bank /District:
Statement showing the details of counterfeit banknotes detected in the
_______________ during the month of _______________
A. Details of counterfeit notes detected:
Type of
detection

Name of
branch /
currency
chest
Denomination-wise Details in pieces Total
pieces 10 20 50 100 500 1000
FIR
Non-FIR

B) Details of cases filed with police:
Pending with
Police at the
beginning of
the month

Sent to
Police
during the
month
under
report

Returned by
the Police

Pending with
the Police at
the end of the
month

No. of cases


No. of pieces



NB: Each FIR lodged comprises one case. The total number of forged notes covered by the
FIR may be indicated in each of the columns above.
Forwarded to: -
1. The General Manager/Deputy General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Issue
Department, ____________
(Signature)
Name & Designation of the Authorised Official

Annex VI
(Paragraph 11)
Claim for the month of:
Name of the bank:
Address of the Forged Note Vigilance:
E-mail address:
State/Union territory-wise summary of Counterfeit Notes detected and Reported by the bank:
Name of
State /
UT
Particulars Denominational detail in pieces Total
10 20 50 100 500 1000

Banknotes
Processed
through
machines

Counterfeit Notes
Detected and
Reported

Claim for
compensation @
25% of the
notional value of
counterfeit notes
detected

To be indicated separately for each State / UT
Certified that (i) Consolidated Monthly Reporting /FIRs, as applicable, to Police have been done
in respect of all notes indicated above, and (ii) the related data has been reported to the Issue
Office of Reserve Bank of India concerned.
Name of Head of the FNV Cell _____________
Designation _____________
Date _____________
Forwarded to Department of Currency Management, (FNV Division), Reserve Bank of India,
Mumbai
NB:: claim to be prepared in MS-Exel and transmitted by e-mail within 15 days of
succeeding month.


Annex-VII
(Paragraph 13)

Designs of bank notes issued by the
Reserve Bank of India since 1967

Year Size Watermark Front Back

I. Rs.10 notes
1967 137x63
mm
Ashoka Pillar Purple colour. Numeral 10 in the
centre.
Value of the note in 14
languages. The oval
seascape with country
craft.
1968 -do- -do- Blue-black colour. Promise
clause, guarantee clause and
signature printed in bilingual.
-do-
RBIs name in Hindi
added.
1969 -do- -do- Blue Black colour. Ten Rupees
instead of Rupees Ten.
Mahatma Gandhis
Portrait.
1970 -do- Ashoka Pillar
with spinning
wheels.
Hindi version of RBI incorporated
in place of English and vice versa.
Hindi rendering of Guarantee
clause, promise clause and
Governors signature have been
interchanged.
incorporated. Watermark window
and numbering panel enlarged.
Bilingual seal
incorporated
1975 -do- -do- Dark brown, umber and blue
colour. Numeral 10 printed in
dark brown. Intaglio printing.
Languages scroll on left and
Ashoka Pillar emblem on right.
Pale brown, Ochre
blue and green colour.
A circle with two
Peacocks on branch
of a tree. Deer,
horses, bird and lotus.
1992 -do- -do- Overall colour scheme in pale
pink, magenta and yellow
Shalimar garden
1996 -do- Portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi with
multidirectiona
l lines in the
watermark
window.
Overall colour scheme in mauve
brown, orange and pink. Portrait of
Mahatma Gandhi. Embedded
security thread containing the
words ' RBI readable on both
sides when held against light.
Intricate guilloche and
floral patterns with
profiles of an
elephant, rhinoceros
and tigers faces.
Value of note in 15
Indian languages.

2006 -do- The portrait of
Mahatma
Machine readable windowed
demetalised clear text magnetic
Year of printing is
incorporated at the
Year Size Watermark Front Back

Gandhi, the
multidirectiona
l lines, and an
electrotype
mark showing
the
denominationa
l numeral 10
appear in this
section and
these can be
viewed better
when the
banknote is
held against
light.
security thread with inscriptions
'Bharat' (in Hindi) and RBI which
fluoresces in yellow on both sides
under UV light. (Generic).
Width: 1.4 mm
Dual coloured optical fibres.
The small floral design printed
both on the front (hollow) and
back (filled up) of the note in the
middle of the vertical band next to
the Watermark has an accurate
back-to-back registration so that
the numeral appears as one when
seen against the light.
printing stage on the
reverse of the
banknote.
II. Rs.20 notes
1972 147X63
mm
Ashoka Pillar Saffron colour. Ashoka Pillar
emblem on the right and language
panel on the left side.
Bold lettering in Hindi
appears centrally in a
horizontal panel,
flanked by figures 20
at the corner. Picture
of Parliament House.
On the left value in
Indian languages.
1975 -do- Small Ashoka
Pillar with
chain of
spinning
wheels. Resin
treated paper
Red, blue, mauve and pale yellow
colour. Numerical 20 in dark
mauve on a light yellow lotus
shaped design. Language scroll
on the left and Ashoka Pillar
emblem on right. The printing
bleeds off on all sides but not in
corners, which are paper white.
Bilingual names, clauses and
signature.
Dry offset printing.
Red, blue and mauve
colour. Chariot wheel
of Konark Sun temple
at the centre.
Watermark window in
pale blue is
surrounded by an
ornamental design in
perfect register with
corresponding design
on obverse of the
note.
2001 -do- Mahatma
Gandhi
Portrait
The security thread totally
embedded with the letters "Bharat"
(in Hindi) and "RBI" The colour is
predominantly reddish orange.
The Ashoka Pillar has been
replaced by the Mahatma
Gandhi's Portrait in dark red while
the Ashoka Pillar has been shifted
The central theme
depicts the Indian
coastal line with
coconut grooves. The
value of the note
appears in 15
languages in a vertical
panel in the left hand
Year Size Watermark Front Back

to the left side bottom corner and
the size is smaller. The numeral
20, RBI seal, Mahatma Gandhi's
Portrait, RBI Legend, Guarantee
and Promise clauses, Governor's
Signature and Ashoka Pillar inset
are in intaglio. The words RBI and
the numeral 20 in Micro letters
appear alternatively behind the
Mahatma Gandhi's Portrait. An
identification mark by way of a
small vertical rectangle in raised
form appears on the left side of
the note to facilitate the visually
impaired to identify the
denomination of the note. The
numbers in the number panel are
printed in red.
side.
2006 -do- The portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi, the
multidirectiona
l lines, and an
electrotype
mark showing
the
denominationa
l numeral 20
appear in this
section and
these can be
viewed better
when the
banknote is
held against
light
Machine readable windowed
demetalised clear text magnetic
security thread with inscriptions
'Bharat' (in Hindi) and RBI which
fluoresces in yellow on both sides
under UV light (Generic).
Width: 1.4 mm
Dual coloured optical fibres.
The small floral design printed
both on the front (hollow) and
back (filled up) of the note in the
middle of the vertical band next to
the Watermark has an accurate
back-to-back registration so that
the numeral appears as one when
seen against the light.

Year of printing is
incorporated at the
printing stage on the
reverse of the
banknote.
III. Rs.50 notes


1975 147X73
mm
Ashoka Pillar
with chain of
wheels.
Mauve colour with hues of blue
green and purple. Numeral 50 in
dark brown. Language scroll on
left and Ashoka Pillar emblem on
right. Printing bleeds off on all
sides except at corners.
Mauve, brown and
yellow colours.
Parliament House at
the centre.
Watermark window in
pale mauve,
surrounded by an
ornamental design,
Year Size Watermark Front Back

which is in perfect
register with
corresponding design
on the obverse.
1981 Do -do- Intaglio-fast blue, yellow red.
Ashoka Pillar and languages in
deep violet colours, rest in deep
green and brown colours.
below Ashoka Pillar emblem.
Dry offset-yellowish
brown and body in
deep purple colour.
Parliament House with
National flag on top
1997 -do- Portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi with
multidirectiona
l lines in the
window.
Yellow, blue and violet colour.
Ashoka Pillar replaced by
Mahatma Gandhi Portrait in blue.
Security thread totally embedded
inside the note the letters
and 'RBI. A small black solid
square on the left hand side of the
watermark to help the visually
impaired to identify the
denomination of the note.
A panoramic view of
Indias Parliament
House with floral
patterns above and
filigree patterns on the
sides. The value of
the note in 15 Indian
languages.
2005 -do- The portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi, the
multidirectional
lines, and an
electrotype
mark showing
the
denominationa
l numeral 50
appear in this
section and
these can be
viewed better
when the
banknote is
held against
light
Machine readable windowed
demetalised clear text magnetic
security thread with inscriptions
`Bharat (in Hindi) and RBI which
fluoresces in yellow on both sides
under U.V.light width 1.4 mm..
The Intaglio Printing i.e. raised
prints is more prominent in the
name of the Bank in Hindi and
English, the Reserve Bank Seal,
guarantee and promise clause,
Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left,
RBI Governors signature. A
square in intaglio on the left of the
watermark window with increased
depth of engraving helps the
visually impaired to identify the
denomination. Optical fibres are in
dual colour. The small floral
design printed both on the front
(hollow) and back (filled up) of the
banknote in the middle of the
vertical band next to the
watermark window has an
accurate back-to-back registration
so that the numeral appears as
Year of printing is
incorporated at the
printing stage on the
reverse of the
banknote.
Year Size Watermark Front Back

one when seen against the light.
IV.Rs.100 notes
1967 157X73
mm
Ashoka Pillar Blue colour. Numeral 100
appears prominently in centre.
Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right.
Vertical panel of 14
Indian languages on
left. Hirakud Dam in
the background in a
circular frame.

1969 -do- -do- Blue colour and promise clause,
Guarantee clause and Governor's
signature in bilingual.
Picture of Mahatma
Gandhi in a sitting
posture with
Sevagram Ashram in
the background in a
circular frame.
1975 -do- Ashoka Pillar
with spinning
wheels.
Intaglio deep blue with hues of
blue, brown, pink and dark green.
Numeral 100 in dark blue.
Watermark window light blue.
RBI's name, promise clause,
Guarantee clause and Governor's
signature in bilingual. Language
scroll on left and Ashoka Pillar
emblem on right. Printing bleeds
off on all sides except at corners.
Intaglio deep blue and
brown shade of corn,
agricultural operations,
Tea plantation and
hydroelectric power
project. `Watermark
window is surrounded
by an ornamental
design, which is in
perfect register with
similar design on the
obverse.
1979 -do- -do- One side intaglio blue, red and
deep green, Tints of reddish and
yellowish green shade. '
below Ashoka Pillar emblem.
Dry-offset. Black and
maroon colours. Tint
design in greenish
blue and brownish
shades.
Year Size Watermark Front Back

1996 -do- Portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi with
multidirectiona
l lines in the
watermark
window.
Printed with the combination of
offset and intaglio process.
overall colour is predominantly
blue, grey and green. Portrait of
Mahatma Gandhi. A windowed
security thread partly visible from
the front but totally embedded
inside. Letters ` and RBI
printed on the thread.
A small black solid triangle in
intaglio on left hand side of the
watermark to help the visually
impaired to identify the
denomination of the note.
Central theme depicts
a panoramic view of
the Kanchangunga
range with floral
patterns above and
filigree patterns on the
sides. The value of
note appears in 15
languages on the left
hand side.
2005 -do- The portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi, the
multidirectiona
l lines, and an
electrotype
mark showing
the
denominationa
l numeral 100
appear in this
section and
these can be
viewed better
when the
banknote is
held against
light.
Machine-readable windowed
demetalised clear text magnetic
security thread with inscriptions
`Bharat (in Hindi) and RBI on
notes of Rs.100 with exclusive
colour shift. Colour of the thread
shall shift from green to blue when
viewed from different angles. It
will fluoresce in yellow on the
reverse and the text will fluoresce
on the obverse under U.V.light
width 2 m.m.
The Intaglio Printing i.e. raised
prints is more prominent in the
name of the Bank in Hindi and
English, the Reserve Bank Seal,
guarantee and promise clause,
Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left,
RBI Governors signature. A
triangle in intaglio on the left of the
watermark window with increased
depth of engraving helps the
visually impaired to identify the
denomination. Optical fibres are in
dual colour. The small floral
design printed both on the front
(hollow) and back(filled up) of the
banknote in the middle of the
Year of printing is
incorporated at the
printing stage on the
reverse of the
banknote.
Year Size Watermark Front Back

vertical band next to the
watermark window has an
accurate back to back registration
so that the numeral appears as
one when seen against the light.
V. Rs.500 notes
1987 167X73
mm
Ashoka Pillar
with spinning
wheels.
Printed by dry offset and intaglio
process. Background colours in
peacock blue, ochre and green.
Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi,
Ashoka Pillar emblem, Promise
clause & language panel are
printed in intaglio. Five black
horizontal relief lines in intaglio on
the left side of the watermark to
help the visually impaired to
identify the denomination of the
note.
Background showing
rising sun.
Background colours in
deep green, orange
and sky blue.
Mahatma Gandhi
leading a group of
people.
1997 -do- Portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi with
the
multidirectiona
l lines in the
watermark
window.
Printed by offset and intaglio
process. Colour scheme is
predominantly in yellow, green,
mauve and brown. Mahatma
Gandhis portrait is dark brown in
colour. Mahatma Gandhi's
portrait, RBI legend guarantee and
promise clauses, Ashoka Pillar
inset and Governors signature are
in intaglio. A windowed security
thread, partly visible from the front
but totally embedded inside.
Letters and RBI are printed
on the thread. Green vertical
band behind the Mahatma Gandhi
portrait where latent image of 500
is printed. A small black solid
circle in intaglio on the left hand
side of the watermark to help the
visually impaired to identify the
denomination of the note.
Mahatma Gandhi
leading a group of
people in brown colour
with floral patterns
appearing above and
filigree patterns on
each side of this
theme. A vertical
panel of 15 languages
appear on the left. All
the above features are
in intaglio.
Year Size Watermark Front Back

2000 -do- -do- The colours are predominantly
mild yellow, mauve and brown.
Mahatma Gandhis portrait is in
light brown. Numeral 500 printed
in Optically Variable Ink (OVI) in
Green to Blue colour shift. Except
these changes, other designs are
same as of 1997 series notes.
The design is the
same as is on the
1997 series note.
2005 -do- The portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi, the
multidirectiona
l lines, and an
electrotype
mark showing
the
denominationa
l numeral 500
appear in this
section and
these can be
viewed better
when the
banknote is
held against
light.
Machine-readable windowed
demetalised clear text magnetic
security thread with inscriptions
`Bharat (in Hindi) and RBI on
notes of Rs.500 with exclusive
colour shift. Colour of the thread
shall shift from green to blue when
viewed from different angles. It
will fluoresce in yellow on the
reverse and the text will fluoresce
on the obverse under U.V.light
width 3 m.m. The Intaglio
Printing i.e. raised prints is more
prominent in the name of the Bank
in Hindi and English, the Reserve
Bank Seal, guarantee and
promise clause, Ashoka Pillar
Emblem on the left, RBI
Governors signature. A circle in
intaglio on the left of the
watermark window with increased
depth of engraving helps the
visually impaired to identify the
denomination. Optical fibres are
in dual colour. The small floral
design printed both on the front
(hollow) and back(filled up) of the
banknote in the middle of the
vertical band next to the
watermark window has an
accurate back to back registration
so that the numeral appears as
one when seen against the light.



Year of printing is
incorporated at the
printing stage on the
reverse of the
banknote.
Year Size Watermark Front Back

VI. Rs.1000/- notes
2000 177X73
mm
Portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi with
multidirectional
lines in the
watermark
window.
Colour is generally pink (light
peach colour with grey offset
background). Mahatma Gandhis
portrait is brown in colour.
Mahatma Gandhis portrait,
numeral 1000, ,
RBI seal, RBI legend, guarantee
and promise clause, Governors
signature are in intaglio printing.
Left hand number panel in red
colour and right hand number
panel in blue colour. Numeral
1000 printed in Optically Variable
Ink (OVI) in Green to Blue colour
shift. Optically variable (colour
shifting) windowed security thread
with magnetic property and
containing text ` 1000 RBI'.
Green vertical band behind the
Mahatma Gandhi portrait where
latent image of 1000 is printed. A
small black solid diamond shape
mark in intaglio on the left hand
side of the watermark to help the
visually impaired to identify the
denomination of the note.
The theme depicts the
overall development of
the Indian economy in
three-colour intaglio.
The 15-language
panel is on the left
side.
2005 - do - The portrait of
Mahatma
Gandhi, the
multidirectional
lines, and an
electrotype
mark showing
the
denominationa
l numeral 1000
appear in this
section and
these can be
viewed better
when the
banknote is
held against
light
Machine-readable windowed
demetalised clear text magnetic
security thread with inscriptions
`Bharat (in Hindi) and RBI on
notes of Rs.1000 with exclusive
colour shift. Colour of the thread
shall shift from green to blue when
viewed from different angles. It
will fluoresce in yellow on the
reverse and the text will fluoresce
on the obverse under U.V.light
width 3 m.m. The Intaglio
Printing i.e. raised prints is more
prominent in the name of the Bank
in Hindi and English, the Reserve
Bank Seal, guarantee and
promise clause, Ashoka Pillar
Emblem on the left, RBI
Governors signature. A diamond
Year of printing is
incorporated at the
printing stage on the
reverse of the
banknote.
Year Size Watermark Front Back

in intaglio on the left of the
watermark window with increased
depth of engraving helps the
visually impaired to identify the
denomination. Optical fibres are in
dual colour. The small floral
design printed both on the front
(hollow) and back(filled up) of the
banknote in the middle of the
vertical band next to the
watermark window has an
accurate back to back registration
so that the numeral appears as
one when seen against the light.