RBI/2012-13/104

DCM(FNVD) No. G- /16.01.05/ 2012-13 July 2, 2012

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/ 2011-12 dated July 1, 2011
consolidating the instructions issued till June 30, 2011 relating to detection and impounding of
Counterfeit Notes. The Master Circular has been 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,

(B P Vijayendra)  
Chief General Manager
Encls : Master Circular
 
 

Master Circular – Detection and Impounding of Counterfeit Notes - 2012

CONTENTS

Para No Particulars

1 Authority to Impound Counterfeit Notes

2 Stamping and Impounding of Counterfeit Notes

3 Issue of Receipt to the Tenderer

Processing of Counterfeit Notes Detected in Cash Tenders Received

4
by Bank Branch / Treasury -

5 Detection of Counterfeit Notes - Training of Staff

Examination of Banknotes Before Issuing over Counters, Feeding

6
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

Reporting of Data - (I) Bank Branches (II) FNVC of Bank (III)

10
Cooperative Banks & RRBs

11 Preservation of Counterfeit Notes Received from Police Authorities

Annex I

Annex II

Annex III

Annex IV

Annex V

Annex VI

Annex VII

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RESERVE BANK OF INDIA

DEPARTMENT OF CURRENCY MANAGEMENT
MASTER CIRCULAR – 2012-13
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 Stamping and Impounding of Counterfeit Notes

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

COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE IMPOUNDED

BANK / TREASURY/ SUB-TREASURY
BRANCH
SIGNATURE
DATE
Each such impounded note shall be recorded under authentication, in a separate register.

Para 3 Issue of Receipt to the Tenderer

When a banknote tendered at the counter of Issue Office of the Reserve Bank or a bank branch,
or treasury is found to be counterfeit, an acknowledgement receipt in the format (Annex
I) should be issued to the tenderer, after stamping the note as in Paragraph 2 ibid.

3 
 
 
 

The receipt, in running serial numbers, should be in duplicate and should be authenticated by
the cashier as well as by the tenderer. Notice to this effect should be displayed prominently at
the offices / branches for the information of the public. Acknowledgement receipt should be
issued even in cases where the tenderer is unwilling to countersign the receipt.

Para 4 Detection of Counterfeit Notes in Cash Tenders

A counterfeit note detected in the cash received by the bank branch/Treasury, across the
counter shall be impounded in the presence of the tenderer, 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.

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.

4 
 
 
 

In no case, the counterfeit notes should be returned to the tenderer or destroyed by the
bank branches / treasuries.

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 5 Detection of Counterfeit Notes - Training of Staff

It is necessary to ensure that the cash handling staff in bank branches, currency chests, 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 3 years. The
Reserve Bank will also provide faculty support and training materials.

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

5 
 
 
 

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 wilful 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 4 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 bank’s

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 bank’s CVO and report to him / her all
cases of acceptance / issue of counterfeit notes over the counters.

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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 and closely monitoring the detection of Counterfeit Notes at currency chest
branches 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.

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 / treasuries
should be equipped with ultra-violet lamps / other appropriate banknote sorting / detection
equipments. 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.

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Para 10 Reporting of Data

I By Bank Branches

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.

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 (Annex VI) before the end of the succeeding month, by e-mail to the Department of
Currency Management, Reserve Bank of India, Central Office on the following address: -
email . No hard copy need be sent.

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).

8 
 
 
 

Data on an all-India basis should be compiled at the Head Office of the bank on a monthly basis
in Annex VI and furnished to respective regional office of Reserve Bank of India.

Para 11 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 branch 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.

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Annex I
(Paragraph No.3)

Acknowledgement Receipt to be issued to the tenderer of counterfeit notes

Name of the Bank/Treasury/Sub-Treasury

Address of the Bank Branch/Treasury/Sub-Treasury

Serial Number of the Receipt-

Date:

The note(s) described below received from ……………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………
(name and address of the tenderer) is/are counterfeit and has/have therefore been
impounded and stamped accordingly.

Sl.No. of the Note Denomination Parameters on which the Note

Is deemed as counterfeit

Total No. of notes:

(Signature of the tenderer ) (Signature of the counter cashier)

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Annex II
(Paragraph No. 4)

Detection of Counterfeit Notes – Upto 4 pieces in a single transaction –

Consolidated Monthly Reporting for the month of ________

Name of the Bank / District:

Name and Address of the Nodal Officer:

Particulars of the Date of detection Name of the Denomination / Security features

tenderer Branch pieces/serial breached
number

(Authorised Signatory)

11 
 
 
 

Annex- III
(Paragraph No.4)
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 name and
address of the tenderer together with his statement is enclosed.

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 and bring the culprits to book. 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 term of the provisions of the 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.

Details of Counterfeit Note/s

Serial Number of Value
Number pieces
A Denomination
B Name & address of the tenderer
C Name and Address of the branch
D Our Entry No.

Yours faithfully,

Authorized Signatory

12 
 
 
 

Annex IV
(Paragra
ph 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 ADDRESS OF NAME AND TELEPHONE FAX NO. E-mail

BANK FNVC(WITH PIN DESIGNATION OF NO (WITH (WITH Address
CODE) OFFICER-IN- CODE). CODE) of the
CHARGE 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 protected]

13 
 
 
 

Annex-V
(Paragraph 10)
Name of the bank /District

Statement showing the details of counterfeit banknotes detected in the

branch during the month of _______________

A) Denomination-wise Details

Type of Name of Denominations / Serial Number Total Notional

detectio Branch Pieces Value
n
Rs.10 Rs.20 Rs.50 Rs.100 Rs.500 Rs.1000
Non-
FIR

FIR

B) Details of cases filed with police

Pending with Sent to Police Returned by Pending with

Police at the during the the Police the Police at
beginning of month under the end of the
the month report month
(A) (B) (C) (D)
No. of cases
No. of pieces

NB: Each FIR lodged comprises one case. The total number of forged notes covered by
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

14 
 
 
  Annex VI
(Paragraph 10)
BY E-Mail
COUNTERFEIT NOTES DETECTED BY BANKS
(CONSOLIDATED DATA ON AN ALL INDIA BASIS)
Report for the month of ______________________________
Name of the bank ______________________________
Address of the Forged Note Vigilance Cell ______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

E-mail address ______________________________

PART-1; State/Union territory-wise summary of Counterfeit Notes detected by the bank
State/union Territory* TOTAL
Denomination wise number of notes
PIECES
Rs. 10 Rs.20 Rs.50 RS.100 Rs. 500 Rs.1000
1
Banknotes Processed
- - -
through machines
Counterfeit Notes Detected –
Pieces / Serial number
2
3
GRAND TOTAL
* Indicate name of State/Union Territory
PART-2: Details of Cases of FIRs
Pending Sent to Returned Pending
with the police by Police with police
police at during at the end
the the of the
beginning month month (A)
of the + (B) - (C)
month
(A) (B) (C) (D)
Number of cases
Number of notes
NB: Each FIR lodged comprises one case. The total number of
Counterfeit Notes covered by FIRs to be indicated in each of the
columns
Certified that (i) FIRs have been lodged in respect of all notes indicated in
Part -1 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: the Report to be prepared in MS Excel and transmitted by e-mail to [email protected]

15 
 
 
 

Annex-VII
(Paragraph 5)

Designs of bank notes issued by the

Reserve Bank of India since 1967

Year Size Watermark Front Back

I. Rs.10 notes
1967 137x63mm Ashoka Pillar Purple colour. Numeral 10 in the Value of the note in 14
centre. languages. The oval
seascape with country
craft.
1968 -do- -do- Blue-black colour. Promise -do-
clause, guarantee clause and
RBI’s name in Hindi
signature printed in bilingual.
added.
1969 -do- -do- Blue Black colour. ‘Ten Rupees’ Mahatma Gandhi’s
instead of ‘Rupees Ten’. Portrait.
1970 -do- Ashoka Pillar Hindi version of RBI incorporated Bilingual seal
with spinning in place of English and vice versa. incorporated
wheels. Hindi rendering of Guarantee
clause, promise clause and
Governor’s signature have been
interchanged. सत्यमेव जयते
incorporated. Watermark window
and numbering panel enlarged.
1975 -do- -do- Dark brown, umber and blue Pale brown, Ochre
colour. Numeral ‘10’ printed in blue and green colour.
dark brown. Intaglio printing. A circle with two
Languages scroll on left and Peacocks on branch
Ashoka Pillar emblem on right. of a tree. Deer,
horses, bird and lotus.
1992 -do- -do- Overall colour scheme in pale Shalimar garden
pink, magenta and yellow
1996 -do- Portrait of Overall colour scheme in mauve Intricate guilloche and
Mahatma brown, orange and pink. Portrait floral patterns with
Gandhi with of Mahatma Gandhi. Embedded profiles of an
multidirectional security thread containing the elephant, rhinoceros
lines in the words 'ž¸¸£÷¸ RBI’ readable on and tiger’s faces.
watermark both sides when held against Value of note in 15
window. light. Indian languages.

2006 -do- The portrait of Machine readable windowed Year of printing is

Mahatma demetalised clear text magnetic incorporated at the

16 
 
 
 

Year Size Watermark Front Back

Gandhi, the security thread with inscriptions printing stage on the

multidirectional 'Bharat' (in Hindi) and RBI which reverse of the
lines, and an fluoresces in yellow on both sides banknote.
electrotype under UV light. (Generic).
mark showing
Width: 1.4 mm
the
denominational Dual coloured optical fibres.
numeral 10 The small floral design printed
appear in this both on the front (hollow) and
section and back (filled up) of the note in the
these can be middle of the vertical band next to
viewed better the Watermark has an accurate
when the back-to-back registration so that
banknote is the numeral appears as one when
held against seen against the light.
light.
II. Rs.20 notes
1972 147X63mm Ashoka Pillar Saffron colour. Ashoka Pillar Bold lettering in Hindi
emblem on the right and language appears centrally in a
panel on the left side. horizontal panel,
flanked by figures 20
at the corner. Picture
of Parliament House.
On the left value in
Indian languages.
1975 -do- Small Ashoka Red, blue, mauve and pale yellow Dry offset printing.
Pillar with colour. Numerical 20 in dark Red, blue and mauve
chain of mauve on a light yellow lotus colour. Chariot wheel
spinning shaped design. Language scroll of Konark Sun temple
wheels. Resin on the left and Ashoka Pillar at the centre.
treated paper emblem on right. The printing Watermark window in
bleeds off on all sides but not in pale blue is
corners, which are paper white. surrounded by an
Bilingual names, clauses and ornamental design in
signature. perfect register with
corresponding design
on obverse of the
note.
2001 -do- Mahatma The security thread totally The central theme
Gandhi Portrait embedded with the letters depicts the Indian
"Bharat" (in Hindi) and "RBI" The coastal line with
colour is predominantly reddish coconut grooves. The
orange. The Ashoka Pillar has value of the note
been replaced by the Mahatma appears in 15
Gandhi's Portrait in dark red while languages in a vertical
the Ashoka Pillar has been shifted panel in the left hand

17 
 
 
 

Year Size Watermark Front Back

to the left side bottom corner and side.

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.
2006 -do- The portrait of Machine readable windowed Year of printing is
Mahatma demetalised clear text magnetic incorporated at the
Gandhi, the security thread with inscriptions printing stage on the
multidirectional 'Bharat' (in Hindi) and RBI which reverse of the
lines, and an fluoresces in yellow on both sides banknote.
electrotype under UV light (Generic).
mark showing
Width: 1.4 mm
the
denominational Dual coloured optical fibres.
numeral 20 The small floral design printed
appear in this both on the front (hollow) and
section and back (filled up) of the note in the
these can be middle of the vertical band next to
viewed better the Watermark has an accurate
when the back-to-back registration so that
banknote is the numeral appears as one when
held against seen against the light.
light

III. Rs.50 notes

1975 147X73mm Ashoka Pillar Mauve colour with hues of blue Mauve, brown and
with chain of green and purple. Numeral 50 in yellow colours.
wheels. dark brown. Language scroll on Parliament House at
left and Ashoka Pillar emblem on the centre.
right. Printing bleeds off on all Watermark window in
sides except at corners. pale mauve,
surrounded by an
ornamental design,

18 
 
 
 

Year Size Watermark Front Back

which is in perfect
register with
corresponding design
on the obverse.
1981 Do -do- Intaglio-fast blue, yellow red. Dry offset-yellowish
Ashoka Pillar and languages in brown and body in
deep violet colours, rest in deep deep purple colour.
green and brown colours. सत्यमेव Parliament House with
National flag on top
जयते below Ashoka Pillar emblem.

1997 -do- Portrait of Yellow, blue and violet colour. A panoramic view of
Mahatma Ashoka Pillar replaced by India’s Parliament
Gandhi with Mahatma Gandhi Portrait in blue. House with floral
multidirectional Security thread totally embedded patterns above and
lines in the inside the note the letters ‘ž¸¸£÷¸’ filigree patterns on the
window. and 'RBI’. A small black solid sides. The value of
square on the left hand side of the the note in 15 Indian
watermark to help the visually languages.
impaired to identify the
denomination of the note.
2005 -do- The portrait of Machine readable windowed Year of printing is
Mahatma demetalised clear text magnetic incorporated at the
Gandhi, the security thread with inscriptions printing stage on the
multidirectional `Bharat’ (in Hindi) and RBI which reverse of the
lines, and an fluoresces in yellow on both sides banknote.
electrotype mark under U.V.light –width 1.4 mm..
showing the The Intaglio Printing i.e. raised
denominational prints is more prominent in the
numeral 50 name of the Bank in Hindi and
appear in this English, the Reserve Bank Seal,
section and these guarantee and promise clause,
can be viewed Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left,
better when the RBI Governor’s signature. A
banknote is held square in intaglio on the left of the
against light 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

19 
 
 
 

Year Size Watermark Front Back

one when seen against the light.

IV.Rs.100 notes

1967 157X73m Ashoka Pillar Blue colour. Numeral 100 Vertical panel of 14
m appears prominently in centre. Indian languages on
Ashoka Pillar emblem on the left. Hirakud Dam in
right. the background in a
circular frame.

1969 -do- -do- Blue colour and promise clause, Picture of Mahatma
Guarantee clause and Governor's Gandhi in a sitting
signature in bilingual. posture with
Sevagram Ashram in
the background in a
circular frame.
1975 -do- Ashoka Pillar Intaglio deep blue with hues of Intaglio deep blue and
with spinning blue, brown, pink and dark green. brown shade of corn,
wheels. Numeral 100 in dark blue. agricultural
Watermark window light blue. operations, Tea
RBI's name, promise clause, plantation and
Guarantee clause and Governor's hydroelectric power
signature in bilingual. Language project. `Watermark’
scroll on left and Ashoka Pillar window is surrounded
emblem on right. Printing bleeds by an ornamental
off on all sides except at corners. design, which is in
perfect register with
similar design on the
obverse.
1979 -do- -do- One side intaglio blue, red and Dry-offset. Black and
deep green, Tints of reddish and maroon colours. Tint
yellowish green shade. ‘¬¸÷¡¸Ÿ¸½¨¸ design in greenish
¸¡¸÷¸½' below Ashoka Pillar blue and brownish
emblem. shades.

20 
 
 
 

Year Size Watermark Front Back

1996 -do- Portrait of Printed with the combination of Central theme depicts
Mahatma offset and intaglio process. a panoramic view of
Gandhi with overall colour is predominantly the Kanchangunga
multidirectional blue, grey and green. Portrait of range with floral
lines in the Mahatma Gandhi. A windowed patterns above and
watermark security thread partly visible from filigree patterns on the
window. the front but totally embedded sides. The value of
inside. Letters `ž¸¸£÷¸’ and ‘RBI’ note appears in 15
printed on the thread. languages on the left
hand side.
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.

2005 -do- The portrait of Machine-readable windowed Year of printing is

Mahatma demetalised clear text magnetic incorporated at the
Gandhi, the security thread with inscriptions printing stage on the
multidirectional `Bharat’ (in Hindi) and RBI on reverse of the
lines, and an notes of Rs.100 with exclusive banknote.
electrotype colour shift. Colour of the thread
mark showing shall shift from green to blue
the when viewed from different
denominational angles. It will fluoresce in yellow
numeral 100 on the reverse and the text will
appear in this fluoresce on the obverse under
section and U.V.light –width – 2 m.m.
these can be
The Intaglio Printing i.e. raised
viewed better
prints is more prominent in the
when the
name of the Bank in Hindi and
banknote is held
English, the Reserve Bank Seal,
against light.
guarantee and promise clause,
Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left,
RBI Governor’s 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

21 
 
 
 

Year Size Watermark Front Back

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.
V. Rs.500 notes
1987 167X73m Ashoka Pillar Printed by dry offset and intaglio Background showing
m with spinning process. Background colours in rising sun.
wheels. peacock blue, ochre and green. Background colours in
Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, deep green, orange
Ashoka Pillar emblem, Promise and sky blue.
clause & language panel are Mahatma Gandhi
printed in intaglio. Five black leading a group of
horizontal relief lines in intaglio on people.
the left side of the watermark to
help the visually impaired to
identify the denomination of the
note.
1997 -do- Portrait of Printed by offset and intaglio Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma process. Colour scheme is leading a group of
Gandhi with predominantly in yellow, green, people in brown
the mauve and brown. Mahatma colour with floral
multidirectional Gandhi’s portrait is dark brown in patterns appearing
lines in the colour. Mahatma Gandhi's above and filigree
watermark portrait, RBI legend guarantee patterns on each side
window. and promise clauses, Ashoka of this theme. A
Pillar inset and Governor’s vertical panel of 15
signature are in intaglio. A languages appear on
windowed security thread, partly the left. All the above
visible from the front but totally features are in
embedded inside. Letters ž¸¸£÷¸ intaglio.
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.

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Year Size Watermark Front Back

2000 -do- -do- The colours are predominantly The design is the
mild yellow, mauve and brown. same as is on the
Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait is in 1997 series note.
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.

2005 -do- The portrait of Machine-readable windowed Year of printing is

Mahatma demetalised clear text magnetic incorporated at the
Gandhi, the security thread with inscriptions printing stage on the
multidirectional `Bharat’ (in Hindi) and RBI on reverse of the
lines, and an notes of Rs.500 with exclusive banknote.
electrotype colour shift. Colour of the thread
mark showing shall shift from green to blue
the when viewed from different
denominational angles. It will fluoresce in yellow
numeral 500 on the reverse and the text will
appear in this fluoresce on the obverse under
section and U.V.light –width – 3 m.m. The
these can be Intaglio Printing i.e. raised prints
viewed better is more prominent in the name of
when the the Bank in Hindi and English, the
banknote is held Reserve Bank Seal, guarantee
against light. and promise clause, Ashoka Pillar
Emblem on the left, RBI
Governor’s 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.

23 
 
 
 

Year Size Watermark Front Back

VI. Rs.1000/- notes

2000 177X73mm Portrait of Colour is generally pink (light The theme depicts the
Mahatma peach colour with grey offset overall development
Gandhi with background). Mahatma Gandhi’s of the Indian economy
multidirectional portrait is brown in colour. in three-colour
lines in the Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait, intaglio. The 15-
watermark numeral 1000, एक हजार रुपये, RBI language panel is on
window. the left side.
seal, RBI legend, guarantee and
promise clause, Governor’s
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 `ž¸¸£÷¸ 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.
2005 - do - The portrait of Machine-readable windowed Year of printing is
Mahatma demetalised clear text magnetic incorporated at the
Gandhi, the security thread with inscriptions printing stage on the
multidirectional `Bharat’ (in Hindi) and RBI on reverse of the
lines, and an notes of Rs.1000 with exclusive banknote.
electrotype colour shift. Colour of the thread
mark showing shall shift from green to blue
the when viewed from different
denominational angles. It will fluoresce in yellow
numeral 1000 on the reverse and the text will
appear in this fluoresce on the obverse under
section and U.V.light –width – 3 m.m. The
these can be Intaglio Printing i.e. raised prints
viewed better is more prominent in the name of
when the the Bank in Hindi and English, the
banknote is held Reserve Bank Seal, guarantee
against light and promise clause, Ashoka Pillar
Emblem on the left, RBI
Governor’s signature. A diamond

24 
 
 
 

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.

25