RBI introduces new currency features in Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday said it will shortly put into circulation banknotes in the denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 incorporating three new/revised features.

The features will include ascending size of numerals in the number panels, bleed lines and enlarged identification mark, it said.

The RBI had recently put into circulation R500 banknotes with numerals in ascending size in number panels, but without bleed lines and enlarged identification mark. It has now added two more features to aid the visually impaired in easy identification of banknotes, apart from securing them against counterfeiting.

“The current banknotes will be without inset letter in the number panels. The notes will bear signature of Raghuram G Rajan, Governor. The year of printing (2015) appears on the reverse. Except for these features, the overall design of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes have been retained,” the central bank said.

The apex bank said the numerals in both the numbering panels of banknotes will be in ascending size from left to right, while the first three alpha-numeric characters will remain constant in size.

The banknotes of Rs 500 denomination will have five angular bleed lines in three sets of 2-1-2 lines on the obverse in both, the upper left and the right hand edge of the banknote.

Similarly, Rs 1,000 banknotes will have six angular bleed lines in four sets of 1-2-2-1 lines on the obverse in both, the upper left and right hand edge of the banknotes. These will facilitate identification of these notes by visually impaired persons, RBI said in the press release.

The existing identification mark (circular-shape in Rs 500 and diamond in Rs 1,000) near the left edge of the banknote has been enlarged.

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/banking-finance/rbi-introduces-new-features-in-rs-500-rs-1000-notes/139894/