Security Features of Indian Currency Notes

Currency Notes, also known as Banknotes, are defined as a negotiable promissory note issued by the government of the country which is payable to the bearer on demand.

There are many security features included in the genuine Currency Notes to prevent it from counterfeiting and to differentiate it from the fake currency if counterfeited. Also, there are many new features added in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series.

There are comparatively less features in the currency notes of below ₹50 denomination value but major features are incorporated in the high denomination currency notes such as ₹2000, ₹500, ₹200 and ₹100.

    

₹ 2000 Denomination Currency Note

   

₹ 500 Denomination Currency Note

   

₹ 200 Denomination Currency Note

   

₹ 100 Denomination Currency Note

The Currency Notes bear the signatures of the Governor of the RBI along with the guarantee clause.

General Security Features present on major Currency Notes

Security Features that have been used to avoid counterfeiting on both obverse and reverse side are:

1. Dimensions:  The dimensions are different from different currency notes.

• • ₹2000 Currency Note- 66mm*166mm
  • ₹500 Currency Note- 66mm*150mm
  • ₹200 Currency Note- 66mm*146mm
  • ₹100 Currency Note- 66mm*142mm

2. Colour: The color of various currency notes are:

• • ₹2000 Currency Note- Magenta
  • ₹500 Currency Note- Stone Grey
  • ₹200- Currency Note- Bright Yellow
  • ₹100 Currency Note- Lavender

3. Watermark: They can be examined using a transmitted light source.

The Mahatma Gandhi New Series has 5 watermarks on 2000 denomination currency notes which are:

• • Mahatma Gandhi portrait Watermark.
  • Electrolyte “2000” Watermark on the right side of Mahatma Gandhi Watermark.
  • “RBI” Watermark on the Mahatma Gandhi portrait.
  • “2000” Watermark above the left side number panel.
  • “2K” Watermark above the latent image.

The Mahatma Gandhi New Series of denominations 500, 200, and 100 has 4 watermarks each with their respective denominations and Mahatma Gandhi Portrait except the watermark above the latent image which is present in the 2000 currency note only.

4. Number Panel:  There are 2 Number Panels, one on the top left corner, and another on the bottom right corner of a currency note. It is in ascending order growing from small too big and is UV sensitive.

5. Security Thread: Colour shift windowed security thread with inscriptions “Bharat” in Hindi and “RBI”. The Colour of the thread changes from green to blue when the note is tilted.

6. Latent Image: It is present with the respective denominational numerals at the bottom left corner and on the left of Mahatma Gandhi Portrait and can be seen when held at a 45-degree angle at the eye level.

7. Micro lettering: The size of the text is in micro-magnitudes and can be seen under the microscope or magnifying glass. It is present on the extreme left below the bleed lines and also present in spectacles of Mahatma Gandhi’s Portrait and contains “RBI” on the 2000 denomination currency note.

8. See-through Register:  It is seen when the note is held against the light with the respective denominational numerals.

9. Identification Mark: It is present on the right side of the currency note above the Ashoka Pillar Emblem in raised prints for the visually impaired people.

• • ₹2000 Currency Note- Horizontal Rectangle with ₹2000 in raised prints.
  • ₹500 Currency Note- Circle with ₹500 in raised prints.
  • ₹200- Currency Note- H-mark with ₹200 in raised prints.
  • ₹100 Currency Note- Triangulation Identification Mark with ₹100 in raised prints.

10. UV Features: It has many fibres over the currency note at various places which gives fluorescent appearance when seen under the UV light and also has UV sensitive security thread and number panel.

11. Anti-photocopy Omron Feature: This feature appears blank if the currency note is photocopied and is present above the Mahatma Gandhi Portrait and also above the latent image on the obverse side of currency notes of ₹50 and above.

12. Optical Variable Ink: It is the color-shifting ink present on many major currency notes (of high denomination value).

13. Bleeding Lines: These are the angular bleed lines present on the left and right side in raised prints for visually impaired persons.

• • ₹2000 Currency Note- Seven Angular Bleed lines.
  • ₹500 Currency Note- Five Angular Bleed lines.
  • ₹200- Currency Note- Four Angular Bleed lines with two circles in between the lines on both sides.
  • ₹100 Currency Note- Four Angular Bleed lines.

14. Inset: It is a capital letter that appears beneath the number panel and is allotted to different currency printers to give an indication of various security press.

15. Intaglio Printing: Intaglio or Raised Printing is for the visually impaired which can be felt by touch. This feature is also present on major currency notes (of high denomination value).

16. Background Design:  This design is present on the reverse side of the currency notes and varies on different denominations.

• • ₹2000 Currency Note- Motif of “Mangalyaan” reflecting the country’s first venture in the interplanetary space.
  • ₹500 Currency Note- Motif of “Red Fort” depicting the Indian Heritage site.
  • ₹200- Currency Note- Motif of “Sanchi Stupa” depicting India’s Cultural Heritage.
  • ₹100 Currency Note- Motif of “Rani ki Vav” also depicting the India’s Cultural Heritage.

17. Year of Printing: It is present on the left side of the reverse side of the currency notes.

18. Language Panel: It is present on the left side of the Background Design on the reverse side and consists of fifteen languages.

19. Swachh Bharat logo: It is present with the slogan on the left side of the language panel on the reverse side of the currency note.

References

• www.economictimes.com
• https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-E-stand-for-on-the-%E2%82%B9500-note-and-the-L-on-the-%E2%82%B91000-note#:~:text=Inset%3A,the%20Reserve%20Bank%20of%20India%20.
• https://paisaboltahai.rbi.org.in/
• https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/security-features-of-indian-currency-notes-1531736583-1