Here’s how to identify a real ₹500 note: RBI’s official features explained

A major counterfeit currency racket was busted on Saturday after Feroke police seized 57 fake ₹500 notes, 30 printed sheets used to produce them, and a printer allegedly involved in the operation. The incident has once again raised concerns about the circulation of fake notes in Kerala.

In the wake of the seizure, many people are asking a crucial question: How do you verify whether a ₹500 note is real or fake?

To help citizens, including the visually impaired, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had listed several security features that make it easy to identify a genuine ₹500 note. Here’s a simple breakdown of these features.

Obverse (front side) features

• See-through register
  When held against light, the numeral ‘500’ becomes visible.
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari
  The number ‘५००’ is printed clearly.
• Central portrait of Mahatma Gandhi
  Gandhi’s portrait is prominently placed in the centre.
• Microlettering for zoom inspection
  Words ‘भारत’ and ‘India’ can be seen in small print on Gandhi’s shawl (visible with magnification).
• Colour-shifting security thread
  A windowed security thread with ‘RBI’ and ‘भारत’ inscribed.
  When the note is tilted, the colour changes from green to blue.
• Governor’s signature & RBI emblem
  The Guarantee Clause, Promise Clause, Governor’s signature and RBI emblem appear to the right of Gandhi’s portrait.
• Watermarks
  A portrait watermark of Mahatma Gandhi and an electrotype ‘500’ watermark become visible when held against light.
• Ascending size number panels
  Numerals at the top-left and bottom-right increase in size.
• Colour-changing ink
  The bottom-right ₹500 value changes from green to blue when tilted.
• Ashoka Pillar emblem

Features designed for visually impaired persons

Some intaglio / raised printing (touch-identifiable) features like

• Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait
• Ashoka Pillar emblem
• Circular identification mark with microtext ‘500’
• Five angular bleed lines on the left and right edges of the note

allow visually impaired people to identify the authenticity of the currency by touch.

Reverse (back side) features

1. Year of printing
2. Swachh Bharat logo
3. Language panel
4. Red Fort motif
5. Denominational numeral in Devanagari.