Typically, larger denomination notes are more prone to counterfeiting. So here are the key features that is useful to know about the new series the ‘hari patti’ aka ₹500 –
Obverse (front) side –
- The dimensions are 66mm X 150 mm
- The base color of the note is stone gray
- If you hold the note with the image of Mahatma Gandhi facing you, the see through register has the denominational numeral 500 on the lefthand bottom.
- Just below that there is a latent image of the denomination numeral.
- Bharat written in Devnagri and INDIA in English written in micro letters inside a white strip embedded inside Mahatma Gandhi’s attire. I could barely see this even through the iPad’s magnifier.
- ₹500 written in vertical orientation in Devnagri script on the left.
- Windowed security thread that changes color from blue to green when shifted.
- To the right of the security thread is the panel with the Guarantee clause and the governor’s signature (in Hindi and English) and the RBI emblem right below it.
- To the space on the right of this is the watermarks of Mahatma Gandhi’s reverse portrait and electrotype 500.
- Below that on the right and on the top left is the number panel with the numerals in increasing font size.
- Just above the number panel on the bottom right is the denomination ₹500 in numerals in color changing ink (green to blue).
- The Ashoka pillar national emblem is to the right of that.
- For the visually impaired there is 500 in raised print just above the Ashoka emblem.
- There are 5 bleed lines on the left and right margins of the note in raised print.
- Intaglio or raised printing of Mahatma Gandhi portrait and Ashok a pillar emblem.
Reverse side of the note –
- Year of printing of the note on the left
- Swacchh Bharat logo with slogan
- Language panel
- Motif of Red Fort
- Denominational numeral 500 in Devnagri
It turns out that that since 2013-14 to 2022-23 there’s been a 68% drop in the counterfeit notes detected from ~25 crore down to 8 crore. A reason for this dramatic drop is often attributed to the increased security features, as can be noted from the above list. This number incidentally of fake notes seized was 43 crores in 2016-17 the year of demonetization and almost falls off a cliff from that point on.
Here’s a great link I found very helpful on the RBI’s website https://paisaboltahai.rbi.org.in/rupees-five-hundred.aspx
Also important to note is that if anyone requests you to change a big note for small ones, do these few checks. And if you are not sure, you can go to the nearest bank. Banks have machines to authenticate currency and tellers go through significant training on spotting fakes too. The better option would be to just ask the person to deposit it in a bank and use UPI!