New Currency Notes

New Indian Currency Notes: A Comprehensive Guide

The Indian rupee, with the code 'INR,' is India's official currency. One (1) rupee is divided into 100 paise or 1 paisa x 100. As of November 2022, the lowest value of the legal tender is the 1 rupee coin or note, while the highest value of the legal tender is the 2,000 rupee banknote. 

According to the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934, the issuance of new currency notes and coins in India is governed solely by the country's apex bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). According to Section 25 of the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934, the Central Board of the RBI is responsible for devising the design, material, and form of new Indian currency notes in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Indian Government. Moreover, the RBI monitors the availability of currency notes in the country and prints new currency notes to address the demand for currency. 

The new Indian currency notes in use today were launched after November 2016, when the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, carried out the demonetisation drive by banning the 500 and 1000 currency notes. The purpose of demonetisation was to weed out fake currency notes in circulation and prompted people to move to digital transactions. Not only did the RBI issue new banknotes of the denomination 500 and 2,000 immediately after demonetisation, but it also introduced new 10-rupee notes, 20-rupee notes, 50-rupee notes, 100-rupee notes, 200-rupee notes, 10-rupee coins, and 20-rupee coins in a phased manner.

This article explains the top features of the new Indian currency notes and the role of the Reserve Bank of India in managing the flow and availability of currency in this vast country. 

Understanding the New Indian Currency Notes

The following sections explain the features in the obverse (front face) and reverse (back face) of the Mahatma Gandhi (new) series 2000-rupee, 500-rupee, 200-rupee, 100-rupee, 50-rupee, 20-rupee, and 10-rupee banknotes issued by the RBI in India.

New Indian Currency Notes- Rs. 2,000

The 2,000-rupee banknote was among the first two new Indian currency notes launched by the RBI after demonetisation. The banknote's colour is magenta, and its dimension is 166mm x 66mm. The size and length of this note are shorter than the now-banned Rs. 1,000 note. The note has the signature of the Governor of RBI and a motif of 'Mangalyaan' on its reverse. The motif depicts India's first successful venture in the interplanetary domain. The 2000-rupee new Indian currency note's geometric patterns and designs align with its overall colour scheme in the obverse and reverse. 

The following are the top features of the new 2,000-rupee currency note:

Generic Features

• Electrotype watermarks of 2000
• Mahatma Gandhi's portrait
• Numerals in ascending font at the top left and bottom right on the front of the note
• The Ashoka Pillar emblem
• Raised printing or intaglio of the Ashoka emblem and Mahatma Gandhi's portrait for visually impaired people.
• The note contains seven angular bleed lines on the right and left sides. 

Obverse Features

• A see-through register with the denominational number 2000 is visible
• A latent image with the denominational numeral 2000
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari
• Mahatma Gandhi's portrait at the centre
• The words 'India' and 'भारत' are present in micro letters.
• If you tilt the note, the thread's colour changes from green to blue. The windowed security thread has the inscriptions' RBI,' '2000,' and 'भारत.'

Reverse Features

• The note's printing year is displayed on the left side.
• There is a 'Swachh Bharat' logo with the slogan.
• A language panel beside the 'Swachh Bharat' logo
• The ‘Mangalyaan’ motif
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari

New Indian Currency Note - Rs. 500

The 500-rupee banknote was another currency note to be launched by the RBI after demonetisation. The banknote's colour is stone grey, and its dimension is 150mm x 66mm. The size and length of this note are shorter than the now-banned Rs. 500 note. The note has the signature of the Governor of RBI and a motif of the Red Fort, a prominent Indian heritage site, on its reverse. The 500-rupee new Indian currency note's geometric patterns and designs align with its overall colour scheme in the obverse and reverse. 

The following are the notable features of the new 500-rupee currency note:

Generic Features

• Electrotype watermarks of 500
• Mahatma Gandhi's portrait
• Numerals in ascending font at the top left and bottom right on the front of the note
• The Ashoka Pillar emblem
• Raised printing or intaglio of the Ashoka emblem and Mahatma Gandhi's portrait for visually impaired people. The note also contains five angular bleed lines on the right and left sides. 

Obverse Features

• The Governor's signature with a promise clause, a guarantee clause, and the RBI emblem
• A see-through register with the denominational number 500 is visible. 
• A latent image with the denominational numeral 500
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari
• Mahatma Gandhi's portrait at the centre
• The words 'India' and 'भारत' are present in micro letters.
• If you tilt the note, the thread's colour changes from green to blue. The windowed security thread has the inscriptions' RBI' and 'भारत.'

Reverse Features

• The note's printing year is displayed on the left side.
• There is a 'Swachh Bharat' logo with the slogan.
• A language panel beside the 'Swachh Bharat' logo
• The 'Red Fort' motif
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari

New Indian Currency Note - Rs. 200

The new 200-rupee currency notes bear the RBI Governor's signature. The banknote's colour is bright yellow, and its dimension is 146mm x 66mm. The note has a motif of the Sanchi Stupa, a prominent Indian heritage site, on its reverse. The 200-rupee new Indian currency note's geometric patterns and designs align with its overall colour scheme in the obverse and reverse. 

The following are the top features of the new 200-rupee currency note:

Obverse Features

• The Governor's signature with a promise clause, a guarantee clause, and the RBI emblem
• A see-through register with the denominational number 200 is visible. 
• A latent image with the denominational numeral 200
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari
• Mahatma Gandhi's portrait at the centre
• The words 'India' and 'भारत' are present in micro letters.
• Electrotype watermarks of 200
• Numerals in ascending font at the top left and bottom right on the front of the note
• The Ashoka Pillar emblem
• Raised printing or intaglio of the Ashoka emblem and Mahatma Gandhi's portrait for visually impaired people. The note also contains four angular bleed lines on the right and left sides. 
• If you tilt the note, the thread's colour changes from green to blue. The windowed security thread has the inscriptions' RBI' and 'भारत.'

Reverse Features

• The note's printing year is displayed on the left side.
• There is a 'Swachh Bharat' logo with the slogan.
• A language panel beside the 'Swachh Bharat' logo
• The 'Sanchi Stupa' motif
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari

New Indian Currency Note - Rs. 100

The new 100-rupee currency notes bear the RBI Governor's signature. The banknote's colour is lavender, and its dimension is 142mm x 66mm. The note has a motif of the Rani ki Vav, a prominent Indian heritage site, on its reverse. The 100-rupee new Indian currency note's geometric patterns and designs align with its overall colour scheme in the obverse and reverse. 

The following are the notable features of the new 100-rupee currency note:

Obverse Features

• The Governor's signature with a promise clause, a guarantee clause, and the RBI emblem
• A see-through register with the denominational number 100 is visible. 
• A latent image with the denominational numeral 100
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari
• Mahatma Gandhi's portrait at the centre
• The words 'India' and 'भारत' are present in micro letters.
• Electrotype watermarks of 100
• Numerals in ascending font at the top left and bottom right on the front of the note
• The Ashoka Pillar emblem
• Raised printing or intaglio of the Ashoka emblem and Mahatma Gandhi's portrait for visually impaired people.
• The note also contains four angular bleed lines on the right and left sides. 
• If you tilt the note, the thread's colour changes from green to blue. The windowed security thread has the inscriptions' RBI' and 'भारत.'

Reverse Features

• The note's printing year is displayed on the left side.
• There is a 'Swachh Bharat' logo with the slogan.
• A language panel beside the 'Swachh Bharat' logo
• The 'Rani ki Vav' motif
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari

New Indian Currency Note - Rs. 50

The new 50-rupee currency notes bear the RBI Governor's signature. The banknote's colour is fluorescent blue, and its dimension is 135mm x 66mm. The note has a motif of Hampi with Chariot, a prominent Indian heritage site, on its reverse. The 50-rupee new Indian currency note's geometric patterns and designs align with its overall colour scheme in the obverse and reverse. 

The following are the top features of the new 50-rupee currency note:

Obverse Features

• The Governor's signature with a promise clause, a guarantee clause, and the RBI emblem
• A see-through register with the denominational number 50 is visible. 
• A latent image with the denominational numeral 50
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari
• Mahatma Gandhi's portrait at the centre
• The words 'India' and 'भारत' are present in micro letters.
• Electrotype watermarks of 50
• Numerals in ascending font at the top left and bottom right in the front face of the note
• The Ashoka Pillar emblem
• Raised printing or intaglio of the Ashoka emblem and Mahatma Gandhi's portrait for visually impaired people. The note also contains four angular bleed lines on the right and left sides. 
• If you tilt the note, the thread's colour changes from green to blue. The windowed security thread has the inscriptions' RBI' and 'भारत.'

Reverse Features

• The note's printing year is displayed on the left side.
• There is a 'Swachh Bharat' logo with the slogan.
• A language panel beside the 'Swachh Bharat' logo
• The 'Hampi with Chariot' motif
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari

New Indian Currency Note - Rs. 20

The new 20-rupee currency notes bear the RBI Governor's signature. The banknote's colour is Greenish Yellow, and its dimension is 129mm x 66mm. The note has a motif of Ellora Caves, a prominent Indian heritage site, on its reverse. The 20-rupee new Indian currency note's geometric patterns and designs align with its overall colour scheme in the obverse and reverse. 

The following are the notable features of the new 20-rupee currency note:

Obverse Features

• The Governor's signature with a promise clause, a guarantee clause, and the RBI emblem
• A see-through register with the denominational number 20 is visible. 
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari
• Mahatma Gandhi's portrait at the centre
• The words 'India' and 'भारत' are present in micro letters.
• Electrotype watermarks of 20
• Numerals in ascending font at the top left and bottom right on the front of the note
• The Ashoka Pillar emblem
• The demetalised windowed security thread has the inscriptions' RBI' and 'भारत.'

Reverse Features

• The note's printing year is displayed on the left side.
• There is a 'Swachh Bharat' logo with the slogan.
• A language panel beside the 'Swachh Bharat' logo
• The 'Ellora Caves' motif
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari

New Indian Currency Note - Rs. 10

The 10-rupee new Indian currency notes bear the RBI Governor's signature. The banknote's colour is chocolate brown, and its dimension is 123mm x 66mm. The note has a motif of Sun Temple Konark, a prominent Indian heritage site, on its reverse. The 10-rupee new Indian currency note's geometric patterns and designs align with its overall colour scheme in the obverse and reverse. 

The following are the notable features of the new 10-rupee currency note:

Obverse Features

• The Governor's signature with a promise clause, a guarantee clause, and the RBI emblem
• A see-through register with the denominational number 10 is visible. 
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari
• Mahatma Gandhi's portrait at the centre
• The words 'India' and 'भारत' are present in micro letters.
• Electrotype watermarks of 10
• Numerals in ascending font at the top left and bottom right on the front face of the note
• The Ashoka Pillar emblem
• The demetalised windowed security thread has the inscriptions' RBI' and 'भारत.'

Reverse Features

• The note's printing year is displayed on the left side
• There is a 'Swachh Bharat' logo with the slogan
• A language panel beside the 'Swachh Bharat' logo
• The 'Sun Temple Konark' motif
• Denominational numeral in Devanagari

How Does the RBI Manage the Flow and Availability of New Currency Notes in India?

The Department of Currency Management at RBI's Central Office in Mumbai collaborates with the Issue Department of RBI's multiple regional offices to oversee currency management in India. The department's primary function is to ensure that clean banknote are available throughout the country in adequate quantities. It also withdraws soiled notes from time to time and replenishes them with clean notes. The RBI executes this mammoth task through its network of 3,054 commercial bank currency chests. The RBI operates four (4) printing presses to print and supply new Indian currency notes. They are in Salboni in West Bengal, Mysore in Karnataka, Nasik in Maharashtra, and Dewas in Madhya Pradesh. 

Conclusion

According to the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is solely responsible for issuing new Indian currency notes and coins. The RBI launched the new currency notes in the Mahatma Gandhi series in November 2016. While the RBI initially launched 2000 and 500-rupee banknotes, they later launched smaller denominations like 200, 100, 50, 20, and 10-rupee notes. This article covered the features of the obverse and reverse of the new Indian currency notes. 

FAQs

Who issues new currency notes in India?

According to the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934, the country's apex bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), issues new currency notes and coins. The RBI's Central Board devises the form, material, and design of the new Indian currency notes in consultation with the Union Government. 

When did the Reserve Bank of India issue new currency notes?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the new Indian currency notes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) series in November 2016; the Narendra Modi government announced demonetisation to curb the menace of fake currency notes and also to prompt people to move to digital transactions. The RBI initially launched new banknotes of the denomination 500 and 2,000 and later launched other new currency notes.

What are the top features of the new 2000-rupee Indian banknote?

One of the first new currency notes launched by the Reserve Bank of India after the demonetisation in November 2016 was the 2000-rupee note. The colour of this note is magenta, and the dimensions are 166mm x 66mm. You can find the signature of the RBI Governor and the 'Mangalyaan' motif on the back to depict India's first successful venture in the interplanetary domain. 

What are the top features of the new 500-rupee Indian banknote?

One of the first new currency notes launched by the Reserve Bank of India after the demonetisation in November 2016 was the 500-rupee note. The colour of this note is stone grey, and the dimensions are 150mm x 66mm. You can find the signature of the RBI Governor and the 'Red Fort' motif on the back.