Indian Rupee - Security Features

Security Features

The main security features of current banknotes are:

• Watermark - White side panel of notes has Mahatma Gandhi watermark.
• Security thread - All notes have a silver security band with inscriptions (visible when held against light) of Bharat in Hindi and "RBI" in English.
• Latent image - On notes of denominations of 20 and upwards, a vertical band on the right side of the Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait contains a latent image showing the respective denominational value numerally (visible only when the note is held horizontally at eye level).
• Microlettering - Numeral denominational value is visible under magnifying glass between security thread and latent image.
• Intaglio - On notes with denominations of 10 and upwards the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, the Reserve Bank seal, guarantee and promise clause, Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left and the RBI Governor's signature are printed in intaglio (raised print).
• Identification mark - On the left of the watermark window, different shapes are printed for various denominations (20: vertical rectangle, 50: square, 100: triangle, 500: circle, 1,000: diamond). This also helps the visually impaired to identify the denomination.
• Fluorescence - Number panels glow under ultraviolet light.
• Optically variable ink - Notes of 500 and 1,000 denominations have their numerals printed in optically variable ink. The number appears green when the note is held flat, but changes to blue when viewed at an angle.
• See-through register - Floral designs printed on the front and the back of the note coincide and perfectly overlap each other when viewed against light.
• EURion constellation - A pattern of symbols found on the banknote helps software detect the presence of a banknote in a digital image, preventing its reproduction with devices such as color photocopiers.