RBI to issue Rs 500, 1,000 bank notes with enhanced features

Mumbai, Sep 22: The Reserve Bank will issue Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes with additional features to aid the visually impaired in identification.

RBI had recently put into circulation Rs 500 bank notes with numerals in ascending size in number panels but without bleed lines and enlarged identification mark.

"It has now added two more features to aid visually impaired in easy identification of bank notes apart from securing them against counterfeiting," RBI said in a release.

The central bank said the new Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination bank notes will have numerals in both the numbering panels in ascending size from left to right, while the first three alpha-numeric characters will remain constant in size.

Further, Rs 500 denomination bank notes will have five angular bleed lines in three sets of 2-1-2 lines on the obverse in both, the upper left and the right hand edge of the bank note.

While, Rs 1,000 bank notes will have six angular bleed lines in four sets of 1-2-2-1 lines on the obverse in both, the upper left and right hand edge of the bank notes.

"These will facilitate identification of these notes by visually impaired persons," RBI said.

Further, both kind of bank notes will have enlarged identification mark with a circular shape for Rs 500 and a diamond shape for Rs 1,000 near the left edge of the currency.

RBI said it is committed to continually bring about modifications in the design of bank notes with changing times. All the notes in circulation will continue to be legal tender, it added.

PTI