Counterfeit notes are one of the challenges for the RBI as the number of counterfeit notes is a large part of India Economy. There were a lot of measures taken to counter this such a move is demonetization of Rs.500 and Rs.1000 Bank notes which made a major impact on the market as a lot of black money and fake currency was detected, removed from the financial system and also the people who were responsible were also brought down. Some of the other measures that the Government has taken are installing currency detection machine that detects the fake currency.
With all the measures taken by the government but there is still a loophole that can be used to produce the counterfeit note. In this article, we will discuss what you can do with the counterfeit note if you ever encounter one and how to find the legitimacy of an original banknote.
How to Find the Legitimacy of an Original Bank Note?
the legitimacy of a banknote depends on the look and feel of the banknote. Knowledge of bank notes can be helpful in detecting fake currency. For finding the original currency you must check for the following points-
Rs.2000 Bank Note
Front side
- See-through register where the numeral 2,000 can be seen when the note is held up against light
- Latent image of 2,000 can be seen when the note is tilted
- Colour shift security thread with ‘RBI’ and ‘2,000’
- Watermarks of Mahatma Gandhi and electrotype 2,000 numeral
- Number panel with numerals growing from small to big on the top left and bottom right sides
Reverse side features
- Swachh Bharat logo
- Mangalayan motif and year of printing, 2016
Rs 500 Bank Note
Front side features
- See-through register in denomination numeral
- A Latent image of the denomination numeral
- The orientation of Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait changed
- Portrait and electrotype watermarks
- Number panel with numerals growing from small to big on the top left and bottom right sides
- Features for visually impaired like a circle with Rs 500 in raised print on the right
Reverse side features
- Swachh Bharat logo
- Red Fort image with the Indian flag
- Circle with Rs 500 in Devnagari on the right
Rs.200 Bank Note
Front side features
- See-through register with denominational numeral 200
- Latent image with denominational numeral 200
- Denominational numeral २०० in Devanagari
- Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the centre
- Micro letters ‘RBI’, ‘भारत’, ‘India’ and ‘200’
- Windowed security thread with inscriptions ‘भारत’ and RBI with colour shift. Colour of the thread changes from green to blue when the note is tilted
- Guarantee Clause, Governor’s signature with Promise Clause and RBI emblem towards the right of Mahatma Gandhi portrait
- Denominational numeral with Rupee Symbol, ₹200 in colour changing ink (green to blue) on the bottom right
- Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right
- Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (200) watermarks
- Number panel with numerals growing from small to big on the top left side and bottom right side
Reverse side features
- Year of printing of the note on the left
- Swachh Bharat logo with slogan
- Language panel
- Motif of Sanchi Stupa
- Denominational numeral २०० in Devnagari
New Rs.100 Bank Note
Front side features
- See-through register with denominational numeral 100
- Denominational numeral १०० in Devanagari
- Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the centre
- Micro letters ‘RBI’, ‘भारत’, ‘India’ and ‘100’
- Windowed security thread with inscriptions ‘भारत’ and ‘RBI’ with colour shift the colour of the thread changes from green to blue when the note is tilted.
- Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right
- Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (100) watermarks
- Number panel with numerals in ascending font on the top-left side and bottom-right side
Reverse side features
- Year of printing of the note on the left
- Swachh Bharat logo with the slogan
- Language panel
What to do with the counterfeit notes?
By following these points you can determine the fake currency, anything missing from the above mention point can be a fake currency. In case you have accepted the fake note and realized it later then you can use the following steps to get a refund (in case of ATM only) or change the counterfeit note-
- If you got the Bank Note from the Bank ATM then the RBI will be penalized the Bank circulating the fake note and you will be provided a full refund. After getting the money from the ATM Machine and fake currency is detected then it is important for you to show the CCTV the currency before leaving the bank ATM also reports the security guard for the same.
- If you find the fake currency then the very first thing to do is report it to the nearest police station. Circulating the currency is a punishable offense under Section 489 of the Indian Penal Code
- The CCTV will be used as evidence and you will be provided a full refund.
