Here are the detailed features of Rs. 200, 500 and 2000 notes as issued by RBI by knowing which one can distinguish between the real and fake currency notes.

1. Rs. 200 Notes:


A. Year of printing: 2017, 2018

B. Size: 66 mm × 146 mm 

C. Watermark:

Rs. 200 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series having Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (200) watermarks.

D. Front Side:

The base colour of the note is Bright Yellow. The note has other designs, geometric patterns aligning with the overall colour scheme, both at the obverse and reverse. See through register with denominational numeral 200 Latent image with denominational numeral 200 Denominational numeral २०० in Devnagari 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 right of Mahatma Gandhi portrait Denominational numeral with Rupee Symbol, ₹ 200 in colour changing ink (green to blue) on bottom right Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right Number panel with numerals growing from small to big on the top left side and bottom right side For visually impairedIntaglio or raised printing of Mahatma Gandhi portrait, Ashoka Pillar emblem, raised Identification mark H with micro-text ₹ 200, four angular bleed lines with two circles in between the lines both on the right and left sides.

E. Back Side:

Motif of Sanchi Stupa on the reverse, depicting the country’s cultural heritage. 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 Dimension.

2. Rs. 500 Notes:


A. Year of printing: 2016, 2017, 2018

B. Size: 66mm x150 mm 

C. Watermark:

Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (500) watermarks.

D. Front Side:

Issued in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, the new ₹ 500 banknotes are different from the earlier specified bank note (SBN) series in colour, size, theme, location of security features and design elements. The colour of the note is stone grey. The orientation and relative position of the Mahatma Gandhi portrait has changed. The banknote also has features (intaglio printing of Mahatma Gandhi portrait, Ashoka Pillar emblem, bleed lines, circle with ₹ 500 in the right, and the identification mark) which enable the visually impaired person to identify the denomination.

E. Back Side:

The new theme is the Indian heritage site Red Fort with the Indian flag. The year of printing and Swachh Bharat logo is printed on the reverse. The 15 language panel is towards the centre.

3. Rs. 2000 Notes:


A. Year of printing: 2016, 2017, 2018

B. Size: 66mm x 166 mm  

C. Watermark:

Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (2000) watermarks.

D. Front Side:

The base colour of the note is magenta. The note has other designs, geometric patterns aligning with the overall colour scheme, both at the obverse and reverse. The salient features are :

1. See through register with denominational numeral 2000

2. Latent image with denominational numeral 2000

3. Denominational numeral २००० in Devnagari

4. Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the centre

5. Micro letters ‘RBI’ and ‘2000’ on the left side of the banknote

6. Windowed security thread with inscriptions ‘भारत’, RBI and 2000 on banknotes with colour shift. Colour of the thread changes from green to blue when the note is tilted

7. Guarantee Clause, Governor’s signature with Promise Clause and RBI emblem towards right

8. Denominational numeral with Rupee Symbol, ₹ 2000 in colour changing ink (green to blue) on bottom right

9. Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (2000) watermarks

10. Number panel with numerals growing from small to big on the top left side and bottom right side. For visually impaired Intaglio or raised printing of Mahatma Gandhi portrait, Ashoka Pillar emblem, bleed lines and identity mark

11. Horizontal rectangle with ₹ 2000 in raised print on the right

12. Seven angular bleed lines on left and right side in raised print.

E. Back Side:

The salient features are :

1. Year of printing of the note on the left

2. Swachh Bharat logo with slogan

3. Language panel towards the centre

4. Motif of Mangalayan depicting the country’s first venture into interplanetary space.

5. Denominational numeral २००० in Devnagari


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Disclaimer: The above post includes some content used from RBI website and executed on this website for fair use only. As this website is of educational nature, hence the content is used for education and awareness to the public.