The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue Rs 10/- denomination banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series without inset letter in numbering panel bearing the signature of Dr. Y.V. Reddy, Governor. The new series banknotes shall be of the same size and there is no change in the images/design of the banknotes both at the back and front. While some of the security features of the existing Mahatma Gandhi series have been retained, some have been modified and a few new security features have been added.

The salient additional security features of banknotes are as under:

The small floral design printed both on the front (hollow) and back (filled up) of the banknote in the middle of the vertical band next to the Watermark window has been replaced by the denominational numeral 10. Half of the numeral is printed on the front and half on the back. Both the printed portions have an accurate back to back registration so that the numeral appears as one when seen against the light.

In addition to the Mahatma Gandhi watermark, the denominational numeral 10 appears alongside Mahatma Gandhi portrait in the watermark window.

There is no major change on the reverse of the banknote except the following:

Year of printing: Year of printing appears on the reverse of the banknote.

Number panels of the banknote are printed in fluorescent ink. The banknote has dual coloured optical fibres. Both can be seen when the banknote is viewed under ultraviolet light .

Banknote is printed on a special watermarked paper with substrate cotton and cotton rag. This gives the banknote a unique "feel" and "crackling sound". The new series of Rs.10/- banknote has paper with increased grammage and caliper thickness.

All notes in the denomination of Rs.10/- issued by the Bank in the past will continue to be legal tender.