The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue Rs.500 denomination banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series without inset letter in numbering panel bearing the signature of Dr. Y.V. Reddy, Governor. The new series 2005 banknotes will be of the same size and there is no change in the design/images of the banknotes both at the obverse (front) and reverse (back). While there is no change in the colour at the obverse (front), the colour at the reverse (back) is different due to use of only offset printing.

The salient security features (both additional/new and existing) of the Rs.500 banknotes are as under:

See-through Register: The floral design printed both on the obverse (front) and reverse (back) of the Rs.500 banknote in the middle of the vertical band next to the watermark window has been replaced by the denominational numeral 500. Half of the numeral is printed on the obverse (front) and half on the reverse (back). Both the printed portions have an accurate back to back registration so that the numeral appears as one when seen against light.

Electrolyte Watermark: In addition to the Mahatma Gandhi watermark, the denominational numeral 500 appears alongside Mahatma Gandhi portrait in the watermark window.

Omron-anti photocopying feature: The feature appears in the form of tiny yellow circles on either side of the legend Reserve Bank of India. A banknote with this feature, when copied by a colour photocopier, gives an output with a different colour shade.

Optically Variable Ink: The numeral 500 in the middle of the banknotes is printed in optically variable ink. The colour of the numeral changes from a particular shade of green to blue when the banknote is tilted. The font (size) of the numeral is slightly smaller.

Latent Image: A vertical band on the right side of the Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait contains a latent image showing the denominational numeral 500. The latent image is visible only when the note is held horizontally at eye level.

Intaglio printing: The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, the Reserve Bank seal, guarantee and promise clause, Ashoka pillar emblem on the left, RBI Governor's signature and identification mark for the visually impaired are printed in intaglio, i.e., in raised prints(felt by touch), and have been made more prominent by raising the intaglio print.

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

Omron-anti photocopying feature: The feature appears in the form of tiny yellow circles in the right hand margin of the banknote.

All banknotes in the denomination of Rs.500 issued by the Bank after the year 1987 will continue to be legal tender.