RBI issues new series of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued new series of notes for 500 rupees and 2,000 rupees denomination with improved features and newer sizes.
These new series of notes was issued following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes now in use will no longer be legal tender.
Key Facts

• Both the designs of 500 rupees and 2,000 rupees notes is very friendly towards the visually-impaired by having features which make it accessible for all sections.
• They are Braille-compliant with lines on the side that enable blind people to ascertain their denomination easily.
• 2,000 rupees note: It will be for the first time 2,000 rupees note denomination has been issued. It will be called as the ‘Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series’.
• The base colour of the note is magenta. Size of the new note is 66mm*166mm.
• It has a motif of the Mangalayan, the low-cost mission of ISRO to Mars on the reverse side and Mahatma Gandhi on front side.
• 500 rupee note: It has different colour, size, theme, design and location of security features compared to the old notes. It has portrait and electrotype watermarks.
• It will be in a stone grey in colour. The motif Delhi’s Red Fort is on reverse side and Mahatma Gandhi on front side. Size of the new note is 63mm*150mm.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2016