The RBI is the only legal source that prints and distributes paper currency in India. To prevent illegal printing of notes and their misuse, the RBI has introduced many security features. Find out what some of these measures are and discuss them in class.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ensures that paper currency in India is secure and not subject to counterfeiting. To prevent illegal printing of notes and their misuse, the RBI has implemented several security features on currency notes. Some of the key security measures are:

Watermark: Every genuine currency note in India has a watermark, which is visible when the note is held against light. This feature helps to easily distinguish between genuine and fake currency.

Security Thread: A visible security thread is embedded in the currency note. On newer notes, this thread has changing colors and is visible from both sides, making it harder to replicate.

Micro-Text: Small letters or numbers are printed on the currency note, visible only under a magnifying glass. This is a security feature to ensure the authenticity of the note.

Intaglio Printing: The images and features on the note are printed using intaglio printing, where certain parts of the note, like the Ashoka Pillar, are raised. This makes it difficult to counterfeit.

Holographic Features: Higher denomination notes (like ₹500 and ₹2000) have a security thread with holographic features that change color when the note is tilted.

UV Ink: Certain parts of the note, such as the security thread, are printed using ultraviolet (UV) ink. This part of the note is visible only under UV light.

Latent Image: A latent image of the denomination is printed on the currency note. When held at a specific angle, the denomination number appears, which is hard to replicate.

These security features are regularly updated to stay ahead of counterfeiters. Additionally, the RBI works with various agencies to monitor and track the movement of currency notes to prevent illegal activities.