RBI to issue new Rs 1,000 notes

The Reserve Bank will shortly issue Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi series without inset letter in numbering panel.

"The new series 2005 banknotes will be of the same size and there is no change in the design or images of the banknotes both at the obverse (front) and reverse (back)," RBI said.

While there is no change in the colour at the obverse, it said the colour at the reverse is different due to use of only offset printing.

The notes will bear the signature of RBI Governor Y V Reddy. All banknotes in the denomination of Rs 1,000 issued by the central bank after 2000 and Rs 500 notes after 1987 will continue to be legal tender, the release said.