If you have a 500 rupee note, then definitely look carefully once, is it fake or not? RBI's latest report has revealed a shocking thing. The number of fake notes of Rs 500 found in the banking system in the financial year 2025 has been the highest in the last 6 years. Compared to last year, these fake notes increased by 37.35 percent to 1,17,722 in 2024-25, which was 85,711 in 2023-24.

At the same time, an increase has also been seen in fake notes of less than Rs 200. It increased by 13.9 percent to 32,600 compared to the same period last year.

How to identify real and fake notes of Rs 500

Since the introduction of new Rs 500 notes, cases of fake notes have increased. These notes are made so cleanly that sometimes it becomes difficult for the common man to differentiate between real and fake. But there is no need to worry. By adopting some easy methods, you can also identify real and fake notes.

1. RBI's MANI app
RBI has created a special app for mobile users called MANI (Mobile Aided Note Identifier).

This app is available for free on both Android and iOS. Just open this fake note detector app on your phone. Turn on the phone's camera and scan a 500 rupee note. This app will immediately tell whether the note is real or fake. The special thing is that this app also works offline, and can also identify a slightly torn or old note.

2. Check the security feature of the note yourself

There are some special identification marks that every real note has. Like:

There is a shiny line in the middle of the note, on which 'Bharat' and 'RBI' are written. Its color changes when the note is slightly folded.

There is a watermark near Gandhiji's photo, which is visible in light.

Gandhiji's glasses and some parts have 'RBI', 'Bharat', and '500' written in very small letters. You can identify them by looking closely with the camera zoom or eyes.

3. Do a UV test with your phone itself
If you want, you can use your smartphone as a UV light:

Place a blue or purple transparent plastic piece on the phone's flash.

Now turn on the flash and look at the note.

The thread or serial number present in the real note starts shining in light blue or green light.

This method is not 100% sure but is quite effective in initial identification.

In today's digital era, it is not very difficult to avoid fake notes (Fake Note Identification). With just a little understanding and the help of a smartphone, you can easily identify fake 500 rupee notes. So what are you waiting for? Download the MANI app today and check every note yourself.