Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
The image of the Red Fort has been removed from the ₹500 notes and the image of the Ram Mandir will now be displayed on the notes.
Fact
This claim is false. There is no decision by the Reserve Bank of India to replace the Red Fort image on the ₹500 notes or to introduce new notes with the Ram Temple image.
Ahead of the much anticipated inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, many YouTube users are claiming that the image of the Red Fort has been removed from the ₹ 500 currency notes, and will be replaced with the image of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
The YouTube post, shared on January 8, 2024, shows two photographs, one showing the ₹500 banknote that is currently in circulation, featuring the image of the red fort, with a red strike mark across it, and the other showing a currency note of denomination ₹500, featuring the image of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The post also featured a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the text: “Modi’s decision, the photo of the Red Fort has been removed from the notes. Now the notes will have photos of the Ram Mandir.”
The post can be seen here.
Various YouTube channels have shared the same claim. They can be seen here, here, here and here.
We, also, received this claim on our WhatsApp Tip Line (9999499044) requesting it to be fact checked.
However, according to our investigation, the claim that the photograph of the Red Fort has been removed from the ₹500 notes and replaced by the photograph of the Ram Mandir, is false.
Fact Check/Verification
We, first conducted a Google search with relevant keywords (“Photograph of the Red Fort has been removed from the ₹500 notes”) to verify the viral claim. However, we did not find any news reports related to the viral claims, raising our doubts.
We, then checked the website of Press Information Bureau and the official Twitter handle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but found no information about the ₹ 500 note. In addition, we checked the official website and X account of the Reserve Bank of India but did not receive any relevant information about such decisions mentioned in the viral claim.
Continuing our investigation, we checked the official website of the Reserve Bank of India. We checked the “Know Your Notes” section on the website, which provides details on all types of banknotes that are in circulation,including ₹500 notes. There, we saw the current ₹500 notes that are in circulation, the front of which features an image of Mahatma Gandhi and the back of the note features the Red Fort, a heritage of Indian architecture. It is 66mm x 150mm and comes in Stone Grey color.
However, there were no details on the new ₹500 notes that carried the image of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, confirming that the viral claim is fake.
Conclusion
Thus, as per our investigation, it has been found that no decision has been taken to replace the image of the Red Fort with the Ram Mandir on the ₹ 500 notes. The viral post is false.
Result: False
Our Sources:
1. Information given on the official website of RBI.
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Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
