Fact Check: Viral image of Rs 500 note with Lord Ram’s picture is MORPHED
The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be inaugurated and the idol of Lord Ram will be consecrated on January 22, 2024. The big event will be attended by several politicians and celebrities. Meanwhile, it has been evoking tons of misinformation on social media.
Claim :
Viral image shows new 500 rupee notes with Red Fort replaced with Ram Mandir and image of Gandhi replaced with Lord Ram, to be issued on 22/01/2024Fact :
The image is a fake one. The RBI has no plans to release such 500 rupee notes
The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be inaugurated and the idol of Lord Ram will be consecrated on January 22, 2024. The big event will be attended by several politicians and celebrities. Meanwhile, it has been evoking tons of misinformation on social media.
An image of a Rs 500 note showing an image of Lord Ram, instead of Mahatma Gandhi, and Ram Mandir instead of Red Fort is shared on social media with the claim that it shows the new Rs 500 note which is going to be released on January 22, 2024, marking the consecration of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
The caption shared along with the image is “Major Braking: Now the 500 code note, will have a picture of Sriram Mandir instead of Red Fort. JAY SHREE RAM ”
A few users also share the image with the caption “वोट के लिए? NEW 500 NOTES WILL BE ISSUED ON 22/01/2024”
Fact Check:
The claim is False. The image of the Rs 500 note with Lord Ram and Ram Mandir is a morphed one.
When we searched using important keywords, we did not find any news reports on the release of the new Rs 500 note.
We searched the social media accounts of PIB and also PMO, but did not find any announcements that the Government of India has decided to print an image of Ram Mandir on Rs 500 note.
On the RBI website also, we did not find any such announcement. The latest 500 rupee note was released by the RBI in the year 2016. The Mahatma Gandhi (New) series (MGNS) was introduced by the Prime Minister.
The RBI website which displays the design of the Rs 500 note states that the reverse of the ₹ 500 denomination banknote in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) series depicts the Indian heritage site Red Fort with the Indian flag, representing the country's heritage site. The base colour of the note is stone grey. Other designs on both the obverse and reverse of the note are geometric patterns that are aligned with the overall color scheme.
Hence, the viral image is a morphed one. The claim that a new Rs 500 note with images of Lord Ram and Ram Mandir is being released is False.
