The Republic India 1000 Rupee note was reintroduced in 1954, following the demonetisation of high-denomination British India notes in 1946. Issued by the Reserve Bank of India, it served initially as a high-value denomination for institutional and large-scale financial transactions. Over the decades that followed, it evolved through a series of design changes, language panel expansions, and security upgrades before being permanently demonetised in 2016.
Republic India 1000 Rupee notes are divided into two major phases: the Ashoka Pillar series (1954–1978) and the Mahatma Gandhi Portrait series (2000–2016). For collectors, the Ashoka Pillar issues — particularly the early large-format types — are the primary focus, offering a rich variety of issuing circles, signatures, language panel states, and inscription corrections across four catalogue types. This guide covers each type in detail, with full BNB and Pick references, known varieties, and collector context.
Table of Contents
Two Phases of the Republic India 1000 Rupee Note
The Republic India 1000 Rupee note spans two distinct design eras, separated by a gap of more than two decades during which the denomination did not exist in circulation. For the earlier history of this denomination, see our guide to the British India 1000 Rupee note.
The Ashoka Pillar series (1954–1978) comprises four BNB catalogue types — B227, B228, B229, and B230 — all sharing a large-format layout, the Lion Capital of Ashoka on the obverse, and the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur on the reverse. These notes were issued from a limited number of offices and carry tightly restricted prefix ranges. Their survival was severely affected by the 1978 demonetisation, making them among the most sought-after Republic India notes today.
The Mahatma Gandhi Portrait series (2000–2016) represented a fundamentally different phase: smaller format, new imagery, modern security features, and mass circulation. These notes are catalogued as B278, B285, B291, and B297, and were demonetised on 9 November 2016. Because they circulated widely and were produced in large quantities, they are significantly more available than Ashoka Pillar issues and are collected primarily for signature varieties.
The Ashoka Pillar 1000 Rupee Notes
The Ashoka Pillar 1000 Rupee notes are the cornerstone of any serious Republic India collection. Printed at the India Security Press, all four types share the same large format and core design, but differ in the Hindi denomination inscription, language panel, issuing circles, and signatures. Understanding these differences is essential to identifying which type — and which variety within a type — a given example represents.
Design and Physical Specifications
All Ashoka Pillar 1000 Rupee notes measure 203 × 127 mm and are printed predominantly in brown, with accentuating tones of purple, blue, and green. The obverse carries English and Hindi text alongside the Lion Capital of Ashoka pillar, with the promise text, RBI seal with tiger and palm tree, and a solid security thread. The watermark area features a chain pattern with RESERVE BANK OF INDIA and the lion capital of Ashoka.
The reverse is dominated by the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu — the detail that gives these notes their popular collector name, the “Tanjore Temple note.” The temple vignette is flanked by the language panel on the left and the watermark window on the right with an RBI seal with tiger and palm tree at the bottom. “ONE THOUSAND RUPEES” appears in English at lower right, with the Hindi equivalent at lower left.
The Brihadeeswarar Temple Reverse: “Tanjore Temple Note”
The Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur — historically known as Tanjore — is one of India’s most significant cultural and architectural landmarks, completed around 1010 CE during the reign of Rajaraja I of the Chola Empire. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 as part of the Great Living Chola Temples group. Its inclusion on the reverse of the 1000 Rupee note reflected the post-Independence emphasis on national heritage as a design principle, continuing the tradition established with the Lion Capital of Ashoka on the obverse.
Among collectors, the term Tanjore Temple 1000 Rupee note is the standard informal reference for the entire Ashoka Pillar series of this denomination. While the reverse design experienced minor background modifications across all four BNB types (B227–B230), the central temple vignette remained entirely unchanged, serving as a consistent visual identifier even as the obverse inscription evolved.
Issuing Circles and Serial Prefix Identification
Ashoka Pillar 1000 Rupee notes were issued from five offices, each identified by a prefix letter in the serial number and by the printed city name at the bottom centre of the obverse above the denomination. The five issuing circles are:
| Prefix Letter | Office of Issue |
|---|---|
| A | Bombay |
| H | Calcutta |
| Q | Madras |
| U | Kanpur |
| X | Delhi |
Not all issuing circles are represented in all four BNB types — in fact, the later types narrow significantly to Bombay only. Circle identification is therefore one of the first steps in cataloguing any Ashoka Pillar 1000 Rupee note, since certain circle-and-type combinations are far scarcer than others.
Incorrect Hindi “Rupaya” — First Issue
Catalogue: BNB B227 / Pick 46
The first Republic India 1000 Rupee note introduced in 1954 carries a notable Hindi inscription error: the denomination is rendered as एक हज़ार रुपया (EK HAZAAR RUPAYA), using the singular form Rupaya rather than the grammatically correct plural Rupaye. This error — which also appeared on other early Republic India denominations — was carried on the engraving plates from the outset rather than occurring as a mechanical printing fault.
The reverse panel carries seven languages: Bangla (Bengali), Gujarati, Kannada, Odia (formerly Oriya), Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. B. Rama Rau signs all notes.
Five known varieties:
| Signature | Office | Prefix |
|---|---|---|
| B. Rama Rau | Bombay | A |
| B. Rama Rau | Calcutta | H |
| B. Rama Rau | Delhi | X |
| B. Rama Rau | Kanpur | U |
| B. Rama Rau | Madras | Q |
The Bombay and Calcutta varieties are more commonly encountered, whereas the Delhi, Kanpur, and Madras varieties are significantly scarcer and less frequently seen.
Corrected Hindi “Rupaye” — Seven-Language Panel
Catalogue: BNB B228 / Pick 47a–e
The subsequent corrected variety updated the Hindi inscription to the grammatically proper एक हज़ार रुपये (EK HAZAAR RUPAYE) while retaining the same seven-language reverse panel format as the initial error issue. The correction was applied to the engraving plate, making the change visible across the denomination text at the centre front and lower left back.
Four known varieties:
| Signature | Office | Prefix |
|---|---|---|
| B. Rama Rau | Bombay | A |
| B. Rama Rau | Calcutta | H |
| H. V. R. Iengar | Bombay | A |
| P. C. Bhattacharya | Bombay | A |
Pick catalogues two additional varieties — P47c (Delhi, B. Rama Rau) and P47d (Madras, B. Rama Rau) — for which no confirmed examples are known. These entries appear to be catalogue errors. The distribution of issuing circles narrowed significantly compared to B227: beyond the single Calcutta variety under B. Rama Rau, all recorded examples originate from Bombay.
Corrected Hindi “Rupaye” — Thirteen-Language Panel
Catalogue: BNB B229 / Pick 47f
This Ashoka Pillar 1000 Rupee note shares the corrected Hindi inscription of the previous variety but introduces a significantly expanded reverse language panel—thirteen languages, closely aligned with the constitutional language framework established by the Eighth Schedule. For more on this evolution, see our article on Languages on Indian Notes.
This design is limited to a single variety: P.C. Bhattacharyya signature, Bombay, Prefix A. This is one of the key varieties within this denomination, distinguished by its single-office, single-signature production and expanded language panel.
Two-Column Legal Tender Panel
Catalogue: BNB B230 / Pick 65
This final design type represents the ultimate phase of the Ashoka Pillar 1000 Rupee note and the last large-format issue before the denomination was withdrawn during the 1978 demonetization. Its most visible change from earlier types is the redesigned obverse legal tender panel, which adopts a structured, two-column bilingual layout featuring English on the left and Hindi on the right. This specific format reflects the broader standardization of bilingual presentation across RBI banknotes during the mid-1970s.
This definitive issue is limited to the Bombay office only and carries two signature varieties:
| Signature | Office | Prefix |
|---|---|---|
| N. C. Sen Gupta | Bombay | A |
| K. R. Puri | Bombay | A |
The second variety introduces a distinct change in the background pattern beneath the BOMBAY issuing circle name at the lower right front. The modified underprint is clearly visible under normal light and serves as the primary distinguishing feature between the two varieties.
For context on the Sen Gupta and Puri governorships and how they sit within the RBI’s administrative history, see our comprehensive history of RBI Governors.
The 1978 Demonetisation and Its Impact on Survival
On 16 January 1978, the Ashoka Pillar 1000 Rupee notes were officially demonetised under the High Denomination Bank Notes (Demonetisation) Act, 1978. Because the law was enacted rapidly with a strict, brief exchange window, the vast majority of these high-value notes were quickly recalled from institutional and commercial banking networks and subsequently destroyed.
The 1978 demonetisation permanently ended circulation of the Ashoka Pillar 1000 Rupee note, and surviving examples available to collectors today are extremely scarce. While the definitive final issue of the series shows slightly better uncirculated availability due to its short production run right before the law took effect, high-grade specimens across all design types remain exceptionally scarce.
For a comprehensive breakdown of the economic and regulatory impacts of this event, see our detailed guide on the history of demonetization in India.
The Mahatma Gandhi 1000 Rupee Notes
After a gap of more than two decades, the 1000 Rupee denomination returned in October 2000 with the introduction of the Mahatma Gandhi Portrait series. These notes represent a completely different design philosophy and production scale from the Ashoka Pillar issues.
The Mahatma Gandhi 1000 Rupee notes measure 176 × 73 mm—considerably smaller than the large-format Ashoka Pillar notes—and are printed in red, pink, yellow, orange, black, green, and light blue.
The obverse features Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait on the right side, balanced by the Lion Capital of Ashoka pillar emblem located at the lower left. This side also incorporates the denomination as a registration device, floral motifs, and the Reserve Bank of India seal featuring a tiger and a palm tree. On later issues, the official rupee symbol (₹) was introduced following its formal adoption in 2010.
The reverse depicts a comprehensive economic development montage celebrating India’s industrial and technological advancements at the turn of the millennium. This vignette includes stalks of wheat alongside a farmer operating a combine harvester, an offshore oil drilling platform, a communications satellite in orbit, a steel mill facility, and a young woman working at a computer station in the foreground. Positioned on the left side of the reverse is the standardized 15-language panel.
Four major types cover the full series, differentiated primarily by security thread specification, registration device, and watermark:
| BNB | Pick | Key Feature | Signatures |
|---|---|---|---|
| B278 | P94 | No date | Bimal Jalan; Y.V. Reddy |
| B285 | P100 | Dated reverse, no Rupee symbol | Y.V. Reddy; D. Subbarao |
| B291 | P107a-n | Dated reverse with Rupee symbol – ₹ | D. Subbarao; R.G. Rajan |
| B297 | P107o-t | Ascending size serial # | R.G. Rajan |
A notable production error is recorded for B297: the RBI confirmed that a batch of 756 notes with prefixes 5AG and 3AP, inset letter L, were produced without the windowed security thread and asked banks to return them for destruction. Surviving examples are known to exist and represent an unintentional production variety of interest to error collectors.
All Mahatma Gandhi series 1000 Rupee notes were permanently demonetised on 9 November 2016. Because these notes had circulated widely and modern collecting practices meant many examples were retained, they are considerably more available than the Ashoka Pillar types.
Republic India 1000 Rupee Note: Collectibility and Value
The two Republic India 1000 Rupee note series present fundamentally different collecting propositions.
Ashoka Pillar notes are the primary collector focus within this denomination. Their scarcity is structural: limited issuing circles, tight prefix ranges, single-signature types in several varieties, and a demonetisation that drastically reduced survival. Early types B227, B228, and B229 are difficult to obtain in any grade. B230 is more accessible but high-grade examples still command strong premiums.
Mahatma Gandhi series notes (B278–B297) are approached differently. These were produced in enormous quantities over sixteen years and most circulated extensively. Collecting focus within the Mahatma Gandhi series tends to centre on the signature progression (Jalan → Reddy → Subbarao → Rajan), year-dated varieties, and the B297 security thread error.
Conclusion
The Republic India 1000 Rupee note spans more than six decades of monetary history across two distinct design eras, separated by the 1978 demonetisation. The Ashoka Pillar series (1954–1978) remains the primary collector focus: four BNB types (B227–B230), with B227 (Pick 46) issued across five offices, B228 (Pick 47a-e) narrowing to Bombay and Calcutta, and B229 (Pick 47f) and B230 (Pick 65) restricted to Bombay only. The 1978 demonetisation drastically reduced survival across all Ashoka Pillar types, and high-grade examples of B227–B229 are rarely offered. B230, limited to the Bombay office under two signatures, provides a more accessible entry point within the series while retaining the large-format Brihadeeswarar Temple reverse that defines the entire Ashoka Pillar issue.
The Mahatma Gandhi series (2000–2016), catalogued as B278 (Pick 94), B285 (Pick 100), B291 (Pick 107a-n), and B297 (Pick 107o-t), represents a fundamentally different collecting proposition: smaller format, mass circulation, and modern security features replacing the austere institutional character of the earlier notes. Collecting focus within this series centers on the signature progression across four governors, year-dated varieties, and the documented B297 security thread error. Permanently demonetised in 2016, these notes are significantly more available than their Ashoka Pillar predecessors and complement the earlier series as a complete record of the denomination’s full circulation history — from its reintroduction as a restricted institutional instrument in 1954 to its final withdrawal as a widely circulated high-value note more than six decades later.