Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India said that it will soon launch 1,000 denomination banknotes with rupee symbol, and improved security features.

“The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue 1,000 denomination banknotes incorporating rupee symbol, with inset letter ‘L’, in both the numbering panels, in the Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005 with improved security features,” RBI said in a notification.

These banknotes will bear the signature of RBI Governor D. Subbarao and the year of printing 2012 will be on the reverse of the bank note, it added.

The design of these notes to be issued will be similar in all respects to the 1,000 banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series-2005.

“All the banknotes in the denomination of 1,000 issued by the bank (RBI) in the past will continue to be legal tender,” RBI said.

In July, amid instances of counterfeiting of notes, the Reserve Bank said it is working on launching plastic currency and will soon launch a pilot project for the same.

"Counterfeiting of plastic notes is very difficult. So we are planning to launch some plastic money on pilot basis in 4-5 centres. Like Jaipur, Shimla, Bhubaneshwar and other centres. We are working on it," RBI Deputy Governor H R Khan told to PTI.