Nepal | New Banknotes 2026 | Signature Variety
Nepal 500 Rupees 2025/2026: The New Poudel Signature Variety Explained
Nepal has placed an updated 500-rupee banknote into circulation, and at first glance it behaves like a mountain in fog: familiar, imposing and apparently unchanged. Look closer, however, and the collector markers are exactly where modern varieties usually hide – in the date, the signature and the security details.
Quick Facts
- Country: Nepal
- Denomination: 500 rupees
- Issuer: Nepal Rastra Bank
- Series date: 2025 A.D. / B.S. 2082
- Circulation date: 17 June 2026
- Signature: Governor Prof. Dr. Bishwonath Poudel
- Material: Cotton-based banknote paper
- Catalogue reference: B292c
- Status: Legal tender; previous 500-rupee issues remain valid
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What Actually Changed?
This is not a completely new design. BanknoteNews identifies it as B292c and describes it as the successor to B292b, with a new signature and a new date. The signature belongs to Governor Prof. Dr. Bishwonath Poudel, while the reverse carries the Gregorian year 2025 and the obverse uses the Bikram Sambat date B.S. 2082. It entered circulation on 17 June 2026, or 3 Asar 2083 in Nepal’s official calendar.
That may sound like clerical housekeeping. To a collector, it is the entire point. Modern banknotes often keep the same artwork for years while dates, signatures, prefixes and security details quietly produce distinct catalogue varieties. The result is a note that can pass through thousands of hands unnoticed and still be a separate reference in a serious collection.
Collector Answer in One Sentence
The 2026 circulation issue is the familiar Nepal 500-rupee design updated with Governor Poudel’s signature and the 2025/B.S. 2082 dates, catalogued by The Banknote Book as B292c.
Obverse: Everest, the Rhododendron and a Golden-to-Green Deity
The obverse continues to build Nepal’s identity from altitude, faith and national symbolism. Mount Everest – Sagarmatha in Nepali – appears at the left, while the rhododendron watermark occupies the right-hand watermark area. The flower is not decorative filler: it is Nepal’s national flower and an effective recognition feature when the banknote is held to light.
Near the watermark are two raised black dots intended to help blind and visually impaired users identify the denomination by touch. An oval device contains Kubera, the Hindu deity associated with wealth. Viewed directly, the feature appears gold; when the note is tilted, it changes to green. The central promise text confirms the obligation of Nepal Rastra Bank under the guarantee of the Government of Nepal.
The new governor’s signature is the decisive collector marker. Anyone building a chronological Nepal set should record the note by denomination, signature, date and serial prefix, not merely as “another 500 rupees”.
Reverse: Bengal Tigers, Not a Rhinoceros
The reverse shows Bengal tigers in the central vignette, with NEPAL RASTRA BANK above and RUPEES FIVE HUNDRED below. This detail matters because some early English-language reports described a one-horned rhinoceros. The available banknote image and the more detailed issue description support the tiger identification, which also preserves the established visual language of this denomination.
The date 2025 A.D. appears on the reverse. That date should not be confused with the circulation date: the note is dated 2025 but was introduced to the public on 17 June 2026. It is a small distinction with an impressive ability to cause large arguments in online listings.
Security Features
| Feature | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Security thread | A 3.5 mm thread appears red when viewed directly and changes to green when tilted. |
| Watermark | Rhododendron watermark in the designated window. |
| Tactile marks | Two raised black dots assist denomination recognition. |
| Colour-shifting device | Kubera changes from gold to green as the viewing angle changes. |
| Serial numbers | Six-digit sequences are reported within the 000001-999999 format across prefixes. |
| Signature and dates | Poudel signature, B.S. 2082 on the obverse and 2025 A.D. on the reverse. |
Does the New Note Replace Older 500-Rupee Banknotes?
No. Nepal Rastra Bank stated that earlier 500-rupee issues remain legal tender and continue to circulate. The new variety will be distributed gradually through banks and financial institutions. For collectors, that creates a useful window in which older and newer signatures may appear together in everyday cash.
Collector Significance and What to Save
The first examples reaching collectors will probably attract a new-issue premium, especially in UNC condition. The long-term interest is more likely to depend on clean examples, early prefixes, documented replacement notes and clearly identifiable signature varieties. A comparison pair of B292b and B292c tells the story better than either note alone.
Practical Collecting Checklist
- Confirm the Poudel signature and the 2025/B.S. 2082 dates.
- Check the 3.5 mm colour-shifting security thread.
- Prefer flat UNC notes with sharp corners and an undamaged thread.
- Record the full prefix and serial number.
- Keep the previous signature variety for a side-by-side comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Nepal’s updated 500-rupee note introduced?
It entered circulation on 17 June 2026, corresponding to 3 Asar 2083 in the Bikram Sambat calendar.
Is it a completely new Nepal banknote design?
No. It is a date-and-signature variety within the established 500-rupee design family.
Who signed the new 500-rupee note?
The note bears the signature of Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Prof. Dr. Bishwonath Poudel.
What animal appears on the reverse?
The reverse depicts Bengal tigers. Some early reporting incorrectly referred to a rhinoceros.
Are older Nepal 500-rupee notes still valid?
Yes. Nepal Rastra Bank confirmed that earlier issues remain legal tender.
Verified Sources
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This article is part of the New Banknotes 2026 guide.
