Discontinuation of currency notes of ₹ 500/- and ₹ 1000/- issued by RBI w.e.f. midnight of 08.11.2016

[DEVKUMAR KOTHARI]

News:

From news of TV channels and news in e- news papers we found that currency notes of ₹ 500/- and ₹ 1000/- issued by RBI will be almost scraped w.e.f. midnight of 08.11.2016 and will be useful only for limited purposes and limited amount.

No notification found on website of RBI:

Till 22:10 hours of 08.11.2016 notification is not found on website of RBI. However, some information are provided on the Home page about discontinuation of the currency notes of ₹ 500/- and ₹ 1000/-

Even at 21: 10 hours last notification shown in notification page is of

Nov 07, 2016
External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) – Clarifications on hedging Before that on RBI website:

https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx was   SEEN AT ABOUT 21:40 HOURS on 08.11.2016 but any notification issued in this regard was not found. The last notification webhosted by RBI is of 07.11.16. The top portion of notifications is reproduced below:

Notification FOR DISCONTINUATION OF NOTES WAS NOT AVAILABLE. LATEST NOTIFICATION UPLOADED ON WEBSITE IS OF 07.11.2016.

Notifications

Nov 07, 2016
External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) – Clarifications on hedging	23 kb
Auction of Government of India Dated Securities	91 kb
Auction for Sale (Re-issue) of 6.84 per cent Government Stock 2022	18 kb
Auction for Sale (Re-issue) of 6.97 per cent Government Stock 2026	18 kb
Auction for Sale (Re-issue) of 7.73 per cent Government Stock 2034	19 kb
Auction for Sale (Re-issue) of 7.72 Percent Government Stock 2055

Screen shot of the same page taken at 21:55 hours is pasted below:

There is no notification on website till then. Again at 22:25 hours of 08.11.16 no change in notifications was found.

Rather at about 21:15 hours author found on https://www.rbi.org.in/currency/faqs.html in a chapter on RBI website which included as follows:

  “At present, notes in India are issued in the denomination of ₹ 5, ₹ 10, ₹ 20, ₹ 50, ₹ 100, ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000.”

Therefore, there was no information on website of RBI for the action reported in news and through mouth of honourable Prime Minister.

Detailed chapter is given in this write-up.

Thoughts after listening and reading news:

After listening news and reading news in net author find that the relief provided is only in a limited way to individuals. Business difficulties have not been considered. For example, some of difficulties are as follows:

Cash sale proceeds by wholesalers and retailers – how to be deposited with so many limits and restrictions.

At a very low level of operations we find that even a vegetable and fruit vendor and even a pan shop has collection at the end of day he may be holding 3000- 7000 or more in currency notes of ₹ 500/- and 1000/- which he use for purchasing goods on next day for resell. Many times we notice that many customers of such shops exchange ₹ 500/- and ₹ 1000/- notes (withdrawn from ATM) with small denomination notes of ₹ 100/- ,50/- , 20/-, 10/- etc. for meeting petty expenses.

Similarly even a taxi driver can be holding about ₹ 2000/- to 3000/- which he use for refilling diesel and making payment to taxi owner or repayment of loan etc.

In case of shops cash sale is common and sizable amount of cash in notes of ₹ 500/- and ₹ 1000/- are collected and the same is deposited in banks daily or periodically for making payment to supplier. These shop keepers will have lot of difficulty.

Cash withdrawn for salary and wage payment:

Many organizations have pay day on or around 10^th of each month. Many of their employees do not have bank account. There will be many cases of cash withdrawn for such purposes. They will face difficulty.

Farmers:

Farmers sell their produce and get cash payment which they use for paying goods required for farming. They will also face difficulty.

House hold expenses:

1 -8^th day of any month is crucial for cash withdrawn for meeting family expenses. Salary payment is usually made between this period. If salary is deposited in bank account, one need to withdraw cash to meet family expenses. This includes payables to domestic helps, gardeners, drivers, sweepers, car cleaner , Dhobi-cloth -washer man – cloth iron man. There will be hardship in such payments.

Discontinuation of both ₹ 500/- and ₹ 1000/- at the same time is not justified:

Rs.500/- is much less in value these days for making many of payments. The ground reality is that when cash is withdrawn from ATM ₹ 500/- is most popular currency. If one withdraw ₹ 10000/- the chance is that ₹ 9500/- will be in ₹ 500/- and 1000/- and only ₹ 500/- will be in notes of ₹ 100/- Therefore, people who withdraw money through ATM have to obtain lower denomination notes from others and they plan in a way that large denomination note is given and some small denomination notes are received back to meet petty expenses.

Therefore, it was desirable that first ₹ 1000/- notes be discontinued and then ₹ 500/-notes could be discontinues.

Merely opening of bank account is not enough:

Bank accounts opened in Jan Dhan Yojna is considered a big achievement. However, the number of new accounts opened in the scheme has many accounts which are opened additional account by people who already had banc account. Therefore, it is estimated that only 60% of account opened in the scheme are for new account openers and balance are in nature of additional account opened by people who already had a bank account in his own name or in name of family members.

Habit of paying through banking channels is to be improved.

Charges on credit card and debit card must be reduced:

If thought of more payment through banking channels is to be vigorously implemented then it is necessary that transaction costs in such transaction be reduced. With high costs charged to merchant and card holder in different manner like transaction charges from merchant, transaction charges from card holder, late payment charges, financial charges and service tax on all such charges is a heavy cost. These must come down if these channels of payment are to be preferred. Many shops and in trades where margins are very low,  demand extra charges from customers, if a payment is made by credit card for example jewellery shops, electronic goods shops, hardware goods shops, consumer goods shops etc.

Some news reports:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/personal-finance-news/rs-500-rs-1000-notes-are-no-longer-legal-tender-what-you-need-to-know-and-do/articleshow/55316977.cms

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rs-500-and-rs-1-000-notes-are-now-just-paper-says-pm-modi-1622960

n | Updated: November 08, 2016 22:06 IST

EMAIL

PRINT

COMMENTS

Old ₹ 500 and ₹ 1,000 notes will be illegal from tonight, announced PM Modi .

New Delhi: 

Highlights

1. New ₹ 500, ₹ 2000 notes from Nov 10, old ones illegal from midnight
2. For 72 hours, government hospitals to accept old ₹ 500, ₹ 1000 notes
3. Citizens have 50 days from Nov 10 to return notes at banks, post offices

In a sudden address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that starting midnight, existing ₹ 500 and ₹ 1,000 notes can no longer be used for any transactions.

They must be deposited, starting Thursday and through December 30, at post offices and banks, he said, describing the move as essential to fight "the disease of black money."

New ₹ 500 and ₹ 2,000 notes, cleared by the Reserve Bank of India, will be introduced on Thursday.

The new ₹ 500 and 2000 notes will be issued on November 10

"Your money will remain yours...you need have no worry on this account," PM Modi said, stressing that the new notes will be in limited supply at first and will then be increased.

He spoke first in Hindi and then in English to share the details of the new policy.

For now, notes currently in use can be traded for upto ₹ 4,000 till November 24 and for larger amounts thereafter. Against notes that are deposited, withdrawals of upto ₹ 10,000 a day or 20,000 a week will be permitted for now.

PM Modi, urging the country to bear with "temporary hardships" in the implementation of the new rule, said that banks will be closed to the public tomorrow and ATMs will not work in some places for the next 48 hours.

The PM said that though India is now "a global bright spot" with its fast-growing economy, corruption and black or undeclared money "are the biggest obstacles to our success."

"We are No 1 in rate of economic growth," he said, while adding that despite some progress, India still ranks at No 76 in world rankings for perception of corruption.

PM Modi said that since his government was elected, 1.25 lakh crores of black money "belonging to the corrupt" has been uncovered, through a series of measures including a voluntary disclosure scheme which has seen a good response.

The PM said that fake currency is also being employed "by the enemy across the border" to sponsor deadly attacks.

*****

₹ 500, ₹ 1000 notes are no longer legal tender: What you need to know and do

ECONOMICTIMES.COM|

Updated: Nov 08, 2016, 09.28 PM IS

1. Keep calm: you have 50 days time to exchange / deposit your old notes in banks / post office and lower denomination notes and coins will remain legal tender.

2. Emergency requirements have been taken care of.

 Some leeway has been given by the government for use of these notes for medical emergencies etc. For first 72 hours from Nov 8 midnight i.e. till 11 Nov mi ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/55316977.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/55316977.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/rs-500-rs-1000-notes-scrapped-what-you-need-to-do-in-the-next-few-days/story-qdhNEvCqQ0zrtZrPblN1FK.html

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, announced that ₹ 500 and ₹ 1,000 denomination notes are being withdrawn from midnight. He said that such notes will become “mere paper”.

Here’s what you need to know and do in the next few days:

# All banks will remain closed for public work on November 9.

# Deposit currently used notes of ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000 in post office accounts or banks by December 30, 2016. There will be no limit on the deposit amounts.

# Exchange old notes of ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000 at any bank, head post office or sub post office by showing ID proof. The limit for this is ₹ 4000 upto Nov 24.

# There’ll be a limit on withdrawal of ₹ 10,000 per day and ₹ 20,000 per week. This limit will be increased in the coming days.

- PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 8, 2016

# No restrictions of any kind on non-cash payments by cheques, demand drafts, debit or credit cards and electronic fund transfers.

# ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000 will cease to be legal tender from the midnight of November 8, 2016.

# On Nov 9 and in some places on Nov 10, 2016, ATMs will not work.

# For 72 hours, these places and institutions will continue to accept ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000 notes for payment:

--Government hospitals will continue to accept old ₹ 500, ₹ 1000 notes for payment.

--Rrailway ticket booking counters, ticket counters of government buses and airline ticket counters at airports will accept old notes for purchase of tickets.

--Petrol, diesel and gas stations authorised by public sector oil companies

--Consumer co-operative stores authorised by state or central government.

--Milk booths authorised by state governments

--Crematoria and burial grounds

https://www.rbi.org.in/currency/faqs.html  down loaded on 08.11.16 at about 21:15 hours.

Your Guide to Money Matters

Money as a means of payment, consists of coins, paper money and withdrawable bank deposits. Today, credit cards and electronic cash form an important component of the payment system. For a common person though, money simply means currency and coins. This is so because in India, the payment system, especially for retail transactions still revolves around currency and coins. There is very little, however, that the common person knows about currency and coins he handles on a daily basis.

Here is an attempt to answer some of the Frequently Asked Questions on Indian Currency.

Some Basics

What is the Indian currency called?
The Indian currency is called the Indian Rupee (INR) and the coins are called paise. One Rupee consists of 100 paise.

What are the present denominations of bank notes in India?
At present, notes in India are issued in the denomination of ₹ 5, ₹ 10, ₹ 20, ₹ 50, ₹ 100, ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000. These notes are called bank notes as they are issued by the Reserve Bank of India (Reserve Bank). The printing of notes in the denominations of Re.1 and ₹ 2 has been discontinued as these denominations have been coinised. However, such notes issued earlier are still in circulation. The printing of notes in the denomination of ₹ 5 had also been discontinued; however, it has been decided to reintroduce these notes so as to meet the gap between the demand and supply of coins in this denomination.

What are the present available denominations of coins in India?
Coins in India are available in denominations of 10 paise, 20 paise, 25 paise, 50 paise, one rupee, two rupees and five rupees. Coins up to 50 paise are called 'small coins' and coins of Rupee one and above are called 'Rupee Coins'.

Can bank notes and coins be issued only in these denominations?
Not necessarily. The Reserve Bank can also issue notes in the denominations of one thousand rupees, five thousand rupees and ten thousand rupees, or any other denomination that the Central Government may specify. There cannot, though, be notes in denominations higher than ten thousand rupees in terms of the current provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Coins can be issued up to the denomination of ₹ 1000.

Currency Management

What is the role of the Reserve Bank in currency management?
The Reserve Bank manages currency in India. The Government, on the advice of the Reserve Bank, decides on the various denominations. The Reserve Bank also co-ordinates with the Government in the designing of bank notes, including the security features. The Reserve Bank estimates the quantity of notes that are likely to be needed denomination-wise and places the indent with the various presses through the Government of India. The notes received from the presses are issued and a reserve stock maintained. Notes received from banks and currency chests are examined. Notes fit for circulation are reissued and the others (soiled and mutilated) are destroyed so as to maintain the quality of notes in circulation. The Reserve Bank derives its role in currency management on the basis of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

What is the role of Government of India?
The responsibility for coinage vests with Government of India on the basis of the Coinage Act, 1906 as amended from time to time. The designing and minting of coins in various denominations is also attended to by the Government of India.

Who decides on the volume and value of bank notes to be printed and on what basis?
The Reserve Bank decides upon the volume and value of bank notes to be printed. The quantum of bank notes that needs to be printed broadly depends on the annual increase in bank notes required for circulation purposes, replacement of soiled notes and reserve requirements.

Who decides on the quantity of coins to be minted?
The Government of India decides upon the quantity of coins to be minted.

How does the Reserve Bank estimate the demand for bank notes?
The Reserve Bank estimates the demand for bank notes on the basis of the growth rate of the economy, the replacement demand and reserve requirements by using statistical models.

How does the Reserve Bank reach the currency to people?
The Reserve Bank manages the currency operations through its offices located at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Belapur(Navi Mumbai), Kolkata, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mumbai (Fort), Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram. These offices receive fresh notes from the note presses. Similarly, the Reserve Bank offices located at Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi initially receive the coins from the mints. These offices then send them to the other offices of the Reserve Bank. The notes and rupee coins are stocked at the currency chests and small coins at the small coin depots. The bank branches receive the bank notes and coins from the currency chests and small coin depots for further distribution among the public.

What is a currency chest?
To facilitate the distribution of notes and rupee coins, the Reserve Bank has authorised selected branches of banks to establish currency chests. These are actually storehouses where bank notes and rupee coins are stocked on behalf of the Reserve Bank. At present, there are over 4422 currency chests. The currency chest branches are expected to distribute notes and rupee coins to other bank branches in their area of operation.

What is a small coin depot?
Some bank branches are also authorised to establish small coin depots to stock small coins. There are 3784 small coin depots spread throughout the country. The small coin depots also distribute small coins to other bank branches in their area of operation.

What happens when the notes and coins return from circulation?
Notes and coins returned from circulation are deposited at the offices of the Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank then separates the notes that are fit for reissue and those which are not fit for reissue. The notes which are fit for reissue are sent back in circulation and those which are unfit for reissue are destroyed after processingshredded. The same is the case with coins. The coins withdrawn are sent to the Mints for melting.

From where can the general public obtain bank notes and coins?
Bank notes and coins can be obtained at any of the offices of the Reserve Bank and at all branches of banks maintaining currency chests and small coin depots.

Current Issues

Why are the coins and bank notes in short supply?
This is not entirely correct. It is true that till recently the demand for currency was more than their supply. The primary reason for this is that the Indian society is still predominantly cash-driven. However, at present there are no supply constraints so far as bank notes are concerned. As regards coins, Government of India are taking various steps, including importing rupee coins. The impression of coins being in short supply is also enhanced probably due to people’s preference for notes.

Is there a way to reduce dependence on cash?
Yes, once instruments such as, cheques, credit and debit cards, electronic funds transfer gain popularity, the demand for currency is expected to go down.

Meanwhile, are some steps being taken to increase the supply of bank notes and coins?
Yes, several steps have been taken to augment the supply of bank notes and coins. Some of these are:

• The existing note printing presses and the mints owned by the Government are being modernised.
• Two new currency printing presses with the state-of-the-art technology have been set up under the aegis of the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank.
• To bridge the demand-supply gap, the Government had, as a one-time measure, even imported bank notes.
• The production capacity of the four India Government Mints are being augmented.
• Government of India has also been importing rupee coins to supplement the supply of coins from the four mints. Till date 2 billion rupee coins have been imported.

Why are Re1, ₹ 2 and ₹ 5 notes not being printed?
Volume-wise, the share of such small denomination notes in the total notes in circulation was as high as 57 per cent but constituted only 7 per cent in terms of value. The average life of these notes was found to be around a year. The cost of printing and servicing these notes was, thus, not commensurate with their life. Printing of these notes was, therefore, discontinued. These denominations were, therefore, coinised. However, it has been decided that notes in the denomination of ₹ 5 be re-introduced so as to meet the gap between the demand and supply of coins in this denomination.

Soiled and Mutilated Notes

What are soiled and mutilated notes?
Soiled notes are notes, which have become dirty and limp due to excessive use. Mutilated notes are notes, which are torn, disfigured, burnt, washed, eaten by white ants, etc. A double numbered note cut into two pieces but on which both the numbers are intact is now being treated as soiled note.

Can such notes be exchanged for value?
Yes. Soiled notes can be tendered at all bank branches for and exchange obtained.

How much value would one get in exchange of soiled or mutilated notes?
Full value is payable against soiled notes. Payment of exchange value of mutilated notes is governed by the Reserve Bank of India (Note Refund) Rules, 1975. These Rules have been framed under Section 28 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The public can get value for these notes as laid down in the Rules, after adjudication. Currently, provisions exist for paying either full, half or no value as far as notes in the denomination for ₹ 10 and above are concerned; as regards Re.1, ₹ 2 & ₹ 5, a tenderer can get either full or no value depending upon the condition of the note.

What types of notes are not eligible for payment under the Note Refund Rules?
The following notes are not payable under the Note Refund Rules.

A note which is

• less than half the area of the full note
• devoid of the major portion of the number, i.e., the prefix and three digits or four digits of the number in notes up to and inclusive of ₹ 5; in respect of notes of ₹ 10 and above, where this inadequacy is present at both the numbering panels.
• cancelled by any office of the Reserve Bank or against which the value has already been paid
• found to be forged
• deliberately cut, mutilated or tampered
• carrying extrinsic words or visible representation intended to convey or capable of conveying any message of a political character.

What if a note is found to be non-payable?
Non-payable notes are retained by the receiving banks and sent to the Reserve Bank where they are destroyed.

Where are soiled/mutilated notes accepted?
All banks are authorised to accept soiled notes across their counters and pay the exchange value. They are expected to offer this service even to non-customers. All public sector bank branches and currency chest branches of private sector banks are authorised to adjudicate and pay value in respect of mutilated notes, in terms of the Reserve Bank of India (Note Refund) Rules, 1975. The RBI has also authorised all commercial bank branches to treat certain notes in ‘two pieces’ as soiled notes and pay exchange value.

Features of Contemporary Bank Notes

What are the general features of bank notes currently in circulation?
Rs.10, ₹ 20, ₹ 50 and ₹ 100 notes issued earlier and which are still in circulation contain the Ashoka Pillar watermark and Ashoka Pillar effigy. The ₹ 500 notes issued earlier i.e. since 1987 bear the Ashoka Pillar watermark and the Mahatma Gandhi portrait. The Reserve Bank is now issuing bank notes in Mahatma Gandhi series. This means that the notes contain Mahatma Gandhi watermark as well as Mahatma Gandhi's portrait. The ₹ 5 notes re-introduced in August 2001 also bear the Ashoka Pillar watermark and Ashoka Pillar effigy. All these notes issued by the Bank are legal tender.

Why was the change brought about?
The central banks the world over bring in some change in the design of their bank notes. This is primarily to make counterfeiting difficult. India also follows the same policy.

Are there any special features introduced in the notes of Mahatma Gandhi series?
The new Mahatma Gandhi series of notes contain several special features vis-à-vis the notes issued earlier. These are:

i) Security thread: ₹ 10, ₹ 20 and ₹ 50 notes contain a readable but fully embedded security windowed security thread. ₹ 100, ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000 notes contain a readable windowed security thread. This thread is partially exposed and partially embedded. When held against light, this thread can be seen as one continuous line. Other than on ₹ 1000 notes, this thread contains the words 'Bharat' in the devnagri script and 'RBI' appearing alternately. The security thread of the ₹ 1000 note contains the inscription 'Bharat' in the devnagri script, '1000' and 'RBI'. Notes issued earlier have a plain, non-readable fully embedded security thread.

ii) Latent Image: A vertical band behind on the right side of the Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait, which contains a latent image, showing the denominational value 20, 50, 100, 500 or 1000 as the case may be. The value can be seen only when the note is held on the palm and light allowed to fall on it at 45° ; otherwise this feature appears only as a vertical band.

iii) Microletterings: This feature appears between the vertical band and Mahatma Gandhi portrait. It contains the word ‘RBI’ in ₹ 10. Notes of ₹ 20 and above also contain the denominational value of the notes. This feature can be seen better under a magnifying glass.

iv) Identification mark: A special intaglio feature has been introduced on the left of the watermark window on all notes except ₹ 10/- note. This feature is in different shapes for various denominations (Rs.20-Vertical Rectangle, ₹ 50-Square, ₹ 100-Triangle, ₹ 500-Circle, ₹ 1000-Diamond) and helps the visually impaired to identify the denomination.

v) Intaglio Printing: The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, Reserve Bank seal, guarantee and promise clause, Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left, RBI Governor's signature are printed in intaglio i.e. in raised prints in ₹ 20, ₹ 50, ₹ 100, ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000 notes.

vi) Fluorescence: The number panels of the notes are printed in fluorescent ink. The notes also have optical fibres. Both can be seen when the notes are exposed to ultra-violet lamp.

vii) Optically Variable Ink: The numeral 500 & 1000 on the ₹ 500 [revised colour scheme of mild yellow, mauve and brown] and ₹ 1000 notes are printed in Optically Variable Ink viz., a colour-shifting ink. The colour of these numerals appear green when the notes are held flat but would change to blue when the notes are held at an angle.

Forgeries

How does one differentiate between a genuine note and a forged note?
The notes on which the above features are not available can be suspected as forged notes and examined minutely.

What are the legal provisions relating to printing and circulation of forged notes?
Printing and circulation of forged notes are offences under Sections 489A to 489E of the Indian Penal Code and are punishable in the courts of law by fine or imprisonment or both, depending on the offence.

Remember: An aware public is the best safeguard against forgeries

This is an electronic document. Kindly refer to the printed brochure for the definitive version.