Does Writing Anything On An Indian Currency Note Make Them Invalid? Check Here.

Are bank notes with any writing on them considered invalid? According to a viral WhatsApp forward, bank notes defaced with writing are invalid under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. The claim is false; however, as part of its Clean Note Policy, the central bank encourages members of the public not to scribble or write anything on bank notes. Now, the Press Information Bureau, the information wing of the Government of India, has rebutted the claims on Twitter, claiming that the message is FAKE.

"NO, bank notes with scribbling are not invalid and continue to be legal tender," the Press Information Bureau, the Government of India's information wing, clarified in a recent Twitter update. Furthermore, there have been no new guidelines issued by the RBI in this regard; however, the central bank did unveil a Clean Note Policy in 1999 with the goal of providing citizens with high-quality currency notes and coins while gradually removing soiled notes from circulation.

"Under the Clean Note Policy, people are asked not to write on currency notes because it defaces them and shortens their life," PIB added.

How is currency issued?

The Reserve Bank of India is the sole authority in India for issuing currency. The central bank has the authority because it is responsible for providing an adequate supply of currency to facilitate government transactions as well as the exchange and remittance needs of banks and the general public.

Several steps have been taken to increase the supply of currency notes and coins since 1999, when the then-RBI Governor announced the Clean Note Policy.

According to the RBI, currency chest branches of banks must offer good quality notes and coins in exchange for soiled and mutilated notes, even to non-customers. However, complaints from the public and trade bodies continue to be received that these instructions have not been fully implemented.

RBI's Clean Note Policy

The policy, announced by the central bank in 1999, encourages members of the public not to write on notes and instructs banks to set up an unrestricted facility for exchanging soiled and mutilated currency. It aims to provide citizens with high-quality notes and coins while removing soiled ones from circulation.

What did the Fake Message Claimed?

The message circulated on social media stated that writing anything on new notes, according to the Reserve Bank of India's New Guidelines, renders the note invalid and it will no longer be legal tender.

PIB Fact Check dismissed the above claim as false, tweeting, "NO, bank notes with scribbling are not invalid & continue to be legal tender."

What does RBI Say?

Users are asked not to write anything on a currency note under the RBI's Clean Note Policy because it shortens its life. People are asked not to write on currency notes under the Clean Note Policy because it defaces them and shortens their lives.

People are asked not to do the following under the RBI's Clean Note Policy:

• Standard banknotes
• Use bank notes to make garlands/toys, to decorate pandals and places of worship, or to shower on celebrities at social events, and so on.
• Scribble or write on the currency notes
• Currency notes that are soiled or mutilated can be freely exchanged at bank teller counters. Coins and small denomination notes are also freely exchangeable at banks.

Exchange of Soiled Notes

According to the RBI's "Master Circular - Facility for Exchange of Notes and Coins" dated 1st July 2020, all branches of banks in all parts of the country must provide the following customer services to members of the public more actively and vigorously:

• On demand, fresh/good quality notes and coins of all denominations are issued.
• Notes that are soiled, mutilated, or defective are exchanged. However, for small finance banks and payment banks, exchanging such notes is optional.
• Accepting coins and bills for transactions and exchange.
• All bank notes with scribbling or stains (including colour stains) remain legal tender. These notes are available for deposit or exchange at any bank branch.