In what is good news for transgenders the Reserve Bank of India has directed banks to include a third column in their application forms that would show a third gender.

In a release RBI has said: "It has been brought to our notice that transgender persons face difficulties in opening accounts as there is no provision for them in the account opening and other forms.

The Supreme Court, in that case, upheld transgender persons' right to decide their self-identified gender and directed the Centre and State Government to grant legal recognition of their gender identity such as male, female or as third gender.

"Banks are, therefore, directed to include ‘third gender' in all forms/applications etc. prescribed by the Reserve Bank or the banks themselves, wherein any gender classification is envisaged," the RBI release has said.

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