Old bank notes now accepted up to 24-11-2016 mid night for specified transactions. Fresh Steps taken my Modi Government

Old bank notes now accepted up to 24-11-2016 mid night for specified transactions. Fresh Steps taken my the Modi Government in review meeting

Ministry of Finance

Press Release

Dated : 14th November, 2016

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi reviewed the position regarding the supply and availability of currency notes yesterday late evening and took certain decisions to further activate the dispensing of cash through the networks of Banking Correspondents (BCs), Post Offices, ATMs, Banks and E-payment systems

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi reviewed the supply and availability of currency notes yesterday late evening (13.11.2016).  The meeting went on till past midnight. It was attended among others by the Union Minister of Home,Shri Rajnath Singh, the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley,  Urban Development and I&B Minister, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu, MoS (Independent Charge) for Coal & Power, Shri Piyush Goyal and MoS (Finance), Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar.  It was also attended by the Governor and Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India, all Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance and senior officials from the PMO.

The Meeting took stock of the current status of supply of cash and took certain decisions to further activate the dispensing of cash through the networks of Banking Correspondents, Post Offices, ATMs, Banks and E-payment systems.  Following  decisions were also taken keeping in view the convenience of the public.

Banking Correspondents (BCs) Network :

1. Banks will increase the cash holding limit of BCs to at least Rs.50,000/- each.  Banks will also allow higher limits in appropriate cases.

2. Banks will replenish the cash with BCs multiple times in a day as per requirement of the BCs.

BCs have wide presence in the rural areas.  Totally there are 1.2 lakh BCs in the country.  The above decisions will facilitate wider reach in the rural areas for exchange and withdrawal of cash from Bank Accounts.

Postal Network :

3. There are about 1.3 lakh Branch Post Offices in the country.  It has been decided to enhance the supply of cash to Branch Post Offices to facilitate cash withdrawals from Postal Accounts.

It may be noted that with 1.2 lakh BCs and 1.3 lakh branch Post Offices getting further activated, a total number of 2.5 lakh points in rural areas will be available to disburse cash and facilitate cash withdrawals from Bank Accounts.

ATM Network :

4. To expedite the process of recalibration of ATMs, a Task Force is being set up under Deputy Governor, RBI consisting of representatives of Banks and Finance Ministry.  This Task Force will draw up action plan and ensure implementation of this action plan for quick recalibration of the ATMs to enable them to dispense new Bank notes of Rs.500/- and Rs.2000/-.

5. In the meantime, Micro ATMs will be deployed to dispense cash against Debit/Credit cards up to the cash limits applicable for ATMs.  The handheld Micro ATMs have the facility of mobility and deployment at the required places. 

Network and Reach of the Banks :

6. The withdrawal limit of Rs.20,000/- per week has been enhanced to Rs.24,000/-.  The withdrawal limit of Rs.10,000/- per day has been removed.

7. The limit of Rs.4000/- for over the counter exchange against old Rs.500/- and Rs.1000/- notes has been increased to Rs.4500/-.  This will enable the Banks to give lower denomination notes for Rs.500/- while dispensing the remaining Rs.4000/- through Rs.2000/- notes.

8. The ATMs are progressively getting recalibrated.  As and when they are recalibrated, the cash limit of such ATMs will stand enhanced to Rs.2500/- per withdrawal.  This will enable dispensing of lower denomination currency notes for about Rs.500/- per withdrawal.  Other ATMs which are yet to be recalibrated, will continue to dispense Rs.2000/- till they are recalibrated. 

9. Business entities having Current Accounts which are operational for last three months or more will be allowed to draw Rs.50,000/-per week.  This can be done in a single transaction or multiple transactions.  This will enable the small business entities to pay wages to their workers and make sundry payments.

10. Adequate cash will be made available with District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) to facilitate withdrawal from existing accounts.  The cash withdrawal limits for Banks will apply in case of DCCBs also.

The above measures would substantially enhance the reach of the banking system to exchange notes and facilitate cash withdrawal from bank accounts.

E-Payments :

11. All Central Government Departments and Public Sector Enterprises are being instructed to use the method of e-payments to the maximum extent possible.

12. RBI has advised National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to waive its transaction charges on transactions settled through National Financial Switch(NFS) till 31^st December, 2016.

13. Banks are also being advised to waive similar charges currently levied by them.

Arrangements for public convenience :

14. Banks have been advised to arrange separate queues in their branches for senior citizens and divyang persons; customers for transactions against accounts held with the Bank; and exchange of notes.  There will, therefore be, three or more separate queues in every branch.

15. Pensioners are required to submit Annual Life Certificate during the month of November.  This time limit has been extended up to 15^th January, 2017.

16. The existing exemptions for acceptance of old Rs.500/- and Rs.1000/- notes for certain types of transactions are being extended beyond 14^th November, 2016 midnight up to 24^th November, 2016 mid night.

There is enough cash in the system to meet the requirement.  Members of the public are, therefore, advised not to have any sense of panic.

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DSM
(Release ID :153601)

Authors Note:
Till the 24th November 2016 midnight, specified banknotes can be used as under:—

(a) for making payments in Government hospitals for medical treatment and pharmacies in Government hospitals for buying medicines with doctor’s prescription;

(b) at railway ticketing counters, ticket counters of Government or Public Sector Undertakings buses and airline ticketing counters at airports for purchase of tickets;

(c) for purchases at consumer cooperative stores operated under authorisation of Central or State Governments and the customers shall provide their identity proof;

(d) for purchase at milk booths operating under authorisation of the Central or State Governments;

(e) for purchase of petrol, diesel and gas at the stations operating under the authorisation of Public Sector Oil and Gas Marketing Companies;

(f) for payments at crematoria and burial grounds;

(g) at international airports, for arriving and departing passengers, who possess specified bank notes, the value of which does not exceed five thousand rupees to exchange them for notes having legal tender character;

(h) for foreign tourists to exchange foreign currency or specified bank notes, the value of which does not exceed five thousand rupees to exchange them for notes having legal tender character.

(i) for making payments in all pharmacies on production of doctor’s prescription and proof of identity;

(j) for payments on purchases LPG gas cylinders;

(k) for making payments to catering services on board, during travel by rail;

(l) for making payments for purchasing tickets for travel by suburban and metro rail services;

(m) for making payments for purchase of entry tickets for any monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

(n) for making payments towards any fees, charges, taxes or penalties, payable to the Central or State Governments including Municipal and local bodies;

(o) for making payments towards utility charges including water and electricity -which shall be restricted to individuals or households for payment of only arrears or current charges and no advance payments shall be allowed