Specific Ink Colour To Write Cheques: Has RBI Issued Such A Guideline? See Facts

A claim has been circulating on social media that the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) has issued a new rule banning the use of black ink on cheques. According to these posts, cheques written in black ink would no longer be accepted starting January 1, 2025, as part of a measure aimed at enhancing security and preventing fraudulent activities. However, the government’s official fact-checking body, PIB FactCheck, has clarified that this claim is fake.

PIB's clear denial

On its X handle, PIB FactCheck categorically denied that the RBI had issued any such directive. The Reserve Bank of India, as per official records, has not prescribed any specific ink color for writing cheques.

Contrary to the claim that black ink would be prohibited, there is no such guideline in place by the RBI. The bank has also not imposed any restrictions on the color of ink that customers must use when issuing cheques.
 

It is being claimed in social media posts that @RBI has issued new rules prohibiting the use of black ink on cheques.#PIBFactCheck

▶️This claim is #FAKE

▶️Reserve Bank of India has not prescribed specific ink colors to be used for writing cheques

🔗https://t.co/KTZIk0dawz pic.twitter.com/vbL3LbBtFs

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) January 17, 2025

The viral fake news

The viral claim stated that in a bid to curb cheque fraud, the RBI had decided to reject all cheques written in black ink. Furthermore, it was claimed that customers would be required to re-issue cheques written in black ink and that banks would start rejecting such cheques outright.

The post, attributed to a news outlet and carrying a fake quote from an RBI spokesperson, suggested that the new rule applied to all types of cheques and aimed to enhance the security of the banking system by preventing alterations and tampering.

No change in RBI guidelines

The PIB FactCheck dismissed these claims, affirming that the RBI has not issued any rules regarding the color of ink used for cheques. As of now, there are no such guidelines in force, and individuals are still free to use any color of ink when writing cheques. It’s advisable to rely on official channels for any updates or changes in banking protocols and to stay cautious about misinformation circulating online.