In response to widespread confusion sparked by a viral social media post, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) stated on Friday confirming that there are no new guidelines from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) prohibiting the use of black ink for writing cheques. 

The misleading claim, which was circulated across social media platforms, suggested that the RBI had introduced a rule mandating the use of only blue or green ink when writing cheques. According to the post, starting January 1, 2025, cheques written in black ink would be rejected, as part of an effort to enhance security and prevent fraudulent activities.

The post further claimed that the new policy was aimed at reducing risks associated with cheque fraud, stating that black ink had been identified as a security threat, potentially enabling fraudulent alterations. It also suggested that customers should ensure that the ink used was not faded or smudged to meet the new requirements.

However, the PIB has now debunked these claims, clarifying that the RBI has not issued any such directive. "It is being claimed in social media posts that the RBI has issued new rules prohibiting the use of black ink on cheques. The Reserve Bank of India has not prescribed specific ink colours to be used for writing cheques," the PIB stated.

The clarification from the PIB comes as a relief to many who were left confused and concerned by the misleading information. While security around cheque transactions is indeed important, the RBI has not made any changes to its existing policies regarding the use of ink for writing cheques.