Fact Check: ₹500 Notes Will Remain Legal Tender — RBI Has Not Directed Banks to Withdraw Them from ATMs by September
Fact Check: ₹500 Notes Will Remain Legal Tender — RBI Has Not Directed Banks to Withdraw Them from ATMs by September
Viral social media claim about RBI halting ₹500 note ATM withdrawals by September 2025 declared fake
The Government of India has officially debunked a viral message that claimed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed all banks to stop disbursing ₹500 notes from ATMs by September 30, 2025.
The PIB Fact Check, the government’s official misinformation-busting handle, clarified on July 12, 2025, that no such instruction has been issued by the RBI, and that ₹500 banknotes remain legal tender.
What the fake message said:
The misleading message, widely circulated via WhatsApp and social media, falsely stated that:
“RBI has asked all banks to stop disbursing ₹500 notes by 30 Sept 2025 from ATMs. Target is 75% of all BANKS ATM & then 90% ATM by 31 Mar 2026. ATMs going forward will disburse only ₹200 and ₹100 notes… So start liquidating ₹500 notes now.”
Official Response:
The post on X (formerly Twitter) responded firmly:
“No such instruction has been issued by the @RBI. ₹500 notes will continue to be legal tender.”
The government urged citizens to not fall for such misinformation and encouraged everyone to verify news through trusted, official sources before forwarding it on social media.
There is no truth to the viral claim. ₹500 notes will continue to be dispensed from ATMs and remain valid for transactions. Citizens are advised to stay alert and rely only on verified news from the RBI or government channels to avoid panic or confusion.
