New Rs 1,000 note with temple image in India? Govt clarifies on viral claim

Images and videos showing a yellow-hued Rs 1,000 currency note featuring a temple motif have circulated on social media, with claims that the note has either been newly issued or will enter circulation on the 15th.

The Press Information Bureau's (PIB) Fact Check unit on Tuesday debunked the claims, clarifying that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made no announcement regarding the issuance of a new Rs 1,000 note.

Several posts across platforms, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram, feature individuals holding the purported currency note. Social media users and content creators have claimed that the note is new or is scheduled to be introduced on the 15th.


However, PIB Fact Check said the claim was fake and that the RBI had made no announcement about issuing a new Rs 1,000 currency note.

Viral Rs 1,000 note claim: What did PIB Fact Check say?

In a post on X, PIB Fact Check rejected claims about the purported new currency note and urged people to verify information through official sources before sharing it.

The agency's clarification addresses speculation around the yellow-hued note. There has been no announcement from the RBI confirming the introduction of such a note.

India's currency in use

India currently has banknotes in active circulation in denominations of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 200, and Rs 500 under the Reserve Bank of India's Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series.

India got rid of the Rs 1,000 banknote on the night of November 8, 2016, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide demonetization.

In an address to the nation, the government withdrew the legal tender status of all existing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes overnight to curb black money, counterfeit currency, and corruption. While a redesigned Rs 500 note was subsequently re-introduced in a new series, the ₹1,000 note was permanently retired and replaced at the higher end by the Rs 2,000 note, which itself was later withdrawn from circulation by the RBI in May 2023.

How to verify claims about new currency notes

Information about new banknotes and changes to currency can be checked through official RBI announcements and notifications. PIB Fact Check has also asked people to report suspicious content related to the Central government.

People can contact PIB Fact Check through its WhatsApp helpline at +91 8799711259 or email factcheck@pib.gov.in to report suspicious claims.