Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes valid for key utilities, hospitals & petrol pumps till November 24

NEW DELHI: After holding a late night meeting with senior ministers in the wee hours of Monday to review the impact of demonetisation, the Narendra Modi government announced that government has extended the date of accepting old series of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 for certain categories till November 24.

"Currently the government has given exemption to certain category of transactions where old series of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes can be accepted this limit for such exemptions is being extended from 14th November midnight to 24th November midnight to ensure greater public convenience," economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das said while briefing ANI on the matter.

The exemption list includes payments towards fees, charges, hospital bills, petrol pumps, taxes and penalties payable to the central and state governments including municipal and local bodies. Such old notes will also be accepted for making payment of utility charges for water and electricity, etc.

On Sunday evening the Finance ministry also announced that the limit to exchange the now defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1000 rupee notes for freshly minted Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes was increased from Rs 4000 to Rs 4500 per day. Cash withdrawal limit at ATMs was also hiked to Rs 2,500 from Rs 2,000 a day.

The weekly limit of Rs 20,000 for withdrawal from bank counters was increased to Rs 24,000 and the maximum limit of Rs 10,000 per day on such withdrawals was also scrapped.