Claim:
A message circulating on social media claims that the Indian government will discontinue ₹500 currency notes from March 2026.
Fact Check: False
What is being claimed?
Several posts on social media allege that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to discontinue ₹500 denomination notes by March 2026. These messages warn people to stop using or depositing ₹500 notes, creating confusion and panic.
What did Factcheck India Found?
The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Government of India’s official fact-checking agency, has categorically denied this claim.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PIB Fact Check clarified that the RBI has made no announcement whatsoever regarding the discontinuation of ₹500 notes. The agency stated that the viral claim is completely false and misleading.
PIB also confirmed that:
- ₹500 notes remain legal tender
- They can be used for all transactions
- There is no deadline for their circulation
What is the RBI’s position?
The Reserve Bank of India has not issued any notification or circular announcing the withdrawal or discontinuation of ₹500 notes. Any such decision, if taken, would be officially communicated through RBI channels.
What has the government said?
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary has informed Parliament that:
- There is no plan to stop the supply or circulation of ₹500 notes
- Rumours about removing ₹500 notes from the system are baseless
- Temporary non-availability of certain denominations in ATMs does not mean discontinuation
He also clarified that ₹100, ₹200, and ₹500 notes continue to remain part of India’s currency system.
Have similar rumours surfaced before?
Yes. In the past too, false claims about the discontinuation of ₹500 notes have gone viral multiple times. On each occasion, PIB and government authorities have stepped in to debunk these rumours.
Conclusion
The claim that ₹500 notes will be discontinued by March 2026 is false. There is no announcement from RBI or the Government of India supporting this claim. Citizens are advised not to believe or forward unverified messages and to rely only on official sources for information related to currency and banking.