New Delhi: RBI stated, “Members of public may initiate the process of exchanging notes at bank branches at their convenience.”
The RBI said that the removal of older currency notes from circulation is a standard international practice.
The central bank is already withdrawing pre-2005 bank notes in a routine manner through banks as they have fewer security features than those printed subsequently.
The volume of bank notes printed before 2005 that are still in circulation is not significant enough to affect the public in a large way, according to RBI.
RBI said, “The notes printed prior to 2005 will continue to be legal tender.”
It also said that even after July 1, any number of these old series notes can be exchanged by people at bank branches where they have accounts.
The RBI said it would continue to monitor and review the withdrawal of old notes so that the public is not inconvenienced.
The central bank announced the withdrawal of pre-2005 bank notes from the public in a statement on Wednesday.
7,351 crore pieces of currency notes were in circulation on March 31, 2013. Of this, 14.6 per cent were Rs 500 notes and 5.9 per cent were Rs 1,000 notes, as per RBI data.
RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said on Thursday that the order was not an attempt at demonetization, nor had it anything to do with the forthcoming general elections.
RBI Governor said, “I have to say that it (withdrawal of notes) has nothing to do with elections, which certainly is not the objective.”
Dr. Rajan also said that these notes had, unfortunately, become less secure. The notes printed after 2005 have greater security features and the Finance Ministry had sought withdrawal of the pre-2005 notes.
Meanwhile the central bank had earlier discontinued printing of five-rupee notes, but reintroduced the denomination to meet demand.
Bureau Report
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