A picture of a yellow ₹1,000 note with a large temple on it went viral this week, with posts saying it is already in circulation. It is not. Here is what the government said, which notes you can accept at your counter, what to do with a ₹2,000 note, and how to check a ₹500 note in ten seconds.
Key takeaway: There is no new ₹1,000 note. PIB Fact Check called the claim fake on 27 October 2026. ₹500 is the highest note in regular use; ₹2,000 is legal tender but withdrawn.
Quick answers: the ₹1000 note
Is RBI bringing back the ₹1000 note?
No. On 27 October 2026 PIB Fact Check called the viral claim fake and said the RBI has made no announcement about a new ₹1,000 note.
What about the yellow ₹1000 note with a temple picture?
It is a fake image circulating on social media. No such note has been issued. Do not accept or share it.
Are old ₹1000 notes still valid?
No. Old ₹1,000 notes stopped being legal tender after demonetisation on 8 November 2016.
Is the ₹2000 note still valid?
Yes, it is still legal tender, but it was withdrawn from circulation in May 2023. You can deposit or exchange it at RBI issue offices. About 98.47% had come back by the end of April 2026.
What is the highest note in use now?
₹500 is the highest note in regular circulation. Notes in use are ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200 and ₹500.
What PIB Fact Check said
In a post on X on 27 October 2026, PIB Fact Check flagged a "fake ₹1,000 note alert" and said the RBI has made no announcement about issuing a new ₹1,000 note. Amar Ujala's fact-check team reached the same conclusion. Any new note would be announced by the RBI first, in a press release on rbi.org.in.
Which notes can a shop accept today
| Note | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200, ₹500 | Legal tender, in circulation | Accept after a quick check |
| ₹2,000 | Legal tender, withdrawn since May 2023 | You may accept; deposit it through an RBI issue office |
| Old ₹500 and ₹1,000 (pre-2016) | Not legal tender since 8 Nov 2016 | Do not accept |
| "New" ₹1,000 (yellow, temple) | Fake; never issued | Do not accept; do not share |
₹2,000 notes: where they go now
Banks stopped exchanging ₹2,000 notes in 2023. You can still deposit or exchange them at the RBI's issue offices, or send them to an RBI issue office by India Post for credit to your bank account. As per the RBI's 1 May 2026 update, 98.47% of the notes have come back and about ₹5,451 crore is still with the public.
Check a ₹500 note in 10 seconds
| Look for | Genuine note |
|---|---|
| Tilt the note | The windowed security thread changes colour from green to blue |
| Hold it to light | Mahatma Gandhi watermark and the number 500 in the watermark area |
| See-through register | The number 500 appears complete when held to light |
| Run your finger | Raised printing on Gandhi portrait, Ashoka pillar and bleed lines |
| Number panel | Digits grow in size from left to right |
| Back side | Red Fort motif and the year of printing |
If you get a fake note
- Do not pass it on. Using a note you know is fake is an offence.
- Deposit it at your bank only if you are unsure. Banks impound counterfeit notes and give you a receipt; you get no value for it.
- Banks report up to four pieces in a monthly report to police; five or more in one go means an FIR.
- To report a viral fake message, send it to PIB Fact Check on WhatsApp at +91 8799711259 or factcheck@pib.gov.in.
Keep your cash honest in DAM
- Search Day Book at day end to match sales with cash and UPI.
- Check Cash in Hand against the notes in your drawer.
- Moved cash to the bank? Record it with Contra so cash and bank balances both stay right.
Count your cash once, at day end
Match cash in hand, UPI and bank deposits in a single Day Book.
Related: Cash transaction limits under income tax and Day-end cash, UPI and udhar check for kirana shops.
Sources
Content checked on 28 October 2026. Business Today: PIB Fact Check on ₹1,000 note · Amar Ujala fact check · News Arena: 98.47% of ₹2,000 notes returned · RBI: Know your banknotes (Paisa Bolta Hai) · RBI press releases. Hero photo: Dinesh Kumar on Unsplash (Unsplash License, cropped).
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute formal tax, legal or financial advice. Currency rules come from the RBI; check rbi.org.in for the latest press releases. Verify with a registered Chartered Accountant (CA) before acting.