Fact check: RBI has not announced a new Rs 1,000 note, PIB says viral temple-image claim is fake

The Reserve Bank of India has made no announcement about issuing a new Rs 1,000 banknote, the government’s PIB Fact Check unit said on Tuesday, 27 October, dismissing social media posts that claimed the denomination was returning with a fresh design. The posts, which spread across Instagram, X and Telegram in several languages, have pushed searches for the Rs 1,000 note sharply higher, including in Tamil, over the past day.

What the viral posts claim

According to reports by Business Today and the news agency IANS, the posts show people holding what is presented as a new yellow-coloured Rs 1,000 note carrying the image of a temple. Some of them describe the note as already introduced, while others say it will enter circulation soon or name a specific launch date. Several content creators have amplified the claim through short videos.

What PIB Fact Check and the RBI have said

In a post on X, PIB Fact Check labelled the claim fake and stated that the RBI has made no announcement regarding the issuance of a new Rs 1,000 note. No circular, press release or notification about such a note has been issued by the central bank, and reports note that any genuine change to currency would be announced on the RBI website and through official government channels.

PIB urged people to verify such information through official sources and not to forward unverified content. Suspicious claims relating to the Central Government can be reported to PIB Fact Check by WhatsApp on +91 8799711259 or by email at factcheck@pib.gov.in.

Where the Rs 1,000 note stands

The old Rs 1,000 note stopped being legal tender with the demonetisation announced on 8 November 2016, when existing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were withdrawn. The government had cited counterfeit currency and black money among its reasons. A redesigned Rs 500 note was introduced afterwards, but the Rs 1,000 denomination was never brought back.

The Rs 2,000 note, introduced after demonetisation, is no longer being circulated either. The RBI announced its withdrawal from circulation in May 2023, though it has said the note continues to be legal tender. Notes currently in circulation under the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series are in denominations of Rs 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500, IANS reported.

A recurring pattern of currency rumours

This is not the first time claims about old or new high-value notes have gone viral. In April 2026, PIB Fact Check rejected reports that the RBI had issued new guidelines for exchanging discontinued Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, The Week reported. The same unit had earlier debunked similar exchange claims in October and November 2025, as well as a WhatsApp message in August 2025 alleging that banks would stop dispensing Rs 500 notes from ATMs.

How to check such claims

• Look for an official press release or notification on the RBI website before believing news about a new note.
• Check PIB Fact Check’s handles for clarifications on viral currency claims.
• Treat images and videos of supposed new notes with caution, as they can easily be edited or generated.
• Avoid forwarding such posts until they are confirmed by an official source.

Sources

• Business Today: Rs 1,000 note returns? PIB Fact Check dismisses viral social media claim
• Social News XYZ (IANS): PIB Fact Check debunks viral claims of new Rs 1,000 note, says RBI has made no announcement
• TV9 Gujarati: New Rs 1,000 note update and the truth behind the viral social media claim
• The Week: Fact check: Did RBI make ‘new rules’ for exchanging old Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes?