The government on Thursday stopped over-the-counter exchange of old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 effective from November 24 midnight. However, people can still get their old notes exchanged at the branches of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) across the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a televised address on November 8, had announced that old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 would no longer be considered valid.
However, the government has made several exemptions and allowed citizens to make payments using the old Rs 500 notes at certain places for certain activities, while the Rs 1,000 currency note has been completely banned.
Below is a list of places where people can make payments using the old Rs 500 notes till December 15 midnight:
- Payment of pre paid mobile top-up to a limit of Rs. 500 per top-up.
- Purchase from Consumer Cooperative Stores will be limited to Rs. 5000 at a time.
- Payment of fees in Central or State Government colleges.
- Foreign citizens have been allowed to exchange foreign currency up to Rs. 5000 per week. Necessary entry to this effect will be made in their passports.
- Payment of current and arrears dues to utilities has been limited to only water and electricity. This facility will continue to be available only for individuals and households.
- Payment at toll plazas can be made using old Rs. 500 notes from December 3, 2016, to December 15, 2016.
- Payment of fees up to Rs. 2000 per student in central and state government, municipality and local body schools.
- Government hospitals
- Railway tickets
- Public transport
- Airline tickets at airports
- Milk booths
- Crematoria/burial grounds
- Petrol pumps
- Metro rail tickets
- Medicine prescribed by a doctor
- LPG gas cylinders
- Railway catering
- Power and water bills
- Entry tickets of ASI monument
- Consumer cooperative stores
- Taxes and penalties to government bodies Court fees
- Seeds at state-owned outlets