'New Rs 2,000 note to come with nano GPS tracker' goes viral on WhatsApp; RBI clears the air

After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially scrapped the circulation of current-gen Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and introduced the new Rs 2,000 currency, there have been a flurry of messages on WhatsApp, which state that the Rs 2,000 notes would come with a nano GPS chip embedded in them. The message, which went viral on WhatsApp, said that the chip would help in tracking where these notes are being used. 

However, the RBI, in a statement to News 18, has refuted these rumours and said that the notes do not come with the GPS chip.  

Even the FAQs detailed on RBI's official website do not mention anything about the presence of the GPS chip in the Rs 2,000 note. These official statements have now put the rumours and confusions about the new currency notes to rest. 

As far as the Rs 2,000 note itself is concerned, you should be aware of the new aspects that define the new currency. These include a magenta base colour as well as the signature of the Governor of the RBI, Dr Urjit Patel. For full details about the salient aspects of the new Rs 2,000 note, click here.

In related news, your current Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes can be exchanged in banks and post offices across the country, for Rs 100 notes till December 30 2016. If you have to exchange old notes after the December 30 deadline, you can do so at designated RBI branches up until March 31 2017 with valid proof of the reason behind the delay.