No longer current — replaced by Cheque Truncation System (CTS)-2010 with National Grid Clearing House (NGCH)
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-2005/393 · issued 11 Mar 2005 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has set image standards for the cheque truncation pilot: three images per cheque (gray-scale front, B&W front, B&W reverse) with specific DPI, format, and compression. Banks must adopt these specs for the pilot.
What changed
RBI specified the exact image standards for the cheque truncation pilot: three images per cheque (gray-scale front at 100 DPI JPEG, B&W front and reverse at 200 DPI TIFF CCITT G4). Gray-scale must be 8 bits/pixel. MICR line and E13B font remain unchanged. Data structures and endorsement details are pending.
What it means for you
Banks participating in the cheque truncation pilot must upgrade or configure their imaging systems to capture and store images per these specs. This ensures uniform image quality for storage, transmission, and signature verification. The unchanged MICR line means existing cheque printing and reading infrastructure remains valid.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Ensure your cheque imaging systems can capture three images per cheque: gray-scale front (100 DPI JPEG), B&W front (200 DPI TIFF G4), B&W reverse (200 DPI TIFF G4).
Verify gray-scale images are 8 bits/pixel (256 levels) as required.
Confirm MICR line and E13B font usage remains unchanged in your cheque processing.
Prepare for future communication on data structures and endorsement formats.
Who it affects
All scheduled banks participating in the cheque truncation pilot, IT and operations teams managing cheque processing systems, Cheque imaging vendors and solution providers
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 21:12 IST
Superseded by — Cheque Truncation System (CTS)-2010 with National Grid Clearing House (NGCH)
Status change: superseded09 Jul 2026, 04:02 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What are the three image types required per cheque?
Gray-scale front image, black-and-white front image, and black-and-white reverse image.
What are the DPI and format specifications for each image?
Front gray-scale: 100 DPI, JPEG compression. Front B&W: 200 DPI, TIFF with CCITT G4 compression. Reverse B&W: 200 DPI, TIFF with CCITT G4 compression.
Will the MICR line or font change?
No, the current MICR line and E13B font remain unchanged.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Superseded byCheque Truncation System (CTS)-2010 with National Grid Clearing House (NGCH)
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2004-2005/393
Ref DIT.CO.No. 2218 /09.63.36/2004-2005
March 11, 2005
CMDs/CEOs of all Scheduled Banks,
Dear Sir,
Cheque Truncation - Pilot Implementation-Image
Standards
Please refer to the circular RBI/2004-2005/28
Ref: DIT.CO.No. 1/09.63.36/2004-05 dated 1 July, 2004 on Pilot Implementation
of Cheque Truncation.
2. It has been decided that the following
image standards shall be adopted for the Image Based Cheque Truncation model
in India:
Number of Images – 3 viz. Gray Scale Front Image of the instrument,
Black and White Front Image of the instrument and Black and White Reverse
Image of the instrument
3. Keeping in view the various factors like
storage, transmission, reproduction of images, and ease of signature verification
etc. it has been decided to adopt the following parameters :
Image Type
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-2005/393 · issued 11 Mar 2005. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 05 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=2156&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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