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Master Circular on Use of Hindi in Public Sector Banks

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet

Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/95 · issued 01 Jul 2009 · ~2 min read

Quick answerRBI updated its master circular on Hindi use in public sector banks, consolidating instructions issued up to June 30, 2009. Banks must comply with Official Languages Act, 1963 and Rules, 1976 for correspondence, signage, software, and customer service. The circular updates the previous version from July 1, 2008.

What changed

RBI issued a revised master circular dated July 1, 2009, replacing the previous one from July 1, 2008. The update incorporates instructions issued up to June 30, 2009, and is available on the RBI website.

What it means for you

Public sector banks must continue to implement Hindi progressively across all operations, including bilingual software, customer service, and official documents. The circular reinforces existing requirements without introducing new mandates, ensuring consistency in language policy compliance.

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

Review and update internal policies to align with the latest master circular on Hindi usage.
Ensure all official correspondence, signage, and stationery are bilingual as per the circular.
Verify that core banking solutions and software support bilingual functionality.
Submit quarterly progress reports and other required reports to RBI on time.
Conduct Hindi workshops and training programs for staff as outlined in the circular.

Who it affects

All public sector banks in India, Hindi departments and cells within banks, Bank staff handling customer service and documentation, IT teams managing bilingual software and systems

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-19 09:12 IST
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn 03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

Does this circular introduce any new requirements for banks?

No, this circular updates and consolidates existing instructions issued up to June 30, 2009. Banks should continue following the same compliance framework as before.

What are the key areas of Hindi usage covered in this circular?

The circular covers multiple areas including correspondence, cheque acceptance, bilingual software, customer service, training, and reporting. It emphasizes progressive use of Hindi in all official bank functions.

Who monitors compliance with Hindi usage in public sector banks?

The Department of Banking Operations and Development (DBOD) at RBI's Central Office monitors progress. Banks must also submit reports to their Board of Directors and participate in Official Language Implementation Committees.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)

Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)

RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1881: DBOD.No.Rajbhasha.BC.4/06.11.04/2009-10 — "Master Circular - Use of Hindi in Banks" dated July 1, 2009”

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI

RBI/2009-10/95
 DBOD No. Rajbhasha  BC. 4 /06.11.04/2009-10 
 July 1, 2009
  9th Ashadha 1931 (S)
 Chairman & Managing Director 
 All Public Sector Banks
 Dear Sir,
 Master Circular - Use of Hindi in Banks 
 Please refer to our Master Circular DBOD No.Rajbhasha.BC.13/06.11.04/ 2008-09 dated July 1, 2008 on the captioned subject. The Master Circular has been suitably updated by incorporating instructions issued up to June 30, 2009 and has also  been placed on the RBI web-site (http://www.rbi.org.in).
 Yours faithfully,
 (Vinay Baijal) 
 Chief General Manager
 Contents

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/95 · issued 01 Jul 2009. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 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=5159&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.