Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/150 · issued 01 Jul 2011 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI updated its master circular on Hindi use in public sector banks, consolidating instructions issued up to June 30, 2011. Banks must continue implementing Official Languages Act provisions, including bilingual correspondence, forms, and customer service. No new policy changes were introduced.
What changed
The circular updates the previous master circular (July 1, 2010) by incorporating all instructions issued up to June 30, 2011. It consolidates existing guidelines without introducing new requirements.
What it means for you
Public sector banks must maintain compliance with the Official Languages Act and Rules, covering bilingual operations, customer-facing documents, and internal communications. RBI continues to monitor progress through DBOD. Banks should ensure their Hindi implementation committees and cells are active and reporting quarterly.
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 your bank's Hindi implementation policy to align with the consolidated master circular.
Ensure all customer-facing documents, forms, and stationery are bilingual (Hindi and English).
Submit quarterly progress reports on Hindi use to RBI as per existing requirements.
Verify that computer systems and core banking solutions support bilingual data processing.
Conduct Hindi workshops and training programs for staff as outlined in the circular.
Who it affects
All public sector banks in India, Hindi departments/cells/sections in banks, Bank staff handling customer correspondence and documentation, IT teams managing bilingual software and core banking systems
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 Hindi use?
No, it only consolidates existing instructions issued up to June 30, 2011. Banks should continue following the same guidelines as before.
Which banks are covered under this master circular?
All public sector banks are required to comply. Private and foreign banks are not directly covered, but they may adopt similar practices voluntarily.
What are the key areas of focus for Hindi implementation?
Key areas include bilingual correspondence, acceptance of cheques in Hindi, bilingual annual reports, stationery, name boards, internal circulars, and customer service in Hindi.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
RBI’s words: “Please refer to the Master Circular DBOD No. Rajbhasha.BC. 21/ 06.11.04/ 2011-12 dated July 1, 2011 on the captioned subject.”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/150
DBOD No. Rajbhasha BC. 21 /06.11.04/2011-12
July 1, 2011
Ashadha 10, 1933 (S)
Chairman & Managing Director
All Public Sector Banks
Dear Sir,
Master Circular - Use of Hindi in banks
Please refer to the Master Circular DBOD No. Rajbhasha.BC. 22/ 06.11.04/ 2010-11 dated July 1, 2010 on the captioned subject. The Master Circular has been suitably updated by incorporating instructions issued up to June 30, 2011 and has also been placed on the RBI web-site ( http://www.rbi.org.in ). A copy of the Master Circular is enclosed.
Yours faithfully,
(Deepak Singhal)
Chief General Manager
Encls : As above
MASTER CIRCULAR ON
USE OF HINDI IN BANKS
Contents
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/150 · issued 01 Jul 2011. 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=6666&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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