CTS-2010 Cheque Migration: Final Deadline & Compliance
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/190 · issued 03 Sep 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates all banks to issue only CTS-2010 standard cheques by September 30, 2012, withdraw non-CTS cheques by December 31, 2012, and replace post-dated EMI cheques. Confirm compliance by September 14, 2012.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks must issue only CTS-2010 standard cheques from September 30, 2012 onwards.
Banks must withdraw non-CTS-2010 cheques from circulation by December 31, 2012.
Banks must replace post-dated EMI cheques with CTS-2010 versions before December 31, 2012.
Banks must confirm arrangements for CTS-2010 readiness to RBI by September 14, 2012.
How it plays out — a real example
A payments & clearing officer in Indore, Mr. Kumar, sends a confirmation to RBI on September 14, 2012, stating that their bank has made necessary arrangements to issue only CTS-2010 standard cheques. He also launches a customer awareness campaign to withdraw non-CTS-2010 cheques by December 31, 2012, and ensures that all post-dated EMI cheques are replaced with CTS-2010 versions by the same date.
What changed
RBI observed that many banks continued issuing non-CTS-2010 cheques even in northern and southern CTS grid regions, despite a prior December 2011 circular setting a September 30, 2012 deadline. This circular reinforces the deadline and adds specific compliance steps: banks must confirm arrangements by September 14, 2012, withdraw old cheques by December 31, 2012, and replace post-dated EMI cheques by the same date.
What it means for you
Banks must urgently stop issuing non-CTS-2010 cheques and actively recall them from circulation. Non-compliance risks operational friction in image-based clearing and fraud vulnerabilities. The fixed field placement in CTS-2010 enables straight-through processing, reducing manual intervention and costs for drawee banks.
What you must do
Issue only CTS-2010 multi-city/payable-at-par cheques from September 30, 2012 onwards.
Submit confirmation of CTS-2010 readiness to RBI by September 14, 2012.
Launch customer awareness campaigns (SMS, letters, branch displays, internet banking, website) to withdraw non-CTS-2010 cheques by December 31, 2012.
Replace all non-CTS-2010 post-dated EMI cheques (own or NBFC clients) with CTS-2010 versions before December 31, 2012.
Report progress on withdrawal of old cheques to RBI by November 30, 2012.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks including RRBs, Urban Co-operative Banks, State Co-operative Banks, District Central Co-operative Banks, Local Area Banks, NBFCs (via banks holding their post-dated cheques)
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What happens if we don't meet the September 30, 2012 deadline for issuing CTS-2010 cheques?
RBI has issued this circular under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Non-compliance may invite regulatory action. Banks must ensure all new cheque books issued from that date are CTS-2010 compliant.
How should we handle post-dated EMI cheques that are non-CTS-2010?
You must proactively contact customers to replace those cheques with CTS-2010 versions before December 31, 2012. This applies to cheques held on your own behalf or for NBFC clients.
What are the key benefits of CTS-2010 cheques for our bank?
Standardized security features help verify cheque genuineness in image-based clearing, reduce fraud risk, and fixed field placement enables straight-through processing via OCR/ICR, lowering operational costs.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
RBI’s words: “it has been decided to extend the time up to March 31, 2013”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/190
DPSS.CO.CHD.No. 399/04.07.05/2012-13
September 3, 2012
The Chairman and Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
All Scheduled Commercial Banks including RRBs /
Urban Co-operative Banks / State Co-operative Banks /
District Central Co-operative Banks/Local Area Banks
Madam / Dear Sir
Standardisation and Enhancement of Security Features in Cheque Forms - Migrating to CTS 2010 standards
A reference is invited to our circular DPSS.CO.CHD.No./1112/04.07.05/2011-12 dated December 27, 2011 advising all banks providing cheque facility to their customers to issue only 'CTS-2010' standard cheques in a time bound action plan not later than September 30, 2012.
2. However, it is observed that non-CTS-2010 Standard cheque forms continue to be issued by many banks even in regions which are forming part of the northern (New Delhi) and southern (Chennai) CTS grids. As you may be aware, adherence to CTS-2010 standards has inherent advantages as the security features in cheque forms help the presenting banks to identify the genuineness of the drawee banks’ instruments while handling them in the image based scenario. The homogeneity in security features act as deterrent against frauds, and the fixed field placement specifications facilitate straight-through-processing at drawee banks' end through the use of optical/image character recognition technology.
3. In view of the above and to ensure the time-bound migration to CTS-2010 standard cheque formats, all banks are advised to adhere to the procedures indicated below:
Arrange to issue only multi-city/payable at par CTS-2010 standard cheques not later than September 30, 2012 . A confirmation stating that necessary arrangements have been put in place for issue of CTS-2010 standard cheques across the country may be submitted to this department by September 14, 2012 .
Arrange to withdraw the non-CTS-2010 Standard cheques in circulation before December 31, 2012 by creating awareness among customers through SMS alerts, letters, display boards in branches/ATMs, log-on message in internet banking, notification on the web-site etc. Progress in this regard may be submitted to this department by November 30, 2012 .
Banks holding post-dated EMI cheques (received either on their own behalf or on behalf of their NBFC clients) may arrange to ensure the replacement of non-CTS-2010 Standard cheques with CTS-2010 standard cheques before December 31, 2012 .
4. The above instructions are issued under section 18 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007 (Act 51 of 2007).
5. Please acknowledge receipt and ensure compliance within the target dates indicated above.
Yours faithfully,
(Vijay Chugh)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/190 · issued 03 Sep 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Launch customer awareness campaigns (SMS, letters, branch displays, internet banking, website) to withdraw non-CTS-2010 cheques by December 31, 2012.
📜 Compliance
Issue only CTS-2010 multi-city/payable-at-par cheques from September 30, 2012 onwards.
Submit confirmation of CTS-2010 readiness to RBI by September 14, 2012.
Replace all non-CTS-2010 post-dated EMI cheques (own or NBFC clients) with CTS-2010 versions before December 31, 2012.
Report progress on withdrawal of old cheques to RBI by November 30, 2012.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Scheduled Commercial Banks including RRBs, Urban Co-operative Banks, State Co-operative Banks, District Central Co-operative Banks, Local Area Banks, NBFCs (via banks holding their post-dated cheques)), your first concrete step on “CTS-2010 Cheque Migration: Final Deadline & Compliance” is: “Issue only CTS-2010 multi-city/payable-at-par cheques from September 30, 2012 onwards.” (RBI issued this 03 Sep 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/190 -- CTS-2010 Cheque Migration: Final Deadline & Compliance
Issued: 03 Sep 2012
Action required: Issue only CTS-2010 multi-city/payable-at-par cheques from September 30, 2012 onwards.
Action required: Submit confirmation of CTS-2010 readiness to RBI by September 14, 2012.
Action required: Launch customer awareness campaigns (SMS, letters, branch displays, internet banking, website) to withdraw non-CTS-2010 cheques by December 31, 2012.
Action required: Replace all non-CTS-2010 post-dated EMI cheques (own or NBFC clients) with CTS-2010 versions before December 31, 2012.
Action required: Report progress on withdrawal of old cheques to RBI by November 30, 2012.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
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 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=7542&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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