RBI Master Circular on Use of Hindi in Public Sector Banks (2013)
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/114 · issued 01 Jul 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI updated its master circular on Hindi use in public sector banks, consolidating instructions up to June 30, 2013. Banks must continue implementing Official Language Act provisions, including bilingual correspondence, signage, software, and customer services, with quarterly progress reporting to RBI.
What changed
The circular updates the previous master circular (July 2, 2012) by incorporating all instructions issued up to June 30, 2013. It consolidates existing guidelines on Hindi implementation across public sector banks without introducing new policy shifts.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure compliance with the Official Languages Act, 1963 and Rules, 1976, covering bilingual operations from customer service to internal communications. Non-compliance could attract scrutiny from RBI and the Department of Official Language, impacting regulatory standing.
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 all 41 sections of the master circular, including bilingual software and customer statements.
Ensure quarterly progress reports on Hindi implementation are submitted to RBI's DBOD as per prescribed formats.
Set up or strengthen Hindi departments/cells and fill Hindi posts as per guidelines.
Conduct Hindi workshops and training programs for staff, including typing/stenography skills.
Verify that all name boards, stationery, advertisements, and annual reports are bilingual.
Who it affects
All public sector banks in India, Hindi officers and departments within banks, Bank branches, especially those in Hindi-speaking regions, IT teams managing core banking solutions and bilingual software
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 14:03 IST
Status change: withdrawn03 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 apply to private sector banks?
No, the circular is specifically addressed to all public sector banks. Private sector banks are not covered under this master circular.
What are the key compliance areas for customer-facing operations?
Banks must provide bilingual (Hindi and English) account statements, accept cheques signed in Hindi, display bilingual name boards, and use Hindi in customer service interactions.
How often must banks report progress on Hindi use?
Banks are required to submit quarterly progress reports to RBI's Department of Banking Operations and Development (DBOD) as per the guidelines in the circular.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/114
DBOD No.Rajbhasha BC 20/06.11.04/2013-14
July 1, 2013
Ashadha 10, 1935 (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. 25/ 06.11.04/ 2012-13 dated July 2, 2012 on the captioned subject. The Master Circular has been suitably updated by incorporating instructions issued up to June 30, 2013 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,
(Chandan Sinha)
Principal Chief General Manager
Encls : As above
Use of Hindi in Public Sector Banks
Contents
1.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/114 · issued 01 Jul 2013. 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=8205&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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