Home › Circulars › RBI/2024-25/134

Special Clearing for Government Cheques on March 31, 2025

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/134 · issued 28 Mar 2025 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates special CTS clearing for government cheques on March 31, 2025, from 5:00-5:30 PM (presentation) and 7:00-7:30 PM (returns). All member banks must participate, keep infrastructure open, and maintain sufficient settlement balances.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A payments & clearing officer in Indore, Priya, gets a call from her branch manager on March 31, 2025, reminding her that the bank's cheque-processing system must stay open until 5:30 PM for government cheques. She checks that her team is ready to process any government cheques that come in during that special window, and she confirms the settlement account has enough funds to clear them, so the government can close its books for the financial year smoothly.

What changed

RBI has announced a special clearing session under CTS exclusively for government cheques on March 31, 2025. Normal Monday timings apply for regular clearing, but an additional window from 5:00-5:30 PM for presentation and 7:00-7:30 PM for returns is introduced for government transactions.

What it means for you

Banks must ensure their CTS infrastructure is operational during the special window and maintain adequate settlement account balances. This facilitates timely accounting of government transactions for the financial year ending March 31, 2025. Non-compliance could disrupt government account closures.

What you must do

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, Payment Banks, Small Finance Banks, National Payments Corporation of India

❓ Common questions

What is the timing for the special clearing on March 31, 2025?

Presentation session runs from 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM, and return session from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM.

Is participation in this special clearing mandatory?

Yes, it is mandatory for all banks that are members of CTS.

What happens if my bank does not maintain sufficient settlement balance?

You must maintain sufficient balance to meet settlement obligations; failure could disrupt the clearing process and government account closing.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
Notifications - Reserve Bank of India Skip to main content Selected Selected Change Language हिंदी Search the Website Search Home About Us ▼ About Us Organisation & Functions ▶ Organisation Structure Departments Offices Training Establishment ▶ College of Agricultural Banking Reserve Bank Staff College College of Supervisors RBI's Functions and Working Governors Deputy Governors Executive Directors Communication Policy of RBI Sources of Information ▶ Annual Publications Half-yearly Publications Quarterly Publications Monthly Publications Weekly Publications Occasional Publications SDDS NSDP Data Releases Publications available on Subscription General Information RBI History Museum ▶ The RBI Museum RBI Monetary Museum Notification ▼ Notifications Master Directions Master Circulars Amendment Directions Draft Notifications/Guidelines ▶ Draft Notifications/Guidelines Draft Directions (RE-wise) Index To RBI Circulars Standalone Circulars Circulars Withdrawn Press Releases Speeches & Media Interactions ▼ Speeches Media Interactions Memorial Lectures Podcasts Publications ▼ Biennial Annual Half-Yearly Quarterly Bi-monthly Monthly Weekly Occasional Reports Working Papers Legal Framework ▼ Act Rules Regulations Schemes Research ▼ External Research Schemes RBI Occasional Papers Working Papers RBI Bulletin History DRG Studies KLEMS State Statistics and Finances Statistics ▼ Data Releases Database on Indian Economy Public Debt Statistics Regulatory Reporting ▼ List of Returns Data Definition Validation rules/ Taxonomy List of RBI Reporting Portals FAQs of RBI Reporting Portals Home Notifications Notifications ( 252 kb ) Special Clearing Operations on March 31, 2025 RBI/2024-25/134 CO.DPSS.RPPD.No.S1278/03-01-002/2024-2025 March 28, 2025 The Chairman and Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer All Scheduled Commercial Banks including Regional Rural Banks / Urban Co-operative Banks / State Co-operative Banks / District Central Co-operative Banks / Local Area Banks / Payment Banks / Small Finance Banks / National Payments Corporation of India Madam / Dear Sir, Special Clearing Operations on March 31, 2025 A reference is invited to the circular issued by Department of Government and Bank Accounts (DGBA) vide CO.DGBA.GBD.No.S1003/42-01-029/2024-2025 dated March 17, 2025 addressed to all the agency banks on Annual Closing of Government Accounts –Transactions of Central/State Governments – Special Measures for the Current Financial Year (2024-25). 2. Normal clearing timings under Cheque Truncation System (CTS) as applicable to any working “Monday” shall be followed on March 31, 2025. Further, to facilitate accounting of all the Government transactions for the current financial year (2024-25) by March 31, 2025, it has been decided to conduct Special Clearing under CTS exclusively for Government Cheques on March 31, 2025 as detailed below: Date Presentation Session Return Session March 31, 2025 (Monday) 17:00 Hours to 17:30 Hours 19:00 Hours to 19:30 Hours 3. It is mandatory for all banks to participate in the special clearing operations on March 31, 2025. All the member banks of CTS are also required to keep their inward clearing processing infrastructure open during the Special Clearing hours and maintain sufficient balance in their clearing settlement account to meet settlement obligations arising out of the Special Clearing. 4. Member banks are advised to adhere to the instructions contained in this circular as well as instructions issued by the President of the National Grid Clearing House. Member banks may also be guided by the circular NPCI/2016-17/CTS/Circular No.32 dated October 3, 2016 issued by NPCI regarding clearing type for instruments to be presented in Special Clearing sessions. Yours faithfully, (Sudhanshu Prasad) Chief General Manager 2026 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2025 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2024 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2023 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2022 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2021 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2020 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2019 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2018 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2017 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December Archives 2016 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2015 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2014 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2013 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2012 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2011 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2010 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2009 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2008 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2007 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2006 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2005 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2004 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2003 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2002 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2001 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 2000 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1999 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1998 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1997 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1996 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1995 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1994 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1993 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1992 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December 1991 All Months January February March April May June July August September October November December Top Back to previous page More Links Bank Holidays Banking Glossary Citizen's Charter Complaints Contact Us COVID-19 Measures E-LMS Events FAQs Financial Education Forms IFSC/MICR Codes Important Websites Opportunities @ RBI RBI Clarifications RBI Kehta Hai RBI’s Vision and Values (1257 kb)--> Right to Information Act Tenders Follow RBI RSS Twitter YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn © Reserve Bank of India. 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Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/134 · issued 28 Mar 2025. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Who does what — compliance checklist
🏦 Branch Manager
  • Instruct all relevant branches and clearing teams to participate in the special session as it is mandatory.
⚙️ Operations
  • Ensure your bank's CTS inward clearing processing infrastructure is open during the special clearing hours on March 31, 2025.
  • Maintain sufficient balance in your clearing settlement account to meet settlement obligations from the special clearing.
  • Refer to NPCI circular dated October 3, 2016 for guidance on clearing type for instruments in special sessions.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are an Operations 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, Payment Banks, Small Finance Banks, National Payments Corporation of India), your first concrete step on “Special Clearing for Government Cheques on March 31, 2025” is: “Ensure your bank's CTS inward clearing processing infrastructure is open during the special clearing hours on March 31, 2025.” (RBI issued this 28 Mar 2025).

  1. Circular: RBI/2024-25/134 -- Special Clearing for Government Cheques on March 31, 2025
  2. Issued: 28 Mar 2025
  3. Action required: Ensure your bank's CTS inward clearing processing infrastructure is open during the special clearing hours on March 31, 2025.
  4. Action required: Maintain sufficient balance in your clearing settlement account to meet settlement obligations from the special clearing.
  5. Action required: Instruct all relevant branches and clearing teams to participate in the special session as it is mandatory.
  6. Action required: Refer to NPCI circular dated October 3, 2016 for guidance on clearing type for instruments in special sessions.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. 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.

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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=12803&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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