The Reserve Bank of India has started issuing Master Directions on all regulatory matters beginning January 2016. The Master Directions consolidate instructions on rules and regulations framed by the Reserve Bank under various Acts including banking issues and foreign exchange transactions. The process of issuing Master Directions involves issuing one Master Direction for each subject matter covering all instructions on that subject. Any change in the rules, regulation or policy is communicated during the year by way of circulars/press releases. The Master Directions will be updated suitably and simultaneously whenever there is a change in the rules/regulations or there is a change in the policy. All the changes will get reflected in the Master Directions available on the RBI website along with the dates on which changes are made. Explanations of rules and regulations will be issued by way of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) after issue of the Master Directions in easy to understand language wherever necessary. The existing set of Master Circulars issued on various subjects will stand withdrawn with the issue of the Master Direction on the subject.

Issuer of Currency
Apr 25, 2025
Master Direction on Framework of incentives for Currency Distribution & Exchange Scheme for bank branches including currency chests (Updated as on September 29, 2025)	379 kb
Apr 01, 2025
Master Direction – Facility for Exchange of Notes and Coins	458 kb
Master Direction on Counterfeit Notes, 2025 – Detection, Reporting and Monitoring	685 kb
Master Direction – Scheme of Penalties for bank branches and currency chests for deficiency in rendering customer service to the members of public	342 kb
Master Direction on Penal Provisions in reporting of transactions / balances at Currency Chests	334 kb
Apr 01, 2024
Master Direction on Counterfeit Notes, 2024 – Detection, Reporting and Monitoring	622 kb
Master Direction on Penal Provisions in reporting of transactions / balances at Currency Chests	302 kb
Master Direction on Framework of incentives for Currency Distribution & Exchange Scheme for bank branches including currency chests	234 kb
Master Direction – Scheme of Penalties for bank branches and Currency Chests for deficiency in rendering customer service to the members of public	338 kb
Apr 03, 2023
Master Direction on Framework of Incentives for Currency Distribution & Exchange Scheme for bank branches including currency chests based on performance in rendering customer service to the members of public	264 kb
Master Direction – Scheme of Penalties for bank branches and Currency Chests for deficiency in rendering customer service to the members of public	279 kb
Master Direction on Penal Provisions in reporting of transactions/ balances at Currency Chests	258 kb
Master Direction on Counterfeit Notes, 2023 - Detection, Reporting and Monitoring	1356 kb
Master Direction – Facility for Exchange of Notes and Coins (Updated as on May 15, 2023)	299 kb
Apr 01, 2022
Master Direction on Penal Provisions in deficiencies in reporting of transactions/ balances at Currency Chests	341 kb
Master Direction on Framework of Incentives for Currency Distribution & Exchange Scheme for bank branches including currency chests based on performance in rendering customer service to the members of public	252 kb
Apr 01, 2021
Master Direction on Levy of Penal Interest for Delayed Reporting / Wrong Reporting / Non-Reporting of Currency Chest Transactions and Inclusion of Ineligible Amounts in Currency Chest Balances	304 kb
Master Direction on “Currency Distribution & Exchange Scheme (CDES)” for bank branches including currency chests based on performance in rendering customer service to members of public	201 kb
Jul 01, 2019
Master Direction on Currency Distribution & Exchange Scheme (CDES) based on performance in rendering customer service to the members of public (Updated as on January 6, 2020)	372 kb
Master Direction on Levy of Penal Interest for Delayed Reporting / Wrong Reporting / Non-Reporting of Currency Chest Transactions and Inclusion of Ineligible Amounts in Currency Chest Balances (Updated as on October 03, 2019)	158 kb
Jul 05, 2018
Master Direction on Currency Distribution & Exchange Scheme (CDES) based on performance in rendering customer service to the members of public	57 kb
Master Direction on Levy of Penal Interest for Delayed Reporting / Wrong Reporting / Non-Reporting of Currency Chest Transactions and Inclusion of Ineligible Amounts in Currency Chest Balances	73 kb
Oct 12, 2017
Master Direction on Levy of Penal Interest for Delayed Reporting/Wrong Reporting/Non-Reporting of Currency Chest Transactions and Inclusion of Ineligible Amounts in Currency Chest Balances	99 kb
Jul 20, 2016
Master Direction on Currency Distribution & Exchange Scheme (CDES) based on performance in rendering customer service to the members of public	55 kb
Master Direction on Levy of Penal Interest for Delayed Reporting/Wrong Reporting/Non-Reporting of Currency Chest Transactions and Inclusion of Ineligible Amounts in Currency Chest Balances	33 kb