Don't Panic! 7 things you need to do with the Rs 500/1000 notes in your pockets

1. Dont panic!

First things first. Do not panic. The entire nation has been affected by the move, not just you. The government will help all citizens transit this phase smoothly. So instead of panicking, collect all the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes you'll need to exchange in the coming days, and be prepared for long queues in the coming days.

2. Dealing with today - 9 November

There will be some relaxation on the ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination notes till Friday midnight, i.e., 11 November. People will be able to use Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes tomorrow and change it at banks later. Milkbooths, railway stations and government hospitals will be accept these notes till Friday midnight.

Also Read: Cash in your wallet? Know how the currency ban will affect you

3. Visit Banks & ATMs from 10 November onwards

As per the PM's speech, all banks and some ATMs will remain close tomorrow. So on Thursday, 10 November, take the notes to a bank or post office nearby and change them to denominations of Rs 100 or lesser. Tourists can change the notes at airports.

4. Keep your ID proofs ready

To facilitate your exchange process smoothly, keep your identity proofs such as Aadhaar card, Voter ID cards, Passport, Driving License and Pan Card handy, when you go to exchange these notes.

5. Go Cashless: Debit & Credit Card / Mobile Wallets

For the next few days, try using cashless facilities such as debit cards, credit cards, cheques, demand drafts and mobile wallets such as PayTM and MobiQuick till you get new notes or denominations of Rs 100 and lesser. Most shops use debit and credit cards. Taxi aggregators such as Uber & Ola accept mobile wallets.

Also Read: PM Modi's 'surgical strike' on black money: Twitter gets tizzy

6. No restriction on electronic fund payments

Remember, there's no restriction on electronic fund payments or transfers. So utilise it to pay bills, rents and other important transactions.

7. Track serial numbers of Notes

The income tax department will keep a close eye on who's submitting what. So, be ready to exchange the amount you can explain to the tax department. Also, maintain a list of serial numbers of the notes you'll be exchanging or submitting at banks.

Also Read: PM Modi scraps Rs 500 & Rs 1000 notes, gets compared to Tughlak and more

New Rs 2000 Currency notes with Nano GPS Chip: A hoax

From February 2017, Indian citizens will witness new Rs 2,000 currency notes. Various WhatsApp messages stated that the new notes be using state of the art indigenous nano technology with every Rs 2000 currency note will be embedded with a NGC (Nano GPS Chip). The RBI has called this a hoax.